Tautphoeus_Quits.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
CHAPTER I.
IN THS IflDSr OF LIFE Wl ABB IN DEATH.
The bell of tbe steamer tolled. A hissing sound of
escaping Tapor, and the gradoal cessation of eyen the slight
motioB of a Rhine boat, informed the passengers that they
had reached their destination for the nighty and induced those
vho had taken refage in the cabins from the heat or a Jnlj
afternoon to commence a tnmaltuons rash on deck. Stretched
on one of the sofas in what is called the pavilion, and per-
fectly anmoved by the bustle around him, lay a young
Englishman, apparently in a precarious state of health, and
in such Tcry deep mourning that some inquisitiye tourists
took the trouble to make inquiries about him, and, without
much difficulty, discoyered that he was a nobleman returning
home to take possession of his estates on the death of his
&ther. Yet great as had been the attention lavished on him
during the day by most of the English travellers who had
become acquainted with his name and rank, they now all hur
ried past him without word or look, so wholly intent were
they on securing their luggage and obtaining apartments at
the usually crowded hotels. Two persons who had entered
the steam-boat but a couple of hours previously, stopped,
however, at the door, looked back and spoke to each other,
I. -3 (18)
U IN THE MIDST OF LIFE
bat ill tones so low, that no sonnd reached the invalid's ear,
though, from the direction of their eyes, he had little doabt
that he was himself the subject of discussion. Father and
daughter they seemed to be, and had attracted his attention
directly on their entrance, from the evident desire of both to
remain unobserved. The gentleman had the remains of con-
siderable beauty of face and person, disfigured by an unusual
degree of corpulence, which, however, he seemed in no way
disposed to lessen, for during his short sojourn in the steam-
boat he had left the pavilion no less than three times to
strengthen and refresh himself with soup, beefsteak, and
coffee, each time inviting his daughter to join him, and re-
ceiving for an answer a quick shake of the head, followed,
after he had left her, by a still closer drawing into the corner
of the sofa, from which she never moved, and a pressing nearer
to the adjacent window, while she raised towards it, to catch
the waning light, a volume of Tanchnitz^s edition of '* British
Authors." Perhaps this last circumstance, as much as the
mysterious whispering of the travellers, had excited his lord-
ship's curiosity, for he concluded that if she were not English,
she at least understood the language, and perfectly too, as
her quicjc reading and expressive changes of countenance
proved beyond a doubt. Certain it is that his eyes had
seldom wandered from the face of the young girl from the
moment of her entrance ; and a charming youthful face it
was, with its small undefined nose, lustrous black eyes, well-
formed mouth, and high intellectual forehead partially covered
by braids of raven hair. But it was the smile that had most
of all attracted, for it was the brightest he had ever seen,
and the more remarkable as the general expression of the
countenance was pensive. She stood now leaning against
the cabin door, while her father satisfactorily proclaimed his
country, by offering, in very good English, to secure rooms
for the invalid, in case he should reach the hotel before him.
* Thank you you are very kind,' he replied, slowly rising.
WE ABB ty DEATH. X5
' bat as I faave discovered that this boat goes on with ns to-
morrow, I have made arrangements for remaining in it
LaadiDg, or rather getting myself under wa; so early in the
morning, fatigoes me too niach.'
He advaoced towards them while speaking, and theD fol-
lowed them ap the stairs to the deck, where their perfect com-
posure, dnring the scene of Gonfasion that ensued, proved
them to be eiperienced travellers. The; exhibited none of
the anxiety about their loggage, that pnt the whole ship's
company into commotion when the tarpaalin was removed,
which had dariog the day-time covered the innnmerable
trunks, boxes, bags, and portmanteanx that bad Iain heaped
together, not a few,^B is nsaal on such occasions, without an
address, or even the name of the proprietor. It seemed as
if each individual expected at once to have his property, and
the murmuring, growling voices of the men mixed strangely
with tbo sharp impatient tones of the women. Many, thangh
Eurroanded by packages of all kinds and dimensions, neither
trusting their eyes nor memories, imagined that something
mast still be failing, and eagerly watched each piece of lug-
gage as it was drawn forward, nhile the different emissaries
from the hotels tlirnat cards into their hands, and vociferated re-
commendations into their bewildered ears. Some oddly-shaped
coses, that seemed to have once belonged to a carriage, were
pointed oat with a silent gesture by the Englishman, and then
instantly seized by the nearest porters, while he turned to the
invalid, and, taking off his hat, politely hoped to have the plea-
sure of seeing him the next day, A few minutes afterwards,
he and bis daugliter disappeared in the long procession of
travellers, emissaries, porters, and truck-drivers, who harried
towards the different hotels.
An unusually brilliant sunset had left a bright orange-
colored sky that served to render the chief buildings of the
town still conspicuous, and which, reflected in the broad
tranquil river, gave the warmth of coloring aad 4Ss,\.S:a!Ask:)&
16 IN THE MID8T OS LIFS
of ontline to the nnmerons boats and their pictaresqae rig-
ging that is supposed to be pecnliar to warmer climes. That
recollections of similar places crowded on the memorj of the
traveller, as he stood alone near the rudder of the steam-boat,
is possible, but not Terj probable, for Englishmen are not
prone to meditations on past scenes or scenery ; it is more
Kkelj that he was thinking of home, and what awaited him
there, while his eyes followed slowly the golden ripple on the
water, or rested in reyerie on the lounging figures of the sur-
rounding boatmen* The colors of erening changed imper*
ceptibly from violet to blue, from blue to grey, but it was not
until the landscape had faded in the twilight, and lights f^om
the suburbs of the town began to glimmer redly through the
intervening mist, that he turned away and descended to the
pavilioti.
It is unnecessary to follow him. We have but lo record
that he was reminded of his dark-eyed countrywoman by
finding the book she had been reading where she had proba-
bly placed it when putting on her bonnet The name written
on the yellow cover was 'Nixon,' and, though neither eu-
phonious nor remarkable, it seemed to attract his attention
in no common degree, for he repeated it several times, and
then murmured, ' Surely a relation of ours married a man of
the name of Nixon ^yes certainly, that was the name and
it was Harry Darwin's mother the man a merchant, or
something of that sort, who became a bankrupt, or no
squandered his fortune and was obliged to live abroad ^that
was it. Harry never liked speaking of his mother's second
marriage or his stepfather ; however, I am rather surprised
he did not mention this half-sister of his, whom he must have
seen repeatedly, for before he began to live in his yacht, he
was continually making excursions abroad, and especially to
Germany. I wonder is this the man I mean ? My mother
said he was a vulgar parvenu parvenu he may be vulgar
he is not and as to his daughter one of whose grandmo-
WAREINDSATII. 17
then I fitroDglj suspect to have been the black-eyed Sasan
of nautical celebrity she is the nicest creature I have seen
for an age, and may turn out to be a relation of ours. Let
me see; her maternal and my paternal grandfather having
been brothers, we should be second cousins or first cousins
once removed or third coasins or at all events the name
is a sufficient pretext for commencing an acquaintance with
both of them to-morrow, and that I shall certainly do. '
At a very early hour the next morning most of the passen-
gers of the preceding day, reinforced by many others, began
to crowd noisily into the steam-boat; not one, however,
descended to the cabin nntil long after the boat had left her
moorings, and our traveller was given more than time to finish
his breakfast in undisturbed solitude. Tapping rather impa-
tiently on Mr. or Miss Nixon's book, which he had placed
beside him on the table, he awaited the entrance of a group
of English who seemed to have chosen the stairs as the place
for discussing the events of the previous night ; and the words
that he overheard proved them to have been of no common-
place description : ' Dreadful awfully sudden enormously
stout man looked apoplectic must have taken place just
after he went to bed the body was quite cold when they
broke open the door this morning the poor girl fainted I
saw her being carried across the passage to her room.' With
a degree of anxiety and interest that surprised himself, he
approached the speakers, and learned from them that Mr.
Nixon, their fellow-passenger of the previous day, had been
found dead in his bed about half an hour before they had left
the hotel.
' And is his poor daughter quite alone V he asked com-
passionately.
* It seems so, but really I had no time to make inquiries,'
Answered a gentleman, endeavoring to pass into the cabin.
' Oh, I dare say the people at the hotel will do everything
that is necessary,' observed a lady, apparently of a more
2*
18 IN THE MIDST OF LIFE.
inqnisitlTe and commonicatiTe disposition ; ' and, at ail eyentA,
the young lady seemed to me extremely well able to take
care of herself ander all circomstances. We joined the table
d'hote yesterday, when we found that we could not procure
a sitting-room, for you know it is only Germans or French
who can drink tea in a bed-room 1 She and her father were
not far distant from us, and my attention was attracted to-'
wards them by the variety and quantity of meat and sauces
devoured by him in the course of half an hour. Poor man I
I did not know it would be his last didnetr or supper, which-
ever he called it-*-nor he either, of course. But I must say,
at a public table I should be sorry to see my daughters so
perfectly at their ease as she seemed to be. The manner in
which her father made acquaintance with all the people about
him was quite extraordinary, and the young lady joined in
the conversation with a fluency scarcely becoming her years,
and not at all English 1'
'I wish,' said the invalid traveller, languidly, 'I wish I
had gone on shore yesterday evening. I might, perhaps,
have been of use. Going back to the aw aw town, what's
its name ? is aw out of the question now, a^ my return home
has already been provokingly protracted one way or another.'
'Very kind of your lordship to feel so much interest about
a stranger,' rejoined the lady, 'but you may be assured the
people at the hotel will pay the greatest attention to this
Miss Nixon : my daughters were actually refused a room
they particularly w^hed to have, in order to let her be near
her papa, and the whole household was so occupied with her
this morning that we came away without breakfast. "
This seemed to have been the case with many other pas-
sengers also, and a clattering of cups and saucers, and a
hurrying to and fro of waiters ensued, which apparently dis-
turbed his lordship's meditations, for he went on deck and
watched the swift motion of the steamer, as, aided alike by
art and nature, it hurried forward with the stream : the water
A SHORT PEDiaRSE. 19
fridening, the banks sinking, and windmills serring as land-
marks from the time they entered the territories of Holland.
Flow on, river, as yon have done for ages 1 press forward,
steam-boat, to complete yonr daily task ^forward as quickly
as your impatient passengers can desire there is but one
among ihem who in the course of the day bestows a passing
thonght on the orphan girl whose sudden bereavement had
that morning so unpleasantly reminded them that 'In the
midst of life we are in death. '
CHAPTiER II.
A SHORT PEDIORRX.
Though few people coQld be induced by the sudden death
of a stranger at an hotel to protract their journey in order to
be of service to the survivor ^ even supposing that person a
young and helpless girl a return to the town on the Rhine,
and a short delay there with the daughter of Mr. Nixon, will
scarcely be objected to by any humane novel-reader. After
the body of the deceased had been examined, and the cause
of death ascertained, the civil authorities requested an inter-
view with Miss Nixon, and questioned her respecting her
parents, her age, her past life, and future prospects, exhibit-
ing very evident satisfaction on learning that she had two
ancles in London, was related to the Earl of Medway, and
had a step-brother, who she described as being of no profes-
sion, but a gentleman and a baronet. On being advised to
write to this brother without delay, she was obliged to con-
fess that she did not know his address her mother had
always sent her letters to him under cover to Lord Medway,
who had been his guardian, and who had also managed all
their English affairs for them. She had UQ^et ^OTt6^^tAi^
20 A 8H0KT PEDIGREE.
with her uncles, bat had written to inform Lord Medway of
her mother's death, which had taken place some months pre-
vionslj, and she had received a very kind answer ; her bro-
ther also had written, bat had not come to see them he and
her father had never been on good terms.
These few particnlars had beea in a manner extorted from
the poor girl, as, scarcely recovered from the shock she had
80 recently received, she leaned her head weeping on the
table beside her ; bat when, on being asked if she had money
to defray her expenses to London, she silently produced a
parse full of English sovereigns, they recommended her, with-
out farther hesitation, to the care of the landlady of the
hotel, who was present ; and after a whispered proposal to
the latter to give her, in some more convenient place, the
necessary directions about the interment of the English-
man, they all withdrew, and Leonora Nixon found herself,
for the first time since she had known her bereavement,
alone.
She instantly sat upright, pushed herdark hair from her
pale face, seemed to listen intently to the sound of the re-
treating footsteps; and, when silence was restored to the
corridor, she rose, and murmuring the words, ' Once more
I must see him once more, ' left the room, and ran quickly
towards a door at the opposite side of the passage, which
she opened with a precipitancy that proved the violence of
feelings she had thought it necessary to control in the pre-
sence of strangers during the preceding hour. In the door-
way, however, she stood amazed, at first incapable of utter-
ing an articulate sound. No trace of her father was there ;
the bed in which he had died was deprived of all its furniture,
and a woman with water and a brush stood scouring the in-
terior, as if death had infected the very boards. Strips of
carpet hung pendent at the wide-open windows, from which
the curtains had been removed, and a housemaid was del ag-
ing the painted floor with fresh water, after having placed
A SHORT PEDIGREE. 21
the chftirs ftnd tables in an adjoining room. Somewhat
startled by Leonora's sudden appearance, the girl stopped
her work, and leaned on her long-handled brash, while Leo-
nora adranced, stammering, 'Where is is my father?'
' The room mast be got ready for the steam-boat passen-
gers this CTening, miss,' answered the girl, eyasively.
'Where haye they laid him?' she asked, with assumed
ealmneas.
' Sorely, miss, yon don't wftnt to see the corpse again after
being so frightened this morning ?'
' I do urish to see it,' said Leonora^ 'and yon must take
me to the room directly.'
' Bat I hare got orders not to let any one into it until the
coffin comes.'
' Such orders cannot concern me. Give me the key, and
I promise to bring it back to you in half an hour. '
' I must first ask the landlady,' said the girl, evidently im-
pressed with involuntary respect by Leonora's decided man-
ner; and passing her quickly, she was soon after heard
speaking to her mistress at the other end of the passage.
They then both advanced towards Leonora ; and after a few
words of remonstrance on the part of the landlady, which of
course made no sort of impression, the latter proposed her-
self accompanying the orphan to take leave of the remains
of her parent.
They descended the stairs, traversed a broad corridor, and,
to Leonora's infinite surprise, entered the ball-room. She
looked round her with a bewildered air, while her companion
slowly and reluctantly unlocked the door of an adjoining
refreshment-room, and then silently pointed to a long table,
where, stretched on a mattress, and covered with a linen
cloth, the outline of a human figure could be distinguished.
The windows were open, but the green jalousies so arranged
that little light fell on the features, uncovered with eager
haste by Leonora's trembling hand. If the landlady Ia.4
22 SHORT PEDIQBEE.
dreaded being witness to a yiolent ebullition of grief, she
was soon convinced that her apprehensions had been nnne-
cessarj. Large tears gathered slowly in the eyes of the
youthful mourner, and fell heavily on the face of the dead :
alas I that we should have to record they were the only tears
likely to be shed for Frederick Nixon 1 No bad criterion of
our worth and usefulness in this world would be these tears,
could they but be collected ; and not without deep meaning
was the Koman lachrimatory and many funeral customs of
other nations of antiquity. In the present civilised states
of the world, it has become a sort of maxim that of the dead
we should only speak advantangeously. The Egyptians
thought otherwise ; and their post mortem trials, where every
one was at liberty to accuse the deceased, and the defence
alone depended on the good will and affection of surviving
friends and relations, may often have found a place in the
thoughts of the living, and prevented many a sin of omission
as well as commission.
Not few would, in such a case, have been Frederick Nix-
on's accusers, his sole defender the orphan girl, who, with
the prospect of dependence on unknown relations before her,
and uncertainty as to her reception among them, nevertheless
sincerely mourned the parent who had squandered her inhe-
ritance and left her homeless. We regret the necessity of
recording the story of his life, which, in its dismal details, is
too common either to create interest or serve as warning.
His paternal pedigree had been of a more respectable than
brilliant description, until his father became a man of impor-
tance in the commercial world. This father had commenced
his career in the manner hereditary in the family, that is, as
shop-boy in his father's old established house in the city, and
had wisely preserved through life a vivid recollection of hav-
ing carried parcels to their destination, and considered it an
honor w^hen permitted, in his turn, to stand behind the countei
and weigh sngar and spice for the numerous customers ; or,
A SHORT FEDiaREE. 23
on receiving an 'order,' to make np with dexterous hand the
Tarious packages and consign them to the care of his suc-
cessor in office, the attendant boy, who had been especially
commanded to say ' Sir' to him. Being without brothers or
sisters, be found himself, on the death of his parents, in pos-
session, pot only of ati extensive business, but also a consi-
derable sum of money ; the latter he increased by a judicious
marriage, and, being of an enterprising disposition, engaged
in successful speculations during the war, which raised him
to a state of opulence quite beyond his powers of enjoyment ;
so that the accumulated money amounted, by means of in-
terest and compound interest, to sums of such magnitude
that the shop was at length closed, and an emigration com-
menced beyond the precincts of the city. He had now an
office and warehouses, and when death deprived him of his
wife, he found no difficulty in obtaining the hand of one of the
very handsome daughters of an Irish gentleman of wonderfully
ancient family and distinguished poverty, whose name, pre-
ceded by the euphonious particle O, satisfactorily proved that
he belonged to one of the illustrious races said to be of royal
lineage.
In the course of time, Mr. Nixon was made fully to com-
prehend that a name is by no means so insignificant a thing
as Juliet Capnlet supposed it to be ; for his wife, ardently
desiring to regain what she considered her proper position
in the world, made many and desperate efforts to rise in the
social scale, and, as a first step thereto, unceasingly endea-
vored to induce her husband to remove to the 'West End.'
From the house in Russell-square, purchased and furnished
at the time of their marriage, he could never be induced to
move ; neither would he give up old friends or habits, and
to the last day of his life continued proud of having been
Lord Mayor, and gloried bond fide in the title of alderman.
The two sons of his first wife, bom and educated while he
was still a hard-working man, acquired his tastea amd Yi*^\yv\.%^
24 A 8H0BT PEDIOBEE.
and in process of time became his partners ; bat the only
son of his second wife, when rendered unmanageable at home
by indulgence, had been consigpied to the care of,
'A clergyman, married, of mnch experience, with exten-
sive premises at the West End,' who wonld ' receive into
his family Eight Yotma Oentlbmsn.- The coarse of In*
strnction securing a solid preparation for the universities,
&c. &c, &c. The treatment of the pupils truly parental.'
Parental it was in one sense certainly, for parents are
almost always careless instructors ; but while lazily constrn-
ing Yirgil and Homer, Master Frederick grew healthy and
handsbme, and acquired tastes, habits, and manners that his
mother pronounced exquisite, and which raised expectations
of future triumphs in life, the disappointment of which was
spared her by an early death. *
With half a dozen of the * eight young gentlemen^
Frederick Nixon afterwards went to Oxford, where he proved
notoriously idle and indolent. Good-humored and lavishly
profuse in his expenditure, he was, however, universally call-
ed and considered ja 'capital fellow,' and in this opinion his
father probably concurred, for he paid his debts without ex-
pressing much astonishment at their amount, was easily con-
vinced that his son's talents were more of a military than
civil description, got a commission for him in the Oaards,
and dying soon afterwards used his plebeian privilege of
dividing his fortune with perfect equality among his sons,
thereby leaving them all well provided with what is but too
generally considered the greatest blessing in life.
The step-brothers, unlike in disposition, temper, education,
and habits, dissolved partnership, and in the world of London
seldom met again. Frederick, freed from all restraint^ pos-
sessed of a large fortune and handsome person, fell at once
into the disorderly, if not actually profligate, mode of life of
his companions and nominal friends, and, without being
worse than others, contrived to give himself an unpleasant
A 8H0BT PEDIORBE. 25
kind of notoriety by the nnmerons foolish things he said, and
did, to obtain tolerance, if not a position in society where a
total want of connexion nevertheless ever caused him to feel
himself isolated. His efforts to remedy this latter evil were
unremitting, and at length partially snccessfnl, when he per-
suaded Lady Darwin, the widow of a baronet of good family
and daughter of an Honorable Augustus Thorpe, to become
his wife. It is tme, her cousin, the Earl of Medway, did not
receive his new relative with any demonstration of satisfaction ;
it was even said that he had openly pronounced him to be a
weak-headed spendthrift, and given Lady Darwin to nnder-
stand that, in consequence of her marriage, he should con-
sider it necessary to send her only son (his ward) to school
without further delay. She resigned the youthful Harry to
the care of his guardian, and perceived not at all the boy's
gradual but total estrangement, as year after year he spent
less of his holidays with her, an'd began completely to identify
himself with the Medway family.
Lady Darwin was still young and handsome, and for some
years her career was as brilliant as apparently inexhaustible
wealth could make it ; but Frederick Nixon had, even before
his marriage, considerably encroached upon his capital, which,
placed in the Funds, was completely at his disposal ; and,
totally averse to business of any kind, he continued to supply
all deficiencies of income in the same manner. His wife,
purposely kept in ignorance of the state of his affairs,
thought not of making retrenchments ; and in the course of
time, was eager to^ plunge deeper into the dissipations of the
world to escape from the society of her husband, who, after
haying frittered away a noble fortune in the vain pursuit of
selfish pleasure and ostentation, began altogether to lose the
good temper for which he had once been so remarkable. He
became irritable and restless, continually changing his place
of residence, and relieving 'immediate want of money by the
sale of one hoase, while incurring debt, at the same tiaiQ^ h^
I. 3
26 SBOStT PEPiaUBE.
the pnrchase of oootlier ; and Hiiit he struggled on until the
crash, long foreseen by eyerj one, took place; when tke sale
of his effects, and his wife's resignation of thirty thousand
pounds, his wedding gift to her, haying satisfied his creditor^
he was at liberty to retire to the continent, there to lire on
her jointure from her first marriage.
They had lost mfiny children while in England, but Leoncnra,
bom at a quiet town in Germany, during the time of their
first fresh grief, lired ; and the change produced in their small
household, and cares imposed upon them by her birth, turned
their thoughts into a new channel, and greatly alleviated their
useless regrets. While, however, Lady Darwin quickly re-
signed herself to her loss of fortune, and continued to devote
herself exdnsively to her child, her husband, suffering intole-
rably from ennui, began, by degrees, to indulge in the roving
propensities common to his countrymen when they had left
England in search of a foreign laud. As &r as was possible,
too, he fell into his former habits. And squandered, and wan*
dered when and where he could during his wife's life-time.
Her death, jiist as his daughter had attained her fifteenth
year, left him and his child in a state of painful destitution,
and to the two brothers he had so openly despised in the
days of his prosperity, Frederick Nixon was at length obliged
to apply for assistance. It was not refused ; each broths
consented to give an annual sum of money for his support ;
and in order to be near England in case of pecuniary diffieul-
ties, he had commenced a Rhine pilgrimage, uncertain where
he should finally establish himself with his daughter, and
contrive to live on an income, of the smalloess of which
he complained as only those do who have spent font never
earned.
His faults and follies were alSce forgotten by his mourning
laughter, as she bei^ over the well-kiiown face, and drew
towards her the cold stiff hand, that, but a few honrs before,
had, warm with life, pressed hers. The landlady's various
A SHORT PEDIORSE. 2?
BoveBients of impatience jmgling of kejff, opening of
wiadowa, and displacing of famitnre in the adjacent room --
were anheeded by LeonofS until she became conscious of tbe
ipprosck of two men, wbo, talking loodfy, and walking
heavily, earriod between them a coffin of large dimensions.
Ab they deposited it on the end of the table, they took off
their caps and looked towards the landlady for orders. Leo-
Mfa sbaddered, and allowed hereelf to be led firom the room
withoat Temoastnuiee, receiving a chilling sort of consolation
from the assaraoce g^ren her that her father shonld be inter-
red with all the coanderation dne to his rank.
That this promise had been faHUled she had no donbt, when,
a few days afterwards, the bills were laid before her by the
hosieBs. In fact, the parse of sovereigns which had afforded
SDch general aatisfactioa a few days previoasly, became so
greatly redaced in its cdntents, that she i^t it was time to
decide on her fatare plans, and, having bolted her door, she
drew towards her, and salocked, her father's writing desk.
It conUiaed eyen less money than she expected, and some
letters which blocked aad grieved her beyond measore, for,
from their perusal, she had ascertained that her father had
already coasiderably overdrawn the allowance made him by
his brothers^ His bills had been honored, but the letter in-
formiag him of the foet contained, from his eldest brother,
not only a reprimand of extreme severity but a threat of re-
taining payment by instalments on any fatnre similar occasion.
Aa angry correspondence had ensued, followed by a quarrel,
aad Leonora at length discovered that she had been, daring
the last two days^ oneonseioosly on her way to England,
where her father bad hoped, by his presence, to appease the
ire of his jnstly-iaoensed step-brothers.
Leonora perceived clearly, and at once, that her father
bad been in the wrong ; nevertheless, her dislike to her city
ancles (for so her mother had invariably denominated them)
iacreaaed tenfold. 8he remembered all she had ever heard
28 A SHORT PEDIGREE.
of their purse-proad valgarity ; called to mind the yarions
anecdotes of ludicrous economy and ignorance of fashionable
life on their parts, so often related, most probably with ex-
aggeration, by her father ; saw all, and more than all, she
had ever heard, confirmed by the packet of well-written,
business-like letters before her, and resolved never to apply
to such men for assistance. Her thoughts naturally turned
next to her step-brother. Sir Harry Darwin, although her
acquaintance with him was but slight, and her father had
done everything in his power to prejudice her against him,
never naming him, when her mother was absent, otherwise
than 'that self-sufficient egotist,' or 'that good-for-nothiDg
puppy Darwin.' She had seen him but twice during her life.
Once, when she was a mere child, at Heidelberg he had joined
them, intending to enter the university there and remain for
a couple of years : he had, however, for reasons at that time
unknown to her, resided with them but as many months.
The second time was several years later, at Vienna, but he had
then come to their house as a stranger might have done, and
never without having received a note from his mother to let
him know at what hour her husband would be absent from
home. He had associated with people unknown to them,
and lived altogether with Lord Medway's second son, the
Honorable Charles Thorpe, who had just then commenced
his diplomatic career as aUachi,
This last meeting had occurred so recently that Leonora
had been old enough to perceive the mutual antipathy of her
father and step-brother. She had been disposed to like the
latter though he had taken but little notice of her, and had
one day, when she was present, observed to his mother, in a
slighting manner, that 'her daughter was a thoroughbred
Nixon, without apparently a drop of Thorpe blood in her
veins : he feared he never should be able to consider her as
in any way belonging to their family.' When taking leave
of them he had given his mother a considerable sum of
A SHORT PDTORS. 29
nonej, telling ^r, witfaont an ftttempt at reserve, that cm his
becoming of a^e, his gnardian, Lord Medway, bad pointed
oat to bim the folly of bcreasing ber jointnre, as it would
only benefit her hasband, or ratber enconrage bim in bia ex*
traTagance ; that he bad tberefore reaolyed to assist ber pri-
Tfttely, and tnxsted she wonld wisely keep secret bis baring
done and intending to do so. Witb a deep sigh Lady
Darwin had acknowledged tbe justness of Lord Med way's
remark, and fnlly determined to follow her son's adrice ; bnt
a few days after his departure, when goaded by ber husband's
ironical observations about ' the extraordinary generosity of
her son Sir Harry,' while he pointed to and pretended to
admire some trifling gold trinkets that had been his ostensible
present^ she had confessed all, and produced, witb sbort-liTed
exultation, tbe money, which was incontinently taken poises-
sion of by Frederick Nixon. He, however, in the excess of
bis surprise and satisfactiod, bad overseen a purse of sover-
eigns, and she had not thought it necessary to point it out to
his notice, bnt dropping it info btr pocket with much of the
trepidation of a criminal dreading detection, it had been from
that tiroe forward earefuRy concealed, not again seeing the
light of day, until, on her death-bed, she had privately con-
signed it to the care of ber daughter, with the injunction to
reserve it for some occasion of imminent distress, nnd when
all other resources should fail. Often, when her father was
subsequently in embarrassments, bad Leonora considered if
tbe designated time were not come for ber to produce bet
treasure, as often had the last clause of her mother's speech
deterred ber. Other resources had been found, silver, furni-
ture, books, had been sold, unttl, as her thoughtless" parent
observed with a light laugh, * They were at last travelling in
the pleasantest manner possible, with nothing but their re-^
spcctive wardrobes to care for. '
The time had suddenly arrived when Leonora had bad no
doabt as to the necessity of using tbe contents of this purse.
3 *
30 DOWN TU RUINE
She held it now, mach diminished in worth, in ner hand, and
having coanted the remaining sovereigns and some Prussian
dollars, perceived that she should just be able to await the
answer to the letter which she prepared to write to Lord
Medwaj to tell him of her desolate position, and request him
to forward an enclosed letter to her step-brother, of whose
address she was in utter ignorance.
From Sir Harry she expected but little sympathy or bro-
therly love, and her whole trust was in Lord Med way, of
whose kindness and excellence she had heard so much from
her mother that she scarcely knew whether she most loved or
revered him She carried the letter herself to the post-office,
and before parting with it breathed a short prayer that Qod
would raise up friends to her in her time of need and not
long leave her homeless.
CHAPTER III.
DOWN THE BHINS AND UP THS THAMES.
The return of the post brought Leonora the anxiously
expected answer to her letter. Her eagerness at first impeded
her powers of comprehension, and she was obliged to read i\
twice over before she understood that she was without delay
to repair to Lord Medway's house in London, where her
affairs would be considered and discussed with the necessary
attention, and her plans for the future arranged as advantage-
ously as possible. Energetic on all occasions, she sprang
from her seat, tied on her bonnet while rapidly descending the
stairs of the hotel, and went, without a moment's delay, to
the office where places were to be procured in the steamboat
that was to leave the next morning for Rotterdam.
It was not until after her return to the hotel, and the first
1
AND UP TUS THAMES. 31
excitement of acting for herself had partially subsided, that
she again carefallj and calmly pemsed the letter. She- had
prcTioosl J not observed that it was written on paper with the
erj broadest of black edges, a monming which it now oc-
curred to her was deeper than that likely to have been con-
sidered necessary by Lord Medway for her mother, and for
her father she neyer expected him or any of his family to
mourn outwardly or inwardly. Again she examined the letter,
imagined the handwriting changed ^firmer, and at the same
time more careless ; but as she knew he had been ill, she sup-
posed it not unlikely that he had employed an amanuensis.
The signature appeared quite the same as usual, and she put
it aside, packed up her clothes, and went to bed, resoked to
sleep off the cares and anxieties which crowded on her mind
at the near prospect of undertaking, for the first time in her
life, a journey alone. Such, however, was the buoyancy of
her mind, that all her perplexities were chased by vivid sur-
mises as to the personal appearance of Lord and Lady
Medway, their sons and daughters ; and her last thought, in
falling asleep, was of the Charles Thorpe of whom her step-
brother had spoken incessantly, and who seemed from his
account to be idolized, not only by his own family, but by all
the world besides.
The next morning Leonora and her antiquated carriage
cases were carefully committed to the charge of the captain
of the steamboat by the hotel-keeper and his wife, who had
shown her much kindness and attention during her ten days'
sojourn with them. They remained as long as they could
with her, and when parting, shoved into her hands a basket
full of grapes and cakes, hurrying away afterwards without
listening to her thanks, and from the shore bowing and waving
their hands and handkerchiefs as long as she remained in sight.
'These strangers have been kind to me,' thought Leonora,
' why should I fear that those on whom I have some natural
claims will prove otherwise ? '
32 DOWN THS RniNK
Of the kindness of strangers she had do farther proo&
worthy of notice for a couple of days. The route by Rotter-
dam is that of home-retaming families bnrthened with Ing*
gage, or commercial traTellers : the latter scarcely observed
her presence^ the former did not approTe of the appearance
of a girl so yoong being quite alone ; and pradeni parents
frowned down the incipient attempts of sons willing to offer
ciTlHties to eyes so dark and fieuse so fair.
It was well for Leonora that she was In mind less yonthfol
than in appearance, and that her knowledge of yarions lan-
gnages helped her through the little diffienkies which inyari-
ably fall to the lot of a solitary female trayeller at the ranch
dreaded foreign douane, and the isfinitely more dieagreeaUe
English Oofitom House.
Her ideas of the Tastness and commefdal Importance of
London were certainly not decreased by her passage up the
Thanies. All foreigners should choose that approach to the
metropolis if they wish to receiye new impressions; even
those from maritime countries cannot fail to be struck with
the endless rows of ships that form a floating world around
them. The word foreigner, as applied to hersdf, would have
been most offensive to Leonon, whose pride in being an
Englishwoman, and admiration and reverence for everything
English, were as unbounded as her ignorance of the manners
and customs of the country which she pertinaeiously called
her ' native land.' Unwilling that even her fellow-passengers
should suspect this to be her first passage up the Thames, she
sat on the still damp, green benches in the stem of the Dutch
steamboat, a perfectly silent observer of all that was new to
her. Through a rather dense, yellow fog she first saw the
great ships of war ; then more clearly the merchantmen in
apparently interminable lines ; large steamers rushing past^
containing perchance persons and papers of incalculable im-
portance ; smaller ones darting in all directicHis, filled with
people and things of less note ; and many crowded with gaily-
AND UP THE THAMES. 33
dressed pleasure-seeking parties. Innomerable boats of
Tarioas dimenf^ions and forms plyed across the river from
ship to ship, or supplied the latter with fresh provisions ;
each and all afforded her endless interest, while from the col-
liers alone she turned away as children are wont to do from
chimney-sweepers. It was Sunday, and she saw both ships
and crews in their best attire. There was none of the nsnal
harry and bustle, and as the sailors leaned lazily over Ihe
gunwale of their ships, or descended smartly dressed into
attendant boats in order to go ashore, she found more resem*
blance to other places and people than she perhaps desired ;
while the dark-looking wharfs, stores, and warehouses not a
little disappointed expectations of the banks of the Thames,
that partiality had unconscioosly raised to a par with the
beautiful quays of southern cities of less note.
All comparisons with other lands were soon, howeyer,
lost in wonder at the apparently endless number of ships,
which, as they proceeded, seemed to increase, and at last
close around them ; so that when the noisy escape of steam
couTlnced her that they had reached their mooring-place, she
still saw beyond her au interminable extent of roasts and
rigging, with a dark background of massive buildings be-
coming gradually clearer in the rays of red sunshine that
struggled through the slowly dispersing fog.
In the year 1840 there was no St. Katharine's Wharf to
facilitate the landing of travellers, and Leonora's contem*
plations were interrupted by the arrival of the Custom-house
officers. Her luggage was detained, her carpet-bag, after a
severe examination, returned to her, and having dragged it
to the side of the ship, she waited patiently for an oppor-
tunity of descending into one of the numerous boats sur-
rounding them. There was a great deal of shouting, and
swearing, and pushing, and pulling, and loud dialogues car-
ried on in a language unintelligible to her, though an oc-
casional word made her aware that it was intended for Eng^-
34 DOWN THS RHINE.
lish. An elderlj FreiKih gentleman, who bad been inTtaibI*
dnring the vojage, haTing been drawn forward by tbe crowd,
began slowly and carefallj to descend the side of the ship,
and when about half way attempted, in very broken English,
to make a bargain for the transporting of himself and sac
de nuU to the hospitable shores of old England. He was,
however, immediately somewhat mdely shoved forward by
two sailors who stood at either side of the ladder, and who
then looked np with grinning faces to see who would come
next. There was a pause, no one seemed disposed to follow,
and Leonora, taking advantage of the open space, directly
advanced. She was politely requested 'not to be afeard,'
then fairly lifted into the boat very much in the manner of a
package marked ' Glass keep this side up'^ ^deposited be-
side the Frenchman, and though the boatmen evidently ex-
pected and wished for more passengers, they were, in spite
of their vociferations, pushed aside and forced to pull to-
wards the landing-place. It was at a short distance further
np the river, and they reached it in about ten minutes ; bat
as the French gentleman prepared to step on shore he was
desired first to pay his fare, and the evidently much valued
sac de nuit drawn from his reluctant hands as a pledge for
the same. He gave two shillings ^fonr shillings-^ix shil-
lings and then looked with an expression of astonishment
at the impudent laughing faces of the boatmen. When,
however, he closed his purse, and endeavored to gain pos-
session of his property, they waved him off, and explained
by words and the extension of so many fingers, that for less
than eight shillings he should not enjoy the privilege of land-
ing on British ground.
' Dat is four pour mademoiselle and four pour moi ?'
They explained, with imperturbable insolence, that poor
or rich ma'mselle must pay eight shillings as well as moun-
shier, and they seized her property, also, to explain alike
their determination to persist in their claims, and fully to ex
LEONOStA NIXON LANDS. 35
plain their mesning, which thi^ doubted her naderstanding,
8 tiiej had onlj heard her speak French to her feliow-trayel-
ler. Leonora instantly paid the eight shillings, without an
attempt at remonstrance ; and then, in better English than
was perhaps qnite agreeable to them, hoped at least that one
of them would carry her bag and place it in a carriage for
her. After a &w words of advice to her travelling com-
panion to follow her example, she ran np the landing-place,
and was soon after rolling rapidly towards B Square.
CHAPTER IV.
IiBONOBA NIXON LANDS AND VORTHWITH FINDS A
QTTARDIi^.
Only those who have travelled, and not unfrequently
inemselves remained stationary for some time at various
places on the continent of Europe, can form an idea of the
numbers of British subjects who, from necessity, or for econ-
omy, or pleasure, reside there. The wanderers, scarcely de-
serving the name of residents, are perhaps still more numer-
ous, and to both classes children are born, who, educated
and not unfrequently married without having ever been in
England, neverthdess persist in calling it their native land,
denominate themselves English, and think it incumbent on
them to be peculiarly and even sometimes ostentatiously
patriotic.
One of these pseudo-English was Leonora Nixon. Eng-
land was to her the land of promise, the home of her imagi-
nation. Her father had ever taken a sort of pride and
pleasure in abusing foreign habits and manners, even while
himself unconsciously acquiring them. He had impressed
on her mind so exalted an idea of En(;land, both as couutrf
36 LEONORA NIXON LANDS,
and nation, that she snpposed ignorance alone enabled ber
still to Yalne what she saw elsewhere ; and his brilliant and
somewhat boasting reminiscences of his life in London, re-
ceived too much confirmation from her mother's fond recol-
lections of the same scenes, not to be listened to with profound
and eager credulity. During the long private conrersations
between the mother and daughter, it was especially the glory
and excellence of the Medway family that had formed the
topic of discussion the worth and dignity of Lord Medway,
the beauty and grace of Lady Medway, her enviable position
in the world of fashion, her charming children, the magnifi-
cence of Thorpe Manor, and even the humbler beauties of a
villa on the Thames called The Willows. Of her paternal
relations, the Nixons, Leonora had, as has been observed,
heard nothing that had tended to raise them in her estima-
tion vulgar, purse-proud, city people. .She wished to for-
get their very existence, and pretty nearly contrived to do so
as she drove along the silent, empty streets of London, in-
ternally applauding the evident keeping holy of the Sabbath
day, and doing no manner of work, which the still unopened
shutters of the windows so satisfactorily demonstrated.
Her predetermination to admire everything English was,
during this early Sunday morning drive, put hardly to the
proof : there ^ere no open warehouses, with their marvellous
display of costly goods to attract her attention ; no bustling
crowd to amaze her with its endless swarms ; no palace-like
buildings, such as had been familiar to her eyes from child-
hood ; and as she glanced curiously up at the interminable
rows of dingy brick houses, with their unomamented facades
of three and four windows, she was obliged to recal to her
mind all her mother had told her of the luxury and domestic
comfort which could only be obtained when each family, as
in England, possessed a house alone.
The prospect brightened as she advanced westward. The
squares were succeeded by long, wide streets ; buildings of
AND FORTHWITH FINDS A OUAKDIAN. S7
lomti extent beesme Tisible in the distanee ; there were ooe
eional glimpses of the pmriu ; more rows of shopless houses,
trees, grass, iron ndlings, and at leag^ the cab stopped. A
koock, and instantaneons opening of a large handsome door
Allowed ; but although two derrants became risible, netthw
moTed beyond the threshold, and the cabman retomed to
Leonora for orders.
' Ask if I can see Ladj Medwaj.'
The man came back direct! j with the answer, ' Her Pship
has left town for the Will js. '
' Perhaps Lord Medway is still here,' suggested Leonora,
getting rather nerrons.
She saw the senrants look at each other, and then at her,
and h^ smile as one of them answered, ' His lordship is in
toirn, but not up ; he always breakfasts late, and it would
be better if the young lady were to call again. '
'Oh I if he be but at home, that is all I want,' cried
Leonora, joyously springing up the steps to the door; 'I
can wait until his usual breakfast hour, and do not wish him
to be disturbed on my account.'
One of the footmen now whispered a few words to a ser-
ant out of lirery, just then about to ascend the stairs : he
tnmed round, looked deliberately, almost inquisitively, at
Leonora, and then asked her name.
Not apparently much enlightened by hearing it, he never-
theless opened the door of the breakfast-room, and requested
her to wait while he informed Lord Medway of her wish to
see him.
Leonora was too anxious to take much notice of the room
or its furniture ; she stood with her eyes fixed on the closed
door, listening for the sound of returning footsteps, which
the well-carpeted stairs rendered inaudible; bnt so intense
was her attention that she soon after heard a low voice say
distinctly, * All right, Williams, take in the travelling-bag
and dismiss the cabmsn.' A moment afterwards the door
I 4
38 LEONORA NIXON LANDS,
was opened, and she was respectfally informed, * That his
lordship was np, and wonld come down as soon as possible ;
he hoped Miss Nixon had had a good passage from Rotter-
dam : had he known when she was likely to arriTe, he wonld
have sent a carriage : begged she wonld breakfast without
waiting for him.'
All this was very satisfactory ; and with a sigh of relief
Leonora took off her bonnet, and for some time calmly
watched the qnick yet noiseless preparations for breakfast.
They were, however, no sooner completed, and she was once
more alone, than her nneasiness and anxiety returned ; and
after walking for some time np and down the room, she
threw herself into a chair, and awaited the coming inter?iew
with a sort of desperate resolution that enabled her effectn*
ally to overcome the faintness that befell her as the door at
last opened ; and advancing towards her she saw not the
benevolent-looking, venerable friend she had expected, bnt
the invalid traveller of the Rhine steamer I
* Miss Nixon,' he said, in a low and rather weak voice,
' I know you did not expect to find in me your late cor-
respondent Let me assure you that nothing but the fear
of filling your mind with doubts, and creating useless diffi-
culties, prevented me from informing you of my father's
death when I answered yonr letter. '
Leonora, who had risen for a moment, again sat down,
struggled with her feelings of regret^ * disappointed hopes,
and personal annoyance for a few seconds, and then burst
into tears.
'I I did not know that you had been personally ac-
quainted with my father,' said Lord Med way : ' from some
letters found among his papers I was led to suppose that he
had corresponded with your mother, and chiefly as guardian
to her son. In fact, I imagined you in want of an adviser
and friend, both of which my father would have been to you
most-undoubtedly had he lived. I hope I have not erred in
Alfl FOETHWITH FINDS A GITARDIAN. S9
proposing to take his place, or sapposing that mj services
would be as acceptable to joa as his.'
' He was my only friend, ' said Leonora, in a Foice nearly
choked by emotion, ' the only one of our family who ever
remembered my name, or seemed conscious of my existence. '
' And when did you last see him 7' asked Lord Med way,
leaning his elbow on the chimney-piece, and watching, with
an air of mixed surprise and commiseration, the uncontrolled
expression of her almost passionate grief: 'When did you
last see him ?'
' I neyer saw him,' she answered, looking up, and at the
moment the utter selfishness of her sorrow struck her so
forcibly that she compelled herself to overcome it; and
removing the traces of tears from her face, she stood up,
and in a tolerably composed voice informed him of his father's
kind letter to her after the death of her mother, and offers
of firiendly services should she ever be in want of them. ' I
mention this,' she added, ' that you may not think I applied
to him without a right to do so : his loss to me is just now
irreparable, as it obliges me to apply to my stepbrother, who,
I fear, will have little inclination to assist a person he could
scarcely learn to tolerate even for his mother's sake. '
'Ton don't mean that Harry does not like you!' said
Lord Medway.
* I once heard him say,' answered Leonora, 'that the name
of Nixon would stifle any feelings of regard he might ever be
disposed to feel for me. You have, I hope, had the kind-
ness to forward my letter to him, and if you will now only
let me know where' he is to be found '
'Ton could scarcely ask me a more puzzling question,'
answered Lord Medway, smiling ; ' I forwarded your letter
to my brother Charles, who is at Vienna : he keeps up a
desultory correspondence with Harry, and generally knows
something of his whereabouts he believes him to be now at
some place on the coast of Syria, in his yacht*, but NvVkaik
your letter w))} reach bim ia very uncertain.'
40 LBONOBA NIXON LANPB,
' What ifi to become of me 1' cried Leonora, eoreriDg ber
face with her hands, while visions of ber city uncles and their
plebeian families floated distracUnglj before ber haughty
imagination.
^Ton will of course remi^ia with us with mj mother,
until yon hear from Harry,' suggested Lord Medway.
Leonora instantly canght at this idea. ^Can I go to
Lady Medway to-day V she asked quickly.
My mother is at present from home oa ft visit to some
relations,' he answered, 'and only my youngest sister is at
The Willows. I shall, however, have great pleasuiv in
taking yon there to-morrow. '
* And why not to-day V she asked a little ^nziously.
'I'm sure I don't know. I aw ^-suppose* there is
nothing to prevent us from driving there after we bftve
breakfasted, and aw ^- been to church V
He rang the bell, and afterwards, during a Ute-d4ite of
more than an hour, they strode towards intimacy with seven
leagued boots, Leonora being perfectly communicative on
every subject excepting her uncles; and Lord Medway
informing her that he had been a sad, idle, worthless fellow ;
but now intended to reform, and, if his health allowed him
to winter in England, proposed becoming a pattern country
gentleman. He evidently considered a regular attendance
at church as a first end very important step towards the
meditated change, and nothing could equal the gravity and
decorum of his manner, as he accompanied Leonora to
church, and his attention to the service when there. She
did not at all believe that he had ever been idle or worthless,
and when he rose from bis knees at the end of the Litany,
apparently exhausted, tears of genuine compassion dimmed
her eyes to think that so excellent a young man seemed
doomed to an early grave I This feeling must have been in
some degree participated by a large proportion of the con-
gregation, if one might judge by the looks of interest which
AND FORTHWITH FINDS A OUARDIAN. 41
leiiched them from the remotest corners. The carpeted and
well-cashioned pews of the Chapel of Ease, as it was called,
were occnpied by a congregation who were all either suffi-
ciently acquainted to speak or who at least knew each other
by sight. Lord Medway's appearance with a young and
remarkably pretty stranger, in as deep mourning as his own
sifter could hare worn, created quite a sensation ; more
eageriy than usual was he surrounded as he left the church,
more numerous than ever were the inquiries concerning his
health, and plans for the summer ; the querists deliberately
examining his companion while listening to his languid
negligent answers. To not one did he nkme her, to not one
did be mention his intention of leaving town that afternoon ;
bat drawing her arm within his, increased their curiosity by
murmuring a few words of Qerman, and then sauntering
slowly homewards.
'I fear,' said Leonora, after having seen him throw him-
self at full length on a chaise longue, and resolutely close
his eyes ; ' I fear you will not be able to drive to The Wil-
lows to-day.'
' Oh, yes ; I shall be quite well again after I have slept a
little and dined. You won't mind dining with me at two
o'clock, will you ? I am obliged to keep invalid hours at
present.*
'I am accustomed to dine early,' answered Leonora.
' What people call dinner here would be supper to me. '
'Ah, true I had forgotten that you are scarcely an Eng-
lish woman.'
With considerable warmth she explained that ' she did not
think her having by chance been born in a foreign country,
in any way lessened her- right to consider herself one.'
' I referred to your habits and education, ' said Lord Med-
way, amused at her eagerness.
' Paoa's habits were very English, and mamma directed
my education herself, I I only,' she added with om t^-
4*
42 LBONOBA NIXON LANDS,
luctance, ' only went occasionally for a few months to a foreign
school, when, on removing to a new coantry, it was necessarj
to acqnire the language quickly.'
'What immense advantages you have had,' he observed
thoughtfully; 'I dare say, now, you speak three or four
languages quite as well as English.'
Leonora was silent. She could not contradict the asser^
tion ; but would have greatly preferred his saying, that she
spoke the last named as if she had never been out of England:
' The only way to learn these languages properly,' he con*
tinned, ' is to live abroad. And with what ease can they be
acquired in early youth-^with what labor at a later period I'
Leonora, just then, felt too English to value in the least
her linguistic acquirements, and when he again spoke and re-
marked, that travelling about, as she had done, imperceptibly
formed both mind and manners, almost without instruction,
and added that she was ' charmingly digagie, and not at all
prudish, or like an Englishwoman, ' she rose, and with a for-
mality which seemed to contradict his last words, ' feared she
was preventing him from sleeping, and would not further in*
trude upon him. '
' Stay, Miss Nixon stay ; I can't go to sleep this half
hour,' he cried, starting up; 'and as to intruding, I never
heard anything so absurd I Why we're relations, aren't we?
Come back, and let us find out in what degree. '
These last words were not without effect : Leonora was at
the door she stopped a moment, looked back with a bright
smile, and seemed to hesitate ; but then saying : * We can
talk of that some other time, you must go to sleep now,' she
resolutely closed the door.
For the first time in her life she had now an opportunity
of inspecting a really well-furnished house. She had not un-
frequently been the inmate of suites of rooms approached by
marble staircases ; of airy Italian villas ; of apartments with
fresco*painted walls, and statue-filled ante-chambers; but
AND FORTHWITH FINDS A OUARDIAN. 43
cold and comfortless came the recollection of sach domiciles,.,
when compared with the perfectly ele^nt luxury of the
furniture of this English home. All that art, and taste, and
wealth, could command, or fancy suggest of useful or beauti*
ful was there, and all so judiciously in keeping that the most
careless obserrer must hare been charmed. She had not
examined half the china, bronze, and or-molu ornaments,
the tables,^ carpets, and book-cases ; and was delightedly
taming over the leaves of a volume of magnificent prints,
when the announcement of dinner obliged her to join Lord
Med way.
It was still early when they were seated in the carriage,
on their way to the Willows. Once fairly out of the im-
mediate precincts of London, Leonora became eager in her
praise of the various crescents, squares, and rows of neat
houses which long made the suburb appear a continuation
of the metropolis. These houses gradually assuming a conn*
try air, diminished in height as their possessors increased
their extent of landed property ; beginning with the little
garden in front, progressing to the small shrubbery, followed
by more or less ambitious attempts at avenues ; then some
trees to shut out the road, and finally the walled domain I
Much as Leonora was bent on finding every thing in Eng-
land supereminently excellent and admirable, she was some-
what puzzled to find any object worthy of commendation,
when their road lay between high walls topped by iron
spikes, or hideous fragments of broken glass bottles. The
dnst seemed forced to hover around them, while the over-
hanging trees, giving an idea of green woods beyond, became
at last so tantalizing, that, after a long silence, she could not
help drawing a comparison between the road scenery of other
countries and England, which was not exactly advantageous
to the latter. ,
Lord Medway seemed roused to unusual attention, and
replied quickly, ' It is quite natural that you &Ilow\4 m^t^^
44 LEONORA NIXON LANDS,
glance at things with the eye of a foreigner, and, like them,
form hasty conclusions. I can easily understand your dis-
approving of these walls ; hut there are two sides to every
question. You have as yet no idea of the extent and popu-
lation of London, and were yon for some time an inmate of
one of these places, yon would, for more reasons than I can
now explain to yon, be very glad to have a barrier between
you and a high road such as this I'
Leonora thought this might be true, but was surprised at
the warmth of her companion's defence of the ugly broken-
bottle-topped walls, as he had not only abused everything
English during dinner, but had unreservedly laughed at her,
perhaps, indiscriminate praises of all she had since seen. She
was not aware that an Englishman's abuse of his country is
about as sincere as his abuse of himself. He may call the
laws confused and intricate, the climate atrocious and so
forth ; but he does so ranch as he would call himself a dolt
or a donkey, great bein^ alike his surprise and indignation
at finding any one inclined even for a moment to agree
with him.
Leonora begged him playfully not to remind her so very
often of her foreign education, and assured him she was quite
disposed, in fact rather expected (with the exception of the
walled-in roads), to find everything faultless in England.
* Then you will be bitterly disappointed, ' said Lord Medway.
' I do not quite agree with you,' she rejoined. There, for
instance, is a village, and here are trees and meadows answer-
ing all my expectations. '
'That village is not far from The Willows,' said Lord
Medway, ' and at the next turn we shall see the river, and
soon after the house. '
The Willow^s was what is called a jointure-house ; it was
there that all Countesses of Medway took up their abode,
inspected schools, were good to the poor, and died respected
and lamented by all who had the happiness of knowing them.
AND FOBTHWITB FIND8 A GUABDIAN. 45
Bat it va9 not there that thej were buried their remains
were conreyed to the &mi]y vault at Thorpe Manor, there
to be solemnly interred in the presence of the surviving
family. On former melancholy occasions of this kind, many
days bad been necessary to convey the coffin and coach full
of mourning servants to their destination ; on the last as
many honrs had sufficed for the same purpose per railroad,
thereby proving that railroads are cnrtailera of grief as well
as distance.
The Willows had been long uninhabited, excepting occa-
sionally for a few days when there were races or archery
meetings in the neighboriiood ; and the present possessor,
having three young and unmarried daughters, was not likely
to be as constant a resident as her predecessor. She had
already left it, accompanied by her two elder daughters, to
spend a few weeks with relations, at whose house a select
party of friends had assembled to offer her all the consolation
in their power. It had been said The Willows required
repair, and some tiles had been put on the roof, the doors
and windows painted, and the chintz curtains washed.
Further orders had not been given, and, perhaps, they
were not necessary, for the house was comfortably, though
aot luxuriously furnished. As Leonora drove up the short
avenue, so short that it scarcely deserved the name, and
gazed up at the long low red brick house, with its ground-
floor, first story, and high weather-beaten tiled roof, a look
of disappointment passed over her expressive face, which
was instantly observed by her companion, who seemed to
study her countenaoce as earnestly as Lavater himself could
have done.
* Leonora,' he said, smiling, and laying particular emphasis
on her name (they had discovered that they were cousins in
some way or other, and had become very good friends during
the day), * Leonora, this is not one of the disappointments I
foretold. Wait until yon have seen the other side of Ui
house, before you pass jadgment on The Willows.'
46 LBONOEA NIXON LANDS,
They entered the hall, which was large, and had an old-
fashioned fireplace, not far distant from the commencement
of a broad oak staircase, rendered almost black bj oil' and
age ; they then passed into an ante-room redolent of fresh
flowers in vases and pots, concealed by green wicker-work
stands, and thence into a long drawing-room, with windowed
recesses that seemed to belong to octagonal turrets, each
forming a sort .of separate apartment, while between them
glass doors led into a garden terminating in sbrabberies
with groups of forest trees.
The nndonbtedly antiquated furniture of the room was
covered with a gay-colored chintz ; its want of elegance of
form being, however, amply compensated by its variety and
comfort. This chintz, perhaps, concealed more costly ma-
terial, for each succeeding dowager had added some favorite
pieces of furniture, so that the covers now served but to give
them all the necessary uniformity. The setting sun shone
brightly into the room and lighted the figure of a fair-haired
girl of about fifteen, who, after uttering a slight exclama-
tion of surprise, sprang forward and embraced Lord Medway
with an emotion that wavered strangely between joy and
sorrow.
' My dear Severton a a I mean Med . '
' Never mind that^ Jane. Let me introduce our cousin
Leonora Nixon to you.'
Lady Jane looked round hastily, gazed half inquiringly,
half amazedly, at Leonora, saw nothing repelling, perhaps
something the contrary, in her appearance, and held out her
hand, murmuring something about having so many cousins
that she scarcely knew all their names.
It was hardly to be expected that she should know Leon-
ora *s, never in alf her life having heard it ; but, without
waiting for an answer, she turned to her brother, and said,
' How kind of you to come to see me I gave up all hopes
from the time mamma went to you 1'
AMD VOaTHWITH PINDB A GUARDIAN. 4T
'If 70a promise to be rerj attentive to me, perhaps I may
stay here for a few days,' he answered, smiling.
'Oh, so attentive 1' she exclaimed, pushing a large chair
towards him, and seating herself on a footstool beside him,
while Leonora walked to one of the glass doors, ' so attentive
and obedient 1 yoa may send me twenty messages in. an hour
and I shall not gramble or pout my lips, as you used to say
I did. '
' Twenty messages in an hour I surely I never was so un*
conscionable 1'
'Indeed yoa were; but I was often disobliging enough
too however, that was all a hundred years ago. Tell me
something about yourself now. Mamma and Grace wrote
to me after they bad seen you, and said you had grown rather
thinner, but that you were getting much better, and they
hoped you would be induced to remain in England this
winter.'
'If not,' answered Lord Med way, 'I intend to propose
your all spending the winter with me at Nice. '
' Oh how delightful 1 nothing I should like so much as
going abroad. I really at times feel quite ashamed of never
having left England.'
' And there is your cousin Leonora, who is quite ashamed
of never having been here. '
' Never been in England 7'
' No. She was bom and has spent all her life, hitherto,
on the continent.'
' Do tell me how she is our cousin,' whispered Lady Jane*
' She is step-sister to Harry Darwin her mother and our
father were cousins, you know.' *
'Oh I'
' So you see she is second cousin or a aw first cousin
once removed, or a something of that sort a cousin at
all events.'
When Leonora perceived the gradual lowering of the
48 LBONOBA NIXON LANDS.
YOicea to a confidential whisper, she stepped into the garden,
and having walked a short distance, tamed round to take a
tiew of the house. It might have been originally at this
side also a long low red brick building, but changes had
been effectedi and additions made, until it had assumed the
appearance styled Elizabethan ; and as Leonora's wondering
eyes wandered along the pnzzlingly irregular facade, seeking
symmetry and finding none, she was fully impressed with the
idea intended to be given to all beholders unlearned in such
matters, that the mansion was of great antiquity.
She was soon after joined by Lord Medway and his sister,
and commenced a walk through gardens and shrubberies
kept with a neatness perfectly new to her. The grounds,
running along the banks of the Thames, were tastefully and
advantageously laid out, and contained fine specimens of
forest and other trees, single and in groups, and among them
sufficiently conspicuous, and near the house, some splendid
weeping willows which had probably given the place its
name. Under these trees were seats, and there they sat down
to watch the approach of night.
It was a calm warm evening, and a pleasing glow spread
over the whole scene as the sun disappeared, and left the sky
covered with fantastic-looking bright red and yellow clouds,
that were distinctly reflected on the clear surface of the river.
Occasionally a heavily-laden barge glided slowly past, or a
light wherry darted across to the landing-place of some other
villa, but it was not until a succession of boats filled with a
gay party returning from a pic-nic came dose beneath the
willows that they moved. Lord Medway had accosted some
friends, and great was their surprise, as they said, to see him
there, looking so well, and able to sit out so late on the damp
banks of the river. On this hint a hasty retreat was made
to the house. Lady Jane openly expressing her anxiety, and
hoping and trusting he had not caught cold, to prevent which
she ordered a fire in an odd-shaped little room, where they
drank tea and spent the evening together very gaily.
XBM WIliLOWS. 4t
CHAPTER V.
THB WlliliOiri.
Oirs week, and then a seeond, and then a third passed orer
ealmly and pleasantly at ' The Willows, ' For some nn-
donbtedlj good reason, which Lord Medway did not think
it necessary to eomraunicate to his companions, he had from
day to day deferred writing to his mother, and Leonora,
after being desired somewhat anthoritatively to 'leave every-
thing to him,' concerned herself no further abont the matter.
Lady Jane was too yonng, and had a much too exalted idea
of her brother's wisdom to offer either advice or remon-
strance, and having yielded at once to the boundless admira-
tion for Leonora with which she had suddenly been inspired,
informed every one who chose to hear it, that she liked her
better than all her other cousins that she was the most dear,
darling, clever creature she had ever seen, the only one who
suited her exactly for a companion, and could make her
quite contented to stay at home until Qrace or Louisa were
married.
To all this Lord Medway listened approvingly, agreed
with his sister in thinking it would nev^ answer to let Harry
Darwin take charge of Leonora, even if he proposed doing
so on bis return to England, and when they were alone to-
gether, ' hoped' bis mother would allow her to remain with
them until ^ until
' Until Harry is married, ' suggested Lady Jane. ' Ob, I
am sure mamma will have no objection when I promise to
speak French constantly, and to leam Oennan from her ; do
you know, I think (German does not sound at all disagreeably
when she speaks it ; and then she sings such lots of pretty
little songs -- but she says they sound better to a guitar I
wish yon would send to town for one. '
L 6
60 THE WILLOWS.
'Of coane I shall,' he answered, 'and in the mean time
she mnst sing to me with a pianoforte accompaniment I
dare say she plays famously !'
' Not exactly it is rather in an odd sort of way, for her
father did not like to hear her practise, so she learned alto-
gether differently from other people. '
' How so ? I heard her playing some sacred music Tery
nicely. '
'That's it I' cried Lady Jane, 'she has learned theoreti*
cally, and can go on playing chords and composing for her-
self whole hours together. '
'A much pleasanter kind of accomplishment for a private
performer than rattling eternally at those dreadfal fantasies
and Tariations like Grace and Louisa,' observed Lord
Medway. ' Tell her to come here, Jane ; say, I want her to
write letters for me, as I am too much fatigued to sit op any
longer. '
He stretched himself on a sofa as he spoke, and when
Leonora appeared, pointed to a table beside him on which
were writing materials. He dictated, and she wrote, sealed,
and addressed as he directed her ; the last letter was an order
for a gnitar with case, strings, &c., and then she looked up
inquiringly.
' For you ^to serenade me with,' he said, nodding his head,
and Leonora smiled and folded the letter, with a slight in*
crease of color, that he thought became her exceedingly.
The gnitar arrived the next evening and was carried into
the garden, where, to Lady Jane's in6nite delight, Leonora
hid herself behind a clump of trees, and by a few chords or
a verse of a song, attracted the attention of all the passers
by on the river. At a Iflter hour she played at serenading
too, sitting outside the drawing-room window, and recalling
distant scenes and persons to Lord Medway's mind by a suc-
cession of light French, sweet Italian, and melodious German
airs. When she re-entered the room he seemed to be indulg-
TU WILLOW. 61
\Rff; in a deep reverie, while Leonora, drawing a chair close
to Lady Janets, and QDConscious of being watched or listened
to, yielded witboat reserve to the gaiety inspired by her own
masic^ and sang, laaghed, talked, and related some travelling
adventures with each hnmor, that Lord Med way, irresistibly
attracted by her amusing gaiety, moved, nnperceived, his
chair behind hers, and she was first made aware of his vicinity
by a hearty fit of laaghter on his part that startled himself
by its mirthful boyish sonnd.
This had taken place very shortly after her arrival, and a
slight sketch which she afterwards gave of her short but not
nnadventnrons life, seemed at once to remove all barriers to
intimacy, and their intercourse thenceforward lost every trace
of new acquaintanceship.
Lady Medwa^'s letter, annoso,
perhaps, occasionally, for some days; at the end of which
time a messenger was sent late one evening from liondon, to
inform him that his brother Charles had just arrived from
Vienna, had but one week to spend in England, and hoped
that he would leave The Willows and join him in B square
without delay.
Lady Medway expressed more surprise at her son Charles'
arrival than Leonora expected, after having beard from Jane
that her brother wonld probably come to England, in coase-
quence of a pressing request from bis mother. Her look of
inquiry was answered by Jane in a whisper : * I suppose
Charley first said he could not come, and after all hM
managed it ; some way or other he always contrives to do
whatever he likes.'
'I suppose I tniLst go to town to-morrow/ aaid Lord
Medway ; * but, with Chariey's energetic assistance, we may
manage to start for the Continent in a week or ten days I
I dare say,' he continued, glancing towards Leonora, 'he
can tell us something about brQther Harry ; but at all events,'
he added, turning to his mother, ' nothing shall now interfere
with the arrangement for Leonora, about which I spoke to
yon yesterday.'
'Of course not,' she replied, dryly ; and rising abrnptly,
AN XNOLIBU HOME. 61
she wftlked towards a writing-table at the other end of tha
room, and there found occn]ation until it was time to separate
for the night.
When leaving the next morning, Lord Medwaj begged
his mother to follow him as soon as possible, told Jane she
might take Azor to Italy with her, and then, turning to
Leonora, hoped she had not forgotten her promise about
going to Nice, and assured her that being at some place on
the coast of the Mediterranean, was her best, if not onlj,
ebance of seeing her brother for years.
When she looked towards Lady Medway, hoping for a
word or look of at least acquiescence, her ladyship seemed
altogether engrossed by some directions which she was giving
to a servant about a letter that he was to deliver without
delay to her son Mr. Thorpe.
Some few words Lord Medway then added in a whisper to
Leonora ; ' He feared he should find the time pass very dis-
mally without her, even for one solitary week he was con-
vinced he should be bored to death most probably he would
return in a few days, and bring Charley with him entreated
her not to forget him and made her promise to try and
like him better even than she liked Jane V
Leonora promised, and hoped he would bring Charley to
The Willows. And she did hope this with all her heart,
for if the tmth must be told, she had taken a singular fancy
to the boy portrait of him that hung beside that of her
brother Harry, in the breakfast-room. Often, when she was
supposed to be looking at the latter, had her eyes been fixed
on the miniature of the proud, manly-looking boy with his
whip, and his dog, and his great grey eyes ! and then, when
Jane told her of his wild pranks, and his conrage, and extra-
ordinary strength, Leonora feared yes, feared she should
prove ungrateful, and like him better far better-^ than her
kind and gentle friend Medway !
Lady Medway's silence respecting the projected Journey
L 6
43 AN 'ENSMT' PROCVBES L80N0RA
during the ensuing week, surprised Leonora much, as tiio
intercourse of letters was apparently incessant. Lad? Jane
told her, in confidence, they were almost all from Charleyi
adding mysteriously, that he did not appear quite to approve
of the plan of their going to Nice for the winter. Lieonora
attached infinitely less importance to this remark than it
deserved, and forgot it completely a few evenings afterwards,
when, at tea-time, a packet of notes arrived, with one for
herself, from Lord Med way. He informed her very briefly,
that all his arrangements were completed, and that, urged
by his brother, he had consented to lea\'e England in the
eonrse of a few days that he should not, however, go
further than Paris without them all, and, therefore, hoped
she would forthwith have her 'coffers,' as she called then,
packed up, as he found it impossible any longer to exist with-
out the society and services of his charming little secretary.
Lady Medway's eyes were fixed on Leonora's smilirfg face,
as she stood by the fire-place and read these hurried lines.
Explanation of some kind respecting the journey to Nice
was now ineritable, and to promote it Leonora silently
handed the note to her ladyship, who was sitting unusually
upright on an adjacent sofa.
' It is a fortunate circumstance, my dear girl,' began Lady
Medway, after a pause, ' a most fortunate circumstance, that
yon so greatly prefer England to the Continent; were it
otherwise, I really should be extremely embarrassed at this
moment.'
Leonora's face said more plainly than her words, ' I do not
understand '
'It is a curious coincidence,' her ladyship continued, in
her softest voice, ' that I, this very morning, received a letter
written by your uncle Stephen, to say that he would send
a a person here to-morrow to take charge of you and con-
vey you safely to his house in Bussell-square.'
AN SNOLI8H HOME.
' My mcle ! bnt I I did not ask him to send for me I
lukT not written to him since I have been in England 1'
' So I perceiTe from his letter, and I must say, Leonora,
it was rtrj injudicious your so openly neglecting soch a rich
relation.'
'Bat his riches can in no way concern me/ suggested
Leonora, hurriedly.
' It seems, however, he offers you a highly respectable,
and a * a comfortable home one which may lead, in ail
probability, to the possession of future affluence/ observed
Lady Medway.
Leoaora felt greatly inclined to say that she would not go
to her uncle, that she should greatly prefer spending the
winter at Nice when it suddenly occurred to her that the
announcemeBt had been made without a word of regret, and
that perhaps Lady Medway was unwilling to add another
member to her family. Bending forward she therefore said
in a low voice, *You do not wish to take me to Nice V
' Most willingly, my dear Leonora, would I take yon with
me, if I should not, by doing so, deprive you not only of the
protection of your nearest relations, bnt also of the chance
of hereafter inheriting from them.'
Leonora made an impatient gesture.
' Why not V continued her ladyship. ' This uncle of yours
is, by all accounts, so rich, that he could provide for yon
without injuring his own family in any perceptible manner
and let me tell you, dear Leonora, that I cannot do so.
We all like you, for Jane you are a charming companion,
bat after having made you sacrifice your relations, and, pro-
bably, considerable pecuniary advantages, what have I to
offer you ? Literally nothing. With two already grown-np
daughters, and a third, who, in a couple of years, will also
expect to be introduced to the world, myself a widow, and
consequently reduced in circumstances, what could I do with
a yooDg person soch as you are 7'
A
04 AN 'ENEMY' PBOCUBB8 LEONORA
She paused, but LeoDora made no attempt to answer her
qaestion, and after a moment's hesitation, her lady^ip,
gently compelliog her to sit down beside her, enlarged with
eloquence on the same theme, ending bj an appeal to her
good sense, and an assurance of unalterable regard on her
part.
A good deal softened by this speech, Leonora sat for some
moments silent and motionless, her eyes fixed intently on the
floor. The necessity of resignation to her fate, and the ee^
iainty that Lady Medway would noi take her to Nice, had
become so evident to her, that Lord Medway now reigned
paramount in her thoughts. She feared he might suppose
that she had joined in deceiving him in order to remain in
England, and she continued this train of ideas when, taking
his note from Lady Medway's hand, she murmured, ' What
will he think of me 7 what will he say V
'Very little, Leonora,' answered her ladyship, quietly;
' I am sorry to be obliged to undeceive yon respecting Med*
way, but a his wish to have you with him is a most repre
hensible instance of selfishness he merely wants something
to interest him some one to amuse him and thinks yon
may answer both purposes for the next six months. I
regret to say, this is not the first time he has acted in a
similar manner I'
Leonora did not qaite comprehend what the 'similar
manner' meant. She believed Lord Medway to be her only
sincere friend, and was not disposed to resign him without a
struggle. She could not understand why he shonld not be
made acquainted with her removal to her uncle's if the plan
were so very desirable for all parties. A wish for further in*
formation made her ask to see her uncle's letter, and Lady
Medway, evidently prepared for the request, drew it from
her pocket, placed it in Leonora's hands, and walked towards
the tea-table where her daughters were seated, the two
eldest speaking to each other in a low, indistinct manner,
IV KNOLIgU noMX. 65
tk joangesi listening anxiooaly and foUoiriiig with her eyes
ill her mother *B movements.
'There is some mistake/ said Leonora, hastily, advancing
a few steps, Hhis letter begins ''Sir,'' '
'It is addressed to Charles,' answered her ladyship, with-
out taming round, ' it was he who undertook and carried on
the correspondence. '
' So,' thought IjeoDora, ' there has been a correspondence,
and my ancle was perhaps unwilling to receive me I'
Tet there was nothing in the letter to confirm this idea.
It informed Mr. Thorpe, in the very fewest words possible,
that a trustworthy person would be sent to The Willows for
Miss Nixon, who would not so long have been left there to
eaose embarrassment, had either of her uncles been earlier
Blade acquainted with her address.
'I think,' said Leonora, after a long and painful pause,
'I think as this "trustworthy person" will be here so early
to-morrow, I had better go to my room now and commence
packing my clothes. '
'Oh, no dear Leonora, no wait until after tea,' ez-
elaimed the ladies Thorpe together. 'Jennings will pack
everything for you in an hour or two to-morrow morning. '
'No, thank yon,' said Leonora, in a scarcely audible
voice, but walking with an appearance of unusual calmness
to the door. A strong effort of the mind will enable most
people to control the outward signs of emotion as far as they
are expressed by the movements of the body ; to retain the
color of the cheek to restrain the flashing of the eye and
quivering lip is however not so easy, and Leonora's deadly
paleness greatly alarmed Lady Medway. She first advanced
a few steps with outstretched hand as if to detain her, and
then, as the door closed between them, hastily motioned to
Jane to follow.
Breathless the two young girls stood together at the top
of the staircase.
66 AN 'ENSMT' PaOCURSS LXONOBA
' Jane I wish to be aloD&--I cannot^-speak evea to
yoQ jast now,' gasped Leonora.
Jane's answer was a tearful embrace, from which Leonora
released herself somewhat impetnoosly, and then ran into
her room. Her thoughts, as she afterwards impatiently
paced np and down the apartment, were for some time qnite
chaotic : anger, mortification, and disappointment predomi-
nated bj tarns. One moment she resolred to write to Lord
Medwaj, the next bloshed at the mere idea ^wished she had
expostulated with Ladf Medway, then rejoiced she bad not
done so. Suddenly an undefined terror of the meeting with
her uncle took possession of her mind. Had he sent to in-
quire about her ? or had her place of residence been notified
to him with the request that he would relieve the Medway
family of an incumbrance? She feared the latter; and
what a reception was likely to be given to her under such
circumstances I The thought was dreadful. Overwhelmed
by the consideration of her perfect helplessness, she yielded
for a few minutes to a violent burst of grief, from which she
had not quite recovered when Jane stood at her door pray-
ing for admittance. Leonora for a minute or two appeared
inclined to be inexorable ; she employed the time, however,
in opening her wardrobe, drawing forth various articles of
apparel, and throwing them on the sofa and chairs in a man-
ner to give the room all the uncomfortable appearance thai
generally accompanies the preparations for packing. Even
after the entrance of her friend she continued her occupation
with averted head and an expenditure of energy that some*
way began to impress her companion with a feeling of awe
and dismay.
Lady Jane's voice was very tremulous as she observed, ' I
hope I shall see Charles, and have an opportunity of telling
him how very unkindly he has acted. '
* I rather think he has only done what Lady Medway de-
sired him,' answered Leonora, continuing her occupation
N KNGItlSH HOXS. 67
Without iDtermissiou, * and I do not blame her, on reflection,
for wishing to get rid of me ; bnt she onght to bare con-
Bolted me and let me make the application to mj uncle
mjielf.'
' That 18 exactly what Qrace said jast now ; but Charlej,
it seems, disapproved from the beginning of yonr being
spoken to. He said nothing bnt yonr extreme youth could
ezeose yonr baring come here with Medway, and that nothing
bat the strongest and most energetic measures would now in*
sore yonr going to yonr uncle ; and if given time even to
write to Medway, the consequences would ineritably be most
disagreeable to us all. '
' I do not see how/ said Leonora, turning round with a
look of astonishment, and standing upright before her com-
panion ; ' for if Lady Medway declined to take me with her,
there must hare been an end of the matter. I could not,'
ahe added, petulantly, ' I could not hare gone alone to Italy
with'your brother, conid If'
' I suppose not,' said Lady Jane.
* Well, then, had I been able to consult him there is no
manner of donbt that he would have mediated between me
and my uncle more kindly than Charles seems to have done.'
'Thst is true,' said Lady Jane; 'but Charles does not
choose Medway to mediate, or to know anything about the
matter, for he has written to say that he hopes to get him
off to POj^is to-morrow, and then mamma must write to him
and pacify him with promises and plans for next summer.'
' What promises and plans V asked Leonora.
' They said something about proposing to ask you to re-
turn to The Willows when we come back to England, bnt '
here she hesitated.
'But what?'
' Charley says that Medway 's fancy for you will be long
over by that time. '
Leonora could not or would not believe this. Sha c\nxi%
68 AN 'SNSMY' PR0CUBE8 LKONORA
to' the idea of Lord Medway's regard as the drownio^
mariner to the floating wreck, thoughtless of the force of the
snrroanding waves, and hoping against reason.
Lady Jane continued sorrowfully : ' From the day that I
heard of Charles's disapproval of oar winter plans I wu
sare that another arrangement would be made. In his letter
to mamma this evening, he says that from some conversations
he has had with Medway he expects to find him troublesome
at Paris, but by dint of ridicule and judicious procrasUna*
tion, he has no doubt that all will be right in a few weeks.'
* I cannot understand what all this means,' said Leonora,
with a puzzled air; ' Lady Medway's reasons for not wish*
iug me to reside with her are quite within my comprehen-
sion ; but why Charles, who has not yet seen me, should so
dislike me, is what I never shall be able to make out.'
'Or I either,' said Jane; 'but he says expressly in hit
last letter that mamma must be firm, and rather spend the
winter in England than consent to take yon with her to
Nice.'
At that moment a feeling of strong resentment sprang up
in Leonora's mind against Charles Thorpe. A positive per*
sonal dislike to him for what she considered his officious and
unkind interference in her affairs. She pictured him to her*
self as a stem arbiter of her fate, an intriguing, calculating
man of the world ; in short, her secret, powerful, and impla*
cable enemy ; and though she wished him no actual evil, the
wild desire presented itself that she might in the course of
her life have an opportunity of making him feel, if only for a
short time, as acute mortification as she had suffered that
evening. It was a vague wish, prompted by anger, and
without a thought of intervening obstacles ; yet she remem*
bered it years afterwards, when experience had taught her to
understand the motives of his conduct, and knowledge of
the world and its ways made her judge him rather more
leniently.
AH S1IOLI8H HOHS. 69
' Jane/ she said, slowly, ' all this manoeaTring and writiog
was most unnecessarj. A few rational words from Lady
Medway, such as she spoke this evening, would at any time
have been sufficient to have induced me to apply to my ancle
aod leave The Willows volontarily. '
' Charles did not choose to have it so,' marmnred Jane.
Leosora shmgged her shoulders, and began, in an absent
manner, to collect her books. ' I believe, Jane,' she said, at
iength, looking ronnd hex with some dismay at the disord^
she had created in the room, ' I believe, afler'all, it will be
better to let Jennings pack up all these things for me to-
morrow morning.'
' Ob, mnch better I and now, dear, yon will come down to
tea, won't you ? Mamma is so sorry, yon can't think 1'
'I mast hope, and not think, for the next twenty-foar
hoars, 'said Leonora, making an effort to appear cheerful.
' As to going down stairs, and talking on indiiferent subjects,
after all that has occurred this evening that is beyond my
power ; so yoa most say good night for me : I wish yoa
could say good-bye, also, and that I were now far, far away
from The Willows I'
' Oh I Leonora,' cried Jane, vainly endeavoring to restrain
her tears, ' I cannot bear to think of your leaving us I but
we shall continue friends for ever, promise me that at least.'
Leonora warmly gave the assurance required.
'And when we go to town,' continued Jane, 'I shall be
aarc to see you and spend hours with you and I shall write
to yoa oh, that puts me in mwd mamma desired me to
find out if you intended to write to Medway. '
' No, ' said Leonora, ' I leave it to you to explain this
affair to him, and then perhaps he may write to me. I
wish, with all my heart, I had never come here but there
Is no use in thinking of that now. Good night. '
The door closed, and Leonora was once more alone, and
bow confused and unhappy only those can know who have
10 AN 'ENEMY' PE0CURE8 LEONORA
been iu tbeir 700th homeless, and onceremonioogl j forwarded
from one house to another. For some time a feeling of nXX&
desolation, a sensation of even more complete loneliness
befel her than when first, an orphan and among strangers,
she had written the short formal letters to her uncles, and the
long explanatory one to Lord Medway, on whom all her
hopes then centered. What would he have been to her had
be lived ? Wonld Charles have dared to bnt why com*
plain ^his snccessor had proved as willing to befriend her as
she conld have desired ; it was the nnexpected opposition on
the part of bis brother and mother that now made him an*
able to do so. And then hope began to whisper that he
would not desert her completely, that he would write to her;
perhaps even return to England, if only for the purpose of
securing her a pleasanter position in her uncle's house. Had
he not said repeatedly that he liked her better than any of
his sisters f told her never to doubt his interest in all that
concerned herf and assured her that his father's offer of
protection should be carried into action by him in the most
surprising and satisfactory manner f Some doubts of his
power to do this just now, were reluctantly admitted ; hot
with all the careless confidence of youth and inexperience, she
dwelt long on the chance of being invited, kindly and wil-
lingly invited, to spend the ensuing summer at The Willows,
That Lord Medway would still desire it she felt sure, and
she took it for granted that by that time she should have
sufficiently conciliatad both her uncles to satisfy even Lady
Medway 's scruples. In short, were the dreaded interviews
with her relations once over, she believed she should, after
all, have no very great objection to spend, on any terms, the
winter in London it would be something so novel, so inter*
esting to her I Opening a guide-book that lay on the table,
she spread out the map of London before her and studied it
attentively, until she had her finger on Russell-square. It
seemed to her Just the central sort of place for seeing and
AH XKOLIBH HOMB. 71
bearing eTerything. Yes; she shonld see Westminster
Abbey and St. Paal's, tbe Docks, the Tannel, the Zoological
Gbrdens, the Tower, and the Mnseom I It was so odd that
her mother had liTed so long in London and had nerer been
to see the Moseam ! She conld not expect her node to go
everywhere with her he was too old, past sixty she beliered
bat his son Arthnr ^here Leonora sighed, and wished
she were going to her nncle Gilbert, who had a daughter or
daogbters about her own age- Talgar most probably but
she beltCTed she conld liice any one now who would receive
and treat her kindly. Yet eren while this hnmble thought
passed throogh her mind, appalling visions of corpulent^ red*
faced, lond-voteed uncles, with shopmen*iooking sons, rose
rlTidly before her imagination, which, it has been already
observed, was of the most fertile description ; and the forms,
when they had acquired gigantic proportioos, were in their
torn chased, phantasmagoria-like, by painfully contracting
groups of tali, graceful, gentle-mannered Thorpes. Among
these, however, Charles at length stood so prominent, that
anger efTectually pat to flight all the intruding phantoms;
her pride was roused, and, starting from her chair, she re-
solved, whatever her fears for the future might be, to conceal
them ; not even to Jane would she breathe a word of com
plaint, or show a particle of the deep regret with which she
left a family whose habits and manners were so congenial to
her own ; and her thoughts cantered, during the greater part
of a sleepless night, in the consideration of how she conld
now leave Tbe Willows with at least a semblance of dignity.
TS A CITT UNCLI.
CHAPTER VII.
CITY UNOLX. I
Lbonoka's composure the next moniifig sarprised Lidj I
Medwaj not a little. The arrangement of her clothes tnd
the hasty fioishiDg of some trifling fancy-work which she
had undertaken for Jane and her sisters, seemed to oceapj
her so completely, that she appeared quite unconscious of the
grave faces around her, or even Jane's tearful eyes, as she
followed her from place to place with Azor in her arms ; be-
stowing on the dog the caresses she no longer ventured to
offer Leonora, who seemed to have changed in some strange
manner during the night. Yet once more their eyes met
with the wonted look of intelligence, and a mutual sympa-
thetic paleness overspread their features as the carriage wai
announced which was to separate them for a time nominally
indefinite, but which both, with anxious forebodings, feared
for that reason might prove long.
Lady Medway desired to see the ' person' who was to take
charge of Miss Nixon ; and as Leonora left the room, to
prepare for her journey, she stopped for a few minutes in the
hall to look at the monstrous yellow carriage sent by her
uncle, and the strange figure that descended from it. She
had been closely followed by Jane ; and, under almost any
other circumstances, laughter would have been irrepressible
on their parts ; but all inclination to gaiety was subdued by
grief, and merely an expression of wonder pervaded the
countenances of the young girls, as their eyes followed the
thin form of the elderly woman, who tripped rather than
walked across the hall. - A glimpse of her face had shown
them a pair of prominent, restless, dark eyes, a nose of large
yet sharp proportions, slightly inclining to the lefty and par-
taking amply of the dappled colors that flushed her cheeks,
iSU9
A CITY UNCLS. T8
and all saironnded by a cap of innnmerable lace frills, pressed
down opon her forehead by a bonnet of amazing proportions,
and in form resembling a coal-scnttle the date of fabrica-
tion was beyond the recollection of either Leonora or Jane ;
and the extreme freshness of the materials for a moment
staggered their judgment, and made them fear it was some
terrible importation from beyond the Channel, which they
and every one must, in the coarse of time, copy and adopt.
It was a relief to their minds when the remoral of a maflSing
cloak disclosed a black silk dress, fresh as the bonnet, bat
which, even to their youthful eyes, betrayed its age in those
unmistakable cyphers the sleeves. Old as was that gown,
the folds from the shop might be distinctly traced in its thick
rustling plaits : it waa a curious fact, the cause of which was
made but too evident to Leonora at a later period.
While her bags and boxes were being placed in and out-
side the carriage, she put on her bonnet ; and on returning
to the hall was met by Lady Medway, who, with a slightly-
flushed face, turned to her and said, ' I hoped you would
have been able to remain until after luncheon, bat this a
person says that she has received directions to avoid all
delay here, and is to stop at the Toy in Hampton Court to
rest the horses. I suppose your uncle's orders must be
obeyed, dear g^rl.'
'Oh, of course V answered Leonora, breathing qaickly, as
they all advanced to take leave of her.
Jane, in an agony of grief, laid Azor in her arms, and
with difficulty articulated, 'Keep htm for my sake.'
The gift was already accepted with eager gratitude, when
the 'person' interfered, observing that 'Mr. Nixon could
not abide dogs, wich certainly were 'orrid faanimals in a
town 'ouse.'
Leonora reluctantly resigned the proffered treasure, and
Azor displayed considerable enjoyment at recovering the
liberty of which he had been deprived for so long a time la
L 1
t4 A CITY UNCLX.
order to be ready when required for the meditated sacrifice
to friendship.
Turning hastily away, Leonora entered the carriage; and
then, leaning back in a comer, remained silent and motion-
less, until, on arriving at Hampton Court, her companios
proposed having luncheon and walking in the palace garden.
Leonora declined both, and was left unceremoniously enoogb
to sit alone with her luggage, her feet on the opposite seat,
her head bent on her clasped hands.
How long she thus remained she had not the least idea;
for, in complete oblivion of all around her, she had lived
over again in thought the last two months of her life, re-
calling, with an accuracy sharpened by reg^t, all she had
seen, and heard, and felt during that time. Pleasant were
the recollections of the various afternoon tea-parties beneath
the willows with Jane and her brother ; interesting the drives
with Lady Medway in the neighborhood, where people and
scenery were equally strange and new to her. A certain
small dog cemetery at one place they had visited rose dis-
tinctly before her ; for among the graves of pet pugs and
poodles she and Lord Medway had spoken of the contrast
between German and English churchyards the pious re-
membrance of lost friends displayed in the carefully-cultivated
graves of one country, the apparent forgetfulness, in the
neglect of them, so common in the other. Her description
of a foreign village churchyard he had called poetical prose,
while she had obstinately refused to believe his perhaps ex-
aggerated account of some London burial-places. Then
there had been quiet boating-parties to neighboring villas,
whence friends of the Medways came for them in their own
wherries : expert and handsome boatmen, who had all been,
as Leonora ingenuously expressed it, 'extremely kind to her.'
8he was in the midst of an excursion to Glaremont, then un-
tenanted by royalty, was in imagination standing before the
picture of the Princess Charlotte in the dining-room, the
A OXTY UNCLB. Y5
white satin, well-fittingr shoes again provokinglj attracting
her attention, when the horses were led oat to be put to,
the carriage-door was opened, and her travelling companion
entered, apparently greatly refreshed by her luncheon. She
carried in her hand a paper bag, filled with tempting-looking
biscaits, which Leonora, who had breakfasted very slightly,
found it impossible to refuse, and they formed the commence-
ment of a conversation, that gradually, from a description
of the excellent mutton-chops to be had at Hampton Court,
led to an enumeration of the things most suitable for lun-
cheons ; dinners followed, and market prices, until Leonora
had no longer a shadow of doubt that she was enjoying the
society of her uncle's housekeeper, or cook, or both united
in the person of Mrs. Ducker, which she now learned was
the name of her companion.
Indeed, Mrs. Ducker, who probably saw no reason for
either concealment or silence on the present occasion, in-
formed her soon afterwards, at some length, that she had
risen to her present high position in Mr. Nixon's family
from having been nurse to his only son, Arthur (so named
after the Duke of Wellington, who, however, she believed,
was not his real godfather). Arthur she loved as if he were
her own child ; she might say, indeed, that she had been a
mother to him since Mrs. Nixon's death ; and he never for-
got her never came home from foreign parts without bring-
ing her a handsome sUk dress. The bonnet she then wore
was from Paris, g^ven to her by him, and was so well made
that it was quite as good as new after years' and years'
wearing : but then, to be sure, she took remarkably great care
of her clothes. Here an admonitory glance was darted at
the unconscious Leonora, who, while crunching her biscuits,
was carelessly lounging in the comer, and allowing her crape
bonnet and its light decorations to rub against the side of
the carriage.
*I wonder my uncle did not marry again,' observed
i
76 A CITY UNGLX.
Leonora, on whom the history of the bonnet had made bat
little impression.
' Why should he V asked Mrs. Ducker, rather tartly. 'I
was there to take charge of the 'onsekeeping. Oar Arthnr
had gone to school, the little girl died of the measles, and
Missus was after all bat a poor thing, always nnealthy, and
the doctor never oat of the 'onse as long as she lived.
Master had no fancy to take another wife ^never thonght of
sach a thing, /'m sare 1'
' He is very old now, is he not V asked Leonora.
'Between sixty and seventy,' answered her companion,
thonghtfully ; ' they said he was past thirty when Arthur was
born.'
' So Arthar is also quite old 1' exclaimed Leonora, with a
look of disappointment.
^A man is young at thirty, Miss Leonora, and your coasin
is young and 'andsome too, though he 'as red 'air like his
mother. '
' Red hair ! oh, now I am sure I shall never be able evea
to tolerate him,' cried Leonora, with a light laugh.
'You're not likely to see much of him, I suspect,' rejoined
Mrs. Ducker, with flashing eyes ; ' he can have his choice of
company, I can tell yon, and will not be in any hurry to
leave Rome, or his friends Viscount Torpid and the Marquis
of Witherington I'
This was said almost triumphantly, and in the manner of
a person who plays down a well-reserved trump at cards.
Leonora, however, had known too many viscounts and mar-
quises, and was still too little English in her ideas, to attach
the expected importance to such titles. Indeed, the chances
and changes of foreign life enabled her to number some dukes
and princes among her acquaintance; she was, therefore,
neither astonished as her companion intended, nor at all in-
terested in the given information it merely sent her thoughts,
with the swiftness of lightning, to Italy ; and, as answer to
A CITT UNCLE. tT
mpoiis anDoaocement, she observed with a smile, 'I
rerj thing at Rome excepting the fleas.'
! yoa have been there too 1' cried Mrs. Docker, with
of surprise ; and then piqned, and, provoked perhaps,
nora's silent nod, and month full of biscuit, she added,
/2 be a change for you, going to school this Michael-
erm 1'
school 1' repeated Leonora, amazed, and instantly sit-
3 as erect as her companion could hare desired,
s ; to the same where Miss Georg^na 'as been so well
ited. Oh, you may think yourself very well hoff, for
; a carriage for the young ladies to go a hairing in and
riding-school, and a French fern de sham, and they
to make curtseys, and receive visitors, and are only a
[ number, and the daughters of people of fortune and
!'
orgina is my uncle Gilbert's daughter?' said Leo*
half interrogatively.
bo else could I mean ?' asked Mrs. Ducker, ' but she's
Nixon, by right, since our little girl died ; and most
mon haccomplished she is, they say plays long vari-
on the pianer, and sings hopera songs, and draws 'eads
Ik ; but of course you can do all this too !'
9,' answered Leonora, ' I am not at all accomplished ;'
say the truth, she had no particular wish to become
Jiat moment, if, for the purpose, she must again go to
. Had Mrs. Docker expressed herself properly, and
lat, ' A lady would receive her into her circle,' or that,
cancy having occurred in a select ladies' establish^ ent|
the 'plan might have appeared less revolting; but to
t to school when she considered her education finished,
stroke of fate for which she was not prepared ; and
li her companion began, in consequence of her confes-
oudly to applaud Mr. Nixon's intention, she paid no
r attention, merely ejaculating during the first pause, as
1*
t8 A CITY UNOLE.
if in continnation of her thoughts, ' Whj conld he not let me
live with him ?'
* And what, ' demanded Mrs. Docker, ' what coald a gen*
tleman, at his advanced time of life, do with a yoang person
such as yon are V
' Do with a yonng person, such as I am 7' repeated Leo-
nora, thoughtfully, 'just what Lady Medway said no ono
knows what to do with me. '
' Of course not,' said Mrs. Docker, her face flushing vivid-
ly; 'Why yoo couldn't make yourself useful -.-and fill my
place, and undertake the 'ousekeeping, conld you f '
Leonora's natural powers of observation had been strength-
ened by practice. She instantly perceived that Mrs. Ducker
dreaded finding in her a rival, and was ill-disposed towards her
in consequence. She hastened, therefore, to remove all such
suspicions from her mind, by some very truthful confessioni
of both uselessness and inexperience on her part, which were
received with amusing satisfaction ; a very perceptible soften-
ing of manner taking place after she had murmured, ' Oh, I
thought, perhaps, as you wasn't accomplished '
' I ought to be useful ' interposed Leonora, with a smile.
' I have led too wandering a life, and my acquirements are
merely in foreign languages and literature, not, I mnch fear,
in any way likely to recommend me to my uncle. '
' Well, I don't think he has any partikler hobjections to
forring bedncation ; but Mr. Gilbert 'as, and couldn't at all
be persuaded to let you be sent to him, wich master would
of course have preferred. '
' So,' said Leonora, ' my uncle Gilbert refused to have me;
everyone rejects or tries to get rid of me. '
' Perhaps, however,' said Mrs. Ducker, softening, as Leo-
nora's insignificance became more and more apparent to her,
* perhaps, after all, you may not be sent to school. Master
didn't seem quite decided, and only desired me to send to
Mr. Gilbert for the Prospects of Mrs. Howard St. Yincent'i
A CITY UNCLS. T9
establishment. If he doesn't find jon tronblesome, he'll not
mind yoa at all after the 'first week or two.'
This was poor consolation, and Leonora thought long
before she again spoke ; when she did so, it was with the
wish to conciliate her companion, who, she began to suspect,
was a person of importance in her uncle's house. 'I dare
say, ' she began, with some hesitation, * or rather I am sure,
that having lived so many years with my uncle, you hare
great influence with him '
' No one has the least, excepting Arthur, ' interposed Mrs.
Pucker. ' I couldn't venture to offer an opinion even about
a salad, or lobster-sauce ! He orders everything from mar*
ket himself and excepting at the greengrocer's, and the fruit*
shop, I never buy any thing for the 'ouse.'
This, and some other remarks about her uncle's habits,
gave Leonora so much subject for thought, that they were
driving through the streets of London long before she again
began to look around her. The endless tows of shops, the
crowds of busy pedestrians, the carriages, carts, and omni-
buses, seemed to multiply as they advanced, and became at
last so confusing, that she felt a sort of relief as they turned,
at length into a succession of quieter streets, and she was
informed that they were drawing near home. She looked
out eagerly, and saw soon afterwards a space of ground
neatly enclosed by iron railings; within which were a few
dark-looking trees and shrubs, some dried-up dusty grass,
and a weedless gravel-walk, whereon several nurses and chil-
dren were sauntering sorrowfully, like prisoners taking exer-
cise. The high surrounding houses appeared to Leonora
perfectly alike ; and so they were, in fact, the only difference
being in the number of windows in front. They stopped, and
while a loud knock announced their arrival, Leonora looked
upwards, perfectly unconscious what sort of rooms were
lighted by the rows of bright-paned carefully-blinded windows
above her. Not so the English reader, for so great is the
80 A. CITT UNCLE.
aniformity of British town architectnrei that it will saffice to
say, the honse of Mr. Nixon was one of the largest-sized,
three-windowed, long-balconied, description; and immedL
atel J the edifice stands erected with its discolored bricks, and
plate-glass windows outside, its dining-room, drawing-
rooms, bed-rooms, and attics, within.
Mrs. Ducker commenced gathering together the stray
parcels, and then said, 'Miss Nixon please will yon step
out'
Leonora did as she was desired, ascended the stone steps
to the door, and entered the hall. It was large and lofty,
and at the end of the first flight of stairs she perceived a
stained glass window of a brilliant kaleidescope pattern, cal-
culated effectually to shut out the view of stables and the
backs of other houses, and perfectly harmonizing with the
yellow and red striped stair-carpet. A remarkably portly
butler, with a white waistcoat and red face, was at first so
occupied with Mrs. Ducker, and giving directions to a youth-
ful footman about the proper places for Leonora's luggage,
that she herself appeared to be completely forgotten after
having received from him a stiff obeisance on entering ; but
when she opened a door near the foot of the staircase, and
looked into a perfectly dark room, he advanced, saying,
'That is the dining-room. Miss Nixon will you not walk
into Mr Nixon's study, where there is a fire ?'
He preceded her, while speaking, into the large, handsomely
furnished front parlor, drew up the window-blinds, moved a
chair towards the fireplace, and informing her that Mr.
Nixon would be home in about an hour, left her to examine
at her leisure the furniture of a room which was so different
from what she had expected, that she found it necessary to
call upon her imagination for a new portrait of her uncle.
Handsomely-bound books in glass cases completely covered
the walls, a round table was heaped with new works, pam-
phlets, magazines, reviews, and newspapers. There was a
A OITT UHCLB. 81
writing-Uble of large dimensions, and near one of the win*
dows, globes and a telescope on pedestals. Aboat a dozen
lozaiionsly comfortable arm-chairs and a chaise longne were
eorered with green morocco leather to match the color of the
Gortains and carpet; the chimnej-piece was loaded with
handsome ornaments, and, in the midst of them, a clock of |
singularly beaatifol workmanship. Leonora had ample time
for obsenraUon, and used it while there was light sufficient to
discern the objects around her. As the evening drew to a
close, she walked towards one of the windows and looked at
the square and the surrounding houses, and watched the
Tarioas groups of people who resided in the neighborhood
retarning to their homes. Candles glimmered red and ray-
less in the opposite houses, lamp-lighters began to hurry to
and fro, and when, at length, a broad gleam of light fell on
the window where she stood, and the stone steps immediately
before her, she saw a man slowly ascend the latter, while
deliberately drawing from his pocket a key, which he applied
to the ball-door. A moment after she knew that only a few
steps separated her from her mucb-dreaded uncle.
During the hour she had jast spent alone, the silence in the
house had been unbroken, but now the opening and shutting
of doors not far distant from her became audible, and soon
afterwards the study-door was opened, and she turned round,
with a beating heart, to meet Mrs. Ducker, who came to
inform her that Mr. Nixon having gone to dress for dinner,
she supposed it was time for Miss Nixon to do the same, and
she had come to show her to her room. Leonora followed
her into the gas-lit hall, and up four long flights of stairs, in
silence ; then Mrs. Ducker pointed to the door of the back
bed-room, and whispered * Master's room,' whereupon Leo-
nora turned to the other doors, but finding them locked,
perceived tbat she was to follow her guide up a narrow,
ancarpeted continnation of the staircase, which led to the
88 A CITT UNGLS.
attics, where she was pat in possession of a large, wild-lock-
ing room, called the nursery.
Her toilet was qnicklj made, and without giving herself
time to become frightened again, she rapidly descended tiia
stairs, fervently hoping to reach the study before her uncle.
She was disappointed : he was already there, his elbow lean*
ing on the chimney-piece, and his tall stiff figure turned
towards the door, on which his eyes were fixed with piercing
keenness.
Leonora's previous life had been of a description that was
calculated to early form her manners and give her unusual
self-possession for her age ; but the gentlemanly appearance
of the erect old man before her, with his well-formed expres-
sive features, full lips, high forehead, prolonged by baldness,
and snow-white curling hair, was so unlike the ' City' uncle
of her dread and dreams, that she stopped blushing and
uncertain hoii to approach him. After a long and painfully
scrutinizing glance, he slowly extended his hand towards her,
and, as she had expected, his first words were a reproach.
*It would have been better,' he began, coldly and
severely, ' it would have been better, and infinitely more de-
corous, had you applied to me or your uncle Gilbert for
advice and assistance after your father's death, instead of
forcing yourself upon the notice, and seeking the protection,
of a young and unmarried man like Lord Medway. '
Leonora was so shocked at this view of her conduct, that
it was with great difficulty she explained the true state of the
case, and assured him, she had supposed Lord Medway 's
father still alive when she came to England, and that he
having been in constant correspondence with her mother, had,
by letter, offered to protect and assist her should she ever be
in want of a friend.
' When yon found out the mistake,' said her uncle, calmly,
' there was still time to remedy it \ but I have reason to know
A CITT UirOLX. 83
that you purposely kept Lord Medwaj in ignorance of onr
being in existence. '
' So,' thought Iieonora, ' Charles Thorpe's correspondence
has been of a nature to create a strong prejudice against me
that was unueoessarj cruelty on his part.' Mr. Nixon
pausing, with proToking patience, for an answer, she stam-
mered a few words about the letters in her father's writing-
desk haying made her nnwilling to apply to either of her
uncles.
'A plausible defence, ' said Mr. Nixon, his features relaxing
a little ; ' but, ' he added, slowly, ' the letters in question re-
lated altogether to pecuniary affairs, and in no way concerned
you.'
' I could not be sure that you would not visit the failings
of the father on the child,' answered Leonora, beginning to
recover from her embarrassment, ' and besides, after all, the
Thorpes are also relations of mine, and '
' They are very distant ones,' interposed Mr. Nixon, 'but
you would, no doubt, have preferred a residence with them,
had they been disposed to keep you. '
* They told me I was a second cousin,' began Leonora, her
eyes filling with tears, ' and I was very happy at The Willows,
for they were very kind to me, and I found a companion of
my own age.'
' Yon would have found the same in your uncle Gilbert's
family, ' rejoined her uncle, dryly ; ' however,' he added, while
ringing the bell in an expressive sort of a way, that probably
conveyed some order to the regions below stairs, ' however,
on this disagreeable subject I shall, in consideration of your
youth, now only observe that you have acted foolishly, per
haps I shonld say childishly, did not the Thorpes view the
matter in another and more serious light : of that, and of
them, we need speak no more, for yon will scarcely seek or
desire further intercourse with a family who, in order to get
84 A OITT UNOLS.
rid of yon, have shown so little consideration for either you
feelings or wishes^'
Leonora blushed deeply, and he continued -
' I haye been considering how best to dispose of yon ; my
first idea was to send yon to a Mrs. Howard St. Vincent)
with whom your cousin Georgina will probably remain an-
other year for the completion of her education ; it has since
occurred to me, that the advantages you have probably had
abroad will make this unnecessary. You are old enongh to
judge for yourself; the establishment, as they call it, is veiy
ezpenslTe, so if you prefer remaining here with me '
'Oh I should greatly prefer it,' cried Leonora, hastily.
' Then you may do so. I require and expect nothing from
you, excepting that you will be punctual in your hours, and
not interfere with habits of regularity which have become
necessary to my health and comfort. '
Leonora was about to answer, when dinner was announced,
and her uncle, with polite formality, offered his arm, and
conducted her into the adjoining room. It was an enor-
mously large apartment, containing massively carved ma-
hogany sideboards, t|ibles that might be drawn out to an
astonishing length, carpet and curtains of a rich crimson
color, chairs to match, and even the walls were covered with
paper of the same warm tint, on which the gorgeously gilt
frames of some family pictures shone resplendent. Over the
fire-place hung the* portrait of Mr. Nixon's father, a hand-
some, healthy-looking man, in a bufif waistcoat, with a bnnch
of ponderous seals pending over his portly paunch. On the
long wall opposite were hung Mr. Nixon's own portrait,
taken some thirty or forty years previously, when he had,
evidently, dressed very carefully for the occasion ; that of his
wife, a sickly-looking woman, with short frizzled curls of red
hair; and also that of his son, likewise red-haired and not
handsome yet so fall of life, and so eminently well painted,
was this picture, that Leonora was instantly attracted by it,
A OITT UNCLS. 86
and her uncle, with a wave of his hand, and the words, ' Your
coiisio Arthur,' introduced her to it, mach as if it had been
a lifing person.
' Painted at Rome, by a very eminent German artist,' he
added, seating himself at the dinner-table ; after which words
the most profonnd silence reigned, rendering audible the eager
snorting sonnd that accompanied Mr. Nixon's hasty devour*
ing of the viands before him, and which proved to Leonora
that her uncle's gastronomic propensities greatly resembled
those of her late father. Either the previous conversation,
or the ba: of biscuits, had so effectnally deprived her of all
appetite, that she had time to examine and stody the appear-
ance of her now perfectly unobservant relation. She saw,
with more dissatisfaction than surprise, the pale face flushed
with avidity, the veins near the temples swell, and at length,
as he bent over a plate full of curry, large drops of perspira-
tion trickling down his white intellectual forehead 1 While
aeeking his handkerchief to remove them, he perceived Leo-
nora's eyes fixed gravely on him, with an expression he mis-
took for astonishment, and probably intended to reply to her
thoughts, when he said, 'If you had worked as hard as I
have done since ten o'clock this morning, and had had no
luncheon, you would, perhaps, be quite as hungry as I am. '
Leonora turned away, and pretended to eat.
* You don't like curry,' said her uncle, after having, in his
turn, observed her for a short time.
'It bums my mouth,' she answered, 'worse, even, than
English mustard.'
'Yon will soon learn to like it,' said Mr. Nixon, amused
at her wry faces and glistening eyes, ' very soon it is a taste
that most be acquired, but like all such, when acquired, is
frequently stronger than what we feel for simple natural food.'
Leonora shook her head incredulously.
' You do not understand me,' he continued, helping himself
again copiously, and eating quickly while speaking slowly-
L 8
86 A OITT UKOLS.
'What I mean is, one never hears of habitaal excess is
the gratification, of of the inclinations towards bread,
milk, water or even wholesomely cooked meat, bot often,
Tery often, in the acquired taste for brandy, ^tobacco, wine,
opiam, and so forth '
' Bat I should think all these tastes better avoided than
acquired,' observed Leonora.
* That I shall not attempt to deny, ' he answered, glandng
quickly from his plate towards her, with a look of keen intel-
ligence ; ' but my pleasures in this world are very limited, and
their variety consists almost exclusively in a change of dishes
on this: table, and of books on the one in the next room. Both
acquired tastes, for which my relish is, I confess, at times more
intense than it ought to be. '
Leonora attempted no answer, but watched with some
interest the, to her, novel operation of removing the table-
cloth, admired the highly polished wood beneath ; and when
the dessert was arranged, following a sign from her uncle, she
rose and took the chair placed for her at the side of the fire-
place, opposite him.
When they were alone, he asked her a few questions about
her former mode of life and places of residence ; told her, in
a parenthesis, not to put more powdered sugar on her plate
than she could eat with her -orange; sipped unremittingly
glass after glass of the wine placed close beside him by his
attentive butler ; and when the contents of the crystal jug
began to wax low, he stretched out his feet to the adjacent
fender, sought and found a comfortable resting-place for his
head on the well-stuffed back of his large arm-chair, and from
a doze imperceptibly fell into a profound sleep.
Leonora's position was so new to her, that she did not
know whether to leave the room or remain in it; but having
at length decided on the latter, she leaned her head on her
hand, gazed pensively at the glowing coal-fire, and recalled
the events of the previous evening at The Willows with pain*
A OITT UNCLX. 8)
fill minateness. Stealthilj she drew from her pocket the
leUer she hsd then received from Lord Medwaj, and having
read it carefnlly over, tried to convince herself that she should
hear from him again and soon. Yet, while she mnsed, it
seemed as if all aronnd began to assume an appearance of
home : already she felt that she was not, as at The Willows,
a mere passing visitor in her uncle's house ; he had offered,
and she had tacitly accepted his protection. She looked
along the walls of the room, and the portraits, warmed by
the light of lamp aud fire, appeared to return her glance with
the freedom of long acquaintance, her cousin Arthur's fiery
brown eyes seeming to ask her opinion of the vase on which
his hand rested, the form of which was far more familiar than
that of any of the fruit-dishes on the table beside her.
At the end of about an hour, her uncle awoke, expressed
some surprise at finding her still in the room, rang the bell,
and opened the folding door into the study. There they
found the preparations for tea, which Mr. Nixon made and
poured out himself, retiring with his cup to a seat near the
fire-place, and taking up a book, in which he read without
intermission until bed-time. Leonora had silently followed
his example, which seemed to please him, for as they separated
for the night, he observed, that he was glad to perceive she
liked reading, and, after a pause, added, ' You will find the
key of the bookcases on my writing-table, and near the window
there is a collection of foreign works, which belong to my
son. Though / cannot read them, yon of course can. They
are well chosen I am sure in fact, the names of all the
authors are familiar to me, and I have read translations of
most of them. We breakfast at nine o'clock, pre cisely.
Good night'
' GKod night,' said Leonora, turning into the hall while he
remained to extinguish the lamp and rake up the embers still
glowing in the grate.
88 HOW LSOMOBA'8 NAMB
CHAPTER VIII.
HOW LEONORA'S NAME CAME TO BE 8H0BTENBD.
Accustomed to early rising, Leonora was dressed the next
morning before seyen o'clock, and was considerably pazzled
how to employ her time for the ensning two hours before
breakfast. Half that time sufficed for the anpacking and
arrangement of her wardrobe, and then, having placed her
little writing-desk on a table ready for nso should she hear
from the Medway family daring the day, she went to the
window, counted the houses of the square and their windows,
speculated dreamily on the families in the neighborhood with
whom she was likely to become acquainted, and at length
sauntered towards the staircade, intending to inspect the
drawing-rooms, which, from the appearance of the lobby,
and the lofty doors, she concluded must be unusually splendid.
She found the doors locked, and while deliberating about the
propriety or necessity of returning to her own room, she con-
tinued to descend the stairs, her lingering irresolute steps
bringing her at last to the door of the study. She entered
and advanced to the glass cases, to examine the books that
had so strongly attracted her attention the day before. The
door into the dining-room was ajar, and she started slightly
on perceiving her uncle already seated at the breakfast-table
reading a newspaper, his spectacles poised on the end of his
nose, and his chifi slightly raised as if to keep them there :
glancing over them he made some guttural sound as answer
to Leonora's morning greeting, and ^hen continued his occn*
pation until the clock struck nine. As he deposited 'Tbe
Times' on the table the door opened, and every requisite
for a substantial breakfast was noiselessly placed within his
reach a large tea caddy, as on the previous evening, being
rolled towards him, out of which he not only took the neces-
OAMK TO BX BHOBTENXB. 89
wej quantity of tea, bat also a massive silyer sugar-basin.
He did not himself invite Leonora to join him, bat made
some sign to the servant to do so ; and when she seated her*
self at the table, after having pushed towards her a cup of
tea, he helped himself to each thing before forwarding it to
her, as if at once and for all to show that he had no intention
of playing politeness with so young a person and so near a
relation. Leonora made a few attempts at conversation,
which seemed to surprise him amazingly, but they proved
completely abortive, his answers with a mouth full of egg
and buttered toast, or voice half smothered in a tea-cup of
immense proportions being perfectly unintelligible.
At length he rose, received from the servant, who was
waiting in the hall, his paletot, gloves, hat, and walking-
stick, while looming in the distance stood Mrs. Ducker to
receive his orders for dinner. His conference with her lasted
some time, and seemed to interest him deeply ; the moment
it was ended he left the house, and Leonora did not see him
again until he was dressed for dinner.
These particulars are not interesting, and would not have
been forced upon the notice of the reader, had it not been
necessary to give an idea of the tenor of Leonora's life for a
longer much longer period than she had expected. So
completely did one day resemble the other in Mr. Nixon's
house, that it merely remains to name Sunday as an exception,
scarcely however worth mentioning. On that day Mr. Nixon
did not go to his office, and did go to church accompanied by
Leonora, having procured for her a place next his own in a
part of the building where the light was not too strong for
his eyes, or, as Leonora soon shrewdly suspected, where he
could occasionally close them unremarked by other members
of the congregation. When the service was over, she was
consigned to the care of Mrs. Backer, while he went to take
a walk at the ' West End,' from which, however, he returned
home at precisely the usual hour dining, sleeping, reading,
8*
90 HOW LEONORA'S NAMB
and going to bed without the Slightest farther deviation from
his wonted habits.
Leonora did not willingly or even patiently resign herself
to this unsociable life, the change was too great from the
freedom and incessant rariety to which she had been accus-
tomed. That she had been perfectly happy for a couple of
months in the dignified seclusion of The Willows, with a
companion of her own age and a young man such as Lord
Medway, was quite natural; the more so as, to add a charm
to her intercourse with the latter, there had been^ a sort of
consciousness that his friendship had been mixed with a large
proportion of personal admiration. Her hopes of hearing
from him or his family sustained her for some time, but when
weeks passed over without a line even from Jane, an uncon-
trollable impatience began to prey upon her mind. Like a
newly-caged bird, she moved about restlessly in her prison,
wandered from one window to the other, rushed up and down
the stairs, wondered if ever her uncle would have time to
take her out to walk, or if she should ever have courage to
ask him to show her something of London I So great was
at length her want of a companion, that she even made
desperate efforts to obtain the friendship of Anne Ducker,
descending to the housekeeper's room and offering, nay
entreating to be allowed to hem rubbers or mend stockings
as an excuse for remaining there. Mrs. Dncker's jealous
fears, however, had returned directly she found that the
school plan had been set aside, and she repulsed Leonora's
offers of usefulness so ungraciously that the poor girl re-
treated, mortified and offended, to the lonely study, and after
yielding for some time to a despondency that deprived her
cheek of every trace of color, and caused an unconquerable
lassitude to pervade every movement of her drooping form,
she at last sought and found in the library, placed by her
uncle at her disposal, occupation for her time, and solace for
her solitude.
1
CAMS TO BB 6H0BTBMED. M
At first she read plowlj, almost listlessly, bat the works
were all of the best kind, and there were critical jonmals of
eTerj description to guide her choice. She began to discover
that she was extremely ignorant, to rejoice in having so much
leisure for reading, to like the quiet room with its comfort-
able ponderous famiture, to be surprised at the quick flight
of time, and even wonder if her uncle had not come home
too soon when the turning of his now well-known Ohubb key
io the hall-door interrupted her studies. It is astonishing
what a variety of literary inclinations the careful perusal of
reviews and magazines gave her, and what knowledge of the
world that is the English world she acquired by reading
not only the works of fiction already in her uncle's posses-
sion, but each new novel as it appeared. As regularly as
the newspapers these works were laid on Mr. Nixon's table,
for, like thousands of men in his position in England, he felt
the necessity of relaxation for his mind, and perhaps also a
natural longing for some intercourse (though but in fiction)
with a world from which, either from choice or necessity, he
lived so wholly apart Leonora was needlessly surprised at
the interest which he took in the fate of the various heroes
and heroines of these works, for it is not unfreqnently those
who concern themselves the least about the life-struggles of
the persons immediately around them, who sympathize most
unreservedly in the joys and sorrows of fictitious personages.
At all events, novel-reading was the usual evening occupa-
tion of both uncle and niece, and served effectually to banish
the sleepiness which the nocturnal silence in the room and
house might have produced.
Leonora at last succeeded in completely gaining Mrs.
Dncker's heart by submitting to a regimen of slops to cure a
cold caught daring the winter on one of the very few occa-
sions that presented themselves for going out : she also dis-
covered why that worthy woman's bonnets and silk dresses
retained the lustre of newness, while their forms denoted an
92 HOW LEONORA'S NAMK
nnnsnal age for ench articles they were used bnt once a
week, and then only when the weather was propitiooa. A
walk for pleasure or health was a thing scarcely understood
by the members of Mr. Nixon's family ; but, indeed, had it
been otherwise, Mrs. Decker would not easily have found
leisure for what she unhesitatingly pronounced waste of time.
Her activity at home was unceasing, amounting almost to
restlessness ; she was domineering, addicted to scolding, yet
a kind and even warm-hearted woman, perfectly illiterate,
yet possessed of both good sense and intelligence^. Her jeal-
ousy of Leonora once overcome, she scolded and petted her
alternately her ire being generally provoked by Leonora's
carelessness about the rents in her clothes, her affection con-
tinually increased by the gentleness, growmg cheerfulness,
and, it must be added, beauty of the young girl, whom she
began to consider in some degree dependent on her for bodiiy
comforts. Her visits to Leonora in the study, at first 'short
and far between,' were in the course of time frequently pro-
longed by a forcible retention on a chair while the story of a
new play or poem was related. It is even on record that a.
strong piece of cord was once used for that purpose, the
knots laughingly tied being afterwards found of a Gordian
description, and the operation of cutting them still uncom-
pleted, when Mr. Nixon's step was heard in the hall : Mrs.
Dncker, or, as she was then called, 'Duckey,' was obliged
to make her escape into the dining-room with the chair still
fastened to her person.
Leonora's efforts to understand her uncle's character were
at first nbt quite successful. The unbroken regularity and
seclusion of his life astonished her, and his want of all incli-
nation for society, or anything approaching to amusement,
was incomprehensible to one accustomed to the sociability
and gaiety of foreign life. Winter, spring, and summer
passed over without his ever even mentioning to her the
familiar words concert or theatre, and from the papers alone
CAMK TO BB 8H0BTBNSD. 98
she knew that such eBtertainments were not nncommon in
London. His tacitarnitj yielded, however, by degrees to
her winning ways ; she had a good deal of feminine tact,
and never pnt herself in competition with ' The Times' dor*
ing breakfast^ or the entremets at dinner ; but after having
breakfasted, he sometimes voluntarily entered into a short
political discussion, or he delayed his slnmber after dinner to
criticise a new book ; occasionally, too, he lingered over his
tea in the evening for the same purpose, and as time wore
on, and intimacy increased, he spoke of foreign countries and
manners ; and though in both giving the preference to Eng-
land, his opinions were those of a man who had read and
thought, his prejudices the natural consequences of want of
personal experience. His ruling passion was ambition, he
himself would have said love for his only son, of whose long
and frequent absences he nevertheless evidently approved.
He told Leonora that Arthur was a man of unusual artistical
and lesthetical tastes, which were more easily satisfied on the
continent than at home ; but he refrained from adding that
he could there also make acquaintances, English and foreign,
qaite out of his domestic sphere, and that they both concurred
in an ardent desire to rise in the social scale, and hoped to
secure this desirable end through the wealth perseveringly
increased by the one, and the judicious marriage of the
other
The first interruption to the quiet monotony of Leonora's
life, was a grand dinner given on Christmas-day by Mr.
Nixon to his brother Qilbert and his family on their return
from the country. He invited to meet them his commercial
partner, William Plumpton, his wife, sons, and daughters ;
and again to meet them, and render the party complete,
several young men in their mutual employment. The pre-
parations for this dinner were of the most extensive descrip-
tion; the furniture of the drawing-rooms was uncovered,
and Leonora examined and admired the carefully preserved
D4 HOW leonoka'b name
chairSi sofas and tables, carpets, lastres, and alabaster rasei,
as mach as she perceived Mrs. Dacker expected. The glasses
over the chimney-pieces were of enormous dimensions, fix-
tares, as Leonora was informed, and bought with the house,
some earl or marquess having had them built into the wall
when Russell-square had been one of the most fashionable
parts of London I
Leonora felt a good deal of curiosity to see her uncle
Gilbert and his family, about whom she had, by degrees,
obtained some information from Mrs. Ducker, her utter
ignorance of the names and ages of her cousins appearing to
the latter perfectly incomprehensible. Not without surprise
had she learned that there were Gilbert Nixons in both the
East and West Indies and Australia, all well-to-do in the
world .and likely to be as rich as their grandfather in the
course of time. Of the fourth son, Mr. Sam, who had re-
ceived the ' heducation of a lord, had been to Hoxford, and
was a barrister with chambers, ' Mrs. Ducker spoke with
respect and reserve, but she dwelt long and feelingly on the
restlessness and ill-conduct of Master John when ' at 'ome
for the 'ollidays. ' Miss Georgina was considered very helli-
gunt ; but by far the best of the fambly, in her opinion, had
been Miss Leonora, who had died of a heart complaint a few
months previously.
Leonora, ashamed to confess that she had never heard
either of the existence or death of this cousin, considered it a
sort of expiation to make the most minute inquiries respecting
her namesake, and learned that she had been about her own
age, but from childhood so delicate that she had constantly
resided at her father's country-house, Beechfield, which was
at a convenient railroad distance from London ; that even in
winter she had been seldom long separated from her family,
her father especially regularly passing part of each Saturday
and all Sunday with her. Though greatly inferior to her
dster Georgina in talents and acquirements, she had avowedly
CAMS TO BE BHOBTENXD. 95
been his favorite child, and he had by no means reqoTered
from the grief occasioned by her death when he first saw his
niece on Ohristmas-day. Similarity of age and name, per-
haps also some personal resemblance between the two Leo*
noras, seemed to strike him forcibly and painfully; tears
started to his eyes, and, unable to control his emotion, of
which, like a tme Englishman, he was heartily ashamed, he
abruptly left the room, and did not return untO just before
dinner was announced.
' Papa cannot yet bear to hear the name Leonora, ' ob-
serred Qeorgina, who had swept into the room and seated
herself on one of the sofas with astounding gracefulness, ' but
I dare say in time he will learn not to mind it.'
' It may require longer than you suppose,' said Stephen
Nixon, gravely. ' I have not yet been able to pronounce my
niece's name without an effort.'
' Ah I true my aunt's name was Leonora, ' said Georgi*
na ; ' ' I had forgotten that she was godmother to our poor
dear Leonora. '
* I had also a daughter of that name,' observed Mr. Nixon.
'But,' rejoined Georgina, 'she was such a mere child
when you lost her I'
' She lived long enough, ' he answered, slowly, ' to make
the name doubly dear and familiar to me. '
Leonora now recollected that during the three months she
had resided with her uncle he had scarcely ever addressed
her by her name, that he had even used some ingenuity to
avoid doing so, and had peremptorily desired the servants
to call her ' Miss Nixon, ' when, with the nice perception of
rank peculiar to the English, they had shown their know-
ledge, that the daughter of the youngest son of Samuel
Nixon was in fact only Miss Leonora, until after the mar-
riage or death of her cousin Georgina.
' Why do you not call me Nora?' she now said, turning
A
96 HOW LEONORA'S NAMS
BQddenlj to ber nncle ; ' I never was called otherwise imtfl I
came to England.'
'And joa never shall be called by any other name ia
fatare/ he answered ; ' we shall drink yonr health after din-
ner to-day, and give yon again the name I have no doobt
you like better than any bther.'
Nora, as she was henceforward called, had not time to be*
come mnch acquainted with her relations dnring the evening.
Her uncle Gilbert appeared to her more goodnatared, bat
less gentlemanlike, than her nncle Stephen. In fact, good
living had made him stout, and prosperity cheerful at
times almost jovial though ever with a certain pomposity
of demeanor, which he imagined equally English and digni*
fied. He had suited himself with a wife early in life, and
had often facetiously declared that she had been one of his
best speculations. They had lived very happily together,
and, after having attained an immense ^size, she had died
from the effects of good living and want of exercise. Time
had enabled Gilbert Nixon to get reconciled to this loss, bat
there was another wliich he never ceased to regret, and on-
ceasingly and loudly to deplore the want of a classical
education. While his brother, however, had endeavored to
supply this loss by an extensive study of every branch of
English literature, Gilbert had never even attempted to read
anything but a newspaper, in which, strange to say, the
fashionable intelligence was apparently of nearly as much
importance to him as the state of the funds. Fortunately
this intelligence was not scanty in detail, so that he had fre-
quent opportunities of rejoicing in balls and dinners, given
by and for the entertainment of people, with whose names
at least he was familiar. The queen and princes seldom
rode or walked out without his being in the same way made
acquainted with the minutest particulars ; and, feeling deeplj
interested in such communications, he invariably spoke of
them with a mixture of pride and exultation, the caose of
CAMS TO BE SHOBTENSD. 97
which might perhaps by a circnitous route be traced to the
fact that the balls and dinners were given and frequented by
hia countrymen, the queen was his queen, the princes were
hia princes I
Gilbert Nixon was, according to the English fashion,
essentially patriotic, being not only deeply impressed with
the inrincible power and boundless wealth of England, but
perfectly conrinced that there never had been, and never
would be, a natfon in any respect capable of bearing a com-
parison with her. Personally he was strongly prejudiced
against all foreigners, calling the French dirty and the Ger*
mans dull, without ever in the course of his life having
become acquainted with an individual of either nation.
Nora's continental education he considered a great disad-
vantage, but was more than half reconciled when a nearer
acquaintance made him aware of her still unbounded admi-
ration for everything English.
Nora fonnd the Christmas dinner tedious and tiresome,
and the plum-pudding by no means so excellent as she had
expected. She was somewhat perplexed, too, how to find
amusement for her guests in the drawing-room, and much
regretted her cousin Arthur's having removed the pianoforte
to the attics, and let it fall to pieces there, merely because
the form was old-fashioned, and the more so as Mrs. Plump-
ton informed her more than once, that both her daughters
'played with extraordinary execution,' and that the Plump-
ton family were all remarkably musical I Nora's efforts to
please were, however, too sincere to be unsuccessful, and
before her uncle came up-stairs she and Mrs. Plumpton had
made great strides towards a better acquaintance, the latter
having already hoped to see her soon at her house, and pro-
mised to give her an excellent receipt for mock-turtle soup.
The Misses Plumptons were slim, quiet girls, no longer
very young, and Nora had thought them sensible unaffected
women until she observed their efforts to attract the attenUon
I. 9
9S HOW leonora'8 name cams to be shortened.
and flirt with the half-dozen yoang men who, fioshed vith
wine, hoYered ronnd the tea-table at a late hoar. Not lo
Georgina ; she seemed ta- consider Nora alone worthy of
notice, disdained the female Plumptons altogether, and letB*
ing back in an arm-chair repulsed even the advances of that
very fine gentleman Mr. Perciyal Plnmpton, so that he with-
drew in disgust from the contemplation of her little saocy
tumed-np nose, and bestowed his condescending attention on
Nora for the remainder of the eyening.
In due time an InYitation to dine with the PIumptoDS
reached Mr. Nixon, in which Nora was included. Tbe
party was of a gayer description than that giyen by her
nncle, for, aa Mrs. Plumpton observed, ' Where there are
young girls in a house, music and dancing are a matter of
course, ' Many people came to tea, and the Misses Plump-
ton commenced an impromptu concert with what they called
' pieces' of Thalberg and Herz. They were succeeded bj
some timid young ladies, who trembled forth the newest and
most popular ballads, and then a stout gentleman shouted
out the bass of a duet from a well-known opera, but with
such utter contempt of all the rules of music that when people
whispered ' Lablache to the life, ' Nora innocently supposed
his performance a parody, and laughed and nodded her head
with the others. During the waltz on the carpet that fol*
lowed, she came to the hasty conclusion that Englishmen con-
sidered it beneath their dignity to learn to dance, and then
unwillingly admitted to herself, that as specimens of the first
nation in the world, they were wonderfully awkward in their
manners.
^ Yet this evening often recurred to Nora's memory, as
week after week and month after month passed over without
another invitation. Her uncle Oilbert spent all his spare
time at Beechfield, Georgina had returned to Mrs. Horace
St. Yincent's Establishment, Mr. Sam Nixon lived at his
chambers, and John had gone back to school. The Plamp-
iS
yOECS OY HABIT. 99
toDS called one daj, and said thej were going to Margate,
which was a delightfol place, and from that ime forward,
excepting to chnrch on Snnday, or to take a solitary sannter
in the sqnare, Nora nerer left the honse.
CHAPTER IX.
A PRACTICAL LESSON ON THS FORCE OF HABIT.
Soon alter the commencement of the second jear of Nora's
residence with her ancle, a transaction took place that seemed
likely to change her prospects in a rery unexpected manner.
Stephen and Gilbert Nixon had joined in some railway
speculation that had proved fortunate beyond their most
sanguine expectations. Gilbert, who had been manager on
the occasion, called by appointment late one afternoon, and
brought with him his daughter Georgina, now returned home
'for good,' as he expressed it.
The two girls retired to one of the windows, where
Georgina, putting her hand on Nora's shoulder, hoped they
were soon likely to be much together, and become very good
friends.
'If you can manage to come here occasionally,' began
Nora.
' No, dear, you must come to us,' said Georgina, interrupt-
ing her hastily, ' Russell-square is quite out of the question
Ultima Thule, as one of my friends called it the other
day!'
' But my uncle has strictly forbidden my going out, ex-
cepting to walk in the square,' said Nora, * or with Anne
Ducker, who has so seldom time scarcely ever in fact 1'
' Oh, we don't want old Ducker at all, ' rejoined Georgina,
100 A PBAOTIGAL LSSBON
laughing, ' we only want you ^that is, I want you, and hope
to be of use to you. Papa has been so lucky with his rail-
way shares, that he has at length yielded to my entreaties,
and bought a house in Eaton-place, and given me cairit
blanche for the furniture I I have chosen amber-colored silk
for the drawing-rooms, green and gold for the dining-room,
and Mrs. Savage Wayward says, if papa will only give din-
ners, she can introduce us to all the first people in town, and
that her friend. Lady Robert Botherton will present us
that is, you and me, at the next Drawing-room ; but you,
I suppose, will prefer Lady Med way, as she is a relation.'
' Who ? I ? Lady Medway ! ' repeated Nora, * I I do
not even know where she is at present I '
'Surely,' cried Georgina, much astonished, 'surely, you
must be aware that they are all returned from Italy.'
' How should I know ? ' asked Nora, with a faint smile.
' Because it was in the papers a week ago,' answered
Oeorgina. ' Do you never read the fashionable intelligence ?'
* Very seldom. '
' What an odd girl you are 1 But yon will soon think and
feel differently about all these things. Wait only until onr
establishment in Eaton-place is in order 1 I intend to begin
very quietly, to prevent people from talking too much about
us, or forming a league to laugh at us, also to give papa time
to get rid of all his tiresome old-fashioned habits. My brother
Sam is a provoking plodder, and John still a mere child
both of no sort of use to me, and I have not courage to brave
the difficulties of working my way in the world of fashion
quite alone. With you, however, for a companion, and
plenty of money, it will be very odd if I cannot contrive, not
only to brave, but even to overcome them. You see I am
candid, and tell you that I want you. It would undoubtedly
have been more worldly wise, had I pretended perfectly dis-
interested motives for this offer of a home such as a wish to
save you from a continuance of your present dull life, and a
OM THB POBCE OF HABIT. 101
derire to promote yoor marryiDg advantageously ; bat I take
it for granted that though a coaple of years yoanger than I
am, yoa have seen enough of the world to understand mo
and like me all the better for being plain-spoken.'
Nora smiled with a look of such perfect intelligence that
Georgina continued,
' There is but one thing likely to interfere with our plans ;
I fear I greatly fear that my uncle Stephen may take it
Into his head to object to your learing him. '
Nora almost laughed at the idea, and assured her cousin
that her uncle Stephen would scarcely observe her absence.
' I am glad to hear it,' said Georgina ; ' papa will speak to
him directly about you. I suppose, ' she added; abruptly, ' I
suppose you will be glad to see the Medways again, and can
introduce us to them ? You must know them well alter
having resided in their house so long I '
'I knew them tolerably well,' said Nora, with a sliglit
blush, 'but they have never come to see me never even
written to me since I have been here.'
'Of course not,' said Georgina, lightly, 'bow could you
expect such a thing ? '
' I thought Jane at least too young to have any absurd
prejudices. '
' She must do as her mother desires,' rejoined Georgina ;
'but you will soon see her, as she is to be presented this
year, when Lady Grace marries Mr. Cardwell.'
' Why, you know all about them I ' said Nora, surprised.
' I saw them yesterday evening at the Opera, where I went
with the Savage Waywards. Lord Medway was there too,
looking so indolent and ill ; people say it is quite unpardon-
able his requiring such a length of time to die I '
' Oh, Georgina, how can you speak with such levity I '
' Mr. Wayward 's words, not mine,' she answered; 'but
hush,' she added, turning towards her father and uncle, 'they
sre talking about us now, and I suppose we may listen.'
9*
102 A PBACTICAI. LESSON
A look of iutelligence passed between her and Giibeft
Nixon as in an off-hand kind of manner, and without any
circamlocution, he proposed to relieve his brother of the
charge of their niece, Nora, assuring him with evident sincerity
' that he and Georgina had taken a fancy to her ; that she
should never want for anything, and that without offence he
might say they had a gayer and more eligible residence to
offer her than the old house in Russell-square 1 '
Mr. Nixon did not listen to this speech nnmoyed ; the
color forsook his lips, and, perhaps to conceal some feeling
so unexpected on his part that he hardly nnderstood it him-
self, he turned towards the fire-place, bent his head on his
hand, and, seemed to consider long before he answered
slowly, ' With you Nora will undoubtedly be happier than
here, and I have no right to retain her if she choose to leave
me.'
This answer was pretty much what Nora had expected,
but Georgina seemed equally surprised and pleased at an
acquiescence so unconditional, when she had prepared herself
for downright steady opposition. She thanked him warmly,
and asked when Nora might remove to Eaton-place ?
' When she pleases, ' answered Mr. Nixon stiffly.
'Let us take her with us at once,' suggested GeorginSi
eagerly.
To this, however, he objected with strangely flashing eyes,
and Gilbert interfering, proposed the following day, to which
no objection being made, he added, while shaking his brother's
hand, ' To-morrow then let it be. I'm glad to find you so
ready to part with the girl, Stephen ; Georgy was afraid you
might wish to keep her, and,' he added, turning round at
the door, ' and I myself enjoy so much having young people
about me, that I thought it very likely you might some way
or other have got fond of her, and used to her company and
all that sort of thing. Of course, I should not have pressed
the matter had this been the case, but Georgy wonld have
ON THE POKCE OF HABIT. 108
been terribly disappointed, I can tell jon. Good-bye, Ste
pben ; Qod bless joa. So yon won't join me in the shares I
intend to purchase to-morrow. '
Mr. Nixon shook his head, the door closed, and Nora stood
in the middle of the room, stupefied at the sndden and per-
fectly nnezpected change in her prospects. * Youthful com-
panions a gay honse balls operas concerts a pre-
sentation at Coort perhaps she should meet the Med ways,
and Lady Medway might now be kind to her, as she no
longer wanted to lire with herl She believed she could
pardon Lord Medway 's having forgotten her but Charles
Thorpe, if in England, should be made to feel the whole
weight of her displeasure. She would not dance with him,
or look at him ; and if he asked her to forgive him, she
would say, *' Never P^ or no; she would laugh, and refuse
to listen to his ezcnses; or, still better, she would but
there was time enough to think of all that. How different
her life would be in Eaton-place to what it had been in Rus-
sell-square 1 and yet the quiet study and the well-known books
had to a certain degree become dear to her, and even her
nncle ' Here she raised her eyes, and found his fixed on
her with an inquiring, penetrating glance. He was standing
precisely on the same spot where she had first seen him, some-
what more than a year before : again he stretched out his
hand towards her ; but this time no words of reproach fol-
lowed.
'Nora,' be said, calmly, 'my brother was right when he
supposed I should "get fond of you and used to your com-
pany:" yoa do not know with what reluctance I resign you.'
You are very kind to say so,' answered Nora, with a
slight flush of pleasure ; ' but I cannot flatter myself that you
will miss me in the least'
'Yoa are mistaken,' said Mr. Nixon; 'I shall miss you
greatly, and I wish I had a right to insist on your remaining
with me. '
104 A PBACTIOAL LESSON
\
'That right 70a have,' rejoined Nora. 'When I wis
homeless yon received me into yoar hoase, and I feel bound
in gratitude '
' I received yon into my family as a dnty/ said Mr. Nixon,
interrapting her ; ' and I resign yon now for the same reason.*
He rang the bell in the deliberate manner that Nora now
knew denoted an order for dinner, and she was but too glad
to consider his doing so a sign on his part that be wished to
end a conversation that was likely to embarrass her extremdj.
Of the charms of change Nora had perhaps an exaggerated
idea of the force of habit a very faint notion. With the
docility that generally accompanies a fair proportion of intel-
lect, she had accommodated herself to the customs of her
uncle's house ; but as she stood occasionally at one of the
study windows, or sat alone there after dinner by fire-ligK
her thoughts had wandered far and wide, and not once had
it occurred to her that happiness or even contentment, coold
be felt by any one who was immured within the walls of one
house. From the day of her arrival in Russell-square, she
,had never for one moment lost the feeling of imprisonment that
had then taken possession of her ; but it was ever so mixed
with a hope of release at some time indefinite, that she had
seldom, even to herself, mourned over a captivity of such un-
certain length, and, taken all in all, so endurable in its details,
The eve of this long-expected time of freedom had arrived ;
and, to continue the contrast with the day of her arrival, she
and her uncle seemed to have, in a manner, changed places.
While she dined, he watched her intently ; so much so, that
be scarcely ate anything himself, causing thereby some con-
sternation on the part of Biggs, the butler, who lingered
nnusnally long in the room, to satisfy himself that the claret
would not be disdained, as the various viands had been.
That evening, too, Nora waited in vain for her nnde's ac-
customed sleep, during which she was in the habit of retiring
to the study; though he stretched out his feet and leaned
ON THEFOBCB OF HABJT. 105
back his head in the osaal maDoer, hia eyes askatice were still
fixed on her, ontil, at length, marmaring something about not
disturbing him, she thought it better to leave the room. He
followed her almost immediately, sat down to read near the
fire; but a few minutes afterwards, starting up, he dashed
the book on the table, and returned to the dining-room. A
good deal surprised at conduct so unusual, Nora sat musing
on the probable cause, until she heard the bell ring for tea,
vhen be ag^ain entered the room, and, without speaking,
commenced walking up and down in an uneasy, impatient
manner.
'Nora,' he said at length, abruptly stopping before her,
'the nomadic-like life that you have led, until very lately,
will, I fear, prevent you from understanding me if I speak of
the force of habit.'
' Perhaps so, ' she answered , ' my life has been as you say,
nomadic-like. I do believe I have never yet been long enough
stationary iu any place to know the true meaning of either the
word home or habit. '
* Pre-cisely,' said Mr. Nixon ; ' I thought so. It would be
absurd, ' he added, with ill-concealed embarrassment, ' absurd
my expecting you to have found anything congenial to your
disposition in my house : you naturally rejoice in the prospect
of leaving it and me.'
'Not you,' answered Nora, quickly ; ' for though our daily
intercourse has been very limited, and you have seldom found
me worthy of any kind of rational companionship, I have by
no means remained so indifferent towards you.'
' Indeed I' said Mr. Nixon, with a look of extreme satis-
faction, as he seated himself at the table beside her. ' Now
see, Nora, my taciturn habits alone have prevented me froitt
enjoying your society as I ought to have done ; but I have
been by no means insensible to the pleasure of having a
young and cheerful girl to greet me in the morning, and to
meet me on my return home in the evening. Surely you
106 A PRACTICAL vLESBON
must have obserred that I come home from my office a whole
hoar earlier than formerly.'
' Certainly, I remarked it,' answered Nora, smiling; 'jonr
return has been the only daily erent of importance to me^
my life has been positively regulated by it I'
'Can you not imagine/ said Mr. Nixon, gravely, 'that
soming home to silence and loneliness will now be very dis*
agreeable^ if not painfol to me V
*1 think,' she answered, beginning with some anzietjto
snspect the drift of his discoarse, 'I think that yoar old
habits will soon resume their preponderance, and that yoa
will forget an intermption which certainly, at first, was any-
thing bat pleasing to you. '
'Very well reasoned, indeed,' said Mr. Nixon ; 'it seems
yoa know more of the force of habit than I supposed. Let
me, however, tell yoa that your presence has been no inter-
mption to my habits, and a very great embellishment to my
home that, in short, you have become necessary to my
comfort and happiness^ and and I wish you would con-
sent to remain with me. '
Nora's countenance fell so instantaneously and perceptibly
that her uncle hastened to add, ' I shall, of course, undertake
to provide for you respectably, and promise to make a codi-
cil to my will for that purpose to-morrow. '
What did Nora know about codicils ? what did she, with
youth, health and beauty, care for a respectable provision ?
She sat beside her uncle in a painfal state of embarrassment,
a vague feeling of gratitude alone preventing her from refas-
ing at once a proposition so unwelcome and perplexing. All
things considered, her gratitude was without much founda-
tion ; Mr. Nixon had but tolerated her presence in the first
instance, as the least expensive mode of disposing of her;
and if he had felt otherwise, at a later period, she had in no
way been made aware of the change. This he knew and
understood better than Nora, who only remembered that ihe
ON THX 70BCS OF HABIT. 107
had been received withoat demur, and permitted to live witlb
out molestation. He made a yeiy slight impression when he
usnred her that the happiness she expected to enjoy in his
brother's houne might prove of a very mixed, if not uncer-
tain description ; that Gilbert and his family were about to
labor np the hill of fashion, and would, undoubtedly, meet
vith stnmbling-blocks in the form of rebuffs and annoyances,
the mere description of which in books alone, had effectually
deterred him from ever even attempting to increase or irn-
prove his small circle of acquaintances I It was the conclud-
ing sentence of this tolerably long oration that at length had
the effect be desired ; it was when he earnestly, yet gently,
estreated her to stay with him, and not force an old man
back into a loneliness that had become distasteful to him,
that she consented to remain in Russell Square, and of her
own accord, before she went to bed, wrote an explanatory
note to her consin Georgina, which he took particularly good
care should reach its destination at a very early hour the
next morning.
108 AUBIVAL OF, AN ADPITION?
CHAPTER X.
ABRIYAL OF; AN ADDITION ? OB, AN ACQUISITION ?
Mb. Nixon in do way concealed the satisfaction he felt at
haying secured Nora's society 'for the remainder of his life,'
as he unhesitatingly said to his brother a few days after-
wards; adding confidentially, 'The fact is, Gilbert, I am
growing old, and were I to become infirm, Anne Docker is not
the person I should like to have about me. The wife likely
to be chosen by my son Arthur will neyer consent to lire in
Russell-square; and, in fact, I make no pretension to ae-
qniring a daughter when he marries on the contraiy, rather
expect to lose him altogether. '
' You have very nearly done that already,' observed Oil*
bert, bluntly.
'By no means,' said Mr. Nixon, quickly; 'I expect him
home very soon to spend some time with me. '
' Perhaps he will condescend to visit us, now that we have
moved westwards,' observed Gilbert, with some pique. 'He
was formerly much too fine a gentleman to notice or know
me in the Park, or at Kensington, when he happened to be
surrounded by his grand acquaintances. '
' I have passed him in the same places without a nod of
recognition,' said Mr. Nixon, smiling: 'a look of intelligence
is all I expect on such occasions. '
' Oh, if he cuts his own father, I have no right to be of-
fended,' rejoined Gilbert, laughing; 'only one of my sods
had better not attempt anything of the kind with me.'
'Arthur and I have come to the most perfect understanding
on these subjects,' observed Mr. Nixon, calmly; 'he must
endeavor to rise in the world, and he can do so much more
easily when not hampered by an old father, whose very exist-
ence is unknown to many of his acquaintances. '
OB, AN ACQUISITIONf 109
) BO notion of being pnt aside in any sacb way, '
rt, flashing a good deal. ' I should think there was
prevent him from rising in the world as well as mj
ney's the main point, and that I have, and intend
\o as long as I live.'
I't do what yon want, ' said his brother, in the same
ightful manner ; ' the rise in the social scale is only
in the third generation. We are a decided iraproYe-
ar father in manners and appearance, and in both,
; in education, oor sons are an improvement on us.'
knew yon wonld say something about our want of
I education I Thai indeed is a loss never to be re-
bat do*yon know, Stephen, Oeorgy tells me^that
r rank do not quote Greek or Latin, excepting in
It, and she thinks even if they did, I might pull out
lerchief, like the people on the stage, and pretend to
id, and '
look like a fool I ' said his brother, interrupting him.
sit,' said Gilbert, laughing good-humoredly ; 'after
itter to "tell the truth and shame the devil," eh f '
better to keep quiet and make no pretension of any
swered Stephen. 'Let your sons and daughters
ir way in the world ; your wealth will help them on,
yourself will be a dead-weight on their hands, and
heir affection for you, they will find your presence in
naisance. '
L cannot believe that,' exclaimed Gilbert, walking up
I the room a good deal chafed ; ' though not as good
IS yon, I may at least say that I have the manners
arance of a gentleman.'
in Nixon neither assented nor dissented to this oh-
; he seemed relieved by the entrance of Nora, to
8 brother instantly turned, exclaiming, 'So, Miss
a prefer Russell-square to Eaton-place after all, it
I
110 ABBIYAL OF, AN ADDITION?
'My uncle Stephen prefers mj society to being alone,' slie
answered, with a smile.
* Now, I wonder,' he continned, with some asperity 'I
wonder if yon wonid g^re the same answer to Lady Medway,
supposing her ladyship took it into her head to wish for your
company 1 '
The possibility of an invitation to spend the summer at
' The Willows ' had again partially taken possession of Nora's
mind, from the time her consin Oeorgina had informed her of
the return of the Medways to England. She looked eagerlj
and inquiringly towards her uncle Stephen, who apparently
understood her thoughts, when he answered, ' Gilbert is jest*
ing, Nora ; no letter or message has been Sent by the Med-
ways, nor is there the slightest chance of your hearing any-
thing of them until your brother returns from the Medi-
terranean ; Tie, I suppose, will take some notice of yon, bat
I have no fears of his ever proposing to take you from me
altogether, as your uncle Gilbert wonld have done. '
' For which I shall ever feel gratefnl,' said Nora, extending
both her hands to the latter.
'Well, well,' cried Gilbert, looking exceedingly pleased,
' it's a good thing to have '' two strings to one's bow," Nora;
so when you are tired of Russell-square you can come to
Eaton-place, and vicy vercy. In an establishment such ts
mine, one more or less i& of no importance, as Gkorgy said,
when she engaged the fellow who is to wear powder, and
indeed eyerything would be right if I could only get used to
the new fashions and the late dinner-hour. Georgy chooses
to keep the cloth on the table, too, and won't let us after-
' wards sit round the fire to crack our nutft comfortably, as I
have been used to do ever since I have had a house of my
own but I suppose it's all right, for Mrs. Horace St Yin-
cent told her that such customs were now considered quite
antidelerinm.'
Mr. Nixon rubbed his upper lip to conceal a smile, and
1
OB, AN ACQUISITIORf 111
flftid, 'You JEire ajoanger man than I am, Oilbert, and can
perhaps change all jonr habits to please yoar children. Nora
has fortunately been able to accommodate herself to the old-
lashioned usages of my house, though, I have no doubt, many
of them are diametrically opposite to what she has been ac-
customed to. Take care that Oeorgina does not learn to
dictate more than you may find agreeable hereafter.'
' Oh, she's so cleyer,* responded Gilbert, with evident pride,
'such a manager, that she would turn eyen you round her
finger in no time if she were here. It was her plan our in-
Titing Nora as we did last week ; she said, if we took you by
surprise, and spoke in Nora's presence, you would be ashamed
to refuse your consent^ it would appear so egotistical on your
part ; and, egad, she was right, but she did not reckon on
your flinching when our backs were turned. '
A flush passed over Mr. Nixon's face while his brother
continued 'She was exceedingly provoked at Nora's note
of refusal, and would not come here with me to-day, as she
said, she could not possibly refrain from telling you that it
was uncommon selfish your burying poor Nora during the
best years of her life in your front parlor here, and depriving
her of all chance of settling advantageously in the world.'
Qilbert, in his eagerness to prove the cleverness of his
daughter, evidently forgot the presence of his niece ; not so
Stephen, who, with difficulty, repressed his anger as he
answered, ' Oeorgina seems a person of extraordinary pene-
tration, and I am happy to be able to relieve her anxiety by
giving her the information that she need give herself no
further concern respecting her cousin's settlement in the
world. I shall so provide for Nora, that, aw in short,
Oeorgina may bestow all her thoughts and care upon herself
and her own affairs in future.'
' That I shall certainly tell her, Stephen, you may depend
upon it ; for she desired me to sound you on that very sub-
ject^ and point out to you the necessity of doing something
lis ARBIYAL 07, AN ADDITIONf
handsome for Nora, after her having consented to renuui
with you in this dismal old house V
' Have the goodness also to tell Oeorgina from me,' said
Mr. Nixon, his face flushing and eyes flashing, ' that I con-
sider her advice on this occasion eiftremelj impertinent ;
that I forbid all fotare interference on her part between
Nora and me, and to prevent the possibility of anything
of the kind, that I shall feel greatly obliged by her absenting
herself altogether from my dismal old house.'
' Now, don't be oflfended,' said Gilbert, half apologetically;
* that the idea was not bad is proved by your having alreadj
done of your own accord what she desired me to suggest
You don't yet know what a clever girl Georgy is ; if yoa
only heard her talk, you would be astonished 1 '
' At her flippancy ? I dare say I should.'
' Gome, come, Stephen, yon must not be angry with mj
girl for knowing a little of the world and its ways. Mn.
St. Yincent assured me, when I left Georgy with her ths
additional year, that she would make her capable of pre-
siding over any establishment in England, and I mnst say
she has kept her word. Georgy might be a duchess I'
* I hope she may be, ' said Stephen, with a grim smile.
' It won't be her fault if she's not, ' said Gilbert, ' she has
ambition enough for us all. But now I must go won't
you take a look at my new carriage ? It's a very nice turn-
out, I can assure you ; Georgy says, quite complete and it
very good style. '
' Chosen by her, of course V half asked Mr. Nixon.
' Certainly. Nothing would have induced her to enter onr
old coach since her return from Mrs. St. Yincent'
'Oh indeed!'
'I can afford it, Stephen afford it well,' cried Gilbert^
provoked at last by his brother's manner ; * and I don't see
why my daughter should not have her own carriage as well
as your son his cab and riding-horses, to say nothing of all
OB, AH aoquisitionF 1J8
die expensire fooleries on which he spends so many thousands
eYcry year 1 *
'Yonr ignorance, alone, excuses the word fooleries,' said
Mr. KixoQ, with a smile of contempt.
' I know I am ignorant, Stephen,' cried Gftlbert, too angry
to nnderstand the less offensive meaning of his brother's
words, ' but there is no necessity for yonr telling me so con-
tinnally. All the Greek and Latin ever learned at Oxford
or Cambridge woald not hare tanght as to make money like
the writing and arithmetic that yon pretend to despise.'
' Yon misanderstand me ' began Stephen.
* No, I don't. Ton sneer at me and my family because
we are about to make at home the same efforts that yonr son
has been for years making abroad.'
' By no means, ' said Mr. Nixon. ' Don't suppose I blame
the young people for endeavoring to rise, or even for making
desperate efforts to push themselves forward in the world ;
they may succeed, but you will only be ridiculed for your
pains.'
* And why so ?' asked Gilbert. * Did not Nora's father '
'Ton have chosen a bad example,' said Stephen, inter-
rupting him ; ' Nora's father sacrificed his fortune to fashion,
and died a pauper. '
' Take care that Arthur does not do the same,' said Gilbert.
*I have no anxiety on that subject,' answered Stephen,
nodding his head. 'Few fathers are on more confidential
terms with their sons than I am with mine. Arthur has
seldom exceeded his allowance^ and when he does so, it is
only for objects of virtii. '
' Yirtue, indeed I' exclaimed Gilbert, laughing ironically.
'You know very little about him or his virtue, during the
last twelve years, I suspect I My sons Sam and Jack shall
remain at home, and never wear a moustache on pain of
being disinherited I'
10*
114 ARRIVAL OF, AN ADDITION?
'Ohy it's the moustache that has gi?en dfencel' said
Stephen, smiling.
'No offence at all,' rejoined Gilbert'; 'bat I have heard
enough of your son's doings to make me resolFe to keep my
sons at home as long as I can ; and if going abroad be so
necessary as people seem to think now-a-days, why I shall
' go with them, and follow them about, too, wherever they go.'
' I advise you to set about learning French, with all con-
venient expedition,' said Stephen, with a sneer.
' I shall have a coureer,^ retorted his brother.
' And a tea-kettle ' suggested Stephen.
Gilbert took up his hat, with evident signs of extreme irri-
tation.
Stephen rose and laid his hand on his brother's arm.
' Come, Gilbert, ' he said, ' let us understand each other, and
not part in anger. Ton are a clever, clear-headed man, as
I have reason to know, having often enough profited by your
advice.'
The other, with a look of returning satisfaction, attempted
to disclaim.
* I say, you are an unusually clever man of business,' per-
sisted Stephen ; ' but you are no man of the world, and
never will be or I either, though I know more of it from
books than you do. Try it for a few years, and painful ex-
perience will convince you that I am right. As to our
children it is evident you feel no great regard for my son,
and to tell you the truth, I do not desire the society of your
daughter, either for myself, or Nora. Let us, therefore, as
heretofore, meet daily in the city, and but rarely at our re-
spective homes. Our roads are no longer parallel, and
Georgina will explain to you before long, that your servants
need not be made acquainted with the fact, of your having
a brother who lives so much nearer the city than the West
End.'
Gilbert looked conscious as if he had already heard some*
OB, AV AOQUISITION? 116
UiiBg to that purport, and endeavored to conceal his embar-
rassment by asking when Arthur was expected home.
'In a week or two/ answered Stephen, 'he and Lord
Torpid are trarelling together, and have reached Paris by
this time.'
f 'Ah indeed I read this morning in the paper, that it
was generally supposed his lordship would shortly lead the
beautiful and accomplished Lady Louisa Thorpe, to the-^
the hymn hym him-alay-an altar 1 '
Nora thought her uncle meant to be facetious, and laughed.
Such was not his intention ; he had some slight misgiving
that he had blundered a little in the pronunciation of a hard
word ; but, otherwise, considered his speech as very correct,
and probably classical.
'That may be true,' observed Stephen, suppressing a
smile, ' Lord Torpid was at Nice, for some weeks, when the
Medways were there. Arthur can tell you all about the
Thorpes, Nora, if they still continue to interest you.'
' I belieTe I had better try to forget them, as they seem to
bare forgotten me,' answered Nora, blushing.
' The Medways are a very distinguished family,' said Gil-
bert, as he walked towards the door, ' very distinguished,
indeed ! Yesterday evening, her ladyship entertained a select
party, at her house in Grosvenor-place, at which were pres-
ent the Earl and Countess of Witherington, the Ladies Mar-
tingale, Lord Augustus Jockley, and other members of the
aristocracy. It is not improbable that I may become ac-
quainted with the Medways during the season, Nora; and
you may depend upon my speaking of yon the first oppor-
tunity that occurs.'
He left the room with a pompous wave of the hand, and
an oddly contrasting good-humored smile.
This conTcrsation made a deep impression on Nora, from
having giTcn her more insight into the characters of her two
uncles thaa all the previous months of careiul observation.
116 ABBIYAl OF, Air ADDITION?
Mr. Nixon never referred to it ; bat the knowledge that Von
was not altogether in his power, that others were as desirow
as he was of having her to reside with them, nnconseionsly
raised her in his estimation, and made him anxious to relieve
the tedium of his house. That same evening, he requested
her to preside in future at the tea-table, proposed her writing
once a-week a list of the books she wished to read, promising
to procure them for her with his own, and, in a fit of kind
thoughtfulness, actually surprised her with a present of a
piano-forte, which with diflSculty found a place in the study.
She saw his efforts to make her feel herself at home, and,
unostentatiously met them half way ; so that bj the time her
cousin Arthur arrived, she had pretty nearly obtained the
position of a daughter in his father's house. It was his
arrival that first made her painfully conscious of the very re-
duced state of her wardrobe ; her mourning was completely
worn out, she had outgrown all her other clothes, had no
money to replace them, and could not overcome the repug*
nance she felt to an explanation with her uncle on this sub-
ject. From week to week she had hoped he would obserre
her wants, and say something when on the waj to church,
during the cold, damp, autumn Sundays ; but he had no idea
that her crape bonnet that had borne the dust of two sum-
mers, could not also sustain the sleet and rain of the succeed-
ing winters.
Nora's embarrassment was greatly increased by the unusual
preparations made for the reception of her cousin. The
drawing-room windows were opened, the furniture uncovered,
and fires lighted ; Anne Ducker informing her, that their
dear Arthur could not endure a house looking only half in-
liabited. The treasures of the front bed-room, and adjoining
dressing-room, which were his, were then too, for the first
time, completely disclosed to her admiring eyes, and she was
permitted, at her leisure, to examine the choice pictures that
covered the walls, the inlaid cabinets and tables, bronze
OB, AH AGQUIBITION? lit
fUtneites, yases, and other olijects of art, with which they
were crowded. The day of his arriyal, light once more fell
on the splendid service of plate, and the silver vessels of
various form, that had decorated the sideboard on the occa-
sion of the Christmas party ; but when Nora at last perceived
that new and handsome carpets were being laid on the stairs,
she thoaght it time to inspect her wardrobe, and endeavor
to discover some dress appropriate for the reception of a
person of snch evident importance. She possessed a black
velvet ^WQ that had belonged to her mother, and though a
foreign pnjudice had hitherto made her nn willing to wear what
she had learned to consider a matron's dress, she was now
glad to have it, with its valuable old lace appendages, nn-
conscions, when her toilet was completed, and she reluctantly
left her room, that she had never in her life looked so pic-
taresque and pretty, so graceful and dignified, as while lean-
ing for a moment over the banisters of the staircase, to
ascertain whether or not her cousin had arrived.
He had arrived. Ostentations as had been the prepara-
tions for his reception, nothing could be more simple and
quiet than his entrance. Having joined his father at his
office in the city, they had returned home together, and he
had then expressed so much more desire to see Mrs. Ducker
than bis cousin Nora, that he had retired first to the apart-
ment of that much-flattered woman, and then to his own,
making hastily the slight alterations in his dress, which he
considered sufficient for his father and the young relation
whose acquaintance he was about to make. He seemed,
however, rather to waver in the latter opinion, as immediately
after leaving his room, his eyes rested on the charming figure
in black velvet, that he saw preceding him down stairs, and
he would, perhaps, have retreated to effect some advantageous
change, had not Nora looked up and -^ smiled, smiled as if .
she already knew him.
In a moment he was beside her, and they entered the draw-
118 ABBIYAL or, AN ADDITXONf
!ng-room together, where they found Mr. Nixon enactiiig
grand seigneur with all his might for the laudable purpose
of gratifying his only son.
The dinner, as far as conrersation was concerned, proved
almost a Ute-d-tite between Nora and her cousin ; but she
left the father and son together directly afterwards, and sit-
ting down beside the fire in the drawing-room (where she
felt rather as if in a strange house) she came very quickly to
the conclusion that Arthur was very decidedly gentlemanlike.
She thought his hair, too, rather auburn than red ; and if
the color of his beard admitted of no doubt whateyer, it did
not prevent him from being good-looking : he was agreeable^
too, and would be a pleasant addition to their small party,
an acquisition to her as well as to her uncle.
A very short time elapsed before he joined her, and, draw-
ing a chair close to hers, said, ' My father is sleeping, and,
I suppose, will continue to do so for half-an-hour longer.
Let us have coffee, and tell me all you know about Ladf
Louisa Thorpe: she is going to be married to a friend of
mind one of the quietest, bestrnatured fellows in the world,
and I hope you can tell me that he has not drawn a blank it
Hymen's lottery.'
I know very little of Lousia,' answered Nora; 'but I
should think Lord Torpid had not made a bad choice.'
' So you know all about it I' said Arthur ; ' very natural-
to be sure of course.'
' Do not misunderstand me,' rejoined Nora, quickly. 'A
paragraph in one of the papers, repeated by my uncle Gil-
bert, gave me all the information I possess. That Lord
Torpid and the Marquis of Witherington are your intimate
friends, Anne Ducker has impressed upon my mind by dint
of eternal repetition of the words.'
Arthur half laughed as he exclaimed, ' Dear old Ducker I
I hope you like her, Nohi ? In fact, you must, for she loves
yon beyond measure, and has already assured me that yoo
OB, AN ACQUISITION? 11^
are ft "hangel:" I, too, feel rather ioclined to think this
most be the case now that my father has told mo yon refused
to go to Mr. Gilbert Nixon's in order to vegetate here with
him. It was an immense sacrifice on yonr part ; and what
this house must have appeared to yon, coming from the Med-
ways, I can well imagine. '^
Nora played with her fire-screen, and made no attempt to
disclaim.
'Ton expected,' he added, with some hesitation, 'to
retam to them ?'
I confess I had some foolish hopes of the kind for a
month or so,' Miswered Nora, with a freedom from embar-
rassment that encouraged her companion to go on; yet he
looked at the fire, and not at her, as he observed
'Yon did not know Lord Med way's wavering character,
and expected him to carry through his plans concerning yon
with firmness.'
'I hardly knew what I expected,' she answered, leaning
back in her chair, and gazing thoughtfully at the ceiling ; 'I
did not expect to be so completely forgotten, certainly ; but^
after all, the plan was impracticable, you know, without his
mother's consent.'
'I know no such thing,' said Arthur; 'her ladyship's
consent was, undoubtedly, desirable, but by no means neces-
sary to a man in his position. Our cousin Oeorgina would,
in your place, have played her cards differently, and gone to
Nice as head nurse-^hired by his lordship himself as Lady
Med way, in short I'
' I do not understand ' began Nora.
' Is it possible you did not know that he intended to marry
you ? that bis brother had the greatest difficulty in keeping
him in Paris; that he refused for a long time to see his
mother, who was obliged to propitiate him by making all
sorts of promises about you for the ensuing summer, the ful*
fitment of which her son Charles assisted her in evading V
120 ARRIVAL OF, AN ADDITION?
'Are yon quite sore of all this f asked Nora, earnestly
* Perfectly certain. '
'And,' continued Nora, 'and they returned to England
last year 7'
' Oh, no I I don't think anything but the marriage of her
two eldest daughters would even now hare induced Lady
Med way to return. In her present position as a widow she
finds Paris, Naples, or Rome pleasanter places of residence
than London ; besides which, she wished to have the Channel
for some time longer between you and Med way, being much
more afraid of the effect of your beaux yeux than even her
son Charles, who told a friend of mine, in confidence, that a
ery short separation would be BuiBcient for their purpose,
as you were merely a a '
' What V asked Nora, smiling.
' Something so very different from what you are, that for
his sake, I am glad he gare the name of his informant.'
'And who may that have been V asked Nora.
'Your step-brother, Harry Darwin, who most probably
has not seen you since you were a child.'
' Harry never liked me,' said Nora, with some emotion ;
' but that is of little importance to me now. As to Charlef
Thorpe, I dislike him intensely.'
. ' Ton would not if you knew him,' said Arthur ; 'he is a
fine resolute fellow, and knows perfectly what he is about
As to his not particularly wishing bis brother to many, why
aw a hum '
' Oh I as to that,' said Nora, ' my studies in English navels
and tales of fashionable life since I have been here have
given me such an insight into the present state of society
that I can perfectly understand his motives.'
'And partly excuse them, perhaps,' said Arthur, 'when
you consider his brother's state of health, and that he did
not know you personally. '
BATTI.SDORS AND BUUTTLCOCK ]2l
The eairance of a servant with coffee prevented her from
answering : and Mr. Nixon joining them almost immediately
afterwards, the Thorpes were not again mentioned.
CHAPTER XL
BATTLEDORE AND 8HUTTLEG00K.
It was not long before Nora began to discover that her
internal rejoicings at the agreeable addition to their family
had been somewhat premature. Arthur Nixon left home
every morning directly after breakfast with his father, some-
times accompanying him to the City, more frequently direct-
ing bis steps westward to the Club, where he not only re-
ceived his notes and letters, but also his friends ; and in the
course of time the numerons invitations he expected for
dinners, soirees, and balls. The evening after his arrival he
went to the opera ; and from that time forward, for several
weeks, seldom dined at home, excepting on Sandays. He
informed his father daily at breakfast of bis evening engage-
ments, spoke of every person and everything he saw without
the slightest reserve; and on snch occasions exhibited a
degree of satire eminently calculated to lead the uninitiated
to suppose that in his heart he had learned to despise the
rank and fisshion, in the pnrsuit of which he was squandering
the best years of his life.
Nora and her uncle returned to their old habits, and the
Btody ; and Arthur became to them merely an occasional, but
always acceptable and agreeable guest. As the spring ad-
vanced, his engagements multiplied; and though he com-
plained frequently of being bored and fatigued, he seldom
made arrangements for a day of rest ; gravely assuring Nora,
when she jested on the subject, that if he remained at home
I 11
122 BATTLEDOBS AND 8HUTTLXC00K.
%
for eren one week, he sbonld ran a great chance of beiog
'clear forgotten, like a dead man, oat of mind.'
One rainy afternoon, towards the end of Maj, he retnmed
home at an nnnsnally early hoar, and instead of going
directly to his room, as was his castom, tarned into the
stady. That he expected to find Nora there is certain, hot
BO little did her absence concern him, that he took np &
book, withont even inquiring whether or not she were in the
hoase ; and throwing himself into a chair, rather rejoiced in
the feeling of being alone. Scarcely, however, had the slight
noise prodaced by his movement of books and chairs ceased,
than he heard the soand of irregular, eager, almost breath-
less counting in the adjoining dining-room 98; 99 300!
301 302 3 4 5 and.so on.
Gantiously opening the door of commanication between
the rooms, he perceived that Nora, adroitly avoiding the
tables and chairs, was amusing herself with a solitary game
of battledore and shuttlecock, her anxiety lest the latter
shonld fall to the ground being so great that his intruding
head remained long unperceived. It happened that one of
her greatest personal advantages was a perfectly-formed
figure, and nothing could be more graceful or fascinating
than the unstudied and various positions into which her
game compelled her to place it, while her nptumed face,
with sparkling eyes, lips slightly parted, and cheeks into
which exercise had forced the clearest and brightest color,
made her, for the time being, the most beautiful creature he
had ever beheld. He watched with intense interest every
movement, followed with a sort of nervous anxiety the
wavering flight of the shuttlecock as it sometimes approached,
sometimes receded from his vicinity, and started when at
length it alighted on his head and Nora stood before him.
' Oh, why did you open the door 1 ' she exclaimed, in a
tone of jesting reproach ; ' if your tiresome head had not been
there, I could have completed my fourth or even fifth han
BATT]:.XDORS AND SHUTTLSCOGK. 123
dred without intemiption. Surely yoa most have returned
home a lull hour too soon to-daj I '
'An hour earlier but I hope not too soon,' he answered
with heightened color.
' Oh, I have said something you don't*like to hear, or you
would not correct my English,' observed Nora, smiling archly
as she continued to play with her shuttlecock. But it now
began to &ll continually, and after Arthur had raised it from
the floor at least a dozen times, he said he supposed she must
be tired.
'Not at all,' she answered, quickly, 'it is dividing my
attention between yon and the shuttiecok that makes me so
mdladraUe: I am never tired until after my fifth hundred.'
'What on earth do you mean by your fourth and fifth
hundred 7 ' asked Arthur.
' Why you see, ' said Nora, tossing the shuttlecock towards
the ceiling and pursuing it afterwards with a look of sportive
eagerness ' you see I am not accustomed to be so completely
confined to the house (bump, bamp), as if I had been bom
and bred in London (bump). So when I first came here I
used to run up and down the stairs a good deal (bump,
bamp, bump) ; but withont any object in view, it was all too
tiresome (bump). Then I made a ball for myself (bnmp)
broke the windows (bump, bump) and had no money to
pay the glazier I ' Here the shuttlecock fell to the ground,
and she raised it herself, as Arthur repeated
' Pay the glazier f '
' Tes, for I did not wish my uncle to know that I was so
childish as to play at ball, so Duckey paid for me (bump,
bump), and did not write it in the account-book. She also
(bnmp) gave me this battledore and shuttlecock last Christ-
mas (bump, bump, bump.)
' Dncker I ' exclaimed Arthur.
'Yes, Ducker,' said Nora, coming towards him, and with
light touches of her hands keeping the shuttlecock constantly
12i BATTLEDORE AND anUTTLECOOK.
in the air jast before her face, after the manner of the most
expert jaggler, ' You hare no idea how kind she has been to
me.'
'Or how generous jon have been to her,' said Arthur;
* yet she has showA me a brooch and ear-rings giren her bj
yon, which were certainly intended to deck a fairer person
than good old Dncker's.'
'Ear-rings are a barbarons ornament/ replied Nora,
smiling, ' and I never wear them. Other trinkets I ralue in
exact proportion to my affection for the donors. The brooch
that so delighted Ducker was worthless to me, given care-
lessly and accepted unwillingly. I can only rejoice in its
having at last found a possessor who will value it, both in-
trinsically and fictitiously.'
'Ton have raised my curiosity concerning this brooch/
said Arthur. ' Have you any objection to tell me the name
of the donor f '
' None whatever it was ray step-brother, Harry Darwin.'
' Do you feel so very indifferent towards him V asked
Arthur.
*I have reason to do so,' answered Nora. 'He never
cared for me, and the letter I wrote to inform him of my
father's death and n^y unpleasant position was not answered
for six months I '
' It may not have reached him so soon as you supposed,'
suggested Arthur.
' It was forwarded to him immediately by Charles Thorpe,
who must have given* him some information concerning me at
a later period, as in his answer, though he passed over my
father's death as an event of no importance, he expressed
very great satisfaction at my being so well provided for;
and recommended me to conciliate my uncle Stephen in every
possible way, and to make myself generally nseful in his
house.
BATTLBDOBX AND 8HT7TTLSCOOK. 125
When yoa again write,' said Arthur, 'you can tell him
t you have made yourself indispensable to my father. '
Oar correspondence is at an end,' said Nora, as she
ered the study. ' I could read between the lines of his
er, bis anjdety to avoid all farther communication wiih
his fear that I might become a harden to liim. '
For a young unmarried man, like Darwin, ' began Arthur
1 orphan sister is rather a a '
An incumbranee ? ' suggested Nora. ' Harry shall never
I me one.'
I should not exactly have used that word, ' said Arthur,
ghing, ' and only wished to point out to yon, that Darwin
Y acted as a most other young men in his place would
e done. He disliked your father, I believe knew very
le of you, and therefore '
You need not go on,' cried Nora, interrupting him, in-
nantly. ' After having attempted a justification of Charles
arpc's conduct the very first evening of onr acquaintance,
an hardly be surprised at your now excusing Harry's
lect of me I In a worldly point of view they are both
terns of prudence, no doubt, but I can never like them
^ou either,' she added petulantly, 'if you can speak and
ik in this manner. '
Forgive me, Nora,' said Arthnr, gravely, 'for not being
B to find fault with men whose conduct, whether reprehen-
e or not, has been the means of bringing you under onr
f. ' He sat down at the writing-table, and hastily wrote
(w lines, while Nora, half vexed, half flattered, retired to
room to dress for dinner.
Ireat was Mr. Nixon's surprise, and (must it be con-
ed ?) not inconsiderable his annoyance, when his son en-
jd the study a few minutes before dinner-time, and care-
ly saying that he had written an excuse to the Savage
ywards, and intended to dine at home, sat down beside
ra, and peered over her shoulder; while she examined a
' 11*
126 BATTLEDORE AND SHUTTLECOCK.
book of engravings conUining views of Tariona moiintainoos
parts of Germany, but chiefly the Tyrol.
' If yon had mentioned your intention of remaining witii
ns a little earlier,' said Mr. Nixon, ^we conld have bads
fire in the drawing-room ; in fact,' he added/ hastily taming
round, ' it is not too late, and the '
* Let me entreat that no change maybe made for me,' cried
Arthur, springing towards him. ' I am really not such %
bulky fellow that yon cannot find room for me in your snug-
gery here.'
'But,' said his father,' I know yon dislike this room, and
when we have drawing-rooms, why not use them ?'
'Why not, indeed!' exclaimed Arthur, laughing, 'but, on
the present occasion, I do not choose in any way to interfere
with your or Nora's habits, nor do I choose to be treated as
a visitor any longer.'
'I assure you, however,' said Mr. Nixon, 'that when the
weather begins to get warm I have no sort of objection to
going up stairs in the evening. I only turned in here when
I was quite alone, you know.'
' Yes, but you have continued here with Nora, and she likes
this room better than the others, I am quite sure ;' he turned
to Nora, while speaking, but without waiting to hear her
answer, Mr. Nixon left the room to give some orders about
Khine wine and ice, while Arthur, resuming his place beside
his cousin, bent over the engravings and murmured, ' I wish
I were at any of these places. '
' So do I,' said Nora, vainly endeavoring to suppress a
sigh.
' You are, probably, well acquainted with them all V he
asked.
'I have spent several summers among these mountains,'
she answered, 'and know the banks of the Inn, and Inns-
bruck, far, far better than the Thames and Loudon 1 '
BATTLSDOBS AUD SHUTTLXCOCK. 127
' I suspect jOQ hare as jet seen scarcely linythiiig of Lon-
don,' he observed.
' Rather say nothing at all/ she replied ; ' I hare not even
had a glimpse of St. Panl's and Westminster Abbey.'
'You shall see both to-morrow, ' ho said, smiling.
' Oh thank yon I should like so much to see the Tower,
also, if if ' here she stopped, for it suddenly flashed
across her mind that she had no dress in which she could ap
pear in public with her cousin. To hide hex embarrassment
she turned orer a leaf and forgot it altogether as her eyes
rested on a riew of Meran, with its beautiful suburb of Ober-
mais. 'There, there we lired,' she said, her color rising as
s^e extended her hand to the print, 'just beside that church
I do believe these are the windows of our little drawing-
room we could see the Zenoburg and the road to the
Castle of Tyrol from them. You have been to see the re-
mains of the old castle V
' Yes,' said Arthur, 'the view from that long room which,
by-the-by, is not at all ancient-looking, is the most beautiful
imaginable without water. '
* But there is the Adige,' cried Nora, eagerly, ' one can
follow the course of the river for miles.'
' True, but it looks like a silver thread ; and to satisfy me,
half the valley ought to have been under water in the form
of a lake I dare say it was, once upon a time,'
* If you were not enchanted with that view, just as you
found it,' said Nora, 'we must never travel, nor even look
at prints together,' and she prepared to close the book.
' Surely you will allow me to differ from you in opinion
occasionally, ' he said, preventing her from doing so ; 'if we
always thought alike, there would be an end to all conver-
sation.'
' Bnt,' said Nora, ' I am afraid you are like most travelled
Englishmen, and will contrive to find something to criticise
everywhere. '
128 BATTIiBDOBB AND 8HUTTLBC0CK.
' Try in,' said Arthur.
' This is Rametz,' she said, pointing to a castellated buQd*
ing. ' You know Eametz.'
Arthur nodded.
' And the very fat Italian doctor to whom it belongs V
'No.'
' The son of a peasant of Meran, who studied in Italj, be
came a celebrated physician, saved money, returned home to
purchase the ruins among which he had played as a boy, and
restored, and rebuilt, and added '
Arthur laughed. Nora stopped, and looked at him in-
quiringly.
' I had not time to find out all this, ' he said ; * but it ac-
counts most satisfactorily for the confusion of architectare,
which you must allow to be rather evident in the edifice.'
* What do I care for the architecture I' said Nora. ' I did
not go to Rametz to see a Gothic church, or Grecian temple ;
I went with gay friends to sup under the vines, and to stand
on the balcony, after sunset, and watch the shadows of even-
ing spreading over the valley I have stood there until the
mountain-tops were lighted by the moon, and ' here she
stopped again.
* Go on, ' said Arthur.
* No,' answered Nora, 'you are laughing at me. You do
not understand me, and cannot comprehend the distinctness
with which I can recall those scenes, and^ remember every
word I there heard spoken.'
*I can I do ' cried Arthur, eagerly; 'the terrible
monotony of your present existence makes you return to and
live in the past. Nora,' he added, lowering his voice, though
they were alone in the room, ' are you very unhappy here V
' No oh no by no means only a little lonely some-
times; but that is the fault of my education, I suppose.
Had I been bom and brought up in London, I dare say I
BATTLKDORE AND SnUTTIXCOCK. 129
sbonld hare quite enjoyed bein^ sbat np that is, a rather
confined to the hoase as I now am.'
' Do yon go oat so very seldom 7 ' asked Arthur
* Not at all, excepting to chnrch, and occasionally to walk
in the square/ she answered, and then, fearing a renewal of
his proposal to take her out the ensuing day, she again bent
over the prints, and pointing to Schoena, asked, ' if he had
been there too ? '
' No, I had not time ; in two days one cannot go to all
these places.'
* I am sorry you did not go to Schoena, for the archi-
tecture is quite correct there, I belieye. A strong-hold of the
middle ages, with massive walls, small windows, vaulted cor-
ridors, armory hall, and so forth. I don't understand much
about these things, and confess that the history of one of its
last possessors, before it was purchased by the Archduke
John, interested me more than the place itself.'
* And what was his story 7' asked Arthur.
* Ser story, you must say,' answered Nora. 'She mar-
ried a peasant, and retired with him to a small house, which
she built lower down on the hill.'
'Some handsome fellow, no doubt,' observed Arthur.
'I did not ask,' said Nora, thoughtfully; 'they said she
was not happy '
*I dare say not,' interposed Arthur. 'A descent, or,
rather, a fall in rank, is always a dangerous experiment for a
woman, and a dame chcUelaine, who becomes a peasant's
wife, has a very difficult lesson to learn ; the sort of love, too,
which induces her to take such a step, is not of a description
to last long, or enable her to bear her unavoidable trials
with patience.'
' The peasant, who spoke to us about her, seemed to be
of your opinion also, and evidently disapproved of the match ;
he would have told us more, perhaps, had papa been disposed
to listen. Almost all the old castles about Meran have not
130 BATTLEDORE AND SHUTTLECOCK.
only ancient, bat also modern histories, some of them quite
romantic ; at Fragsbarg, for instance, one of the most iso-
lated of them all, where we went in the hope of seeing a
cnrioas collection of family portraits described in Sewald's
"Tyrol," we found a widow, with a son and daogbter,
obliged, by circumstances, to reside there constantly, hard^
able to keep the great pile of building in repair, yet clingiog-
with affection, to the very stones. The ancestor's pictares
had been disposed of in the Charles Surface manner, and do
rich uncle having made his appearance as purchaser, they'
Here dinner was announced ; but Arthur only waited
until his father slept, afterwards to return to Nora, pro-
fessedly to hear the remainder of the story, but, in fact, to
talk of other things, and find out as much as he could of the
mind and attainments of a relative who, in the very heart of
London, was nearly as much alone as the young shy girl she
so graphically described standing beneath the old fig-tree ia
the dilapidated court at Fragsburg.
Arthur had an evening engagement, but seemed in no
hurry to leave tome: the announcement of his cab was
received with an impatient wave of his hand, nor did he
again think of it, or the Countess of AUcourt's ball, until
his father had gone to bed, and Nora parted from him in the
hall. Even afterwards, he stood watching her ascent of the
stairs, compelling her frequently to look over the banisters,
and answer his reiterated ' good-night'
It was remarked, that Arthur paid very little attention to
the countess's daughter. Lady Emmeline, that evening ; the
young lady herself seemed to consider an officer in the Blues
a very good substitute ; but her mother thought otherwise, as
she was by no means unwilling to bestow one of her numerous
progeny on Nixon the millionaire, a man of such undoubted
talent that it was generally supposed he could become any*
thing be pleased. Arthur was not ignorant of the fai orable
opinion entertained of his fortune and intellect, and in no
BATTLXDORI AND SHUTTLECOCK. 131
ay endeaTored to lower it ; he called himself a ' manying
nan,' spoke of purchasing landed property, and hinted an
intention of entering Parh'araent the first conTcnient oppor-
tnnity. Once only that night did he address Lady Emme-
line, and when she was afterwards questioned by her mother
on the subject of his apparently interesting, though short
(conversation, she assured her he had spoken of nothing bnt
the charms of battledore and shuttlecock, which he pro-
nounced to be the most perfectly graceful game ever invented,
and one that rendered a handsome woman, when playing,
irresistibly captivating.
The fact waf , Nora's face and figure had that day taken
Arthar's heart by storm, and he could only wonder at his
previous insensibility; while thenceforward, without the
sHghtest consideration of the consequences, or the faintest
attempt to overcome the headstrong passion that he felt
taking possession of him, he yielded to every impulse, and
before many days had elapsed made Nora perfectly aware
that his heart was hers, and that he wished jiec to know it.
There are few things that ought to be less gratifying to a
woman than becoming the object of a sudden and violent
passion of this kind, yet there are not many who remember
that the feeling has its source in an exaggerated estimation
of mere personal beauty, and remain unflattered by it. Nora
attempted no analysis; she received Arthur's homage as
willingly as it was offered ; and found that his earnest devo-
tion contrasted pleasantly with her recollection . of Lord
Med way's languid regard. He soon began to remain much
at home, at first ostensibly to direct her studies in English
literature, of which she fancied herself unusually ignorant,
afterwards to improve himself in German, which she un-
doubtedly understood better than English, though nothing
annoyed her more than being teld so. Both occupations
were dangerous, for they led to mutual discoveries of talent,
that, in the common intercourse of life, might long have re-
139 BATTLEDOBS ANP BHUTTLSCOCK.
mained concealed; and when Arthur in time learned to
appreciate her mind even more than her person, and began to
meditate a sacrifice in her favor of his long-cherished matri-
* menial plans, the very idea of which would have appeared
incipient madness to him a few months previously, Nora, not
for a moment doubting his intentions, gave herself an iufinitj
of trouble to return his affection, as she thought it deserved,
and labored not unsuccessfully to becfome reconciled to what
her foreign education made her contemplate without modi
aversion, a mariage de conveyance et raison.
The weather had become sultry, windows and doors were
opened, the large drawing-rooms in use by common eonseot,
and either Nora remained longer in the dining-room, or bcr
uncle's drow^siness was increased by heat, for she was seldom
more than a few minutes alone after dinner before Arthur wm
again at her side. She had learned to expect this, and many
other little attentions of so unobtrusive a nature, that though
perfectly understood by her, they were completely unobserved
by her uncle.
One day, before and during dinner, Arthur had used all
his eloquence to induce his father to go abroad, if only for a
few weeks, during the summer, promising to show him scenery,
of which he had not yet even an idea ; pictures and statnes
of which he had but read descriptions ; and ending with the
assurance that none of his habits should be interfered with,
none of his usual comforts forgotten ; he and Nora would
undertake to make him enjoy himself perfectly, and trareliiBg
was now so easy 1
'Rather too easy, Arthur,' replied Mr. Nixon, dryly. 'As
to my ever leaving home, that is out of the question ; but that
you want to take flight again is evident enough. Now, with*
out intending to dictate, let me tell you that I should be glad
to hear that you had at last begun to think seriously of estab
lishing yourself in your own country ; half my fortune is youn
whenever you choose to do so.'
BATTISDOBX AND SHUTTLSCOCK. 133
*I canDot 8ay. that I feel any great inclination just
now to accept yonr really very liberal offer,' said
Arthur, with some hesitation and evident embarrassment.
Mr. NizoD, who had already began to stretch and compose
himself for a doze, suddenly raised himself upright in his
chair, and, fixing his eyes on his son, observed, ' You have
remained at home a good deal lately, Arthur ; I hope that
no quarrel with Lady Emmeline has been the cause, or that
any difficulty on the part of her family is likely to interfere
with our plan. You did not seem to apprehend anything of
that kind when w^ last spoke on this subject. '
'Nor do I now,' answered Arthur, with all the confidence
usually manifested by his sex on such occasions; and he
glanced toward Nora as he added, * any delays or difficulties
that may henceforward occur are likely to be on my side.'
Now this was the first time that Lady Emmeline had been
80 mentioned in Nora's presence ; and though not by any
means as yet deeply attached to her cousin, she had so com-
pletely made up her mind to become his wife, that she conld
not hear unmoved so plain an intimation that he was engaged,
or nearly so, to another woman. She looked alternately at her
companions in a bewildered, inquiring manner, felt herself
blush intensely, and then rising, with as much calmness as she
could command, murmured something about leaving them
alone to discuss affairs of such importance, and walked
towards the door, to which her cousin sprang before her, and
where he bent forward as she passed him, in the vain hope
that she would look at or speak to him.
Before Nora had reached the drawing-room, her consterna-
tion at what she had just heard began to abate. No one but
herself knew what she had expected and intended, and no
one ever should know the efforts she had made to return the
affection of a man who, it was now evident, had only been
amusing himself with her. Was it right or honorable that
he had done so ? It is true he had never uttered the word
I. 12
134 BATTLEDORE AND SHUTTLECOCK.
loye, or spoken of marriage, but bat no matter men
were undoubtedly at liberty to act in this manner if women
allowed them. With her, at least, no one should ever trifle
again ; she had received a painful and mortifying lesson, bat
had reason to be thankful that she had not been wounded in
a manner to destroy her happiness irretrievably. It was,
after all, a disappointment in marriage, and not in love a
disappointment unknown to all the world, easily concealed,
not very hard to bear, and she believed she should in futare
distrust all mankind, and despise and dislike that portion of
it to which Arthur Nixon belonged.
Having come to this conclusion, she walked into the back
drawing-room, opened wide one of the windows, and gasped
for breath in a manner that strongly resembled a succession
of deep sighs. The evening was oppressively warm ; and
being dressed, for a reason already mentioned, in the inde*
etructible black velvet, she naturally concluded that the
sensation of suffocation proceeded altogether from her on-
seasonable attire. This led her to long reflections on poverty
and dependence, that were by no means exhilarating ; so that
as she stood half on the balcony, half in the room, now
growing dusky in the twilight, her anger subsided slowly into
a despondency, that better suited the scene around her. A
strong current of air made her aware of the opening of the
door of the front room ; it ceased immediately, and she was
provoked to find her heart beating violently, her hands cold
and trembling, as she pressed them together in the agitation
and dread of a meeting, and, perhaps, explanation, with
Arthur. She wished to get out of the room, but could not
do so without passing the open folding-door and being seen.
Suddenly she remembered having heard her mother say, that
to prevent an untimely exhibition of agitation, there was no
better remedy than a severe pinch administered to the back
of the neck, which pinch was to be repeated antil it took
effect. She raised her hand, and was it the pain, or hear-
BATTLSDOKE AND SHUTTLECOCK. 135
iog her uncle's Toice, that so effectually traDqaillised her ?
She kuew not, Dor had she time to consider, for, nnfortn-
natelj perceiving the room unoccupied, the first words that
Mr. Nixon uttered were of a nature to compel her to remain
where she was, in order not to embarrass him, and place
herself in an intolerably mortifying position. She therefore
endeavored to put herself out of sight and hearing by stand-
ing on the balcony, while her uncle continued 'No one can
be more sincerely attached to Nora than I now am ; she is a
good and a clever girl yes, a very clever .girl, and pretty,
and interesting, and all that you have said, but such a con-
nexion for you would destroy all our plans and hopes of
rising in the world. I am sorry to perceive that your
opinions on this subject have begun to waver : be yourself
again, Arthur, and follow the coarse that will enable you to
found a family and obtain a name ! This first step is of the
greatest importance, and any attempt to evade it will place
you in my position, and force you to realise your ambition in
the person of your son. Want of fortune may easily be
overlooked on our side, but want of rank never I'
' I thought,' began Arthur, hesitatingly, ' that perhaps
my own numerous personal friends, and her relationship with
the Med ways '
' They all but deny the relationship,' said his father,
interrupting him : * Lord Med way, indeed, attracted probably
by her youth and good looks, wished his mother to retain
Ber in the family, but her ladyship was, in consequence,
rendered even more anxious to get rid of her on any terms.
She even sent for her son Charles, who was at Vienna, to
manage the affair. You shall see his letters to me ; they will
show you in what light the Thorpe family view the relation-
ship I Nothing could' be more downright than his statement
ot facts ; and it was not flattering to Nora, I can tell yon :
but I neither blamed him nor his mother for acting precisely
as I should do myself in a similar case.'
136 BATTLXDORE AND BHVTTLXOOOK.
* Were I to be the object acted npon,' said Arthur, 'sdcIi
plans would most certainly fail ; bat Nora was joung and
inexperienced, and Lord Medwaj an indolent, wavering
fellow, who always has been, and always will be, completelj
governed by those about him. I hare yet to discover the
man who can rule me openly or covertly.'
* Yon prefer being rnled by women,' observed his father,
sarcastically. ' Bat come : the most perfect confidence has
hitherto existed between us, and will, I trust, continae as
long as we live ; believe me, this foolish fancy for your black-
eyed cousin will pass over, as others have done. I knov
that yoar ambition fally equals mine: marry. this Ladj
Emmeline, get into Parliament, and let me see you a man of
consequence, if not of rank, before I die.'
' Had you so spoken a few weeks ago,' said Arthar,
gloomily, ' your words would have foand an echo, if not ia
my heart, certainly in my head ; but now '
' You surely do not mean to say that you have deliberately
been making a fool of yourself for that length of time,
Arthur V
* I mean to say that I then admired, but now love Nora
sincerely, deeply, passionately as I have never loved
before, and never shall again. I fear -I cannot forget
her.'
' Time will enable you to do so,' said Mr. Nixon, quietly.
' Time must do you this good service, Arthur, for I will
never give my consent to your marriage with her. To all
your other follies I have been more than indulgent, and am
now prepared to make any sacrifice to give you a position
iu the world ; it seems to me, also, that you hare already
paid this Lady Emmeline too much attention to be able to
draw back with honor '
' Oh, no 1' cried Arthur, with a slight sneer : * in this world
of fashion that we value bo highly, one is not so easily canght
BATTLXDOBX AND SHUTTLCCOCK. 18t
and bound as elaewhere. I consider myself still quite at
liberty. '
'Oh, indeed I' said his father. 'Then, perhaps yon prefer
one of the daughters of Lord Witherington ? Having never
seen any f these young ladies, I do not venture to give an
opinion ; in the latter case, you will, of course, go abroad
again, and Nora can then remain with me.'
' That she can do at all events, ' said Arthur. ' After what
yon have just said, I cannot speak to her, and everything
remains as it was, before this foolish confession of mine. '
* Not quite,' said Mr. Nixon, 'for if you do not decide on
either marrying Lady Emmeline, or joining the Witheringtons
at Baden, where you told me they now are, I shall consider
it necessary to send Nora, for some time at least, to your
uncle Gilbert's. He and Georgina will I know be quite
pleased to have her.
'I dare say they will,' replied Arthur; 'but I am much
mistaken if they ever let her return to you.'
* Gilbert will scarcely interfere with me, after my having
told him of my intention to give her two thousand pounds,'
said Mr. Nixon.
' Have you done so ? ' asked Arthur, quickly.
* Certainly. The very day after she consented to remain
with me, I placed the sum in the Bank for her. '
'Then,' rejoined Arthur, 'I think you had better hence-
forward allow her to receive the interest of this splendid
fortune, for this morning, when I was angry with her for per-
sisting in her refusal to go out with me, Ducker told me in
conGdence, that the poor dear girl had outgrown all her
clothes and had no money to replace them.'
* Why did she not tell me ? ' said Mr. Nixon ; 'the slightest
hint would have been sufficient.'
* I do not think Nora likely ever to hint a wish of the
kind,' said Arthur; 'but you are bound to supply her wants,
and make her existence as endurable as possible, after having
L 12*
138 BATTLSDO&E AND SHUTTLECOCK.
refased to resign her to your brother, or give her to me;
after having, in short, deliberately resolved to bnry her alive
in this house. '
* I really do not understand what you, and Gilbert, and
Oeorgina, mean by eternally harping on the horttrs of this
house,' said Mr. Nixon, testily. ' Nora's -life is not more
solitary than that of thousands of others in Londob. I cao-
not perceive why she is such an object of pity her time is
at her own disposal, I give her a home, and '
' And,' said Arthur, sarcastically, 'and food, and even rai-
ment, perhaps; but you seem altogether to forget that her
previous life has been spent in the enjoyment of bright skies
and magnificent scenery, gay society, and all that art can
ofifer to improve and refine the taste. As to comparing her
to those who have been born and bred in London, it is absurd.
Canaries reared in a cage are happy there, knowing no gayer
kind of life ; but other and rarer birds mourn their captivity,
and find the shelter and food given thjem a poor exchange for
liberty. '
' In order to answer you in the same strain, Arthur, let me
tell you, that you will compel me to set my rare bird at
liberty, if you do not soon begin to think and speak more
rationally than you have done for the last hour. I cannot,
however, say,' added Mr. Nixon, walking towards the fire-
place, and from habit leaning on the chimney-piece, and gaz-
ing into the grate, ' I cannot, however, say that I feel in the
least uneasy as to your ultimate decision; the question is
rather, now, whether you go abroad or remain at home. '
' I shall remain here, ' answered Arthur, sullenly.
And,' said Mr. Nixon, in the same calm voice, 'and pro
pose for Lady Emmcline without further delay ? '
'To-night, or never,' he replied vehemently, and then
strode across the room and stepped out on the balcony.
His father followed him, and Nora seized the opportunity
to glide unseen past the open door, and escape np-stairs to
her own room.
TO MAKBT, OB NOT TO MAEET. 139
CHAPTER XII.
TO MARRl^ OB, NOT TO MARRY, THAT IS THE QUESTION.
It was witb some slight trepidation that Nora descended
to breakfast the next morning. Before her return to the
drawing-room the previous evening, Arthur had left it, and
probablj the house also, and while afterwards awaiting the
striking of ten o'clock, with an open book in her hand, her
thoughts had been completely occupied by surmises as to how
he an4 his father had parted. All her doubts on the subject
were at once removed when she saw them standing together
at one of the windows of the dining-room amicably engaged
in the discussion of money matters. The words * purchase '
and * settlement V were frequently repeated as she employed
herself making tea at the breakfast -table, and while she was
still considering whether or not Arthur's manner was that of
a man who had taken the important step that had been so
peremptorily enjoined him, her uncle advanced towards and
informed her, that having, according to promise, placed two
thousand pounds in her name in the bank, she could draw the
interest of that sum as she pleased, and when she pleased in
future.
Prepared for this announcement, Nora thanked him warmly
and appropriately ; but when, sitting down beside her, he
thrust a bank note of large amount into her hand, saying
that was for immediate use, she felt distressed, and stam-
mered and colored as a feeling that he was paying her for
her disappointment flashed across her mind. Her uneasi-
ness was, however^ almost immediately relieved, when he
turned towards Arthur, who stood with his back to them
looking into the little garden, and observed, with a jocularity
of manner very unusual to him, but denoting a satisfaction
too great for concealment, *Who would think now, Nora
no TO MABBT, OR NOT TO MABBT,*-
that that man there was a bridegroom elect, the acceptd
lover of one of the prettiest girls in London I*
Nora perceiyed that her nncle had not thought at all of
her on this occasion, so she looked np and observed qaietlj,
' Lady Emmeline, I suppose.'
Now this was said with a composure that gave infinite
satisfaction to herself, but struck Arthur as something so no-
expected that he turned his flushed face round, and stared at
her in astonishment.
' I don't know what is the custom in England, Arthur,'
she continued, bending slightly over the table as she poured
out the tea, 'but abroad you know people expect to be con-
gratulated by all their friends, and therefore '
' For heaven's sake, spare me all such heartless formalities I'
I^e cried, interrupting her vehemently, while he seated him-
self further from her than had of late been his custom, and
snatched up the nearest newspaper.
There are few women, even at the age of seventeen or
eighteen, who have not the power of concealing annoyance,
disappointment, and mortification, if a strong motive make
them desirous to do so : some hours' reflection had enabled
Nora so effectually to overcome the portions of all these
feelings that had fallen to her lot, that she not only looked
but felt calm, and she experienced a strange sort of satisfac-
tion in showing her cousin that the commiseration he had,
perhaps, intended to bestow on her, would be quite thrown
away.
Now Arthur really loved Nora ; but such is the selfishness
of man's heart, that he was disagreeably surprised and be-
yond measure indignant to find that he had not made her as
unhappy as himself.
' Let me show you the advertisement of the sale of the
house I spoke of just now,' said Mr. Nixon, supposing bis
son to be in search of it, when he saw his eyes wandering up
and down the columns of the paper with impatient uncei-
THAT 18 THC QtTXBTIOK. 141
tamty. *It ia there, jnst at the end of the page before
you.'
'I ^now the honse well,' said Arthur, after a pause, 'it
belongs to Liord Trebleton's young widow. I suppose her
jointare is not sufficiently splendid to enable her to keep it,
and that she intends to return to her family.'
*Do you know her V asked Mr. Nixon,
*0f coarse I do she is a daughter of Lord Withering-
ton, and by many degrees the handsomest of the family.
She is somewhat extravagant in her tastes, fond to excess of
all kinds of gaiety, but altogether one of the most charming
women of my acquaintance. We very nearly fell in love
with each other, juat before she was engaged to Lord Tre-
bleton.'
'Would the house suit you?' asked Mr. Nixon, but little
interested in the history of its possessor.
' I should think so, ' answered Arthur, ' for undoubtedly
no expense has been spared to make it perfect. '
* Then let us see about it this very day, before I go to the
city,' said Mr. Nixon, beginning his breakfast without far-
ther delay.
Nora attended little to the conversation that followed.
She was considering if the very great change in Arthur's
manner were necessary if instead of the murmured good
morning, and scarcely perceptible bow when she had entered
the room, he might not have given her his hand as usual,
and looked at her and spoken to her. Perhaps he had some
idea that he had not acted honorably but no he had ob-
served the evening before, that in the world in which he lived,
men were not bound as elsewhere, and he had certainly not
in any way committed himself had said, in fact, even less
than Lord Medway: there was some similarity in the two
cases, and Arthur, she now remembered, had not blamed him
in the least, had rather approved of the interference of
Charles Thorpe, and had undertaken his defence the very
143 TO MABBT, OB NOT TO MAB&T,*-
first time he bad ever spoken to her alone. Perhaps he was
glad that his father now compelled him to be prodent I One
thing was certain and evident to her, that however mnch she
might be admired or even loved, there was that in her posi-
tion in the world which precluded all chance of marriage ;
this fact she resolved shoald not again escape ber memory.
A few days afterwards Arthur received as a gift from bis
father the spacious and completely furnished mansion of
Lady Trebleton : all the treasures of his rooms in Russell-
square were conveyed to it, and various new and costly
purchases added, so that between his house and visits to
Lady Emmeline, he had little time to spare for home. When
there, he was rather low-spirited, and failed not whenever au
opportunity offered, and he chanced to be alone with Nora,
to assure her that he was the most wretched of human beings,
a martyr to the prejudices of the world and parental an-
thority.
Yet he hurried forward the preparations for his marriage
with an energy that gave great satisfaction to the heads of
both families, his father merely smiling ironically when he
persisted in assuring him, he only wanted to have it over.
Nora, in the mean while, apparently forgotten, had full lei-
sure to renovate and improve her wardrobe. This she
accomplished with judgment and taste ; her decision when
purchasing and giving orders astonishing Mrs. Ducker, who
conducted her to some of the large warehouses in the city,
and to the Soho Bazaar, at her leisure hours, viz. : between
seven and nine o'clock in the morning.
It is not alone simple Bob Acres who has discovered that
' dress does make a difference. ' The first day that Nora laid
aside her mourning, and when dressing for dinner put on
white muslin and rose-colored ribbons, her glass told her
something to the same effect, and it must be confessed sbe
herself was more than satisfied with her appearance, as sbe
looked at the reflection of her fair young face and gracefal
THAT 18 THX OtlSBTlON. 148
fi^re. She thoaght it probable her uncle would say some-
thing on the occasion, and prepared a little speech of tbank8
but on entering the drawing-room all thoughts of herself or
her dress were lost in surprise and anxiety, when she saw Mr.
Nixon walking up and down the room, with pallid face and
purple lips, and Arthur astride upon a chair, his head bent
down on his hands, which seemed to clutch the back of it as
if cramped, while he muttered * Infernal affair altogether I'
As Nora closed the door, he looked up, started from his
seat, and added, ' Hang me if I care much after all, were it
not for my legion of friends and acquaintances I'
' Cross the channel until the affair has blown over, ' sug-
gested his father, following towards the door.
' No I ' he answered fiercely, ' I will face and brave them
all ; not one shall dare to pity me I'
The door closed, and Nora was left alone until dinner was
announced. At table her uncle and cousin talked of politics
and public affairs ; but she suspected they did so on account
of the servants, and was confirmed in this idea when profound
silence followed their absence. For her own part she was so
convinced that something very unpleasant had occurred, and
80 perfectly at a loss as to its nature, that she scarcely uttered
a word, and left the dining-room almost immediately after
dinner. Arthur and his father joined her at tea-time; the
former went out as usual, the latter read, or seemed to read,
until ten o'clock, when Nora went to bed, feeling herself
forcibly reminded that she was still a stranger in her uncle's
family.
Too proud to show a particle of curiosity, she scarcely
observed the next morning that both father and son were
poring over a paragraph in one of the papers as they stood
together at the window ; but she could not help remarking
afterwards that they were endeavoring to outstay each other
and that a serious kind of manoeuvring was going on, which
114 TO MAaaT,-. OB NOT TO XAEBF,
ended by Mr. Nixon asking his son abraptly, ' If he intended
to tell Nora V
'Certainly,' he replied; ''it is no secret, and I aniTery
anxious to know what she will say. '
Mr. Nixon fixed his eyes on her, whUe Arthur, foldiog
the morning paper into a small form, placed it so before her
that her eyes instantly fell on a paragraph headed ' Marriage
in High Life, ' in which the engagement of Lady Emmeline
Wary to her cousin the Marquis of Torrisford was announced
in the usual manner.
It was some moments before Nora could stammer, 'How
is this ? was she not betrothed to you ?'
* We have no betrothals in England,' replied Arthur. * Sbe
was engaged to me publicly enough, and I thought willioglj
too ; but yesterday morning she informed me that she bad
long been attached to her cousin Torrisford, and entreated
me to release her from a promise that had been in a manner
extorted from her by her mother. Gould I refuse f I felt mj*
self atrociously and notoriously jilted, but any attempt to seek
redress after such a confession on her part would only have
served to render my position still more ridiculous ; so having
told her I was sorry her cousin had not known his own mind,
and rewarded her constancy a few weeks earlier, I resigned
my claims, and prepared myself to face the world's dread
laugh as well as I could on such short notice. '
Nora's color mounted to her temples, and she paused for a
moment before she observed, 'This is a most unexpected
a most undeserved indignity, Arthur. I am sincerely sorry
for your disappointment. '
' I shall get over that easily enough,' he answered with a
slight sneer ; ' my heart was wonderfully little engaged in
this afifair. '
Mr. Nixon walked across the room, and placed himself
behind Nora's chair, directly facing his son.
THAT IS THE QUESTION. 145
' Bnt the Tezations mortification the the pabllcity '
continued Nora, indignantlj.
'Well,' be said, with a forced smile, 'I suppose I shall
get oyer that too. Emmeline's avowal of an attachment to
her consin is infinitely less distressing to me now than it would
hare been after our marriage : she asspred me he was in
ignorance of ber engagement to me when he niTote the letter
from Naples, which she offered to show me, but which I de-
clined reading. I suppose, however, that I mast believe her ;
and I have serious thoughts of giving a proof of my good
faith and exemplary patience by requesting an invitation to
the wedding, which will be celebrated a few weeks hence.'
So Arthur spoke to Nora, so also to all his friends and
acquaintances, by no means avoiding them or the subject that
formed the chief topic of discussion for nearly nine days,
after which it was forgotten by all bnt those personally inter-
ested in the affair. Bat though Arthur jested lightly and
laughed good-humoredly at his ' disappointment in marriage,'
as he pointedly called it, he was greatly irritated and deeply
mortified, proving it to all thoughtful observers by his con-
tinning to parade his indifference long after the effort had
ceased to be necessary. His father wished him urged him
to go abroad for a few months, in vain ; he was determined
to stay out the season, and employed himself chiefly in the
purchase of pictures and furniture for his house, no wish of
his being left ungratified by his father, who secretly blamed
himself for having precipitated his son's choice of a wife, and
thereby drawing him into his present painful position.
One day when Arthur, at dinner, was expatiating on the
excellence of a picture that was for sale at an artist's in Pic-
cadilly, his father, who had, at his request, been to see it, at
first hesitatingly ' supposed his son might be right, as he had
experience in such things,' and then commenced a criticism
that was as distinguished for sound sense as want of technical
language. Arthur laughed, while Nora, with a smile, assisted
I. 13
146 TO MAEET, OR WOT TO XAEET,
her uBcle to express his opinion in proper words, and then
playfully sided with him as mnch as her want of knowledge
of the object of discossion would permit
' Two againsf one is not quite fair,' said Arthur at last,
turning to his father ; ' but as Nora has seen most of the
best pictures in Europe, and I really believe knows some*
thing about the matter in question, I am ready to make her
umpire between us. Shall I drive her down to Piccadilly
to-morrow, and will you abide by her decision V
Mr. Nixon instantly agreed, and Nora had no reason aod
no wish to excuse herself. Arthur was in waiting exactly at
the appointed hour the next day he examined her dress
with a critical eye, bestowed on it some words of approval,
on herself a glance of undisguised admiration, and then
devoted his attention for somb time to the rash movements
of his high-stepping horse.
Nora's opinion of the picture was quickly given; she
agreed with Arthur in considering it worthy of much com-
mendation as a work of art, but scarcely adapted for a private
collection intended to decorate the walls of a dwelling-house.
The subject was hackneyed (nymphs bathing) ; and the very
excellence of the flesh-tints would make it, to her at least, an
unpleasant picture to have constantly before her.
' You are a genuine Englishwoman after all, Nora,' said
Arthur, smiling, ' and somewhat prudish too, for the painter,
by means of water, rocks, and trunks of trees, has managed
to make this picture the least exceptionable of its kind that
I have ever seen. '
'Perhaps so,' she answered, turning away, while he, half
petulantly remonstrating against her ' absurd objection,'
followed her to an unfinished portrait at a little distance.
There she stopped, and said, in a low voice, ' Those other
people, and the presence of the artist, prevented me from
saying all I thought of the picture. The richness of color
THAT IS THB QUX8TI0N. 147
18 an exaggeration of nature ; did yoa not observe bow very
freely he has used vermilion J '
'N o I don't kaoiv mach about the mixture of oil
colore. Ton do, I suppose ? '
'A little that is, I studied it for some time, nntil either
the smell of the materials or the sedentary occupation dis-
agreed with me. I was a mere copyist, but learned enough
to have some idea of the browns of Rembrandt and the
flesh-tints of Rubens.'
'That's it,' cried Arthur; 'the coloring in that picture
strongly resembles Rubens. '
' And are you aware that, to copy a head of his, the colors
on your palette must be different from those required for
nny other master? that the flesh-tints are all mixed with
vermilion, which gives a wonderful and almost unnatural
freshness ? '
' But I like this wonderful freshness,' said Arthur.
'Unfortunately, however,' observed Nora, 'time fades, or
perhaps changes, some colors and darkens others, while the
vermilion remains bright and glaring.'
You you don't mean to say that you have the audacity
to depreciate Rubens I ' cried Arthur, laughing.
She nodded her head, and then said, ' The colossal pro*
portions of his women I cannot admire, and the too great
use of vermilion I cannot approve ; but remember I don't
want to force this opinion on you, it is altogether the result
of my own experience and observation, and I may be alto-
gether in error. '
'My nymphs have lost the power to charm me at all
events,' rejoined Arthur, taking advantage of some new
arrivals to pa^s out of the room ; and when they reached
the street, he said gaily, ' Come, Nora, let us take a drive in
the Park, and you shall also have a short walk in Kensington
Gardens. '
Nora made no objection. She was amused and pleased,
148 TO MAEBT, OB NOT TO MABBT,
and giving words to every idea that presented itself to br
mind, so delighted her- companion that he resolved to enjoy
again and freqaently the same pleasure. That day at dinner
he proposed taking her on the following one to see West-
minster Abbey ; and though Mr. Nixon was too much
pleased with her opinion of the picture to make any ob-
jection, Arthnr pradently waited afterwards for some dajt
before he observed, with well-assumed indifference, ' that be
had an hour to spare on Wednesday, if she still wished to see
St. Paul's.' Unobserved by Nora, the invitations were sab-
sequently given when his father was not present ; there was
something new to be seen continnally, and three or foor
times every week Arthur's cabriolet whirled her from Rnssell-
sqnare to Hyde Park, Kensington, the Zoological Gardens,
or wherever the crowd was greatest and gayest.
Arthur asked her one morning, if she had any inclinatioa
to go to the Royal Academy, in Trafalgar-square, and re-
ceiving a joyous assent, as she sprang lightly into his cab,
they drove there. He had been a good deal gratified at the
sort of sensation which her appearance with him so frequentlj
in the Park had created among his acquaintances, but he
had taken care never to allow any of them an opportunity of
speaking to him, when she was present, and to the questions
afterwards asked him, he gave such short unwilling answers
that a very considerable degree of curiosity had been excited.
It was so late in the season, that he had not expected to
meet any of these inquisitive persons, and his annoyance was,
therefore, great, when, after an hour of pleasant loitering
and discussion with Nora, he perceived a group of well-
known inveterate loungers enter. Scarcely bestowing a
glance on the well-furnished walls, they scanned with aston-
ishing rapidity the appearance of every person within sight,
occasionally uttering a few indistinct but as it seemed insig-
nificant monosyllables to each other, as they strutted along,
feeling or fancying themselves the 'observed of all observers.'
THAT IS THE QUESTION. 149
first inclination was to seize Nora^s arm, and at-
escape, bat there were two among them of rather
ng dispositions who had already threatened to force
iaction to his fair incognita the first convenient
ity, and he therefore whispered to her Imrriedly, * I
of men of my acqnaintanee, to whom I mast speak
Idn't do to introdace them to yoa, so go on quietly
X the pictures, without taming roand, and when you
hed the door stand still and I shall join you instantly.'
did as she was desired, undistarbed by the English
Dneasiness, the ' being without a gentleman,' for her
on of foreign galleries, where the appearance of a
Jone merely leads to the supposition that she has
study, prerented her from feeling either annoyance
Tassment. But her quiet self-possession, joined to
lent youth, the graceful, fashionably dressed figure,
he appendage of a protector, so necessary in Lon*
1 made her as much an object of impertinent curiosity
ition, and before long she found herself, to her infi-
rise, surrounded by a number of men, some of whom
1 to follow her from place to place, with an assiduity
^Dished without in the least alarming her. Those
ler were well dressed and elderly, and the one who
red a place at her left elbow, was a particularly stout
ooking sort of personage, with a grave face, and
r hair. Nora felt quite comfortable in the vicinity
ch respectability, until a low voice which seemed to
n the grey head, slowly pronounced the words ' Are
iaf
id not answer he had mistaken her for some one
lid perceive his error and go away.
B did not go away : on the contrary, he came still
md again, in a mysterious whisper, repeated the
Are you Maria ? '
' she answered, turning to the querist a &ce in wbtehi
3
i
150 TO MAB&T, OE NOT TO MARRT,
amazement was so legible that the bystanders with difficaltj
suppressed their laaghter, and Nora blashing at the onex
peeled mdeness of her mnch-respected countrymen, soagfat
refuge at the place near the door assigned her by Arthur.
He joined her immediately, and they were soon on their way
to his new house, which he had promised to show her. She
related what had just occurred, but Arthur was apparent! j
so occupied with his house that he answered not a word, and
wondering at his taciturnity, she added, * Had the old gen-
tleman asked me if my name were Brown or Smith, I should
not have thought it s6 odd, but inquiries about one's Chris-
tian name is certainly rather uncommon I '
* Very,' said Arthur.
' Perhaps the man was mad,' suggested Nora.
' By no means impossible,' he responded.
' I am beginning to think, ' she oontinned, ' that some
things abroad are better than in England.'
'Picture galleries for instance,' observed Arthur.
Yes,' she answered thoughtfully, 'and the mannerB and
habits of those who frequent them. People there look leu
at each other, and longer at the pictures ; and works of art
have a sort of current value which makes them nnlyersaliy
respected even by the ignorant ^much as jewels of high priee
and ingots of gold would be here.'
'Far be it from me to attempt a defence of either our
galleries or their visitors, ' said Arthur, laughing, ' rather let
me point out to you the delightful comforts of the interior of
our houses see this is mine, and, ' he added, drawing up his
horse, ' and strange to say, Nora, the only propertj I possess
in the world ; this my father gave me as a reward for im-
plicit obedience a few weeks ago, but for the means of Hriiig
in It I am still altogether dependent on him.'
' The dependence of a son upon a very indulgent father is
easily borne, I should think,' answered Nora, with a 'smiley
as she walked up the steps to the hall-door.
THAT IS THK QUESTION. 161
On the staircase she would have stopped to admire a con
aerratory, bat he burned her forward to one of the drawing-
rooms, not giving her time to look round her until she had
reached a window there.
' Oh, how light, how airy, how cheerful ! ' she exclaimed,
eagerly. ' Liondon at the West End is not that what you
call it? and London at at -in the middle, ard as different
In day and night.'
'Almost,' said Arthur, thoughtfully, 'I wish I were less
conscious of the difference.'
*Wish no such thing,' said Nora: 'you possess this
house, and should rather desire to be able to enjoy it to the
fullest extent. '
'But I must do so alone, or with a companion chosen by
my father. '
'Not exactly,' said Nora, quietly; 'for I believe he re-
quires nothing but rank, and yon are free to choose among
the nobility of England. Not a very hard fate, I should
think.'
'And yet, Nora,' he answered, gloomily, 'I have lately
begun bitterly to regret not having a profession, or rather
not having joined my father in business. I should have
been, by this time, in all probability, either quite indepen-
dent, or a partner in his house, and, in either case, able to
marry the only woman I can ever really love. '
He paused ; but Nora made no attempt to answer, and he
continued ' Obtaining my father's consent to this marriage
is out of the question ^to await his death would be odious.'
' Yery,' said Nora, perceiving that he paused more deter-
minately than before.
'Oh, if ever I have a son ' he began, passionately.
'If you have,' said Nora, interrupting him, 'you will act
precisely as your father is now doing. Your son and son's
son must seek connexion, until the name of Nixon has made
itself of note, or become but the family name of a noble
152 TO MABBT, OR NOT TO MARBT,
hoase ; sach is the open or covert ambition of all rich rising
men like yon in this free country of ours. Your father is
already in treaty for the purchase of landed property ; yea
acqaiesce in his well-devised plans, and are not one bit in
earnest when yon speak as you have just now done.'
'You wrong me, Nora; I am in earnest now unde^
stand me ^to-day -^is day -to-morrow, perhaps that is,
after having given my father a solemn promise never to
marry without his consent, I shall be put in actual possession
of a noble fortune, but bound in a manner that may that
will blast my future domestic happiness. I have planned
this opportunity to speak to you tAone without the chance
of interruption, in order to ask your advice, while I am still
at liberty to mar or make my own fate.'
'And why ask the advice of so inexperienced a person as
I am I' asked Nora, almost coldly, for the eager, inquiring
expression of Arthur's face made her suspect he was putting
her feelings towards him to the test.
' Because I place the most implicit reliance on your in-
tellect and good sense.'
'And,' said Nora, gravely, 'supposing me to possess
these estimable qualities, do you think it possible that I
would venture to give you advice ? Should I not prove my-
self wanting in both by the mere attempt V
' No for I see that you perfectly understand my position
in the world, my habits, and disposition. From yon, edn-
cated abroad, I. have no fear of hearing English twaddle
about a home, and cheerful firesides, contentment, domestio
bliss, and so forth.'
' Yet I have dreamed of all this,' said Nora, 'as much,
perhaps morp, than many an English-woman who has never
left her home. '
'You havel' cried Arthur, eagerly. 'Then you think
that you that I that we I mean that a man brought up
as I have been, and with my expectations, could be happy in
THAT 18 THE QUESTION. 158
poverty with the companion of his. choice f You think that
lozarioaa habits can be OTercome, visions of ambition pushed
aside, the longing to be of importance in the world of fashion
altogether snbdned ^for oh, Nora, I am ashamed to confess,
that this last wonld be to me the hardest task of all I '
' Is then the love of fashion so inveterate f ' she asked.
'Almost inextingpiishable among the apper classes of the
inhabitants of cities, ' answered Arthur. ' No weakness, no
folly, is so prevalent as this, which, like a moral pest, infects
the soundest nnderstandings, and not unfrequentlj prostrates
even genius itself I But why,' he added, impatiently, ' why
talk to yon of what you cannot possibly comprehend ? Why
force on your notice my own weaknesses or the absurdities
of a world still unknown to you f '
'Not so unknown as yon suppose,' said Nora ; 'young as
I was, the struggles of my father and mother to get into,
what is called, the best society abroad, were perfectly evident
to me were made so by the presentations at Court, the in-
troductory letters to the diferent ministers, residents, or am^-
bassadors, some of whom were civil to us, some not ; in the
one case we were induced to live beyond our means, in the
other, we shortened our stay, exceedingly disgusted at the in-
hospitality and nnkindness of people who were given their
places, as my father continually affirmed, for no other purpose
than to assert the rights of British subjects, and be polite to
travelling English people I At the best, however, it was a
miserably unsatisfactory sort of life. Mamma often com-
plained, that she had not a friend in the world, that she spent
her life getting introduced to people who invited her to their
balls and ronts, but never spoke a word beyond the mere
civilities of society, showering visiting cards upon her with-
OQt asking if she were at home, and sliding past her with a
"Bon soir, tnadame,^^ when they met her elsewhere.'
I suppose she talked over all these things in your pre-
tence,' observed Arthur.
154 TO MABBT, OB NOT TO H/LBBT.
' Of course,' said Nora, ' and withoat the slightest reserrei
I remembei; quite adoring the people whom she rather liked,
and intensely hating those who had been rude to her : for my
own part, I was, as a child, singularly fortunate, being not
unfrequently the playmate of various little royal and serene
highnesses, and feeling, I assure you, immensely flattered at
the distinction. From all, however, that I have heard from
mamma and her visitors, I believe there must be a great
deal of envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness, in
this world of fashion that you prize so highly. '
' No doubt of it, Nora, no doubt of it. MaiSf que vovki-
V0U8 f I have labored for years, and not unsuccessfully, to
obtain some rank in it ; to support rank of any kind and
anywhere, money is necessary ; married, I require more than
single so you see, dear girl '
' I see,' she observed, with a smile, 'that you want no ad-
vice from me, or any on^ else, having already made up your
mind on the subject. '
* Don't speak so lightly and look so cheerful, Nora,' cried
Arthur, greatly displeased ; ' that is, if you would not have
me think you totally heartless 1 '
Nora's short upper lip became still shorter as she shrugged
her shoulders and turned away, with a slightly coutemptuooa
smile.
' Nora, what dp you mean ? ' he cried, catching her hand.
But she had so completely understood him from the begin*
ning, and so well managed to avoid betraying conscionsneBB,
that she now greatly desired to end the conference.
'Nothing, nothing,' she answered hastily. 'It is late,
Arthur. Let us go home. '
As she leaned back silently in the comer of the cab, she
thought to herself, ' The fear of paining his father, or the
thought of having acted dishonorably towards me, has had
no weight with him. Is he thoroughly selfish, or or is
this the way of the world 1 '
ALL SERENE. 155
CHAPTER XIII.
ALL SERENE.
This explanation (for snch we chose to consider it) afforded
Arthur great relief of mind ; he was qnite unconscious of the
iDSQfficiencj and selfishness of his excuses ; and on his way
borne planned a continuation of his former pleasant intercourse
with bis cousin, under the name of friendship.
Nora, however, began quietly, and at first imperceptibly,
to aToid him. When he returned home before his father, she
retired to the long, low building that extended nearly the
length of the garden wall towards the stables, the greater
portion of which was in possession of Mrs. Ducker, under
the name of store and housekeeper rooms. The apartment
which she occupied was rather gloomy, and not rendered more
cbeerfal by its green paper, representing luxuriant vine-leayes,
or its wide, iron-barred windows. Here, however, Nora con-
triyed to amuse herself Tery satisfactorily with a canary-bird,
that bad been bom and bred in the large green cage that
rested on the rickety work-table. A cheerful little animal it
was, this canary-bird ; and Nora having assisted in rearing
it, not a particle of fear, or even timidity, was perceptible in
its play with her : it hopped on her arm and shoulder, pecked
grain from her lips, was desperately jealous when she took
notice of the other birds, stretching out impatiently its quiver-
ing wings, and twittering in a melancholy, reproachful manner,
being afterwards proportionately happy and flattered when
lihe showered kisses and caresses on it, and seizing the first
opportunity to perch on the top of the looking-glass, or the
handle of a work-basket, there to stretch its little throat al-
most to borsting while warbling a song of ecstasy.
156 ALL SERENE.
To Anne Dacker's room, however, Arthar began not ud-
freqnently to follow Nora, feeling himself peculiarly at home
and unrestrained there, surrounded by the well-known, old-
fashioned furniture of his nursery, a choice collection of bis
former playthings serring for chimney-piece ornaments, and
the high wire-work fender, though freshly painted, still bear-
ing evident marks of the violent kicks bestowed upon it bj
him in various fits of juvenile rage. The book-shelves, too,
brought crowds of old remembrances to his mind ; beside tbe
large-print Bible and Prayer-book, there were still tbe well-
known copies of ' The Mysteries of Udolpho, ' ' The Children
of the Abbey,' and the awful and never-to-be-forgotten ' Tales
of Wonder.' Some of these last had made a terrible impres-
sion on his youthful mind, and cansed him many sleepless
nights; his recollection of them, as read aloud by Adds
Ducker in a nasal, melancholy tone, while he sat perched b^
side her on his high chair, was so vivid that they had become
fixtures in his memory for Ufa He could repeat with pro-
voking accuracy, 'Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogeoe/
remembered the ever-renewed horror with which he bad
awaited the words, ' Behold me, thou false one, ' addressed
by the dead Alonzo to the faithless Imogene, as she sat at
her marriage-feast, the bride of another. The story of
Budiger had had something more personally interesting for
the anxious-eyed, open-mouthed boy, who breathlessly listened
to the recital of the cruel father proposing to give his only
son, instead of himself, to Beelzebub. But Anne Ducker's
favorite tale was 'The Maid of the Inn,' beginning
*Who is she, the poor maniM, whose wildly fixed eye,* &., &.
and relating how the said maid went out by moonlight, an
beheld a corpse carried by murderers, one of whom drops bis
hat, which she picks up, and
* the 'at of her Richard she knew 1 '
All this, and much more, had Arthur related to Kora,
ALL 61BSNE. 157
ending with a dissertation on the crneltj of reading or relat-
ing snch tales to children, who, almost always endowed with
fifid imaginations, recalled them when left alone at night,
Baffering, in consequence, frightfnl parozysmB of shivering
fear, and glowing terror. For his part, if ever he had a child
likely to visit Mrs. Anne, he should consider it both a duty
and a pleasure to consign to the flames volumes so destruc-
tire of sleep, and snggestive of painful dreams.
In the vicinity of Anne Ducker, Arthur seemed to retnrn
to his boyhood ; he sat on the table at the window, swinging
his legs, and gazing complacently into the dismal, high-walled,
little garden, whUe making jesting remarks on the rank grass,
stunted gooseberry-bushes, and smutty London-pride and
pens^es, that contended for the honor of forming a border to
the flower-bed ; or he peeped into the cupboards, and stole
gnava jelly, tamarinds, and preserved ginger; or, opportu-
nity and an open drawer favoring him, he dressed himself in
the antiquated, carefully-hoarded silk garments and pyra-
midal-crowned bonnets, mounting afterwards, with Nora's
assistance, to the top of some high press, and awaiting, with
a look of intense glee, the retnrn of Anne, who invariably
threatened vengeance, and scolded loudly, while it was easy
to perceive that she was not a little flattered by the liberties
takeli with her, and was more than willing to have these
troublesome children, as she called them, in her room on any
terms.
It must be confessed that Nora was sorry, when it occurred
to her, that spending an hour with her cousin quietly in the
study was far less objectionable, in their relative positions, than
the same time passed in the very free-and-easy intercourse of
Anne Ducker's room a freedom which seemed to increase
from day to day, for Arthur could be amusing when he chose :
he sang scraps of songs, imitated actors, actresses, popular
orators, and all his friends and acquaintances men, women,
and children sparing, as Nora laughingly observed, neither
1.-14
i
158 ALL BE&ENE.
age nor sex, bat making himself so entertaining, that one day,
after having carried on for some time a snpposititions conrer-
fiation between his uncle Gilbert and cousin Oeorgina, Nora
asked him if ?ie had been able to steer clear of all the absordi-
ties he ridiculed so unmercifully ; and desired to know whst
sort of a person he was himself in society.
' Nothing very brilliant,' he replied, with perfect sincerity.
* But you are feared, most probably,' suggested Nora, 'on
account of this extraordinary power of imitation that yoa
possess. '
* Why no, for I reserve the talent, if such it may be called,
for the amnsement of my most intimate friends, being well
aware that it is no sign of genius, quite opposed to origia-
ality, and usually the resource of mediocre intellects, h
society, I believe, I generally affect a mixture of the blas^
and cynical, having found it the easiest mode of procuring s
sort of respect from fops and fools. '
' But you are not really either the one or the other V sbe
asked.
* ICo if I had not become a votary of the phantom,
Fashion, and bad not been encouraged in my worship by my
father, I believe I should have been a respectable hard-work-
ing man, with some qualities of head and heart that might
have won me what are called "golden opinions," and, per
haps, also, a larger portion of your esteem than I have nov
the faintest hope of ever obtaining. '
Nora did not choose to continue the conversation. She
placed her bird in its cage, again played with it for a few
minutes, and then left the room.
That day, at dessert, Mr. Nixon informed his son that he
had completed the arrangements for the purchase of the
estate in Suffolk, and that it should be his on the day of his
marriage.
'And not before f asked Arthur, pretending to jest, bat
ALL 8ERXNE. 169
evidently sarprised and offended. ' I understand that a pro-
mise on my part '
*I have beea adriaed,' said Mr. Nixon, intermpting him,
' adTised by your uncle Gilbert to trust no man, not even
my own son. He said he considered it a foolish thing, under
any circumstances, mj resigning so much property to you,
and making you bo completely independent during my life-
time; but with my yiews it is unavoidable; and, indeed,
until very lately, I never doubted that our wishes and inten-
tions on all subjects were perfectly similar.'
Arthur's face became crimson, he pushed away his plate,
threw himself back in his chair, crossed his legs, and while
impatiently moving backwards and forwards the upper one,
observed, ' Oh then in fact I am precisely in my old position
that is, if my uncle Gilbert permit you to continue the
liberal allowance which I have hitherto enjoyed. I had no
idea that his advice had such weight with you, or I should
have cultivated his acquaintance more assiduously of late,
though he is such an ignorant, pompous noodle 1 '
* He is a very shrewd man of business,' said Mr. Nixon,
frowning, ' and this very day realized no less than twenty
thousand pounds in railway shares. I greatly regret not
having joined him in the speculation, and intend to take his
advice without hesitation on such occasions in future.'
'Do so, by all means,' said Arthur; 'but I request he
may never again interfere between us. '
' I am afraid he knows you better than I do, Arthur ; be
has seen you more frequently than you suppose.'
'And,' observed Arthur, sneeringly, ' and is offended at
my not stopping to speak to him, most probably I '
'Ah, ' said Nora. ' then it toas my uncle we saw in the
Park ^that day ^you know, Arthur '
She stopped, instinctively feeling that something was
rong ; her uncle looked at her sharply, and said, stiffly,
' Young Plumpton, too, saw you every day. '
160 ALL 8EBENB.
' It seems 70a have been making inqniries, ' said Arthur,
flashing with anger.
I heard more than I wished withoat asking a qnestion/
answered his father.
' I don't think I can stand being watched and schooled is
this manner/ continued Arthur, with increasing irritation;
'so, if yon have no objection, sir, I shall leave England to-
morrow. '
* Do so, Arthur,' cried his father, quickly, * do so. The
very proposal on your part is reassuring, and dispels at onoe
my doubts and fears. I now feel convinced that you hare
not deceived me, or or betrayed yourself in short that
you have acted honorably and kept your promise.'
Arthur shrugged his shoulders, drew his plate towards
him, and as he bent over it observed, bitterly, ' I am still for
sale if that be what you mean. Next time we must manage
matters in a more business-like manner, as, were I thrown on
your hands ag^in, I should fall immensely in value. As it
is, I think we might now be satisfied with an Honorable
Blanche or Beatrix.'
'Arthur I ' said his father, reproachfully.
And a silence ensued, during which, uneasy and feeling
uncomfortably conscious, Nora left the room.
Four-and-twenty-hours afterwards, Arthur was on his way
to Baden Baden, his rooms were closed up, and Nora and
her uncle sat in the study, sipping their tea and reading alter-
nately, to all appearance as if nothing had ever occurred to
interrupt the even tenor of their lives. Mr. Nixon felt pe^
fectly contented ; his son was out of the reach of the dark
eye and bright smile that, even he, as he glanced occasion*
ally over his tea-cup, began to suspect might reasonably pat
a man's prudence to the test: he and Arthur, too, had
parted in perfect amity, and he had little doubt that the wish
for independence would induce him, before long, to think
again of marriage. Nora's feelings were of a less satisfao-
ALL gXBEKE. 161
torj description, nrhen the door had closed tbat morning on
lier cousin ; her node's hoase had once more assnmed, in her
eyes, the aspect of a prison, the little liberty she had enjoyed
lia?ing served bat to make her more impatient of her thral-
dom. She had become perfectly aware of the insnrmonnt-
able obstacles that separated her from a world of Inxnrions
enjoyment and brilliant gaiety, and if her intellect prcTented
her from exaggerating the pleasures of which she was de-
prived, her education had at least tanght her to appreciate
some of them more highly than they deserved. She made
one desperate, energetic effort to induce her nncle to move
nearer to his brother, bnt failing completely, she once more
resigned herself to solitude and stndy, sincerely hoping that
nothing would again occur to disturb either.
A few months later, Mr. Nixon informed her that Arthur
was engaged to be married to Lady Trebleton, the widowed
daogbter of the Marquis of Withenngton.
'Was it not from her that you bought his house?' she
asked, perceiving he expected her to say something.
' Tes. He writes that he supposes she had accepted him
in order to get possession of it again; but he informs me
also, towards the end of his letter, that she has confessed she
would have married him seven years ago, had he asked her
before Lord Trebleton.'
Nora remembered having heard Arthur make some remark
to this effect, and also his having said that she was young
and handsome.
Very handsome,' said Mr. Nixon, ' and as they are to be
married immediately, and do not return to England until
spring, Arthur has sent me her picture in miniature. '
With nndisguised interest Nora examined the portrait
placed before her by her nncle : it was that of an extremely
pretty woman of about five or six-and-twenty, magnificently
dressed, and all her personal advantages so judiciously dis-
played that it was impossible not to suspect her possessed of
14*
163 ALL 8XE1NB.
more than a common portion of coquetry. Yet it was i
pleasant insinuating countenance, and Mr. Nixon was sn-
premelj satisfied with it ; he talked of his son's choice doing
him credit, pf the doifble connexion acquired among the
Witheringtons and Trebletons, doubted not that Arthur's
house would become one of the most fashionable in London
Lord Trebleton's had been so, whose fortune had not been
so large as Arthur's would be rank was a good thing,
riches better, both together ruled the world he wondered
what Gilbert would say 7
Gilbert, who had not unsuccessfully studied the peerage
for some years, and knew the family name and arms of every
nobleman in the United Kingdom, was a good deal amazed,
and expressed infinite satisfaction at the prospect of a mar-
riage which, as he expressed it, would give them all a 'lift'
in the quarter where they most wanted it A fortnight afte^
wards, however, he drew his brother aside, and whispered,
that he had better limit Arthur's power over the estate in
Suffolk, for that he had heard that Lady Trel^leton conld
spend money faster than most men could make it, and Arthur
had never been in the habit of denying himself any gratifikw
tion that wealth could procure
7SAB8 LATSB. 163
CHAPTER XIV.
BSYEN TXABS LATER.
Fkw thin^ are more difficnlt than in the space of biz or
eight tines to give the idea of the lapse of as many years.
Were we to follow the career of Arthur Nixon, some events,
thongh of no particular interest, might be found to mark the
passage of time ; but his fate, it is to hoped, can only interest
the reader inasmuch as it affected that of Nora, and this was
at first very little apparently. He returned to England
with his wife, who immediately repaired to Russell-sqnarCy
and effectually gained her &ther-in-law's heart by a freedom
from affectation, and an ease of manner, that delighted him
beyond measure. She dined with him on all the great church
festivals, and also on his birthday ; inrited him to her house
with persevering assiduity ; and though he almost invariably,
and with polite formality, refused the invitations, he liked to
receive them, and to be able to think and say, that the first
society in England was accessible to him whenever he chose.
Unable to conceal his satisfaction, he pointed out to Nora
with triumphant mien, the paragraphs in the papers describ-
ing the dinners, balls, and soir^ given during each succeed-
ing season by his son and daughter-in-law ; but that was all
she ever knew about them, for Lady Trebleton's first invita-
tion to her had been refused by her uncle in a manner to pre-
vent a repetition.
Arthur, in the course of time, entered Parliament, but
proved a less brilliant member than had been expected ; he
was osefal and hard-working; and as such men, though
neoesaary, are seldom valued as they deserve, after having
164 8XYEN TEAE8 LATER.
been passed over on various occasions when he hoped for and
expected place and power, he became disgasted with, and
retired altogether from public life, seeking, unfortnnately,
occupation in the indulgence of one of the most expensive
fancies of the present day building. Not satisfied with the
hafidsome old house on his recently pnrchased estate, he com-
menced erecting an edifice which was to make Morris Coart
one of the handsomest places in England. Magnificent it
was when completed, but Arthur had become an embar-
rassed man : he furnished it splendidly, and found himself
deeply in debt. Lady Trebleton, who had nerer for a
momept thought of making the slightest retrenchment in her
town establishment, and whose inclinations and habits were
of the most expensive description, continued with a lerity
incomprehensible to prudent minds, to give dinners and balls
as long as she could find tradesmen willing to supply her
various wants. Many were the plans resorted to by both to
procure money ; but their efforts were abruptly terminated hj
the arrest of Arthur one afternoon for a few hundred pounds,
which, serving as a signal to his other creditors, so many
detainers were lodged against him, and for such large sums
of money, that his father, on hearing it the next day, was
struck with palsy and taken home more dead than alive. On
regaining consciousness and the partial use of his arms, Mr.
Nixon sent for his partner, Plumpton, and made the necessary
arrangements for paying his son's debts, and restoring him to
freedom. In the immediate subsequent meeting, Arthur was
received without a word of reproach, but the sight of his
father's shaking head and paralysed limbs so overcame him,
that he burst into an uncontrollable passion of tears, and was
long quite inconsolable. Nora, whose presence had been
desired by both, at length found means to tranquillize her
cousin's grief and uncle's agitation, and induce them to dis-
cuss calmly the state of their affairs. Arthur insisted on
selling the house in town as well as Morris Court ; and Mr.
BXYBN TXABB LATBB. 166
Kixon heard with surprise and satisfaction his son's declara-
tion, that he intended to reside in Bossell-sqnare, and snpplj
his father's place at the office as long as might be necessary.
'Bat your wife, Arthur jour wife what will Lady
Trebleton say 7 '
'Very litUe,' he answered: 'she proposes remaining in
Pariff until I join her. '
' Do yon not think she would like to come here if my uncle
wrote to her 7 ' asked Nora.
'No,' sighed Arthur ; 'Alice could not liye here, nothing
would induce me to make such a request to her ; but if she
remain in Paris, I can cross the Channel occasionally, and, in
point of fact, see her quite as often as during these last three
years, which you know I haye spent almost entirely at Morris
Court. '
' I supposed her very much attached to you'*- began liir.
Nixon, gravely.
' Oh, well, BO she is,' said Arthur, 'and I like her too
amazingly. All things considered, we got on very well
together; but aw she likes living in the world, and being
admiied, and all that sort of thing and even if she did con-
sent to come here for a time, she would disturb yon and put
the house in confusion with her eternal visitors, and, in all
probability, go out every night, and return home late and,
in short, it would never answer. '
Mr. Nixon was silent, and seldom spoke of her afterwards.
He soon recovered sufficiently to be able to get up and be
moved down stairs, where the dining-room was converted
into a sleeping-apartment, and he could be rolled into the
study in a chair ; but months passed over without the slightest
further change in his state becoming apparent, and he grew
captious at last, and impatient, and greatly worried poor
Nora, now his constant companion. Eagerly she daily
watched the return of Arthur from the city, his presence
alone having the power of restoring her uncle's equanimity,
166 BXYSN TEARS LATER.
and gladly she left them after dinner to discass their compli-
cated affairs, Mr. Nixon requiring the most accarate iDfo^
mation on every sabject. Arthur, wholly bent on satisfying
his father, devoted himself completely to business, and so
snccessfally, that he already began to rival his uncle Gilbert
in fortunate speculations. The exultation of Mr. Nixon oo
these occasions was unbounded, he shook his son's hand
every ten minutes, drank his health in champagne, and en-
couraged him to go on while fortune favored him. And he
did go on ; but while doing so undermined his health com-
pletely. The sedentary work at his office, the constant
mental excitement, and the climate of London, proved in the
end too much for one who had hitherto led a life so different
He caught cold, neglected it, became hectic, and after
having refused to consult the family physician or use any of
Anne Ducker's remedies, quietly told Nora one evening as
they sat alone together, that he believed he was dying.
At first she thought him jesting, but when he told her that
his mother and all his maternal uncles and aunts had been
the victims of consumption before the age of thirty, and that
he had already in early youth been threatened with the
treacherous disease, she entreated of him to see some eminent
physician and not treat so serious a matter lightly.
' I have already been to Dr. X , who gives me just one
winter if I remain here ; but promises me a tolerable lease of
life in a warmer climate.'
' Then, Arthur, you must leave England this year ^ at
once.'
' Impossible, Nora ; my presence just now is of the greatest
importance.'
' I have no doubt of that ; but if my uncle for a moment
suspected that it was attended with danger to your life, he
would urge insist on your leaving him.'
' He would be incredulous, Nora would doubt the danger,
and think I was merely tired of work My proposal that we
BXYXN YEARS LATER. 16T
should close aisconnts with Plampton, and retire altogether,
'was eyidently most offensive to him, and I shall never re-
new it. '
' And for what pnrpose is lie accnmnlating all this money V
asked Nora, impatiently.
He says it is for me,' answered Arthur; 'and had I a
family I conld, perhaps, understand him. For my own part,
my only wish is to replace what I squandered on Morris
Conrt, and that once accomplished, I am ready to die ; for
in good tmth, Nora, I have little left' to make life desirable. '
* Arthur, how can yon say so I'
'It is a melancholy fact,' he continued, drawing his chair
close to hers ; ' and now for once in my life I wish to speak
to yon without reserve. My life, Nora, has been a failure
a complete failure. I will not blame my father he meant
well ; but my education was a mistake from beginulDg to end ;
yet, when it was supposed to be completed, I had still time
to redeem the past had I been so inclined, instead of which
I plunged into a life of folly, idleness, and dissipation, and so
frittered away my best years in the pursuit of pleasure and
novelty making acquaintances, valued solely by me for
their names, and by whom I was merely tolerated for my
wealth.'
* Arthur, I cannot believe this either of you or your ac-
quaintances. '
'You may,' he said, dejectedly, 'for the exceptions were
few, though I gloried at one time in knowing " every one" in
London I Yet I was not without intellect, Nora ; you may
remember how I scorned and condemned the life I was lead-
ing, when we first met( '
*
Nora remembered that he had done so in words, but not
in acts, and could not give the ready assent he perhaps ex-
pected : he observed her silence, and answered it.
' Yes, Nora, I saw and understood my position perfectly,
168 BSYSN TEAKS LATSB.
and think in fact I am snre that a marriage with joq
then might have saved me from myself.'
'Arthur!'
' We are talking of what happened or might have happened
ages ago,' he continued quietly. ' I don't say that you were
in love with me, Nora ; but yon liked me, and would hare
married me. '
' Not without your father's consent, Arthur ; and having
confessed so much, let us end this useless retrospection. '
' It is not useless, ' he rejoined, gazing gloomily into the
fire. ' I loved you as I believe a man seldom loves more than
once in his life, and had my father consented to our ma^
riage '
* Arthur,' said Nora, rising, ' I cannot listen to you, if jon
talk in this way.'
* I have donei,' he answered : ' my father refused his con-
sent : without it we should have been poor ; and I was an
egotist unworthy of you incapable of making a sacrifice
even for well well I know you would not have ac-
cepted me. Be it so, and let me tell you, that was my last
chance of becoming a useful member of society my life since
then has been a troubled dream. '
'Not so,' said Nora, compassionately; 'yoa were of use to
your country when in Parliament, and '
'Merely served to fill the house,' he said, interrupting her.
' I did the work that any paid official could have done as well,
gave my vote to those whose political opinions coincided with
mine, and from whom I hoped, in time, to obtain place or
power; and when I was disappointed, I retired to Morris
Court, to lead a still more worthless and selfish life.'
' You judge yourself too severely, ' interposed Nora.
'Scarcely,' said Arthur, without looking up.- 'Of the
thousands lavished on the house and furniture intended for
my own enjoyment, not one guinea was dpent on the improve-
ment of my tenantry. I knew nothing about them or their
SIYXN YEARS LATEB. 169
wants or wishes, understood nothing of agricnitnre what
business had I with landed property ? Could I but spend
my life over again or part of it ; could I, with my present
experience, but return to the time when we first met, what a
different life I should lead I' He paused, and then added, 'I
belieTe it is now seven years, Nora seven years and some
months since we first sat together, as we are doing now ?'
' SeTen years,' she repeated, thoughtfully ; ' how long they
tocre how short they now appear V
' 1 remember our meeting on the stairs, ' he continued, ' and
tiiat first evening, as if it were but yesterday. You were
dressed in black velvet and point lace an odd dress for a
girl of sixteen ; but it made you look like one of those charm-
ing pictures by the old masters on which one can gaze for
ever.'
'The dear old dress I' said Nora, pensively; 'it would
certainly appear less unsuitable to me now I'
' Yet yon are wonderfully little changed,' said Arthur ; ' and
every perceptible alteration is for the better. '
Nora smiled. ' A great internal change has, I hope, taken
place,' she said, quietly; 'I should be sorry to think that
seven or eight years' uninterrupted reading and meditation
have been quite lost upon me. '
' That they have not been lost, 1 am sure,' observed Arthur.
' With such a foundation as you had to build upon, I have
no doubt that by this time your information and learning far
exceed those of most women.'
' I make no pretension whatever to learning,' answered
Nora ; ' and have, 1 assufe you, only arrived at a conscious*
ness of my profound ignorance on the subjects I understand
best, and at not at all doubting it on all others.'
'And this is the result of eight years' steady reading in the
three most literary modem languages I ' said Arthur.
' Not quite : I have learned the meaning of the words,
" Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." '
I. 15
ITO 6SyXN TEARS LATER.
'So have 1/ said Arthnr, with a sigh; 'but my knov-
ledge has been obtained bj painfal personal experience.'
* Some experience I have had, too,' observed Nora; *with-
oat it, the words of the Preacher would have made less im-
pression on me : he sajs, " Of making many books there is
DO end ; and much stndy is a weariness of the flesh." '
'Go on,' said Arthur.
She continued : ' Let us hear the conclusion of the whole
matter " Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this
is the whole duty of man." '
At this moment the door opened, and Mr. Nixon, in his
chair, was slowly rolled towards the tea-table.
When Nora, the next day, was alone with her uncle, she
spoke to htm very seriously of Arthur's state of health: bot
found it extremely difficult to make him believe that anything
could be the matter with a man so full of energy and activitj
AS his son. ' His cough f that was constitutional. No one
was exempt from colds and coughs during a LondSh winter ;
and she might remember what he had himself suffered from
the influenza the preceding year, though he had never allowed
it to detain him one day from his office. '
Mr. Nixon was most unwilling to lose either bis son's ser-
vices or society ; in the end, however, Nora's influence pre-
vailed, and Arthur left them to meet his wife at Strasbuig,
and spend the winter and spring at Meran.
When taking leave, he spoke so long and so warmly in
praise of Nora to his father, that Mr. Nixon at length said,
'I understand you, Arthur ; you think I ought to make some
small addition to her fortune ? '
' Some great addition,' replied Arthur, earnestly; ' she has
devoted the best years of her life to yon has been to you a
daughter; never think of her hereafter in any other light'
From Nora he parted eariy in the morning, before his father
was up. She had made breakfast for him in the stndy, and
prepared to follow him intx the hall, when he stopped sad-
SBYXK TXAKB LATXB. 171
denlj, turned round, and said, ' Yoa told me jon had a com-
mission for me, Nora, in case I should go up the Rhine, and,
I think, CTen said I coald confer a great favor on 70a by
undertaking it ; that jonr saying this has been an indncement
to me to choose that rente, I need scarcely assure yon ; yet
in the pain of parting I had nearly forgotten all about it.'
I have changed my mind,' said Nora, with evident em-
barrassment, ' and prefer asking yon to undertake this commis-
sion for me when you are on your way home.'
' Nora, I may never return home, and that you know as
well as I do. You spoke of Dusseldorf, where, I believe,
jour father lies buried ; speak out, like the pious German girl
that yon are, and tell me to visit his grave, and let you know
in what state it is. The commission will not make me die
one day sooner ; and I see by your face that I have guessed
itrighUy.'
' Dear Arthur,' said Nora, with tears in her eyes, 'I shall
be so mq^h obliged to you if you will perform this act of
friendship. I have long been in correspondence with the land-
lady of the hotel where he died ; and as soon as I had saved
sufficient money to enable me to erect a monument, I sent her
. a drawing of my mother's tombstone, requesting her to have
a similar one made for my father. It is this,' she added, tak-
ing a paper from her work-table ; ' I should have preferred
leaving the space at the base altogether for flowers ; but when
00 friends or relations are near to see that the grave is pro-
perly cared for, and supplied with fresh plants '
' I know I know,' said Arthur. ' The neglected graves
of the English in foreign churchyards have always grieved me
by their contrast to the others ; but one has, at least, the cer-
tainty of being left undisturbed to turn to dust there. For
this reason,' he added, mournfully, ' wherever my life ends I
shall be interred; and yon, Nora, must now promise me,
before we part, to visit my grave, to have a tombstone such
as this erected for me, to plant flowers at its base, and with
173 BBTBN TEARS LATSB.
yonr own hands to place a wreath of erergreens on this oma*
ment so evidently made for the parpose. Will yon promise?'
^Life is nncertain, Arthur/ said Nora, making a grest
eiTort to speak calmly; 'bnt should I ontliye yon' She
placed her hand in his, and turned away.
9 'Don't waste a tear on me now, dear girl,' he continued;
* bnt bestow a few on the earth that will cover me some-
years hence, let us say ; for, after all, if Alice take good care
of me, who knows bnt I may hold out as long as Lord Med-
way, who, to my certain knowledge, has been dying these
eight or nine years I '
Most unwillingly Nora wrote to recall Arthur the follow-
ing spring, when her uncle's declining strength made his
return home, for some time at least, desirable. But they
never met again ; for, after a somewhat hurried journey
through Tyrol, he was obliged to stop at a village in the
Bavarian highlands, and there, after a few days' illness,
ended his life, and was buried, as he had desired, in the
tranquil churchyard of the place. His wife returned to
England, and related circumstantially to the broken-hearted
father every incident of his last moments ; she was also the
bearer of letters from him to Nora, to remind her of her
promise to visit his grave to his father, requesting him to
increase Lady Trebleton's jointure, and hoping he would
henceforward consider Nora his adopted daughter, and pro-
vide for her as his now only child.
When Nora showed the letter zke had received to her
uncle, and spoke of her intention, at some future time, to
make a pilgrimage to the church at Almenau ; he took both
her hands, and answered, with a solemnity that often after-
wards recurred to her memory, ' I shall take care to supply
you with money for the journey, Nora.'
Not long after she found herself, on his demise, one of the
richest heiresses in England ; for, with the exception of some
KJBTUBN TO GSBMANT ItS
legiries to the serrants, her uncle had left her eyerything he
poeseflsed. The care of erecting a monument to the memory
of his 8on was intrusted to her ; and this, added to her own
itrong feeling^ of having a sacred promise to falfii, made her
loDg for the expiration of the time that mnst intervene before
the could set oat on a joarney abroad, which she secretly re
lolved should end in a residence of some duration in the
land, which (ever prone to extremes) she now began to call
bers, and to prefer to England I
CHAPTER XV.
RXTXTBN TO QEBBIANT ATTEB TIN TSARS' ABBENOX.
NoBA did not at first comprehend either her complete in-
dependence or immense increase of importance. She felt
deeply having lost the only two relations to whom she had
had an opportunity of becoming attached during the nine
years she had spent in Russell-square, for of the Gilbert Nix-
ons she, as yet, scarcely knew anything. Her uncle Stephen
had taken a dislike to Georgina, and, in a manner, forbidden
her his house ; Mr. Sam Nixon, as contrast to his son
Arthur, he could scarcely learn to tolerate ; and it was more
to please Nora than himself, that he endured, occasionally
during the holidays, the visits of his brother's youngest son
John.
John had been, during the first years of Nora's acquaint-
ance with him, as restless, noisy, and rude a schoolboy as
could well be imagined, then he had changed into a bashful,
awkward hobbledehoy, had afterwards become a wild and
idle collegian, and had, latterly, begun to talk incessantly
about a commission in the Guards, which was to make a man
ni BSTTIRH TO GEBMAHT
of bim. ThroQgli all these periods of his life, a steady !
QDdisgnised affection for Nora had induced him to visit at hit
nncle's bonse, and, in retnm, she had crammed the schoolboy
with fruit and sweetmeats, sopplied the collegian with small
snms of money, and had, for some time, listened patiently to
the ravings of the future hero, without, in the least, partid-
pating in his longings for ' a good smart war likely to giro a
fellow something to do.'
It had never occurred to Gilbert Nixon that Arthur might
rhance to die before his father, and when the event took
place, he greatly regretted that Sam and Georgina had never
been on good terms with their uncle, and that even John
had by no means succeeded in making himself agreeable to
him. The eviKcould not, however, be remedied ; therefore^
though not pleased, he was scarcely surprised to find that
Nora alone was his brother's heiress. The fortune was cer
tainly too large for a woman ; but he thought it not impro-
bable if she came to live with them, that she might eventaally*
become attached to, and marry one of his sons. Sam was a
steady, sensible fellow, likely enough to please such a quiet
girl, and for Jack she had for years avowed her affection : it
was a pity the latter was so much younger than she was,
but if she had any fancy for him, she might have him ; the
boy required some one to keep him in order in a rational
\S0y I So, after the funeral, Jack was sent to condole with
her, Sam to assist her in looking over her uncle's papers, and
Georgina to invite her to remove to Eaton-place.
With John she went to visit her uncle's grave, and was
shown the large damp flag, beneath which the remains of the
Nixon family had been laid for two generations. It was in
a dismal, high-walled churchyard, with undertakers' estab-
lishments in the neighborhood, and John, who stood at the
gate, soon grew tired of the gloomy objects around him, and
called out, ' Come away, Nora, there's no use in your making
yourself unhappy about the place; he chose to be buried
ATTXR TEN TEAKS' ABSENCE. 1T&
here, and one chnrchjard is jast as good as another in mj
opinion.'
'But not in mine,' said Nora.
' Too soon for yon to be thinking of such things ; and, for
aj part, I hope to die on a field of battle, bat not nntil I
have become a colonel or, no a general I might be a
general at fifty, Nora, and after that, a man has not mnch to
Utc for, eh ? '
' I don't know,' said Nora, who had not heard a word
that he said. 'Have they no flowers in the churchyards
here, Jack ? '
'Not that I know of,' he answered. 'Now do let's get
on, Nora Sam is waiting to help you to look over the
papers, you know, and the sooner you come to lire with us,
and give up thinking in this uncomfortable way about church*
yards, the better. '
Among Mr. Nixon's papers, Nora found a small packet,
on which were the words, ' Oorrespondence with the Hon.
Charles Thorpe concerning my niece Leonora.' It was im-
mediately transferred to her pocket, and kept for perusal
when alone in the CTcning ; the ink was pale, and the paper
yellow with ag^, but the unkind construction put on her
actions by Charles Thorpe, and the cold worldly tone of his
letter, had still the power to produce a deep blush, and
renew the strong feeling of resentment against him, that had
BOW for some years lain dormant.
' I wish him no evil,' she murmured, as if in reply to the
reproaches of her conscience ; ' I believe I have learned to
forgive him too but he need not have blamed me for his
brother's infatuation, as he calls it, and the remark about my
foreign education, making me by no means a desirable com-
panion for his sister Jane, was altogether unnecessary. This
letter closed my uncle Gilbert's door against me at first, and
accounts completely for the coldness and suspicion with which,
for such a length of time, all my efforts to please were here
1T6 BXTURV TO GXBHAHT
received I know we should " lore our enemies and do good
to them that hate as" and I think I conld do good to
Charles Thorpe if an opportanity offered, bat like him I
never can. Never I '
At the end of a few weeks Nora was glad to remove to
her ancle Gilbert's more cheerfnl hoose. It did not occur to
her to make any extraordinary additions to her wardrobe, or
to expect the nndivided services of a maid ; she thankfollj
received the little assistance she required from Mrs. Nisbett^
her consin's femme de chambre, was surprised at her oblig-
ing manners, and never for a moment suspected that the
worldly little woman was already speculating on entering the
service of the heiress 1 It was only by degrees that Nora
learned her new position in the world and in her uncle's
family, and discovered that she had become an object of
speculation to all around her. Georgina merely hoped and
expected that she would make a brilliant match, which would
secure them a new connexion ; but her uncle observed more
frequently than was agreeable, 'that it would be a pity to let
such a fortune as hers go out of the family, and he hoped she
would take a fancy to one of his sons some day or other;
that, for his part, he had always liked her, and, as she mast
remember, would have taken her "for good," and made her
his daughter eight years ago, if his brother Stephen had
given his consent.' The conclusion of the speech always
made Nora forgive the want of delicacy of the commencement;
and she thanked him, over and over again, for his former
generous intentions towards her, ending with the assurance,
that she never should forget his kindness on that occasion.
With regard to herself, or, rather, as she suspected, her
fortune, she gladly seized an opportunity of being explicit,
when, one morning, John, in his boyish way, sounded her
on the subject in his sister's presence.
' I say, Nora,' he began, whipping his lacquered boots very
diligently with a small cane, ' I say it must be pretty evident
APTXa TXV TEAB8' ABSBNOB. lit
to yon, that our goTenior expects yon and Sam to make a
match of it some of these days I '
* I cannot belicTe that he serionsly thinks of anything so
absnrd,' she answered qnietly.
' Just what Sam himself said,' obserred John, laughing.
'Why you'd as soon, perhaps sooner, think of marrying me I '
'I have just as much idea of one as the other, my dear
Jack.'
* But you like me, Nora 1 I know you do. '
'Be assured of it, Jack,' she answered, extending her
hand to him, ' I like you better than any one else in the world
just at present. We have liked each other for ten years,
and I have no doubt shall continue to do so as long as we
live. '
* I suppose, Nora, you agree with Oeorgina here, in think-
ing that Nixon marrying Nixon would never answer. '
* I think,' said Georgina, looking up from her embroidery,
' that Nora may now aspire higher, and you and Sam had
better try to improve our connexion. '
' I suppose that will be easy enough, now that our famHy
has turned out to be so ancient. You know, of course, Nora,
that we are of Saxon origin.'
' No, ' she answered, with some surprise, * I really was not
aware of the circumstance.'
' Why our very name is German, our crest but a play upon
the word. '
'I don't quite understand '
'Because your father, I suppose, took the arms of the other
numerous Nixon families, with whom we have, in fact, no
sort of relationship ; but my father and Georgy never rested
until we had arms found, sketched, and painted at the ** West
nd Practical Heraldic Office," parchment a yard long and
ererything complete. It was easily made out, for you know
Nixe is the German for water-sprite, water-fairy, nymph.'
1T8 BXTURV TO OEBMANT
' YoQ don't mean to insinaate that we are the descepdanti
of a Naiad 1 ' she said, smiling.
' Now, Nora, yoo must be serions, and listen to what con-
cerns yon as mnch as any of ns. Nothing can be plainer
than the deriyation of onr name from Nix Nixe Nixy
Nixon I and the name once traced to its Saxon origin, whit
more natural than to suppose onrselyes descendants of one of
the ancient possessors of Britain 1 '
' Our remotest ancestress being the fair Melusine hersdV
said Nora, laughing. ' She who, half woman, half fish, lired
in a dark green grotto, waiting for a faithful lover to release
her \ but, according to the legend, waited in vain, and sank
at last all fish beneath the water or no I beliere we most
take the other one of mysterious parentage, who was only
occasionally fish or serpent, and who had a lot of ugly sons.'
' I see you have learned from our uncle Stephen to langh
at onr arms and name,' said John, half offended, ' but I only
wish you would talk a little to Georgy on the subject she'U
soon convince you 1 '
' I am quite ready to be convinced, ' observed Nora, smil-
ing. ' No one will be likely to dispute our right to the mer-
maid, or water-nymph, or even Melusine herself as crest
There is no reason why we should not be descended from the
Anglo-Saxons, and if so, we may suppose that an ancestor of
ours fell at the battle of Hastings his body being found
near that of Harold, partly covered with a shield bearing the
well-known device of a water-nymph I '
Georgina laughed good-humoredly. ' Oh, I see you have
seized upon our mermaid as eagerly as my father ; but yoa
will introduce her to your acquaintance and friends more
judiciously than he did, I have no doubt. I assure yon I
used to feel quite nervous whenever he raised a spoon or fork
at dinner, dreading the long explanation that would follow,
he understanding about as much of heraldry as '
'As I do,' said Nora. * The naiad is really a very ingeni*
AFTER TXir TSARS' AB8SNCB. 1T9
aw discovery, Georgj. I should never hare foand out any-
thing better than a hogshead for oar crest *
'A hog's head or a boar's head is a very much-esteemed
crest, and I am sure I should have no objection to it,' said
Oeorgina; 'bat I don't quite understand in what way it
could be accoonted for. '
'By the way in which our grand&ther made his fortune,'
answered Nora. 'My mother informed me that he dealt
largely in hogsheads of Jamaica rum, casks of sugar, raisins,
figs, and so forth.'
' Hush I ' cried Georgina, playfully ; ' we only speak of the
funds and railway shares now: and seriously, Nora,' she
added, ' it is not necessary to tell all the world where we
lived, and how we lived in the days of yore ; my plan has
been to keep quiet and attract as little attention as possible,
and I have found it the most efiScacious means of securing a
position in society in spite of those who so perseveringly
laughed at my father, and treated mo with insolence. A few
years' hard struggling we had, of course, and I often thought
the end obtained not worth the trouble bestowed upon it'
' I am sure it was not,' said Nora.
' If,' sighed Georgina ' if one could but practise as well as
preach indifference to all these social distinctions I I assure
yon I feel at this moment as convinced as you or any one can
be of fhe folly of fagging after fashion ; but I have only to
visit, or be visited by, one of my acquaintances, and I find
myself talking, thinking, and feeling as foolishly as ever I
The worst of it, I am happy to say, is now over I have
been dragg^ about and introduced to people who did not
want to know me ; I have been a beggar for invitations given
with ostentations unwillingness ; I have been patronissed by
Mrs. Savage Wayward and her friends, and mortified by their
inviting our guests and giving concerts in our house ! But
from all this I am now emancipated, and you may have
observed that our visiting list is quite camme UfavU; and
180 KXTURN TO QXBlfANT
tbongh yoQ refiised to make yonr appearance at onr dianen,
yon mast acknowledge that we had a very pretty sprmklisg
of nobility at them ! '
'Why, yes,' said Nora, smiling a littJe miscbieToady, 'yon
have certainly entertained a good many Honorable de Boots
and Lady Magnolias, as Punch calls them I '
'And do yon really and sincerely, Nora, condemn all efforts
to make the acquaintance of people of rank ? '
'/shall never make any effort of the kind,' she answendi
' and I don't like to see, or let others see yours.^
'Nine years ago yon thought and spoke differently,' ob-
serred Georgina. ' Had yon come to live with us then'
' I should undoubtedly have struggled with you,' inter-
posed Nora, ' for it is only lately that I haye quite perceived
the ruin that this false ambition has brought upon the differ-
ent members of our family. I shall never sacrifice my happi-
ness to fashion, and never live in what is called the world P
' My dear Nora, what will your brother say to such lesola-
tions f '
' Everything that is worldly-wise, egotistical, and narrow-
minded,' she answered.
' Is it possible that yon do not like him, ^thatyou are not
proud of him ? ' exclaimed Georgioa.
' I know very little about him,' said Nora. ' He has occa-
sionally paid me a duty visit when in England ; bnt I have
ever found him worldly-minded to a degree that was pe^
fectly appalling. The last time I saw him was just after our
poor dear Arthur's death, and fancy his saying, ' That it
would be a famous good thing if old Nick himself (so he
always called my uncle) would drop off quietly, and leave
me his fortune, as in that case I should be the very thing for
Charley Thorpe I '
' How like him I ' said Georgina, laughing ; ' but you must
not be too particular about little speeches of this kind, Nora.
Toung men have got a habit of talking in this manner, witli-
ATTSB TSir TSARS' ABBXNOS. 181
out meaning any harm. Toar brother did not exactly want
joar nncle Stephen to die ; he merely thought it probable
that he would not live long, and very naturally wished to
make yoa think of Mr. Charles Thorpe, to whom by all ac*
coants he is extremely attached.'
'He might have spared himself the trouble,' said Nora,
indignantly. ' Charles Thorpe is the rery last man in the
world I could eyer be induced to marry.'
'Suppose, however,' obserred Georgina 'suppose he
should in the course of time become Lord Medway ; they
say his brother cannot survive the winter.'
To me,' said Nora, ' he will ever remain Charles Thorpe ;
and as to his brother he is merely hypochondriacal, complain*
ing alternately of his lungs and liver, and probably en
conraged in his fancies by his mother, who wishes to live
abroad with him.'
' Perhaps yon are right,' said Oeorgina ; ' Lady Medway
has been but once in England since we came to live here^
It was the first year I believe, and I met her frequently, and
was introduced to her you may remember I told you at the
time that she inquired about you very kindly, said you were
such a nice creature, and was so glad to hear that my uncle
liked you ! '
'Her words,' said Nora, thoughtfully, 'made more im-
pression than you suppose; they filled my head with thoughts
of The Willows, and made me half expect an invitation
there. '
' I should not be surprised if you received' one next year,'
observed Georgina.
'Nor I cither,' answered Nora; 'but I shall not leave
Beechfield until I can go abroad. '
And to Beechfield, her uncle Gilbert's villa, Nora went at
Christmas, and there remained during the winter and spring.
8be read in the papers an exaggerated account of the amount
of her fortune, and of the perfect seclusion in which the
L 16
188 BSTtJEN TO QEBMANT
yonnpr and beaotifal heiress was passing the time of ha
moarning ; bat the smile of derision passed from her coon-
tenance as her eye glanced to the succeeding paragraph,
which announced the death of Lord Medway at Palermo,
and the arrival of his brother in England. The same paper
informed her, some time afterwards, of the reception of the
latter at Thorpe Manor, and at a later period of the retnrn
of Lady Medway to The Willows.
It was about this time that Nora informed her uncle of
her wish to go abroad, and heard of his intention to ae-
company her with Georgina and John. He professed him-
self quite willing to submit to any of the discomforts that
might attend a residence of a week or so in the village where
the fulfilment of her promise to her cousin Arthur, made it
necessaijy for her to go during the summer, and showed actual
alacrity in his preparations for the Journey. A stupendou
travelling-carriage was purchased, with cabriolet before, and
cabriolet behind, imperial above imperial, and every con-
trivance for the disposal of luggage that had been discovered
during the previous twenty years. When Nora first saw
this vehicle, she shook her head, and said that on the rail-
roads it would be unnecessary, and in the village wlyre thej
should spend most of their time, such a carnage would be
perfectly useless if not inconvenient to them. But the words
of disapprobation were lost in the exultation of her uncle,
as heedless of his rotundity of figure he sprang in and out,
removing cushions, raising boxes, pulling out secret drawers,
mounting to the' top and making the carri^e swing, stoop-
ing beneath it, and pointing out the construcUon of various
parts, in language sufficiently unintelligible, to convince Nora
that he knew all about elliptic and cross-springy, and wheels
with patent axles, hoops, nnts^ and pins, though she did not
Gilbert Nixon and his son provided themselves with a few
of those eccentric articles of apparel which serve laa stamps
to Britons on the Continent, and Georgina's protestations
ATTXB TXN TEABS' ABBXNOX. 188
gainst them were silenced by Nora's proposal that ererj
member of the party shoaid be at liberty to dress and aet as
tbey pleased, provided it did not interfere with the personal
comforts of any of the others. Half playfully, half eamestlyy
she afterwards wrote oat an agreement to this effect, which
was nnhesitatingly signed by them all, and fonr-and-twenty
hoars later they were in a steamer on their way to Paris.
Mr. Nixon and his danghter sat with mach dignity side-by
side in the spacious carriage : the one declaring he should
have crossed the Channel long ago if he had known it was
BO easy to do so, and looking alternately at the waveless sea
and the packet of newspapers with which he had stuffed his
numerous pockets before embarking; the other negligently
leaning back and occasionally turning over the leaves of a
book which she held in her hand, in order that no one might
suspect her of travelling for the first time in her life, or
taking an undue interest in the things and persons around
her. John and Nora, or as they, to Georgina's infinite dis*
gust, familiarly called each other Jack and Norry, amused
themselves differently: the former wished to see and hear
everything without compromising his dignity as an embryo
guardsman and an Englishman ; he felt agreeably conscious
that he was creating a sort of sensation, and entertained
very little doubt that all the young and pretty women on
board were watching and admiring him. Nora seemed to
have become several years younger ; everything she saw was
familiar to her eyes, every langpiage she heard familiar to her
ear. On landing, the houses, furniture, and people brought
thousands of youthful recollections to her mind, and when in
Paris, when she had wandered about the well-known places
with her nncle and cousins, she felt it impossible, on her re-
turn to the hotel in the evening, to join in their querulous
complaints of fatigue, or believe in her uncle's assurances
that all he had seen had made abont as much impression on
184 BXTUBH TO OXBMAHT
Ilk wearied eyes and confosed mind, as the figures of a Bsgie
lantern on the senses of & drowsj child.
In short the Nizons 'did' Paris in a week, and Berenl
other places in still less time, and reached Manich aboat tlie
month of July. The day after their arriral there, Kon
went to the churchyard, and at a stone-mason's in the neigh-
borhood, ordered a tombstone, snch as Arthur had desired
to have, bnt with additional marble ornaments, that she was
informed would require at least two months to sculpture.
Under these circumstances she ceased to urge her companiou
to continue their journey southwards, the more so, as ber
brother on his way to England, joined them and announced
his intentions of remaining in Munich as long as they did.
Sir Harry Darwin was a man who had travelled exten-
sively : he had sought notoriety by the ascent of glaciers, had
made a faint attempt to discover the sources of the Nile, hsd
ridden on dromedaries, yachted away some years of his life
in the Mediterranean, and become a cosmopolite of the purest
water. He was a sunburnt, exuberantly-whiskered man, still
feeling and looking younger than his actual age, exclusively
devoted to the world and its enjoyments, and perfectly satis-
fied with himself in every respect. His step-sister had risen
immensely in his estimation since she had become an heiress,
but he was too experienced a man not to take some pains to
prevent her from suspecting that she was the magnet thst
had drawn him to Munich, his first few jesting remarks
about her present wealth and importance having been re-
ceived in a manner that convinced him she began already to
doubt the motives, and weigh the words of those who in the
most distant manner alluded to her fortune or future plans.
His attentions, therefore, were almost exclusively bestowed
on Oeorgina, with whom, in fact, he was far better acquainted
than with Nora, having not only frequently met her in society,
but being in the habit of dining at her father's house, and
flirting with her in a remarkable manner during his occasional
ArT&B TXN TEAB8' AB8SNCX 18S
bs to England. They had, of course, many acquaintances
common, much to talk of, and in Munich enough to see
i was mataallj interesting; and Nora perceived with
isnre his attentions to her coosin, after having heard from
oncle Gilbert that ' Sir Harrj had long been an adorer
Gkorgy's, and that she certainly did not hate him, though
had often enongh disappointed her when she had expected
1 to propose.' Georgina herself believed he must be in
nest this time, or he wonld not have gone out of his way
meet them, and devoted himself to her so completely
ring his stay At Munich ; and so Nora thought also : but
r Harry had no sooner satisfied himself that there was no
mediate danger of his sister's bestowing herself and her
tone on John Nixon, than he resolved to announce his in-
itiou of returning to England for the grouse shooting I
was at the Hotel de Bavidre, on a warm summer's oven-
^, about the hour when the party, after drinking tea
l^ether, usually separated for the night, that the well-pre-
red little speech was made, ending with some civilly ex-
sssed regrets that he must at once take leave, as he should
far from Munich before they were up the next morning.
As much surprised as any of the others, Nora watched
r brother as he cordially shook hands with Mr. Nixon and
; son, and then with the most careless friendliness imagin-
le approached Georgina. She was sitting at one of the
idows, and as he drew near she turned towards him, ex-
ided her hand, forced a smile, and then looked again into
i street. He murmured some unintelligible words about
eting before long in England, and whispering to Nora to
low him, left the room.
Mr. Nixon, who had been dozing, or, as he himself would
re said, 'resting his eyes,' was disturbed by this sudden
.ve-taking, and now sat upright in his chair, looking alter-
tely at his son and daughter, until perceiving that silenoo
16*
186 EXTUBN TO QSBMANT
was desired and expected by the latter, he again leaned back
and half closed his eyes.
On the countenance of John there was an expression of
complete contentment, an air of only half-concealed triiimpii
in his walk, as perambulating the room with long strides, he
passed and repassed the pier glass, and occasionally stopped
to arrange his hair or cravat. On these occasions there was
a studied gracefulness and endless variety in his attitudes,
denoting a most laudable desire to learn to please on some
future occasion, or giving a very amusing exhibition of per-
sonal vanity. After a long, last, and, as it appeared, satis-
factory inspection of himself, a pulling up of shirt-collar, and
pulling down of waistcoat, with a slight stamp as he changed
the leg on which his body rested, and a curious wriggle of
his whole person which showed him his figure alternately in
three-quarters and profile, he turned to his sister, and ob-
served in a low voice, ' I say, Qeorgy, it's a devilish good
job that Sir Harry is taking himself off in this pleasant, easj
sort of way I don't think I could have stood his quiet im-
pudence much longer I he completely ruled us all lately, and
hardly allowed me to speak a word when we dined at the
table d'hote. As to our governor, he treated him preciselj
as if he were a a secretary, or something of that sort,
good for nothing but to sign his name at the bankers', and
supply Adam, the courier, with money.'
He paused for an answer, but his sister remained silent,
and he continued : 'Of course you cannot dislike him as I
do, for he never contradicted or commanded yon ; but if yon
think he liked you better for always going against me, and
approving all his plans, you are mistaken. It's too soon for
the grouse shooting, and all a sham I he has other game
in view, I can assure you ; for Tomkins told me this morning,
when I was dressing, that he suspected Sir Harry would not
remain much longer with us, as he was engaged to be ma^
AFTXB TEN TXABB' AB8XN0X. 18T
Liad J Jane Thorpe, and had got a letter to say that
Ij were now at The Willows.'
f Jane Thorpe/ repeated Georgina, taming qnieklj
d Medway's sister, jon know. They're been engaged
g time.'
gina pat her hand to her head, and seemed to think
y for a few seconds, then rising, hastily left the
k and her brother were still standing in the corridor,
i^lad to find yon here,' she said to Sir Harry, 'for I
ach to tell yoa that, thongh I felt rather vexed and
sd at yonr leaving as so abruptly, when I supposed it
srely for an additional week's grouse shooting, now
hn has told me the real canse of your return to Eng-
can only applaud your intention, and wonder at your
[ng here so long 1'
larry stared at her with a look of amazement,
hough,' she continued, quickly, 'although I am per-
but slightly acquainted with the Medways, I have
hem so much praised, and Lady Jane is so universally
d and liked, that I may safely congratulate you on
boice. Oood-night Don't quite forget us while we
Tied in these Bavarian Highlands, of which Nora
with such enthusiasm.' While saying these last
she entered her room, which was close to where they
and as she closed the door with a nod and smile. Sir
exclaimed,
ill, Nora, I hope you are satisfied now I'
a are not,^ she replied, with an arch smile. 'Tou
rather have made Oeorgina unhappy than have had
ivicUon forced upon you, that, while you were merely
\g yoarself, she was similarly employed.'
^t I,' said Sir Harry, carelessly ; ' I have flirted with
i^ixon these eight years, more or less, at intervals^ and
1
188 BXTURir TO GEBMAMT
whaterer I may have imagined at the beginning of our
qnaintance, I took it for granted, that, bj this time, her
heart and feelings most be completely worn out from ioces-
sant use and abase. '
' How slightingly yon speak of the person to whose wordi
you listened with such apparent deference this very momiDg f
exclaimed Nora, indignantly. ' Georgina fortunately under-
stood you better than I did, as I confess I never doabted
your intentions since the day you explained at such length
that a woman necessarily rises or fails to the rank of her
husband.'
' That was all intended for you, Nora. I wished to re-
mind you, that if you married either Sam or John Nixoo,
you would be neither more nor less than '
'Than Mrs. Sam or Mrs. John Nixon,' said Nora, com-
posedly.
' Nora if I could, for one moment, suppose it possible
that you would bestow a thought either on that prig, Sam,
or that donkey, John, I '
'You would remain here to take care of me perhaps
even accompany ns to the mountains ? The country wooid
be new even to you 1'
' New, inasmuch as I hare never seen this village to which
you are going,' he answered; 'but after having been in
Switzerland, and ascended glaciers, I imagine I should find
little to interest me on a Bavarian or Tyrolean alp 1'
'I don't know that,' rejoined Nora, 'for I think a pic-
turesque and well-wooded mountain, with its pasture-grounds,
inhabited chalets, herds of cattle, and an extensive view from
it, might be nearly as interesting, and infinitely more agree-
able to most wanderers than a glacier.'
'Perhaps so,' said Sir Harry. 'If the Medways were
with us instead of these Nixons, I have no doubt I shonlu
find the Bavarian highlands or Tyrol pleasant enough.'
' I can scarcely imagine Lady Medway making excarsiom
ATTBB TSir TSAB8' ABSENOS. 189
inch as I mean,' said Nora, laughing, 'and as to Charles
Thorpe I mean Lord Medwaj '
'Charley is a keen sportsman, Nora, and nearly as well
icqaainted with Germany as yon are 1 '
' That is the first good thing I have heard of him for a
loDg time,' said Nora.
' And what have yon heard to the contrary f ' asked her
brother, with an appearance of interest that rather surprised
her, adding, without waiting for her answer, ' Some of his
wild doings, years ago, perhaps ? bnt let me tell yon, Nora,
a man may occasionally put his life in jeopardy for a wager,
or undertake daring and eccentric exploits, who can, at other
times, be as quiet and gentle as any woman could desire.'
Nora smiled, attempted no explanation, and merely said,
'I have heard him praised often enough by his own family,
but I know him to be an extremely worldly-minded and selfish
Sir Harry shrugged his shoulders. 'He has liyed con*
stantly in the world and had to work his way in it that
makes the best man worldly in time, and selfish we all are,
more or less. For instance, he would certainly not seek or
cultivate the acquaintance of these Nixons, or even tolerate
them, as I have done for the last three weeks. '
' I am rejoiced to hear it,' said Nora, promptly, ' as it will
prevent me from having the trouble of avoiding him.'
' Do not imagine you will have any difficulty in doing so,'
rejoined her brother, rith a malicious smile, glad perhaps to
laugh a little at her in his turn, ' for I offered you to him
after yon became an heiress, and he declined the alliance,
saying, that your paternal connexions would prevent him
from thinking of you, even where you twice as rich and twice
as good-looking as you were said to be.'
Nora felt greatly irritated, but wisely concealing her annoy-
ance, said quietly, ' Did it never occur to you that I might
also decline the alliance ? '
190 BXTiiBM TO asEHABry
'Whj, no we concluded joar foreign education woold
have taught you to think rationally on such subjects, and I
should hare trusted the fulfilment of my wishes on this oecs^
sion to time and your pretty face. I have lately been inclined
to suspect he spoke in that way in order to appear con-
sistent, and that, having prevented his brother from marryiog
you, he is resolved, notwithstanding your present very dif-
ferent position in the world, to consider the match unsuitable.
All this, however, need not prevent you from becoming good
friends when you meet. *
'Of course not,' she answered, ironically; 'all yon have
just said is eminently calculated to remove my prejudice!
and make me like him I But let us not talk any more on so
disagreeable a subject. Jane will, of course, write to me
when the arrangements for your marriage are being made,
and you can give me hints, at the same time, as to what
would be most acceptable in the way of presents. Ton see
I have already learned to play heiress, and know what will
be expected from me,'
' You are a dear, wilful girl,' said her brother, as they
parted, ' but I still hope you will like Medway as well as I
am sure he will like you when he knows you. Oood-bye.'
Nora's room adjoined Georgina's ; but though, on ente^
ing it, she found the door of communication open, some
minutes elapsed before she attended to her cousin's request
that she would join her.
' Well, Nora what do you say to your brother's engage-
ment?' began Georgina, abruptly.
' Had he told us of it immediately after his arrival here,'
she answered, 'we or,' at least I, could not but have
approved, for Jane is, by all accounts, what she formerly
promised to be, a dear, good creature. His silence wu
quite unpardonable, and when you joined us in the corridor
I had just been telling him so, and accusing him of duplicity
towards you.'
ATTIB TEN TEABB* ABSENCE. 191
' But 70D did not betrev me I ' cried Qeorgina, BDziooslf ;
'fan did not njr that I *
' Oh, no 1 ' said Nora ; ' I only spoke of what I had myself
observed and expected. '
' I hope yon think I acted jndlcioasly in foUowing ana
speaking to him again.'
'Qnite right,' said Nora; 'he looked so completely pnt
oat, that I coDld not help langhiog at him.'
' And he nerer suspected that I was acting f '
'I think not'
' Yoa, of course, understood me directly J '
' Assuredly ; and felt for yon, and sympathised with yoa
most sincerely. Events of this description, Qeorgina, are
Tery annoying very mortifying; and the only means to
ToId them is by never bestowing a aerions tbooght on any
maa who has not, like the lover in old Dncker's song, said,
"Oh, will yon marry me, my dear Ally Crokerl oht will
yon " '
' If yon can jest ' began Qeorgina, taming away, offended.
'By no means,' said Nora, apologetically ; 'the words I
bave jnst spoken apply, I assare yon, as mncb to myself as
yon. For my own part, I think it better to reserve every
demonstration, and, as mnch as poesible, every feeling of
regard, nntil it becomes time to look over the marriage cere-
mony, and stndy properiy the meaning of the important
words " I, N., take thee, M. " '
' Ton are qnite right to say M. , Nora. '
' Of conrse, yoa know those are the letters nsed.'
'That was not what I meant. I have a strong suspicion
Hist yonr brother wishes and hopes yoa may be indaced to
m&rry Lord Med way.'
'Towards whom,' said Nora, a blush adding to the al-
ntdy deepened color of her annsaally flushed face, 'towards
vhom I feel so little elective attraction, as Qoethe calls it,
) Hut there are few things would give me greater pleuuta tiiui
192 RETURN TO GERMANY.
haviog an opportanitj of proTing how little I desire his ae-
qnaintance, or value the rank and station he so greatly OTe^
Talues. '
' What on earth do you mean V exclaimed Oeorgina, sar-
prised at her sudden vehemence; 'surely you must know
him, whether yon like it or not when you meet^ for yon are
relations. '
'The relationship,' said Nora, 'is not near enough to
compel intimacy, and, were it not for this marriage of Harry's,
might have been altogether forgotten. As far aa I am con-
cerned, it has lain dormant for ten years, and may remain
ten more, if any effort on my part be necessary to rouse it
Let us not, however, waste another thought either on mj
brother or the Medway family, but tell me if yoa would like
to leave Munich to-morrow. '
' Very much indeed,' said Qeorgina ; 'I am quite willing
to go to your village whenever you please. '
' I fear you will be equally ready to leave it, Gkorgina;
for, as I have told you more than once, there are no grand
hotels, or English travellers of distinction to be found in the
quiet villages of the Bavarian highlands.'
/
h
FIB8T MOUNTAIN EXCURSION. 193
CHAPTER XVI.
riRST MOUNTAIN EXCUSION ATTEMPTED BY THE NIXON
PAMILY.
Nora's proposal to leave Munich was received the next
morning with evident satisfaction by her nncle ; and John's
approbation whs quickly obtained when she proposed, at the
end of the first day's short joarney, an ascent of the Peissen-
berg, to take a panoramic view of the mountains they were
about to visit.
' I say, Norry, is this Peissenberg what you call an alp or
aim ?' be asked, drawing his chair close to hers. ' I mean,
is it one of those pasture-grounds on the mountains, where
you told me the people send their cattle in summer, and plea-
sant parties are got up, and wild hunters take refuge f I
wouldn't give a fig for a mountain, now, that had not alps
upon it, with handsome peasant-girls to take care of the
cows, and sing the Banz des Vaches, and all that sort of
thing. '
'The Peissenberg is not an alp,' answered Nora; 'it is
merely a very high hill, running promontory-like, into the
plain, and consequently commanding an unusually extensive
Tiew. There is a church, a priest's house, and a small inn
on the top ; and I think it will in every way suit us as a
trial of strength for future excursions.'
' What do you say to this plan of Nora's ?' asked John,
turning to his father.
'Why, aw if there's a tolerable road, aw and our
carriage '
' Bless me, sir I you seem to have forgotten all about the
Bavarian alps I'
'I never heard of them, that I can remember,' said Mr.
Nixon.
194 FIRST MOUNTAIN XXCUBBION
' Don't yon remember that Nora talked about them for
more than an hoar the day we decided on going abroad ?
and when we were planning excnrsions to them, you said joa
thought mountains must appear infinitely grander from tbeir
bases than from their summits. '
'The remark was good, Jack,' said Mr. Nixon, 'reij
good. I believe I do recollect saying that ; and though of
the same opinion still, yet, once in a way, with a donkey or
a mule, and a steady guide, I'm sure I've no objection to'
' Yon are talking as if we were on a tour in Switzerland,
or at one of the much-frequented German springs,' cried
John, impatiently ; ' and we have explained a dozen tiines
that we are going to the most out-of-the-way places imagin-
able. Even this Peissenberg, though so near Munich, is not
much known to English travellers, is it, Nora?'
'When I was there,' she answered, 'there was not one
English name in the numerous " Stranger Books " that had
been for years carefully preserved by the priests there.'
'I am glad to hear that,' cried John ; 'for a more unciTil
set of people than the English I have met since we left home
I never saw in all my life they scarcely answer when one
speaks to them.'
' Perhaps because you have not been introduced,' suggested
Mr. Nixon.
'Not exactly,' observed Nora; 'the English avoid each
other on the continent, to the great surprise of all foreigners;
but I have no doubt you would, for various reasons, do the
same yourself if you had resided a few years abroad.'
' For my part,' said John, ' I don't want to know anything
about them. If I could only speak French tolerably, I shodd
apply to the Germans ; they all understand and speak it well;
and when I can't get on in their language, commence talking
it as a matter of course : however it's too late to learn French
now, so you must help me on with your "gprunting guttural,^
ATTSMPTZD BT SHX NIXON VAMILT. 195
Nora, that I may be able to speak to the people at your
Tillage. '
Nora langbedy for John wished to be taught German, bnt
would not giye himself the trouble of learning it.
Well, I suppose I may order horses,' he con tinned ; ^for
though this place is not exactly on our way to Nora's church-
yard, it is at least in a southerly direction, and there are roads
from it to the mountains.'
On the evening of the following day they left their heavily
packed carriage to be stared at by the inhabitants of the vil-
lage at the base of the Peissenberg, and commenced the easy
ascent to the church they had long seen in the distance. Their
way lay through cornfields and meadows, bounded by woods,
and occasionally past an isolated peasant house. Oaks, beech,
and on the south side mulberry trees, grew luxuriantly ; and
this, and the increasing extent of view, Nora pointed out to
Mr. Nixon, as, with true English determination, he labored
manfully on, heedless of heat and shortened breath, declaring;
when he heard that they should soon be at a height of 3000
feet, that ' He rather liked the work, and shouldn't wonder if
he became a famous mountain climber.'
Nora and John were the first to reach the platform on
which the church and adjacent buildings stand. They hur-
ried round them, looked into the former, and then surveyed
the rows of windows belonging to the priest's house, from the
greater number of which groups of inquisitive faces returned
their glances. For a few minutes Nora contemplated the
wide expanse of plain that lay beneath them, the forests,
lakes, rivers, towns, villages, and castles that diversified the
level landscape until it reached the distant, thickly-wooded
hills, that form a commencement to the chain of mountains
extending along the whole horizon, excepting in the direction
towards Munich, where the towers rather than steeples of the
Fraaen church were still dimly visible in the grey cloudy
vapor, indicating a long continuation of the plain.
196 FIRST MOUNTAIN EXCURSION
Joha touched her arm, and with his eyes directed her a&
tention to two figures not far distant from them. One wu
a young, middle-sized, well-proportioned man, negligentlj
dressed in a suit of that light grey summer stuff which defies
the power of the thickest clouds of dust to change its color.
A straw hat shaded his sunburnt face, the features of vbicb,
high and sharply defined, were rather intellectual than hand-
some, especially the long, deep-set, dark eyes, which were of
extraordinary brilliancy, and seemed constantly in search of
objects to amuse or interest him. His mouth was scarcelj
visible, so well cultivated had been the growth of the black
moustache, which covered the upper lip and joined the barbe
Qrecque that, thick and short, nearly concealed his well-
formed chin. lie sat on the low wall which partly encloses
the church and adjoining house, and on his knee was placed
a portfolio, while on a loose sheet of paper he sketched with
extraordinary rapidity and correctness the country aroand
him. At his side stood a handsome, athletic, noble-looking
man in the prime of life, who, with folded arras and head very
erect, looked alternately at his companion's drawing and the
distant range of mountains. As John and Nora approached,
and the former endeavored to satisfy his curiosity by glidiDg
behind the artist, he bestowed on them a glance of haughty
interrogation that was by no means agreeable, and yet it was
on him that Nora immediately centered her attention ; becaaso
she thought he looked like an Englishman. It may be asked,
What do Englishman look like f and I believe it was Hein-
reich Heine who said, ' Like statutes with the ends of the
noses lopped off.' Now this man's nose was not deprived of
any of its fair proportions, therefore it could not have been
that feature which had inflaenced her judgment ; nor, on his
broad forehead, of which she could just discern the lower halC
was the word Englishman written ; nor in the large eyes and
low marked meditative eyebrows, though English enough in
their way ; nor, nor, In fact she could not tell what it was;
I
ATTEMPTXD BT THX NIXON FAMILY. 197
bot those more experienced in the stad j of physiognomy woald
hare at once affirmed that it was the whiskers that so plainly
said Civis BrUannus 8um\ and which, being without that
coDtinnation under the chin denominated harhe Orecque, were
particalarly English-looking in a country where lip and chin
beards grow so redundantly as in Bavaria. In the year 1850
Afr. Dickens had not yet asked the English nation why they
shaved ; nor had the god of war procured for the military
part of it the permission to pack up their razors and deposit
them in the open temple of Janus. Most Englishmen's faces
irere, therefore, still carefully shaved, and many still remained
in ignorance of the different expressions of countenance that
can be produced by a variation in the form of these hairy
accessories. A very short study of this important subject,
with the aid of a few pencil or chalk sketches, will lead to the
conclusion that whiskers d V Anglaisey and ditto with con-
tinuations d la Orecque, ought to be abolished, as tending
greatly to increase that most humiliating resemblance between
men and apes ; while a moustache may be tolerated from its
having the contrary effect, inasmuch as no ape has yet been
found with one ; and, indeed, a moustache would be bestowed
in vain on animals incapable of discovering the expression of
cheerfulness imparted to the face by the turning of it upwards,
the serenity by a horizontal position, the gravity by an inclina-
tion downwards, the ferocity by a shadowing of the under lip
with it I Nora knew nothing of all this, and was so uncon-
sciously an observer of whiskers, that had she discovered her-
self speculating on the subject she would, undoubtedly, have
been very much surprised. Just as she had detected a slightly
foreign accent in the few correct German sentences that the
stranger addressed to his companion, John exclaimed :
' Look, Nora, here they come, regularly blown, and Georgy
as pale as a ghost.'
' Hard work, Nora hard work, ' cried Mr. Nixon, still
panting for breitth as he joined her; 'but the view is fine
17*
198 FIRST MOUNTAIN SXCT7R8ION
very fine indeed : reminds me of Richmond greatly The
country not so cultivated or thickly inhabited, eh ? '
' Richmond I ' exclaimed John, ' who coald think of Rich-
mond with such mountains staring one in the face ? I miut
say I cannot discover the slightest resemblance.'
' Must be, Jack, or I should not have thought of it green
hill look downwards ^beech trees water very like Rich-
mond I ' Here he walked up to the young man who was
drawing, and after having watched him for a short time in
silence, he added, pompously," * Hum aw draws well
these Munich artists are clever fellows.'
The artist continued his occupation, either unconscious,
or indifferent to the commendation bestowed, until Mr.
Nixon, unwilling to deprive him of the satisfaction, which he
never for one moment doubted the approbation of an English-
man must afford him, touched his shoulder, and first pointing
downwards and then to the sketch, signified expressiirely
that he knew perfectly the part of the landscape there re-
presented.
An impatient gesture was all the notice taken of his pan-
tomime; and imagining himself misunderstood, he repeated
it, uttering at the same time a succession of those inarticulate,
inharmonious sounds or grunts, generally used by dumb per-
sons, while at the same time he nodded his head and smiled
good-humoredly.
The young man at last looked up with flashing eyes, but
scarcely had they encountered Mr. Nixon's bulky person
than the expression totally changed, and placing the end of
his pencil under one of his front teeth, he deliberately in-
spected the whole party without an attempt to conceal the
amusement they aforded him.
Nora drew back, while John whispered rather loudly,
* There 's an artist for you, Nora I You say they are better
worth knowing than other people, that they are always gen-
TTXMPTXD BT THE NIXON fAMILT. 199
ilemanlike in manner and pictaresqae in appearance ! T^oir
how should joa like to sit to that chap for your picture ? '
' Hash, ' she replied, turning away from the bright, laugh-
ing eyes that seemed to have singled her out from the others.
' Don't speak so loud, perhaps he may understand what you
say. I am afraid he thinks us very rude. '
' Rude to admire his drawing I What can an artist desire
more than to have his performances admired f Perhaps,
however, you think he Ls not an artist ? '
' He may be,' answered Nora, * but he is evidently a gentle-
man also, and does not like to be the object of idle curiosity.'
Qeorgina took her father's arm and retired into the house,
ber head even higher than usual.
'I say, Nora,' cried John, seating himself astride on the
wall, at some distance from the strangers, and beginning to
pitch the pebbles, and bits of loose lime upon it, down the
hill, ' the wonderful sunset you promised us from this place
seems rather a failure ; those thunder-clouds may be very
grand, but they are not pleasant to look at.'
'I am beginning rather to fear a change of weather,' she
answered, ' so that we may be disappointed in the sunrise as
well as sunset. I am sorry for it, as we are not likely to see
80 extensive a view again.'
'What I not on your famous alps, which are so much
higher ? '
' The views from the alps are generally more confined,' she
replied, 'for the mountains are nearer and more heaped
together ; and there is seldom such an exent of plain to be
seen from them as we have now before us. However, it
would never do to keep my uncle up here waiting for a
picturesque sunrise, though I should be tempted to remain a
day or two myself for the purpose, were I alone. Let us
look at your map, and find out the pleasantest road to Al-
menau.'
' I dare say that fellow with the portfolio could tell us all
200 FIBBT MOUNTAIN EXCUB8I0N
about it|' observed John ; ' but I suspect ciril answers are
not in his line. He looked farious when the govenior touched
him, and I cannot say I have any fancy for figuring among
his sketches as a caricatnre ; I dare say he had some inten-
tion of the kind, or he would not have stared at ns so.'
'The other,' began Nora, 'the quiet man, is, I think, la
Englishman, and therefore we had better avoid '
'An Englishman I ' he exclaimed. ' If that be the case, Til
just go at once and '
'Oh pray, John,' cried Nora, catching his arm to detain
him; *I entreat I ,' but he broke from her, and, with
feelings of indescribable annoyance, she saw him approach
and address their haughty-looking countryman.
What he said she could not hear. That he was allowed
to speak without the slightest interruption, or even a gestare
denoting interest, was evident ; but the artist, clapping bis
portfolio together and placing it in one of his capacioos
pockets, stood up and seemed more disposed to be coromani-
cative than his friend. John turned towards him, and a rerj
animated conversation began, which appeared so displeasing
to the ' quiet man,' that he thrust his hands into the pockeU
of his paletot and walked off.
John's map was then produced, spread out on the wall,
and for some time the places and roads on it were evidently
the subject of discussion. When, however, Nora perceived
that elbows instead of fingers were placed upon it, that the
intelligent countenance of the artist assumed an expression
of intense curiosity, that he spoke less and listened more than
at first, she felt convinced that her friend. Jack, was becoming
more confidential than was necessary, and after a few mo-
ments' hesitation she resolved to interrupt the conference.
As she approached, she heard the artist say in very correct
English, but with a strong foreign accent, ' I comprehend
perfectly ; the old gentleman is to be induced to go to Am-
ATTXHPTXD BT TH SIXOM rAMILT. SOI
mergftD bnt 70a suppose he will object to tbe grekt m jsterr.
It IB a great pity, for it is very intereBting. '
' What mjBtery 7 ' asked Kon, ber cnriositj complete!/
OTcrcoming her rcseire.
The artist raised bis straw bat, and let the wind blow bis
hair ID all directions, while John answered, ' Ob, Kon, I
bare made out Such a delightful plan, if we can onlj get tbe
goTernor to coDsent I This Mr. a a '
'Waldemar.^said tbe other, with a ga; smile, 'mjnanie
is Waldemar.'
' Mr. Waldemar says that he and his biend, wbo yoo were
quite right in sapposing an Englighman, are now on their
way to tbe very place we arc going to I and intend to sketch,
and Gsb, and shoot there, until they cross tbe monDtains to
the Talley of the Inn in Tyrol, where they have friends ex-
pecting them some time abont the end of the month 1'
' Bat what is the great mystery ? ' asked Nora.
' Well may you ask what is the mystery,' replied John,
langhing ; ' it is a religions play to be performed at a village
called Ober-Ammergan, perhaps the only place in the world
where sacb a thing is now to be seen in sach perfection. And
only think, Nora, it is altogether got np by the iahabitnnls
of the Tillage the people who carve those famous figures in
wood that you and Georg; bought in Mnnicb ! and crowds
of people are now on their way there, because, yon see, these
Tillagers only perform their mystery every ten years, and Mr.
Waldemar says their stage is quite classical and all that sort
of thing.'
' It is certainly well worth yoar going a little out of yonr
way to see,' observed Waldemar.
' In fact,' said Nora, ' as we have no way to go ont of, no
settled plan whatever for some weeks, I do not think there is
anything to prevent us.'
' The governor, ' said John, shaking his head.
' What objection can he possibly have f '
802 FIB^T MOUNTAIN SXGUB8I0N
* Do yoa reallj know what this mystery is, Nora ? '
' I did not when yon first mentioned it ; bnt I nnderstiod
now that yon mean the performance of one of those religioos
dramas which were as common in the middle ages as thej
are uncommon now. '
' Exactly ; bnt it is the passion of oar Saviour ^the enci-
fizion that is to be represented. I am afraid my father will.
object will think it improper profane, perhaps I '
' He can hardly think it profane, ' observed Waldemar,
'when yon remind him that the Christian mysteries origi-
nated among the ecclesiastics, and were, it is said, first acted
by monks in the churches. Bishops, and, if I am not mis-
taken, one of the Popes composed mysteries, and encoaraged
in every possible way the performances. '
'Oh, that would be no sort of recommendation to oar
governor,' cried John, half laughing, while he twisted him-
self round on his heels. ' We'll keep " dark" about that'
' Then you can tell him,' continued Waldemar, ' that thej
were acted in England in the reign of your king James.'
' That's a good point at least. Don't forget that when
you speak to him, Nora. '
'And,' added Waldemar, 'they were frequently performed
at universities and schools.'
' Better and better,' cried John. ' In fact, Nora, you can
say that they are most interesting and highly moral perform*
ances.' .
'They may promote morality,' said Waldemar, smiling;
' but this representation at Ober-Ammergan is not at all what
used to be called Moralities.'
' I know very little about the matter,' said John, 'bat I
confess I should like to see something of the kind.'
'Strictly speaking,' said Waldemar, 'the Mysteries or
Miracle plays merely represent stories, according to the letter
of Scripture, or the legend to be represented. The Moral-
ATTXMPTXD BT THXNIXON FAMILY. 203
ities were not mltogether destitate of plan and plot, and m-
cnlcated a moral bj means of allegorical characters. '
' Ohy the gOTemor knows nothing abont all these distinc-
tions ; we might call it a Morality, Nora, if jou think it
would sound better?'
' No,' she answered, gravely ; ' if I am to speak to him, I
mast know what I am talking abont, and call things by their
right names.'
' I do not think it is called either Mystery or Morality,'
said Waldemar, drawing from his pocket a pamphlet. ' How
wonld yon translate that?' he added, pointing to the title-
page.
She bent forward and read aloud
' The Oreat Sacrifice at Golgotha ; or, The Sufferings and
Death of JesuB, according to the four Evangelists with
Tableaux from the Old Testament for contemplation and edi-
fication '
Either impelled by impatience or curiosity, the Englishman
joined them just as Nora thoughtfully observed, ' The name
appears unimpetehable ; whether or not such sacred subjects
can be properly used for the stage, without irreverence or
or profanation '
' Pshaw, Nora, don't you be squeamish, it was only from
my father that I expected opposition I never thought of
your demurripg in this way. Tou look as grave as if we
were trying to persuade you to witness a Pagan instead of a
Christian mystery.'
'Torp,' cried Waldemar, turning to his friend, 'can yon
not help us to remove the unnecessary scruples of your
countrywoman V
'No,' he answered, gravely, 'I can not, because I don't
think them unnecessary. I feel them myself.'
'But you are. going to Ammergau all the samel' cried
John, with a laugh.-
' He is going there to get rid of them,' observed Waldemar,
204 FIRST MOUNTAIN EXCURSION
with an affectatioa of gravity ; ' bat Torp is so strictly ens*
gelical in his ideas, that if he see any thing to displease bin
he will be sare to leave the theatre in a manner to mark hii
disapproval. '
' A clergyman of coarse V said John, taming to Torp.
' No. '
* Ham that's a pity as yoa conld have spoken to our
governor, and '
* Excuse me ' began Torp, loftily.
'Oh, it's of no consequence,' cried John, taming awaj
from him, ' you can be of no manner of use to as as yoo're
not a clergyman. Now, Nora, just go to my father and tell
him exactly what is necessary for him to know, and no more.
If we don't approve of all we may see at Ammergau, we can
walk off you know, as Mr. Torp here intends to do.'
Still Nora hesitated. ' If,' she said, musingly, ' if it were
one of those miracle plays taken from the Old Testament, or
a legend, my uncertainty how to act wonld be at an end ; but
to see our Saviour represented on a stage '
' Stay,' cried Waldemar, eagerly, ' on that subject yon have
really nothing to fear. You have most probably seen pictures
both good and bad representing him in every important event
of his life, and especially his cracifixion. As yon have seen
him in the best pictures, so you will see him represented bj
the wood-carver, Pflunger, in Ammergau, whose appearance
and acting, if one can use the word for such dignified tran-
quillity, is perfect. But, even if it were not so, the suppo-
sition that every thing holy must in the representation equal
the ideal formed of it, or be profaned, is an error. How im-
possible would it be to satisfy the expectations of such differ-
ently constituted minds as must be found in every mixed
crowd of people, or to produce the ideal of such various
degrees of cultivation I Fortunately, however, it is not
necessary ; the imagination, naturally more excited by dra-
matic representation than by any other means, easily and
ATTEMPTED BT THE NIXON FAMILY. 205
unconsciously supplies what may be wanting, and satisfaction
is the result. I have heard,' he added, more qaietly, 'I
bare heard a competent jadge say, that the performance at
Ammergaa reminded him stfongly and incessantly of the best
paintings of the middle ages.' .
' Come, Nora, after hearing all this, you can have no more
sera pies I should think I if you have, I mast say it was very
improper your spending so many hours looking at those old
pictures in the Pinakothek, at Munich. '
Nora seemed not to hear, but she followed him slowly into
the house.
' So yon have advised them to go to Ammergau, ' observed
Torp, with some displeasure, as soon as he perceived they
were out of hearing
* Of course I could scarcely do otherwise when my advice
was asked. '
' Hem I but we shall get rid of them there, it is to be
hoped I'
' Hope no such thing, for by a singular chance they are
going to the same place that we are. *
' Yon are not serious, I hope,' said Torp.
I am,' rejoined Waldemar, laughing; 'they are going to
Almenau, and, in fact, have as good a right to go there as
we have.'
' Then let me tell jou, Waldemar, that you and I must
part company.'
* Nonsense, Torp I you are not serious.'
' Perfectly so, I assure you, for I can scarcely imagine any
thing more disagreeable than the intrusion of an English
family on our privacy. When I accepted your offer of a few
weeks' sporting in the mountains, rather enjoying the idea'of
the deprivations and hardships you told me to expect, I
never for a moment ddubted that we should be free from
every kind of restraint, and now the very first thing you do
is to collect an English colony about us I just the sort of
I. 18'
206 FIRST MOUNTAIN EXCURSION
people, too, most likely to worry us with attentions directlj
they find oat that yon are not a tinker, or I a joarDeymaa
tailor 1 '
' My dear Torp, it is not my fanlt that these people are
going to Almenaa ! The yonng fellow told me something
aboat a monument that they were going to erect in the
churchyard there. '
' Pshaw 1 yon did not understand him rightly. If thej
have a monument to erect, they must be on their way to
Meran, or some such place where our people generally die.
Confess, you advised them to stop at Almenau on their waj,
quite forgetting that the inn there is small, and that they will
of course require all the best rooms.'
' No,' said Waldemar, quickly, ' and the last annoyance I
can spare you by sending an express to the landlady to-
morrow, so you mtiy depend upon having the best of eveiy-
thing that is to be had in her house.
' But conceive what a bore it will be having these women
meeting us at every turn I' exclaimed Torp, with increasing
irritation.
'None whatever,' replied Waldemar. 'In such places
women lay aside some of their formality, and one becomes
better acquainted in a week than elsewhere in a year I Their
presence makes one overlook a thousand little discomforts,
and they give an interest to the most trifling events. Yon
must be greatly changed during the last few years, Torp, if
you have any dislike to women's society ; and I have a strong
idea that if that dark-eyed girl were a German, you wonld
make no sort of objection to her company. '
'Perhaps not,' said Torp; 'but 1 can tell yon I have a
very decided objection to becoming acquainted with that in-
trusive, talkative, vulgar coxcomb, with whom you seemed
to be on such astonishingly good terms just now.'
' I did not observe any of these qualities, rejoined Walde-
mar, ' and merely supposed him a happy young fellow, fresh
ATTSMPTED BT THE NIXON FAMILY. .807
from one of your XTniYQrsities. I can make more allowance
for high spirits than yon, being afflicted with them myself
occasionally^ and excnse me for observing, that Englishmen
&re sometimes mnch more agfeeable companions before they
baye pot on the pompons dignity of their riper years I
There was a time, Torp, when yon wonld have resigned
yonrself willingly enough to the society of two snch pretty
women^ and wonld have songht rather than avoided oppor-
tanities of meeting them. I have no doabt I shall be able
to persaade that black-eyed honri to meet ns occasionally on
an alp after a day's hunting, and shall feel transported into
the seventh heaven, the first time she prepares me a schmam,
or a cnp of coffee 1 '
' The English honris are not so useful or complaisant as
the German,' observed Torp, half laughing ; 'you will have
to wait long for your coffee, I suspect^ especially if she and
her relations continue to suppose yon a poor, wandering
artist, as they evidently do at present.'
' XiCt them think so, I shall get the coffee all the same.'
' You may get a cup of tea per haps but '
' No coffee and made by that adorable girl called Nora
and brought to me bj her, and she shall sit by me while I
drink it I '
'Will yon bet?' asked Torp, amused.
' Willingly. I shall require a week, perhaps a fortnight
after we have reached Almenan. '
'Agreed. A month two months if yon like, and a
hundred to one.'
' Done. '
Done.'
Meantime Mr. Nixon's objections to the mystery, as it
was explained to him at some length by Nora, proved, as
she had expected, insurmountable. ' He wonld accompany
her, of course, to Ammergau, and remain there as long as
she pleased he should not attempt to offer her advice
208 FIRST MOUNTAIN EXCURSION
hoped that Georgina woald remain at the Inn with him,
though John, having had the advantage of a classical edoea-
tioD, must, he sapposed, be allowed to Jndge for himself.'
The disenssion had taken place at one of the windows of
the large sitting-room in the priest's house, where tbej, at
first, expected to be alone, but soon found themselves, in con-
sequence of the unusually crowded state of the inn, in the midst
of a very mixed company collected in expectation of sapper.
Nora had much difficulty in consoling Mr. Nixon for the
want of his tea, which had been forgotten ; and even after he
had commenced what he called his second dinner, he con-
tinued to wonder at the want of civilization evident on a
Bavarian 'alp,' where tea was an unknown luxury I His son
pretended sympathy, all the while bestowing sundry knowing
winks and grimaces on Nora and Waldemar, the latter
having contrived to procure a place close to them. Mr.
Torp was at the other end of the long table, and John ob-
served, with some astonishment, that he was engaged in a
lively conversation with a German lady and her daughter,
and seemed to have altogether laid aside his taciturnity. Afi
they rose from table, the weather was discussed, and anxious
inquiries about it made.
' Is the weather of such very great importance V asked
Nora.
'Undoubtedly,' replied Waldemar, 'for the theatre in
Ammergau is in the open air ; if you will go with me to
what is called the Belvedere, on the top of the house, we
can take a look at the clouds and see what our chances are.'
'Georgina, will you go V asked Nora.
' No, thank you, I am tired, and prefer my bed to anj
Belvedere on earth.'
' Jack,' said Nora, looking round, but seeing him engaged
in listening and trying to understand what was being read
aloud from the 'Stranger's Book,' she stood with Walde-
mar watching the group of people who had gathered round
ATTSMPTEB BT THE NIXON FAMILY. 209
the reader as, lazilj leaning OTer the large, soiled Tolume he
Bometimes read, sometimes made remarks, which were not
unfreqaentlj received with peals of laughter.
'Is that "Strangers' Book" so very amnsing?' asked
-Nora.
' It depends npon the reader,' answered Waldemar. ' A
dall person would, perhaps, diseoyer hut little subject for
laughter, but a liyelj mind finds amusement in the charac-
teristic remarks and odd effusions with which it abounds, as
the bee finds honey in the flower oyer which the stupid fly
hovers in vain.'
' He has looked towards us two or three times,' she ob-
served, ' perhaps you know him ?'
' By name and reputation, very well, ' he answered. ' He
is a Doctor X , very clever, very witty, and one of the
most popular men of higT profession in Vienna.'
' A doctor I he does not look at all like one. '
' Indeed 1 Have doctors in England any particular ap-
pearance?'
' Oh, no, of course not, but a one could not at least
I could not imagine that man soberly feeling pulses and writ-
ing prescriptions. '
'I dare say not,' rejoined Waldemar, amused, 'nor has
he, during his life, done either the one or the other. He is
Doctor Juris not Doctor MedicincB, and has studied law not
medicine.'
At this moment some one touched Nora's arm, and, on
looking round, she perceived Georgina, who, drawing her
aside, whispered,
* Nora, dear, forgive me, but as I am older than you, and
have been so much more out, you must allow me to tell you
that you are acting against all usage du monde, talking in
this way to a stranger, a person who has net been introduced
to you of whose name you are ignorant '
* Who could introduce him here V asked Nora, laughing.
18*
210 FIRST MOUNTAIN EXCURSION
' He told Jack that bis name was Waldemar, gaye as rerj
good advice aboat oar journey, and '
'I knew,' cried Georgina, interrupting ber, ' I feltqoite
sure, that as soon as jour brother Harry left us, John would
bring you into all sorts of embarrassments. It is quite pro-
yoking to see him talking/to all these people as if they vere
his best friends 1 What must they think of us ?'
' They are not thinking of us at all,' answered Nora. ' It
is quite a common thing in these sort of out-of-the-waj
places for people to speak to each other without waiting for
introductions; for instance, one of those priests inquired,
without the slightest hesitation, if we were going to Am-
mergau, and if we had rooms there V
'And you, of course, told him all our plans?'
' Of course, and he and his companions informed me that
they had bespoken their rooms three months ago, and that
we had but a small chance of finding a place to lay oar
heads. '
' If that be the case, would it not be better to change our
route ? I assure yon, Nora, nothing is so destructive to the
health and appearance as want of rest.'
Nora laughed. ' I only mentioned this to you,' she said,
' in order to prove the advantage of speaking occasionally
to strangers when one is travelling as we are now. These
most polite priests have advised us to apply to a M. Zwinis
a wood carver, and the person who is manager and director
of the theatre at Ammergan, and should Jie not be able to
arrange everything to our satisfaction, I am to inquire of
him for Pater Ignaz. Now you see this Pater Ignaz is one
of those who spoke to me without an introduction, and who,
having received a civil answer from me, may, perhaps, be
very useful to us in the sort of place to which we are
going.'
' And in what way do you intend to make use of the yoang
artist with the fiery eyes V demanded Oeorgina, ironically.
ATTSMPTED BT THE NIXON FAMILY. 211
'As ambalating guide book,' replied Nora, demarelj.
* I find him even more amusing than M array I'
' I BQspect he will not be satisfied with that arrangement, '
eaid Georgina. ' He seems to me to expect to be considered
s a gentleman.'
'Well,' said Nora, *and that he undoubtedly is.'
'But,' persisted Georgina, 'it is even more than that
in fact he appears to imagine himself quite equal, if not
snperior to ns ; his manner to John just now was more that
of a person conferring a favor than one on whom a favor was
being conferred. '
'But I don't exactly see in what way we are conferring a
favor. '
' Yon don't choose understand me, Nora, and are annoyed
at what I said just now about introductions.'
'Not in the least, I assure you,' she answered, moving
aside to allow some people to pass her. A young and pretty
girl looked back and smiled, while her mother politely ad-
dressing Georgina in French, asked her if she would accom*
pany them to the Belvidere, to see what chance there was of
fine weather for the next day.
With a look of affected astonishment at being addressed
by a stranger, Georgina drew herself up, and coldly declined
the proffered civility.
*I should like to go very much,' said Nora, perceiving
that her cousin John was just then too much engaged to be
at her service.
' Oh, pray come,' cried the young stranger, eagerly. ' I
know you arc a foreigner, but my governess was an English-
woman, and I can explain everything to you in your own
language.'
Nora moved on while Waldemar looked away, and seemed
to have no inclination to accompany them, although she had
observed, that, on entering the room, he had appeared well
212 FIRST MOUNTAIN EZCrRSION
acquainted with both her companions, and had introdaced
his friend Torp to them.
Mr. Nixon was sitting near the door in a lamentable state
of bewilderment ' Oh, Nora,' be cried, despondinglj,
'these doings don't answer for a man at my time of life!
whether it's the second dinner, or the jabbering about me
which I don't understand, I can't exactly say, bnt I neier
felt so oddish in all my life. My tea, if I had had it, would
have set me all to rights, I am sure. What that cooreer,
that French fellow, Adong, was thinking abont when he for-
got it, I'm snre I can't tell, for I don't understand a word
the mustachioed rascal says to me 1 If Jack had got an
Englieh cooreer^ as I asked him, this would never have hap-
pened, and I don't and won't believe a word abont his not
being able to find an Englishman I I only wish we had given
the tea in charge to Tomkins, or even Mrs. Nesbitt VW
answer for it it would not have been forgotten 1 Why they
will be just as much inconvenienced as I am, and what we
are to have for breakfast to-morrow, / don't know !'
'Coffee,' answered Nora, consolingly; 'and pray dont
make yourself unhappy about Tomkins, who can take care
of himself, or Nesbitt, who will be taken care of by Adam;'
then bending down, she whispered, ' Don't yon think it would
be a good plan if yon went to bed now V
* Perhaps it would ; but as there is a doctor in the room,
I think I'll just ask if I ought not to take something.'
Nora did not wait to hear his answer ; and no sooner was
he joined by his daughter than he approached Dr. X , and
having bowed in a pleasant, condescending manner, drew a
chair to the table, and sat down beside him. Imagining he
wished to see the 'Strangers' Book,' the doctor politolr
moved it towards him. Mr. Nixon shook his head mourn-
fully.
' Can I in any way be of use to you ?' asked the doctor,
in French, vainly endeavoring to suppress a smile.
ATTXMPTBD BT TBI IflZOH VAHILT. 213
Agun Mr. Nixon Bhook bis head, Eigbing oat the word*
'English, English.'
' ilj taXha can only spealc EDglish,' explained Oeorgiaa.
'Ahl' aaid the doctor, leaning on his elbov, and pansiog
for a moment, before be added, Well, I can speak English.
Do 70a wish me to interpret for 70a.'
' Sir I' cried Mr. Nizon, with that feeling of relief which
only those who have heard unknown tongnes spoken nronnd
them for some weeks can experience on again nnexpectedly
hearing their own' 'Sir, I am delighted to make joar ac-
quaintance!' and with a good-hnmored langh he continned,
' When I saw yon reading tbese books fnll of names to the
company, I desired my son tf find ont wfao yoo were ; nnd
he has jnst now informed me that yon are the celebrated Dr.
X I I know, sir, that men of yonr profession do not like
to be asked for adrice when they are trarelliog for their
amiuement ; bat, as they say, " Necessity has no law," and
" Needs mnst when the dcTil drives. " '
The doctor tamed to an acquaintance at the other side of
him, and muttered between hia teeth, ' Mad, or not mad 7
that is the question.'
' Now the fact is, doctor,' continned Mr. Nizon, ' I hare
always been a remarkably healthy man, and tboagh, when
oar trar el ling-carriage was being built, I consented to the
portable medicine^best, it was with the Grm belief that none
of the patent medicines would ever find their way down my
throat. Now, my daughter, Miss Nixon, is quite different
she likes medicine, and takes her pill every night regular.'
'Is it possible f asked the doctor, slowly, and looking
wilJi unfeigned astonishment at Qeorgina, whose face became
crimsou : ' is it possible yon like eating pills ?'
' Papa is only jesting,' she answered, in a voice tremulous
Irom vezation.
' Not a bit of it, Georgy. I assure joo, doctor, no apo-
thecary could manage the little scales, or weigh and meaaixt^
214 PIS8T MOUNTAIN SXCUB8I0R
with greater nicetj than my daughter; she can make tp
pills, and '
* Oood-night, papa,' said Georgina^ in that distinct, qiu(^
manner, which is so verj demonstratire of female displessnre.
' Stay, Georgy, stay ; I hare only a few words to saj to
the doctor, and then we can go together.'
She sat down at a little distance, slightly contracting ber
brows, and biting her under lip, while her father continued,
in a low, confidential tone ' Yon must know, doctor, that
late hours neyer did, and ncTcr will, agree with mc. I like
living at the West End, and being in good society, amazing-
ly ; bat only those who have been bronght np to it, like.my
son and daughter, can find riding in the park, and dining at
eight o'clock, and going to eyening swarries, qnite easy and
natural. I moved too late in life, and can't get used to it,
especially the late hours ; so that I often wish myself back
again in in the street we used to live in, as my daughter
says. We knew many pleasant sociable people there, who
dined at rational hours, and better and more plentifully than
at more fashionable places. My father used to dine at fire
o'clock ; by degrees, to please Mrs. Nixon, we got on to six
o'clock ; my daughter has brought us on to seven or eight;
and I suppose my grandchildren will dine at nine or ten, as I
have done to-day 1 But it has disagreed with me, doctor
disagreed in the most uncomfortable manner. Perhaps the
walk up the alp may have iucreased my appetite I mar/
have eaten more than usual : the fish and the omelettes were
good, the beer excellent, but the wine was sourish ; all Rhine
wine is sourish. Give me the carious old sherry, ever so
many years in bottle, or even cape, good and clever, such as
we used to drink when alone in -^in the street we used to
live in. Now, doctor, you see, the late the second dinner
and the wine having disagreed with me, I should be verf
much obliged to you if you would tell me what I ought to
take before I go to bed.'
ATTXMPTXD BT THX NIXON FAMILT. 215
'PttDch,' Baid the doctor, who had listened to him with
ondeTiating attention.
'What?' cried Mr. Nixon, opening his eyes aa wide aa
the lids would permit.
'Panch,' repeated the doctor, liodding his head.
'Hash I' cried Mr. Nixon, with a wink and a gesture of
bis tbamb towards his daughter, to whom he then turned,
aod affectionately observed, ' I say, Georgy, dear, I'm keep-
iog jou up a great deal top long ; you had better not wait
for me any longer ;' adding, in a whisper, ' Uncommon clever
nao, this doctor ; he thinks I ought to take something before
I go to bed, and is just going to prescribe for me.'
Glad to be released, Georgina immediately left the room ;
and Mr. Nixon, drawing still closer to the table and the
doctor, observed, ' My daughter does not like punch. '
To this observation no answer was made. The doctor did
not seenf to think it of any importance whether or not Miss
Nixon liked punch ; and Mr. Nixon continued, as it were in
explanation, ' She may, for all I know, in point of fact, like
the taste of punch, and it may be only the vulgarity of the
thing that she so specially abhors '
' Vulgarity I ' repeated the doctor ; ' I never heard that
pQDch was vulgar. '
' Why, sir,' cried Mr. Nixon, ' my daughter says it is so
shocking vulgar, that since we left the street we used to
lire in, and come to Eaton-place, I have never been allowed
to 'see anything of thci kind at my table 1 I can conscien-
tioQfly say that I have not tasted punch for nine, or perhaps
ten, years ; but if you recommend it^ I shall have no sort of
objection to try a tumbler medicinally, you know, medici-
nally. I say, just order the materials, will you 7 '
' *I know nothing about the materials,' said the doctor;
*bQt I can order the punch if you wish it. ' He made a sign,
while speaking, to a ^rl who was in waiting ; and before
Mr. Nixon could express half the satisfaction he felt ouVi^oix
216 FIRST MOUNTAIN SXOUBSIOK
ing that punch was not considered valgar in Germany,
waitress returned, carrying a covered glass in one hand, aod
a plate, on which was a large slice of cake, in the other.
' Hey ? ha I what's that f Most I eat that with it ? ' asked
Mr. Nixon, hastily.
' Not if you do not choose,' answered the doctor, with s
smile, quite unconscious that he was being consulted as s
physician, and thinking his companion singularly simple for
a person who looked so intelligent.
Mr. Nixon accordingly made a negative motion with his
hand towards the cake, uttering some of the ' grunting gut-
turals,' which he seemed to consider so like German that
they might pass for the language, and then took the glass,
remarking that ' It was very small, and did not deserve the
name of tumbler. '
Just as he had pronounced the punch excellent, aod
deposited his glass on the table, he caught his son's eye fixed
on him from the other end of the room. He pushed the
punch towards the doctor, who, however, slightly bowing,
refased what he supposed was an English token of convivial-
ity, while he observed, 'I prefer beer or wine r it is a
matter of taste you know, or habit'
' Hem 1 ' coughed Mr. Nixon, again pushing the glass
towards him, 'but you see my son is looking this way jnst
now, and '
'And he thinks punch vulgar, too, perhaps,' said the
doctor, amused.
' Why, as to that, he must, indeed, we must all, in such
things, do as my daughter chooses, for she knows the world
and bow people live in it^ and has for many years had the
complete management of my establishment.'
' Hallo, governor, what have you got there f ' cried John,
leaning across the table.
'Why, Jack, the doctor here recommended me, after mj
late dinner, to try a glass of punch.'
ATTXMPTID BT THE HIXON VAHILT. tlf
Where's OeoTgyf'
'Gone to bed.'
John drew the glass towards him, and seemed to like the
contents so well, that his father langhed, and desired him to
use his German in order to procure a fresh sapplj. Several
of the gaests followed his example, and almost all began to
smoke. Now tobacco was an abomination to Gilbert Nixon.
4c 4b * * Ht
In the meantime, Nora and her companions, accompanied
bj a chamber-maid with a candle, ascended the long, steep
flight of stairs which led to the roof of the honse. There,
howerer, even before they reached the door that opened on
the small enclosed space called the Belyedere, the wind,
which was blowing strongly, extinguished their light. Tet
still they groped on, stepped ont on the roof, and even while
making some jesting remarks on the inappropriatencss of the
name, just then their eyes became accnstomed to the dark-
ness, and they began to perceire the widely-extending horizon,
marked ont by yiTid flashes of lightning that, playing noise-
lessly along the dark sky, rendered at intervals the ontline of
the mountains visible, and showed the distant thunder-storm
that was raging among them.
' It looks better than I expected,' observed the elder lady.
'The thunder-clouds are driving towards Tyrol, and the
moon will soon be visible to us at least ! After all, it may
be fine to-morrow. '
' It toUl be fine to-morrow, and for some weeks afterwards,'
ttid Nora, gaily; 'I have bespoken fine weather, as we are
going to a pretty mountain village, where M. Waldemar has
promised to show us some beautifdl views from the alps in
the neighborhood.'
* Oh, Count Waldemar is of your party then ? I under-
stood he was on a hunting-excursion with that Englishman,
that friend of his whose acquaintance he made at Yienna so
many years ago. '
I. 19
118 riBBT MOURTAIH EX0UB8IOK
* He is not of onr party,' said Nora, quickly ; ' we met tiin
here accidentally to-day ; he told as his name was Waldemar,
gave as advice aboat oarronte, and '
' And invited yon to visit him at his castle in the Yallej
of the Inn,' said the elder lady, langhing, ' it would be jost
like him. '
' No,' answered Nora, 'the fact is, we saw him sketching
when we arrived here, and, withoat farther consideration,
concluded he must be an artist, and his friend, Mr. Torp '
' Torp,' repeated the lady ; ' that was not the name he said,
was it Sophie ?'
'No, mamma, he said Lord Medvey, but he afterwards
called him Torp, once or twice ; and the name sounded so
oddly that I lasked him about it, and he told me that the
family name of the Medvey s was '
Thorpe,' said Nora.
' Exactly, but as Count Waldemar never could learn to
pronounce the " th " he called him Torp. He said he had
become acquainted with him when his name was Torp, and
could not now learn to call him anything else without a great
deal of trouble. '
The lady and her daughter talked on, and Nora heard the
murmuring of voices, bnt the words conveyed no sense to her
mind, so completely had she been surprised by what she had
heard. Gould it be true that chance had brought her into
the immediate neighborhood of the only person in the world
she wished to avoid 7 Was it indeed certain that he was
going to Almenau, where they must necessarily often meet?
Would he claim acquaintance when he heard her name?
What woald be his manner towards her uncle, Georgina, and
John ? Could she, in fact, receive him with even a sem-
blance of cordiality after her last conversation with his
brother ? She had not time to answer any of these questions
before her companions proposed going down stairs again.
At the door of her room they stopped ; and, aa they wished
ATTXMPTSD BY THE NIXON FAMILY. 219
ber good-night, hoped she would not be too much fatigued to
get up the next morning to see the sun rise.
' Oh, Nesbitt, I am so sorry I forgot to tell you to go to
bed,' said Nora, when she saw Georgina's maid waiting in
her room, and vainly endeavoring to suppress her yawns ;
'just put my things in order for to-morrow morning, and then
yon can sleep nnUl Miss Nixon wants yon.'
' Yes, ma'am, thank you. Miss Nixon does not wish to
be wakened for the sunrise, ma'am.'
' Nor you either,' said Nora, laughing.
' Why, ma'am, Monsieur Adong says that a sunset is much
finer.'
' Of course, what Adam says must be right 1'
' Yes, ma'am only in one thing he is wrong, rery wrong
^he always calls master Lord Nixon, ma'am, since Sir 'Arry
left us he says it makes people think more of us.'
But, Nesbitt, you ought to explain to him '
' So I have, ma'am, but he says he has been so accustomed
to travel with noblemen, that he cannot do otherwise. It 's
all very well with the hignorant Germans, who don't know
the difference, but when English people hear him, I am so
ashamed I don't know where to look. '
' There is an Englishman here now a Mr. Torp ' began
Nora, quickly.
'Yes, ma'am, and as ill-luck would have it, he and a
young gentleman with a face and beard just such as one sees
in the pictures of the galleries, ma'am, passed the kitchen
when I was getting candles for this room. The young gentle-
man turned back suddenly, and asked Mr. Adong the name
of the fambly he was cooreer to i " My Lor Nixone," says
be, ** from Loudon," says he, and immediately the other gen-
tleman, who had walked on very high and mighty, stopped
and laughed a little, and said something of the creation,
which I did not quite hear, and of a pleasant addition to the
peerage, and then he too turned back and said London was
8S0 VI&fiT MOUIITAIN KXCUSBION
a large place, and might contain a great many Nixons ; tint
he knew something about one of that name, and wished to bt
informed where Mr. Adong's present employer lived in Lon-
don. And no sooner, ma'am, did he hear of Eaton-place,
than he became more inqoisitiye a great deal than the other
gentleman, and asked if you were all of one &mbly, tod
especially if yon and Miss Nixon were titters; and Mr.
Adong, knowing no better, said, "yes," ma'am, that joa
were " all one fambly, tra distingney ;" and then they walked
away, laaghing, and I had the greatest mind to run after
them and explain that you, ma'am '
'I am very glad yon did not,' said Nora, quickly, 'and
you will oblige me very much by never entering into any
explanation whatever. I am quite satisfied to pass for a
daughter of my uncle's, in fact I prQfer it just at present'
Mrs. Nesbitt seemed for a moment surprised, remained a
short time silent, and then observed, 'I suppose, ma'am,
you think it better for us while in this wild part of the oountiy
to remain incog.'
'Exactly,' said Nora, laughing; 'it is quite unnecessary
that these strangers should be informed of my relationship to
my uncle ; nor can it in any way interest Monsieur Adam
either, so for the present let us leave him in ignorance also.
In short, Nesbitt,' she added, with unusual emphasis and
seriousness, ' the less you speak of me and my affairs for the
next six weeks, the better pleased I shall be.'
These words made the impression intended, for Mrs. Nes-
bitt greatly desired to enter Nora's service ; and she actually
was scrupulously silent during the time required.
The Peissenberg is not a place for tranquil slumbers on a
moonlight night, and but a few hours had elapsed before
bright moonbeams in her chamber, and on her bed, wakened
Nora so completely, that she looked at her watch, rose, slowly
dressed herself, and having from her window seen several
dark figures already moving about before the honae, she
ATTEMPTED BY THE NIXON FAMILY. 221
descended qaietly and passed through a small gate that
opened to the east. The daylight, which began to peryade
the horizon, was so faint, and the wind so high, that she
Tetamed to the front of the bnildings, and had scarcely
reached the parapet wall when John sprang towards her.
' Good morning, Nora ; I knew yon would be one of the
first np 1 Did you hear the row in the house abont midnight ? '
* No, I slept too soundly.'
'The goyemor was ill got ap a regular scene thought
he was dying 1 '
' Oh, Jack, if these sort of excursions disagree with him,
let us giye them up at once. '
' Nonsense, dear girl, it wasn't the walk up here, nor the
late dinner either, though he still tries to think so ; it was
bat dont peach don't tell Georgy it was the rum-punch
he drank ; and eyen that would not haye upset him, perhaps,
if he bad not sat sipping it in a room fall of tobacco-smoke.
It was too much for me at last ; for though I like my own
cigar, I don't choose, as that quiet fellow, Torp, said, to
inhale the '
'Neyer mind what he said,' cried Nora, 'but tell me
about my uncle. '
' Well, either the punch or the smoke, or perhaps both
together, disagreed with him he really iDoa ill for half an
hour or so, and then he sent for the doctor. '
' How fortunate there hitppened to be one in the house I '
exclaimed Nora.
' So we thoaght, and sent for him at once ; but he refused
so obstinately to get up, that I went to him myself and
explained, as well as I could do so in German, my father's
sitaatioD, and the duties of a man of his profession. I did
not know, at first, that he understood English, and supposed
my German, spoken in a hurry, was not so intelligible as
asaal ; he listened to me, however, civilly enough, said some-*
thing about being very sorry, drew up the monstrous down
19*
MS FIEBT MOUNTAIN EXCURSION
bed with which people half smother themseWes in this oooBtry,
and composed himself to sleep in mj Tcry presence 1 '
' How very nnfeeliog 1 ' cried Nora, indignantly.
' Wait until yon hear the end,' contbned John, laughing;
' my fiMher, alarmed as yon know he always is when anything
is the matter with him, got out of his bed, and in order not
to catch cold, took the bright-red wadded quilt from his bed
and threw it over his dressing-gown. Now dont try to look
grave, Nora; his appearance was comical, and when, accom-
panied by Tomkins, we commenced a regular pilgrimage to
the doctor, I could not keep my countenance. Some people
in our vicinity had been wakened, doors were ajar, sad I
heard whispering and tittering in all directions. The tassel
of my Other's monstrous white night-cap '
'I really could laugh,' said Nora, 'if it were not for
anxiety about my uncle.'
' Oh, laugh as much as you like,' cried John; ' I laughed
too, and amused myself making bows to aU the half-opened
doors as I passed. Now that I know the true state of the
case, I cannot conceive why the doctor did not get up and
lock his door when I left him. I should have done so in his
place ; however, it proves satisfactorily that the Gkrmann are
a phlegmatie nation. * The door was still unlocked, and in
the few minutes I had been absent he had actually contrived
to fall asleep again I '
* And you were obliged to waken him f ' interposed Nora.
' Of course. And after staring at us all for a few secondly
rather savagely, he began to mutter the most eztraordinaiy
words I ever heard. I did not understand them, but I caa
imagine their import, and it struck me at the time that the
Oerman language was very powerful for the expression of
rage. The governor sat down by him, and mildly b^an a
detailed account of his sufferings ; but the doctor interrupted
him by an impatient and fruitless endeavor to make him
nnderstand that though a doctor he waa no doctor.'
ATTBMPTID BT THE NIXON FAMILY. 283
'Ahy aaid Nora, 'that was the man who was reading the
" Strangers' Book" this eTening ; I made the same mistake
mjself.'
' TeSy and if he had only nsed the word physician, perhaps
the goremor would ha?e onderstood him- bat I am not snre
-these things are ont of his line, yon know ; so they kept
shouting at each other, doctor or no doctor, until at length,
finding English, German, and French insufficient, he ex-
plained, wiUi a couple of Latin words, that he was a lawyer,
and not a physician. I understood him, of course, and with
some difficulty made my father comprehend the state of the
case; but no sooner did a light break upon him, than he
thought it necessary, as an apology for haying got up such a
row, to commence a history of his neglected education, and
how hia &ther had considered a classical education unneces-
sary, and how often he had intended to learn Oreek and
Latin, but had ne?er had time for it I The old story, you
know, if Georgy had been there he would not haTe been so
communicatiTe, I suspect '
Here they both became conscious that Torp was within
hearing distance of them, and John added quickly, ' In shorty
all was at last satisfactorily explained, and we left^the doctor
in peace but even then he did not bolt his door curious
people these Germans 1 '
At that moment Waldemar advanced towards them, and
while he leaned against the waU, and was still eagerly speak-
ing to Nora, the wind caught his light straw hat, balanced it
a moment high above his head, and then blew it down the
steep green hill. John laughed loudly. Waldemar smiled
good-hnmoredly, looked after it for a moment, and perceiving
that it was already out of sight, continued speaking as if
nothing had occurred to interrupt him. ' I scarcely, in fact^
know which I prefer,' he said, looking round him, ' a sunrise
from a quite dark night, or this protracted struggle between
moonlight and breaking day I But we must go to the other
:i24 FIR8T MOUNTAIN KX0UR8ION
side of the church, Mees Nize, if we intend to see the san
rise in all its glory. '
* I wonder,' cried John, leaning over the wall, ' I wonder
how far down the hill yonr hat is at this moment t '
'If yon feel the slightest cariosity on the subject,' said
Waldemar, * I advise you to gratify it.'
John jumped over the wall, and directly be was out of
sight, Torp joined Nora and Waldemar. Several groups
of people firom the neighboring inn were assembled, all eyes
turned to the east. Nora's acquaintances of the previons
evening moved towards her, and Waldemar seemed for a
moment inclined to retire ; but when he perceived that both
ladies turned to Torp and began to speak English, he re-
mained standing with his arms folded, his eyes sweeping
eagerly over the plain before him, while he began again to
speak to Nora, as if in continuation of what he had before
said. ' Moonlight is more adapted for confined landscapes
than for a view like this : here it can produce strong shadow
and make insignificant objects appear grand ; here it serves
but to create confusion ; the eye labors in vain to find a dis-
tinct outline or place of repose just light enough to make
us painfully aware of the imperfection of the noblest sense
that we possess : I believe I g^ve the preference to that
gradual transition from night to morning, which I witnessed
the last time I was on this spot at this hour. Impenetrable
darkness changed by degrees into grey twilight the first
glimmer of light caught by the mountain-tops and showing
their outline in dark masses, then the boundaries of forest
and long dark-colored lakes became visible last of all the
towns, villages, churches. Do not look again at that pale
fading moon,' he added, turning once more with Nora to-
wards the east, and fixing his eyes on the spot where, bright
and glowing, the sun's disk began to appear above the hori-
xon.
With the others they gazed undazzled on the magnificent
ATTKMPTID BY THX NIXON TAMILT. 885
V
fiery orb aa long as his rays ' shot parallel to the earth,' and
were tempered by its misty atmosphere. Sood howeTer, the
deep red color changed to the pale hue of intense heat and
tight the admiring eyes were ayerted and tongues were
loosed and talked of breakfast.
Nora took advantage of the general moTement leisurely to
examine Mr. Torp. The mo?ement was &Torabie for him :
he was listening to the broken English of her acquaintance
of the previous evening ; and though none of that suavity of
manner which men frequently feel or feign when speaking to
women with whom they are but slightly acquainted was per-
ceptible in bis person or features, there was an unaffected
cordial smile on his lips, and a mirthful glance in his eyes,
that made her unwillingly acknowledge to herself that he
was handsomer than she had expected to find him. The
scrutiny, however, was short ; for, with that inexplicable feel-
ing of consciousness from which even the most near-sighted
are seldom quite free when closely watched, Torp soon
became aware that eyes were fixed on him, and turned to
meet them. Indifferent and haughty was the glance he
bestowed on Nora, but the look that met his, though a mere
flashing of the eye, instantly arrested his attention-^tbere was
recognition in it, and few are ignorant of the change which
that produces in the human eye. Did it remind him of some-
body he had seen before ? When ? where i Pshaw I Often
as he had heard of the Nixon family, he certainly never had
seen one of them 1 The eyes were handsome, very very
handsome, and he rather wished she would look at him again
it would greatly assist his memory. For this purpose ho
followed her into the house and to the sitting-room ; but in
vain. Nora would not look at him any more, and seemed
altogether occupied with John, who, after a frnitless chase
of Waldemar's straw hat, had ordered his breakfast, and now
assored her he had had an excellent view of the sunrise from
the window opposite him. They then lowered their voices,
826 PBAfiANT ABTI8T8.
spoke for a few minates, and finally left the room together,
John to induce his father to get up, Nora to bribe Qeorgiot
to exertion, by a proposal to stop at Sultzbad, at the foot of
the hill, until they had all had warm baths.
By the time they were ready to commence their deaorat, not
a trace of the numerous travellers of the previous eyeoiog
was to be seen.
CHAPTER XVII. .
PEASANT ABTI8T8.
Thb road from the Peissenberg to Ober- Ammergau, thoagli
not uninteresting, presents little worthy of notice until, after
having passed Mamau, the mountains appear gradually to close
around it; soon after the summit of the Watterstein rises
majestically in the background, and the steep ascent of the
Ettal mountain commences. It was here that the carriages,
carts, omnibuses, and crowds of pedestrians assumed the ap-
pearance of a procession to a pilgrimage, and here that the
justness of some of Nora's remarks on her uncle's heavy and
unwieldy travelltng carriage first became manifest ; for had
not the neighboring peasants been prepared to supply addi-
tional horses, they would have been obliged to have either pro*
cured a lighter vehicle or have pursued their way on foot
The church and former monastery of Etta], an immense pile
of building, became visible at the top of the mountain, and
there they once more found themselves in a valley, above the
green hills on each side of which rocky peaks again presented
themselves.
A short drive then brought them to the village of Ober-
Ammergau, where, with much noise and pretension, the
Nixons' carriage drew up before the door of the inn, and the
PBABANT ARTISTS. 327
courier sprang to the ground. Nora, qnite prepared for the
intelligence that tbej coald not get rooms there, had descended,
and was beginning to make inquiries abont Herr Zwink and
Pater Ignaz, when their acquaintance of the previous evening,
"Waldemar, advanced towards her, and with ther assurance
that the inhabitants of the village were quite willing to in
convenience themselves in any way to afford travellers shelter
for the night, added that, if they did not mind being separated,
he doubted not being able to provide for them some way or
other. Nora and John accompanied him in his search, and
before long Mr. Nixon and his son were put in possession of
a small room, Georgina was given one still more diminutive,
and immediately under the roof, but in the same house;
While Nora, accompanied by the half- wondering, half-discon-
tented Mrs. Nesbitt, proceeded to a neighboring peasant's
cottage, where, Waldemar observed carelessly, he and his
friend Torp had been so fortunate as to get lodgings for the
night.
As is usual in the Bavarian Highlands, the hottses com-
posing the village were detached, each in its orchard, and
generally furnished with a little garden in front Most pic*
turesqae and sanctified they looked, with their low over-
hanging roofs, ornamented gables, and walls covered with
frescos, the subjects of which were all from holy writ, while
the Ettal Madonna, conspicuously placed, seemed framed as
it were in flourishes and ornaments of the most elaborate
description.
The interiors of these houses are as similar as their ex-
teriors : there is the long narrrow passage leading through
the house to the offices, the steep staircase and kitchen in the
distance, the doors right and left on entering, one of which
invariably conducts into the sitting-room of the family, with
its large green stove surrounded by wooden benches that, as
fixtures, are continued along the walls of the room, the
windows almost covered by luxuriant exotics, and the massive
228 PSA8ANT ABTI8TB.
table of well econred maple-wood in the corner where tke
cro88 light of a front and side window falls npon it.
The inhabitante of Ammergan are scarcely peasants in ihe
common acceptation of the word : the ground and conntrj
abont them is not fATorable for the growth of com, tbej
occupy themselves but little with field labor, and neglect tlM
usual resource of other Alpine districts the breeding of
cattle. As manafacturers of toys and carvers of wood they
at first appear to have improved their condition, and attained
a higher position in the world ; but though, in an intellectasl
point of view, this may be the case, in material well-beiDg
they are far behind the other peasants of the mountainooi
parts of Bavaria. The chief profits fall into the hands of
foreign agents and the possessors of warehouses ; yet 80
artistically inclined are these people, and so experienced are
they in the carving of wood, that they prefer it to all other
occupation. The very children from earliest infiincy make
rude attempts, and assist in coloring and varnishing the
ordinary toys that serve as playthings to little beings of their
own age, whose chief pleasure and occupation seem to be
the speedy destruction of them.
At the door of one of these houses Waldemar stopped,
apparently surprised at finding the benches outside occupied
by a row of people who rose as he approached. They
proved to be acquaintances, for he extended his hand to aa
athletic old man in a hunter's dress, made some inquifiei
about his family, and nodding familiarly to the others before
entering the house, he passed Nora in order to open the door
of the sitting-room of the proprietor. She heard a hasty
discussion about rooms regret that he had not explained
his wishes before the arrival of the Forstward from Alme-
nan, and a proposal to lodge the daughter of the latter else-
where.
' No, no, no,' cried Waldemar, returning to the passage
and requesting Nora to follow him up the ataira.
PSA8ANX AATIfiTS. 929
'Hiaa Nixe^' he amd, throwing opea the dooi^ of Knall
low room, ' Uiis apartment is quite at joor service^ and I
beUieve I moat advise 700 to take poBseasion of it withoat
delay, as it haa already happened more than onee thia
sammer that travellers have beea obliged to pasa the night
in their carriages. '
'Bnt/ said Nora, glancing towarda a portmanteaa and
acMtte already unpacked toikt requisites, 'but this is yonr
room^ and I cannot think of depriving yon of it until yoa
have secured another.'
' Torp must share his with me,^ answered Waldemar^
opening the door of the adjoining apartment^ and beginuing
to shove his portmanteau into it with his foot.
Nora mentioned to Nesbitt to assist^ and perhaps might
herself have aided had not the voiee of Torp annonnced hia
presence.
' Hallo I what are you at now, Waldemar ? ' he said good-
humoredly. ' Have you repented giving me the best rooift
and ooae to dislodge me ? '
* Not ezaistly/ answered Waldemar^ 'I only want jou to
share it with. me aa I have resigned mine to ' here he
lowered hia voice and spoke rapidly in Gwman, ' to yonr
fair countrywoman^ the naiad,^ the nymph^ the black-eyed
Nixie 1 '
* Better than the old alderman or his son,' said Torp^
dryly ; ' but you must refrain from smoking, Waldemar^ if
yon do not mean to cancel the whole obligation^ for English
nympha eschew the smell of tobacco, and I am much mistaken
if that door wUl effeetually prevent the entrance of the fumes
of your cigitrs, or the most subdued tones of our melodious
voiees. Singing is out of the question to-night, Waldemar,
neither hunting-song nor '
'Hosh, Torp I she's there and may hear what you say,'
cried Waldemar.
She had in fact more than heard i she had canght a glimfMe
I. 20
8S0 PSA8ANT ARTISTS.
of bis figare, stretched at fall length on a row of duura, so
placed as to represent a sofa, while with arms folded, and
liead thrown back, his eyes followed his friend's energe^
moTements with an expression of lazj amnsement.
The arrangements were soon completed ; and then Waldo
mar stepped ap close to Torp, hud his hand on his shoulder,
and whispered, ' Yon 're a better fellow than I thought yon,
Charley. I half expected yon to be dissatisfied, as, on oitf
way here to-day, yon .seemed so strangely averse to any io*
terchange of ciyilities with your countrymen, or the slighter
acquaintance with the family of Nix. '
' I shall make no attempt to interfere witb yonr drilitiei
in future,' said Torp, quietly; ' the more so, as I flatter my-
self that I can keep these people at a distance, and aroid as
acquaintance which I confess would be disagreeable, and
might be embarrassing to me.'
' (7on-found yonr arrogance I ' exclaimed Waldemar im-
patiently, turning away.
In the meantime, Nesbitt had been looking round tha
small apartment rather disconsolately. She could find no-
thing to interest her in the colored prints that decorated tht
white- washed walls ^the punted bedstead, with bright yeUov
arabesques on the head and foot-board, and the letters I. H.
S. above the pillows or the large wardrobe before which
Nora stood, apparently lost in contemplation of the Ma-
donna and Saviour that were painted on the upper panels,
and the gaudy flower-vases that decorated the lower.
'I shall send your courier to you for orders,' said Walde-
mar, re-entering the room, ' and I hope you may be able to
make yourself tolerably comfortable for one night.'
' I really do not know how to thank you for resigning your
room in this generous manner, ' began Nora.
. ' Pray do not attempt it, or even think of it,' said Walde-
mar, smiling, as he took up his hat and the little drawing-
book that lay on the window-stool.
PEASANT ARTISTS. 231
tppose, ma'am,' said Nesbitt, after he had left them,
koae he has gone aboat a room for me now, ma'am ?'
pose no such thing,' said Nora ; ' but consider yonr*
innate in getting from me this great feather-bed and
w on the floor t '
r ma'am, jon don't mean that yon will sleep on the
aeT'
emy will hare to sleep on straw or hay to-night, Mrs.
t,' answered Nora: 'do you think the thonsands of
\ now in this viUage are likely to find beds ? '
raps not, ma'am, bnt peasants '
Muants,' said Nora, 'are here acenstomed to rooms and
nch as we now see. Every one must be satisfied with
they can get to-night, Nesbitt ; and. yon had better
etum to Miss Nixon, and make yourself useful, while I
mt the people of the house and get acquainted with
) found the peasant's wife in the kitchen, preparing
r for her numerous expected and unexpected guests,
ras recei?ed by her with the warmest expressions of
ality, and many regrets that her room was not what
k young lady was accustomed to.
ra assured her she considered herself very fortunate In
so well provided for ; she had not expected it when she
ken the crowds on the road.
) peasant laughed, and observed that all the garrets,
and even bams, would be filled with people throughout
liole neighborhood ; and how many would arrive in the
ng it would be hard to say I She only hoped there
I be places enough in the theatre, for, large as it was,
[ already happened that some thousands had to be re-
admittance, and the play performed over again for
the day after I
t said all this with such evident pride and satisfaction,
N^ora continued the conversation, and soon discovered
28S PSABANT AaVIBTB.
that there was no inconTenience to which the vfllagen wDold
not snbmit cheerfalij, in Mrder to accommodate straDgen wk
came to see their ' play,' eonsideriog them gaests whose
presence woald serve to increase the brilliaiicj and repots-
tion of the great performance.
Here it may he observed, that no adfiantage Vhatofer is
taken on snch occasions by the inhabitants of Ammergan to
obtain profit of any kind ; they barely allow themsdres to
be remnnerated for actual outlay in the pnrchoBe of proTi-
sions, giving their houses and time willingly to all who n*
qnire their assistance.
While Nora still lingered in the kitchen, two youg giris
entered it, followed by the children of the hoose, joyoaslj
shouting ' The miller's Madeleine, and the forester's Bosel,
from Almenan I'
This meant that they were the daughters of the miller and
forester of that place, and, therefore, the greeting of the
peasant's wife was listened to attentively by Nora.
It was hearty in the extreme, she shook their hsnd^
laughed, patted their shoulders, and then turned the miller's
remarkably pretty daughter round and roand, declaring she
did so to ascertain if she had grown taller since the momiog.
The girl blushed and said, if she wye not taller she wsa
certainly happier.
* And when is the wedding ?'
'Abont Michaelmas. I wish Bosel's fkther woald let her
marry the Crags peasant's Seppel at the same time.'
Rosel did not blush at all as she seconded this wish, add*
ing that 'there was little chance, as her father could not
forget nor forgive Seppel's having joined the other peassat
lads in the year forty-eight^ and taken advantage of the short
time he was at home on leave to shoot the best herd of
chamois in the whole district ; ' he said then, ' she contiDnad,
' and says now, that he will never g^ve any ono belonghig to
him to a awild hunter i'
PXABANT ABTTBT8. 288
'Ah, bah I' cried the peasant's wife; 'there was scarcely
a l&d in the Tillage of Almenaa, or anjwhere else in the
Higblaiids, that did not do the same in forty-eight, and no
one thought the worse of them for doing what was allowed
bylaw.'
'That's tme/said Bosel, 'and I've often told him so;
for, saTing Seppel's brother Andere, and the miller's man,
black Seppel, they were all ont more or less.'
No donbt of it, Rosel ^and here too, and everywhere in
the land. Bnt now that Crags Seppel has served his six years
as cuirassier, and got a discharge that any man might be
prond of, yonr father should overlook his having used his
rifle too freely in former times, and let by-gones be by-gones.'
'If it had not been for that unlucky chamois last year,
perhaps he might,' rejoined Rosel, ' I mean the one that
came over the' mountain from Tyrol, and that father had
watched and preserved for Count Waldemar. Oame was so
scarce just then, and mostly up high among the rocks. As
ill-luck would have it, Seppel '
'No, but he didn't, though I' exclaimed the woman, evi-
dently amazed at this instance of temerity.
' I was going to tell you,' continued Rosel, ' that Seppel
just then had to see after the cattle on his father's Alp, and
anluckily took it into his head to go on to the fisherman *s at
the Kerbstein lake, passing over the very ground that my
father cannot hear named without vowing vengeance on all
wild hunters. Well, and so he and the count hunted after-^
wards for two days and a night together without getting a
ihot and went over the mountains into Tyrol, but never saw
or heard more of the chamois. '
The peasant's wife seemed to consider this conclusive, and
went on with her cooking.
' It appears to me,' said Nora, 'that they condemned this
Seppel on very slight evidence. Might not another have
23*
S84 PBA8AKT ARTISTS.
been the offender f Was no one else absent from tbe Tiflage
at the same time 7'
' No one bnt Seppel wonld have dared to do it,' observed
the peasant's wife, without looking np.
' Though he may be snspected, he onght not to be con-
demned without stronger proof,' oootinned Nora.
'So I always say,' obserred Bosel in reply; 'but my
father declares that that buck was so old and wary, that no
one in the village but Seppel could have followed and hunted
him down. And you see,' she continued and Nora fancied
she detected a sort of suppressed exultation in the voice of
the bright-eyed girl-* 'yon see Seppel never hunts anything
but chamois, and when he finds them high upon the rocks, he
thinks it no crime to take a shot, and and ^he never misses,
never I'
'That's true,' chimed in the miller's daughter. 'Every
one says Seppel ought to be made an nnder-keeper, or wood-
ranger, or something of that sort, and then the forester would
like him as much as he now dislikes him. '
' His being an under-keeper wonld not be much gain for
Bosel,' said the peasant's wife; 'he might as well be a
cuirassier for all the chance of marriage he would have. I
would rather hear that his old father was going to resign
house and land at the Crags to him, and that '
Here a loud tapping at the window was heard, which made
them all start and look round.
'Bless me I' exclaimed the peasant's wife, 'if there isn't
Seppel himself, on his way from Munich, and in his hand-
some uniform, to astonish us all t We greet yon a thousand
times,' she added, springing to the window and throwing it
open, while hands were extended, and then eagerly protruded
through the iron bars ; one of these he retained, giving it
an occasional jerk, while he explained that a letter havhig
informed him he should meet friends if he went to Ammer-
gao, he had not required long to make np his inind to see
PXABANT ARTISTS. 235
them and the great play at the same time. All he now
wanted was to find somebody who woald gite him shelter iot
tiie night.
' Shelter and a handle of hay yon can have, Sepp,' laughed
the peasant's wife ; ' I had nothing better to gi?o my own
sister's son, Florian, when he was here last week.'
' I suspect I can sleep better om hay than Florian,' said
Seppel. ' He came to see the great play, of coarse ? '
'Tes, and brought his mother with him. It was long
since we sisters had beeA together, but we knew we should
see littie more of each other when she married into AlmenaUf
and we should hear nothing either if Florian had not taken
after our family, and been, as I may say, bom an artist. He
alone keeps up the relationship now, by coming here so often
for one thing or another. Last week he ordered some orna-
ments to be carred for 8t. Hubert's Chapel in the wood.
He's been given the reno?ation of the altars there, and he
says it will be a troublesome job, as the new parts mast be
made exactly to match the rest^ which is Tcry carious, and
ever so many hundred years M* If yon should go to AU
menau, miss,' ^ added, taming to Nora, ' you oaght to make
a pilgrimage to St Habert's.'
'I shall certainly do so,' answered Nora,- ' and if you have
any message to your nephew Florian, I can be the bearer of
it, as I intend to remain some time at Almenau.'
' He lives at the end of the village with his mother, who
has the shop there,' said the peasant's wife, evidently pleased
at Nora's willingness to visit her relations. 'Any oue can
show you Meister Florian's studio, for he is quite an artist,
and has been at the Academy in Munich.'
During the last few minutes some harried whisperings had
been going on at the window, which Nwa did not consider it
necessary to interrupt, or even appear to observe, so she
walked oat of the kitchen, and turned into the dwelling-
room, where she found the peasant himself, finishing a most
236 PEASANT ARTI8T8.
elaborate piece of carving a goblet with figures in highie-
lief and gothic ornaments. He stopped working for a momest^
to raise a small Greek cap that covered his bald head, pointed
to a seat, and perceiving that she did not intend to intempt
him, continued his occupation, first nodding to a man who
was sitting opposite to him, and then murmuring sometiiiBg
about wishing to hear the end of the affair.
The person addressed was the elderly man to whom Walde-
mar had spoken before entering the house. His dress and
manner, joined to his bearded, sun-Udmt face, made Nora sup-
pose him a forester or wood-ranger, and she was soon not odIj
confirmed in this idea, but also convinced that he was to be
the future father-in-law of the miller's daughter Madeleine.
'The end is soon told,' he continued, plajing witii some
carving tools that lay temptingly near his hands. ' Ton may
easily suppose that I expected a right good match for my sou
Franz, after having sent him to the foresters' academy, and
secured him a chance of being before long set far above my
self, for I have not the learning required for a Ibrst-meistef
now-a^days. Well, back comes Franz to me as assistaot
forester, by way of a beginning, and gets one of our best
rooms, and writes and studies, and is treated with that re-
spect by my old woman, that you would suppose he had
taken orders and was priest of the parish at least ; all that
was wanting was that she should say "sir" to him. His
sister Rosel made much of him too, and it was her friendship
with the mountain miller's family, added to the nearness of
the houses and long acquaintance, that brought about the
match. Now you see, money there must be on one side or
the other. My son has education and good prospects, and
the mountain miller's danghter will inherit the mill and a good
fortune besides. Franz always had a fancy for Madeleine,
but I did not choose to hear of it when he was last at home,
for it was well known that the miller's affairs were in a ruinous
condition, and so they continued until his mill was burnt
P8ABANT ABTIBTS. S8f
down a few jBars ago. I dare say you beard wben it
happened for tliere vas a good deal of talk iUoat it at the
tiaie.'
'I remember,' said the wood-carver, looking up for a
moment^ ' I reeftember faei^og that it was sapposed the miller
hiBttelf '
* The miller had gone to his brother in Manich when the
ire took place, ' said the foretfter, intemtpting him hastily, * I
oaght to know all aboat it, liying so near yoa know I He
came home the day after, and was in a state of distraction,
such as I never saw *^ his brother had promised to help him
ont of his difficalties, and advance hiqi money for better worksi
and a new water-coane, so that he hoped to have began a
new life, as he said, over and over again. It was an awfol
sight to see him sitting moaning among the blackened rains
of the old mill as if qaite oat of his mind, and indeed he has
never been the same man doce. We did all we coald to
console him, took his daughter to live with us until the hoose
was rebuilt^ and '
'People here,' observed the wood-carver, once more look-
ing np, ' people here said the insorance was high ^far beyond
the valae of the mill. '
' Well it tMW high, ' replied the forester, * and so mnch the
better for him, he required less assistance from his brother,
reboilt both house and mill, and sioce that time the world has
prospered with him in every respect. '
'If,' said the woodnsarver^ putting down his work, 'if he
were not encumbered with that right-hand man of his black
Seppel, the Tyrolean 1 '
' I have advised him more than once to get rid of black
Seppel,' said the forester, ' but he says he can't do without
him ; and the truth is, Seppel certainly does understand, not
only the management of the mill, but the ground about it, far
better than the miller himself. '
The peasant artist began to arrange his carvmg tools in a
288 PEASANT ARTIfiTS.
cupboard, Nora requested him to allow her to examine te
goblet on which he had been working, and while she was
doing BO, he turned to the forester and said, 'No doubt Sep-
pel is a clever fellow, but they say he manages the miller as
well as the mill, and through him both wife and daughter.'
' I suppose Florian has told you all this,' said the forester,
' perhaps he also mentioned that the miller's brother, the
locksmith in Munich, died not long ago, and has left him
everything he possessed. '
' Of course he told me that, and talked so much of Made*
leine, that I suspected he had thoughts of becoming one of
her suitors himself.'
' Ah I poor Florian little chance for him when my Frus
was in the way 1 It was all settled between me and the mil-
ler this morning, and there is to be a betrothal when we get
home.'
' And what will black Seppel say ? ' persisted the wood-
carver.
' What business is it of his 7 ' asked the forester.
' Why, many suppose he had an eye on Madeleine himself,
and he comes of respectable people you know the son of a
miller in Tyrol they say 1 '
' Tet he must be ill oflf at home,' obserred the forester, 'or
he would not remain so long in service. Men obliged to
serve cannot think of marriage.'
' Florian says that Seppel remains at the mill on aoeomit
of Madeleine,' rejoined the wood-carver, 'and he watches
her better than either her father or mother. Last year at the
church festival, when she only danced once round the roott
with Florian, up he came and reminded her quite stonly that
she was not yet eighteen years of age, consequently a Sunday-
school scholar, and not allowed to dance in public ! and tbea
he walked her off home threatening a reprimand from the
priest.'
' I think my Franz will put an end to his iiiterfereuee ia
PSA8ANT ARTISTS. S89
ibserred the forester, ' and yoa '11 come to the wed-
n't you? '
lieve/ answered the wood-carrer, 'mj wife will be
sister in Almenan abont that time, and we can't
re home together, not to mention the orders for work
ave lately received.'
Its moment John entered the room, and hastily in*
N^ora that they were waiting dinner for her at the inn.
aar was with him, and advanced to look at the goblet
aer hands.
lonld like to purchase this,' she said, tnming to the
Birver, ' that is, ' she added, perceiving he hesitated,
i, provided it be not already bespoken.'
; jnst that,' he answered, 'bat we are expected to
lese things to the warehouse, where you can have the
of all the carving in Ammergau.'
I to understand that you are not at liberty to sell me
said Nora.
liberty I oh yes, of course but I don't like to lose,
a chance of losing, my certain sale at the warehouse
small advantage of disposing of one or two articles
ly.'
i you well paid for work of this kind 1 ' she asked.
II, I suppose so it is slow gain at best, and I some-
hink that out-door labor though harder is healthier,
ngs more surely abundance into one's house. Had I
out a mere toy-maker, I might have given it up, per-
nt having arrived at carving in this style,' he added,
; approvingly at his goblet, ' and made a name for my-
an artist, nothing would induce roe to turn ray hand
other kind of work now ! '
the hope of fame asserts its rights even in this cottage, '
(d Nora in English, half to herself, half to John, who
reside her, a perfect personification of impatience.
ne, Norry, let's go to dinner,' he answered, * I never
(
940 PSA9A1I1: ABTX
WM 80 hugij in aU my Ufe, and Ckoigj mji dtt^ qtite
ezbansted.'
As Kora followed kim out (f the room, Waldemsr joined
ber and said* * Yoa smiled at oar peamst artist's ambitioBy
Meee Nize, without kaowiag the foil extant of hk aainratioiia
He dares to hope that bis goblet may be deemed wcNrtky of a
place at yoor Qreat Exhibitioii ia London next year.'
* Where it will undoubtedly be rnoGh f^mired,' replied
Nora, ' but I fear the name of the artist ia seldom asked, and
soon forgotten. '
' Perhaps so/ rejoined Waldemar ; ' but it would be eniel
to enlighten him on this subject,'
' You need not fear my doing so^' said Nora ; ' I shall soon
forget his innocent ambition, but not so easily his renmrk,
that out-of-door labor was not alone more healthy, bat even
more profitable than wood carving:, though of the very finest
description.'
'And he was right, Mees Nize ; the peasants here and in
Qrodner Yalley in Tyrol are almost altogether manufaetnren,
and manufacturing districta are never so healthy and seldom
so wealthy in the best sense of the word, as agrienkoraL'
' Many people,' said Nora, 'suppose that no other peaaanti
but the Swiss and Tyroleans are wood-carrers, and most
English travellers have very obscure notions of the boundaries
between the Highlands of Bavaria and Tyrol.'
' And in fact,' said Waldemar, ' the scenery is so similar,
that if it were not for the Costom-Houses, and the black and
yellow painted bars and posts, a stranger could scarcely dis-
cover that he was in another land. You, however, who have
evidently been long in Qermany,, must be aware of the great
difference in the inhabitants. '
' Of course I am^' answered Nora; 'the Tyroleans are a
mnch handsomer, much poorer, and much more melaacho^
people than the Bavarians;'
'Poor and melancholy,' repeated Waldemar; 'it is tiiM
PKASAMT AKTI8TB. 241
for me to tell yoa tbat I am a Tyrolean from the Yallej of
the Inn. '
' Then yon must be aware of the truth of my obserration/
continued Nora ; 'for though the inhabitants of yonr valley,
from being on the high road to Innsbruck, may be better off
than those of other parts of Tyrol, the contrast on entering
Bayaria is too striking to be overseen by any but very unob-
servant travellers. I do not require to see your Cnstom-
House, or painted boards, to know where I am I The first
little inn on the roadside, with its room fall of shouting,
laughing, and singing peasants, wonld tell me that I had
passed the frontiers, and entered the merry Highlands of
Bavaria.'
'They do shout and sing a good deal about here,' said
Waldemar.
' And they do noi sing much in Tyrol, ' rejoined Nora,
' excepting in the Zillar valley, known to us English people
as the birthplace of the Reiner family, who made themselves
rich by singing their Alpine songs all over Europe. '
' I am surprised to find that the habits and manners of the
peasants can interest you so mach,' observed Waldemar.
'On the present occasion in an unusual degree,' she
answered. 'I that is, we we are about to erect a monu-
ment in the churchyard at Almenau to the memory of a near
relation who died there, and I have undertaken to find out a
family worthy to be entrnsted with the care of this g^ave. '
'Ahy I understand. Yon intend to deposit a sum of
money, the interest of which will be paid to the family for that
purpose. '
' Some such idea has occupied my mind lately,' said Nora,
as they stopped at the door of the inn ; 'so yon may imagine
that the inhabitants of Almenau interest me at present in no
common degree.'
She did not wait to hear his answer for perceiving Torp
approaching, she entered the inn, and soon afterwards fonnd
I. 21
S42 A BKMNANT OV THE VIDDLX AQSB.
herself seated at the end of a long table bende her nncle and
cousins, in a room crowded with the most extraordinary mix*
tare of all ranks of people.
CHAPTER XVIII.
A BEMNANT OV THE MIDDLE AGB8.
As the evening drew to a close, the melodioos bells of tin
Tillage chnrch pealed long, and londly. The arrirals of
strangers became still more frequent, carriage followed car-
riage, until the street was almost blocked np, and the mk-
wieldy omnibuses scarcely found place to discharge their
mufBed contents. Mr. Nixon and his family had dined, and
those around him supped, on precisely the same succession
of viands at the crowded table d'hdte of the inn, when the
report of cannon and the sound of distant music caused iVesh,
and, if possible, increased commotion in the room.
Some hurried to the windows, others rushed to the door,
among the latter John, followed more leisurely by Nora.
They reached the street in time to witness some violent efforts
{hat were made to remove the various vehicles from their
places, so as to open a passage for the procession of tbe
Ammergau musicians, who were marching from one end of
the long village to the other, playing slow and solemn musie,
intended to remind the assembled multitude that the vigil of
the g^eat holiday had commenced. They played well, and
created much sensation as they passed by, drawing all the
inhabitants of the village to their doors or windows, and
most strangers fairly into the street.
John and Nora were soon separated, and the latter, findiofc
herself in the neighborhood of the forester's daughter, joined
A BBMNANT OF THE MIDDLE A0X8. S48
ler, and partly to aroid the Ticinitj of some cattle retnraing
ate from pasture, partly to make inquiries about Almenao,
(be aaantered with her beyond the houses of the village, until
ihe unexpectedly found herself at the one where she was to
sleep that night; she might have passed it too without notice,
bad not the peasant, who was seated before the door, raised
his little cap as she approached, and his wife smiled recog-
nition. Nora's companion pointed to the miller and his
wife, who, with the forester, were seated at the other side of
the door, the robust frame and face of the latter forming a
strong contrast to the emaciated figure and pallid features of
the former. The eyes of all were following the steps of the
newly-betrothed pair, who, having perhaps left them to join
the musicians, now lingered on the road together, unconscious
alike of these looks of pride and affection, and the arch smiles
and jocose nudges and winks passing among the homeward-
bound peasants who hup'ied along the road.
There was something about the young assistant forester
that immediately prepossessed Nora in his favor. The
strongly-built muscular figure accorded well with the dark*
complexioned and profusely-bearded face, while both contri-
buted to render conspicuous the mild, almost pensive expres-
sion of his clear hazel eyes. He was dressed in a loose g^ey
shooting jacket, green waistcoat, and shorts of black chamois
leather ; his knees were bare, and he wore grey worsted leg-
gings with fanciful green clocks, that reached but did not
cover the ankles, while his feet rested, uncovered by socks, io
heavy nailed shoes, seemingly formed to defy all weather and
roads : his shirt was scarcely held together by the light black
kerchief that served as cravat, and left exposed a large por-
tion of a broad brown chest shining like polished wood. His
green felt hat, with its tuft of black-cock feathers, was in the
hands of Madeleine, and he smiled while watching her deco-
rating it still more with a gay bouquet of wild flowers. Rosel
introduced him to Nora by proudly exclaiming, ' This is my
{
244 A BKMNANT OF THK MIDDLE AOXB.
brother Franz !' and had his dress led to the expectation of
^ peasant's greeting, Nora was imniediatelj reminded thtt
edncatton had made him a gentleman. Nothing conld be
more easy and unembarrassed than his manner, and RosePi
bright intelligent eyes watched eagerly the impression he wai
making ou the English lady, who seemed to speak to hia
qnite as if he were Count Waldemar himself 1
Nora had while speaking mored towards the boose, aod
then sat with the peasants and their gnests nntil they retired
to the sitting-room, when having been joined by Mrs. Nm-
bitt, and received a tall slim candle, she mounted the steep
staircase conducting to her room, and went to bed.
The weather was sultry Nora's room over the kitcheo,
where the peasant's wife, 'on hospitable thoughts intent,'
had cooked the live-long day. The pillows and plumeao,
well-aired on sunny balcony, rose like mountains- on each side
of her : they seemed to glow, and though want of rest on the
previous night made her painfully sleepy, the heat at length
became so intolerable that she sprang from her bed, aod
threw wide open the little lattice window, actually gasping
for breath as she leaned out of it. The sound of voices in
the orchard beneath tnade her shrink back again, but the
moon had not yet risen, and the night was still so dark that
she need not have bound up so carefully her long hair dis-
hevelled by the recent tossings on downy pillows, or drawn
her dressing-gown so very closely round her, as she once
more approached the source of fresh air. A slight odor of
tobacco was waited towards her with the words, ' Well, I
don't deny that she is pretty and interesting, and that her
figure is slight and graceful, but you must allow me to donbt
her being so very youthful as you seem to suppose.'
' I don't care what her age may be,' answered a voice that
Nora knew to be Waldemar's, 'she's very charming, and I
shall take advantage of the first opportunity to tell her that
I think sq/
A BBMNANT Of THE MIDDLE AGXS. 245
* Better not, ' replied Torp ; ' for althoagh I hare been too
aeldoiii in England, doring the last ten years, to know mach
about the pecuniary affairs of these people, I can, at least,
tell jon that a lot of sons being in the family will prevent
this new object of yonr adoration from having a sufficiently
Wge fortune to induce yonr father to overlook her want of
pedigree. I happened once by a singular chance to have an
interest in ascertaining that the lineage of these Nixons loses
itself mysteriously in the obscurity of that part of the city of
London where fogs are thickest, and days are shortest. '
'What matter!' cried Wal^emar, laughing, 'that need
not prevent me from admiring her to any reasonable extent
I was not so serious as yon supposed, notwithstanding my
somewhat strong expressions of commendation jast now,
and merely meditate lending her mj heart for a week or two
while we are at Almenau, nothing more, I assure you.'
' I wish, ' said Torp, ' you would be rational, and do what
would be infinitely pleasanter for me than being thrown
among these people, and that is, go at once from hence to
the Yalley of the Inn ; yonr father expects us at Herrenburg,
and when these English people have left Almenau there will
BtiU be time enough for us to have a few weeks' sport before
the end of the season.'
Very likely,' answered Waldemar, 'but by that time
Irene Schaumberg will be with us, and I shall not be able to
leave home.'
' What I do you expect the widowed countess with daugh
ter and dogs from the banks of the Danube ? '
'Yes. She comes ostensibly to be present at my brother
Carl's marriage, which takes place some time next month ;
he has been engaged these three years to Lotta Falkner of
St. Benedict's. '
Nora, who had withdrawn from Ihe window unwilling to
overhear this conversation, found that unless she closed the
casement every word distinctly reached her ear in the pro*
21*
S46 KXMHAIIT or THE lfIIIIK AOmB.
found Bilenee of the night. Thftt they had been spenkiBf of
her she more than gaspected, bat she thonght not of them or
henelf either jnst then, so completely had her interest hem
absorbed by the name of Irene Schanmberg and the fev
words following. Back, back, back she went to her earliest
reeollecUons, and the ground-floor of a large honse in Yicms
was her home In the bel itage Count Schanmberg liTed, sad
he had sons i rude boys of whom she was much afraid; tliej
ran after her when she played in the court, chased her sp
and down the stairs, and one day fairly carried her s tru gglisg
into their father's apartments, where, pushing her towards a
springing laughing little girl of her own age, they exclaimed
' There, Irene, there she is for yon ; don't let her go, or
she'll be off ag^in like an arrow.' Bat when Irene hsd
whispered, * Oh, come and play with me, mamma says w
may ! ' she had gone willingly enough to the ^hawing-room,
and from that time forward they had become constant com-
panions. Irene's parents had probably found the little
English girl a desirable playmate for their daughter, sod
were kind and attentiye to her in consequence, while Mr.
Nixon and his wife had encouraged an intimacy that procured
them much pleasant society. Though often, at a later period,
separated for long intervals, the regard of the young giris
had suffered no diminution, and about a year before Nora
had left Germany she had spent some time with the Schaom-
bergs, and, as a parting service, had officiated as bridesmaid
when Irene had married her cousin, the chief of another
branch of their fitmily. A correspondence of the most unre-
^served description had, in the course of time, slowly worn it-
self out. The brilliant and fashionable inmate of one of tJM
gayest houses in Vienna could have but little in common
with the solitary girl whose days were passed in reading, and
the contemplation of the dingy vegetation of Russell-sqaare.
It gave Nora, however, sincere pleasure to hear that she
should soon be so near the person who had supplied the
A BXMlfAirT 07 TBS KIDBLX AOBS. 947
|daee of sister to~ her, bat her wish to remain unknown to
Torp as long as possible, made her resolve to defer her in*
qniries aboat her friend for some time. While these thoughts
passed tbroagh her mind, she closed the window in a manner
to attract attention, and so effectnallj that, on opening it
again soon afterwards, the spealcers had left the orchard, and
on the road- near the honse she thought she perceived two
figures sauntering slowly towards the banks of the Ammer.
The drums of the Ammergau musicians proclaimed the
break of daj. At a very early hour the next morning they
beat a r^Teille through the whole Tillage, which, with the
sound of church-bells entering Nora's room through the still
open ossementy wakened her and her companion most effectn-
ally, and about the time she had completed her toilet the
band commenced playing in a manner to draw her irresistibly
towards the window. As she stretched out her head in
eager attention, two other heads from neighboring windows
were protruded also, for the same purpose no doubt, but
^ while one determinately looked away, the other turned
towards her to wish a cheerful ' good morning,' and to hope
she had slept well.
' Thank you quite well. Is the representation about to
begin ? '
'Not yet. But you ought to see the church and hear
high mass : every one in the village who can sing will assist,
and thQ performers in the drama consider it a duty to begin
the day with Divine service. '
At this moment the peasant's wife appeared at the door
and told Nora that she would find her breakfast and her
brother in the room below.
Waldemar heard, and smilingly observed that brothers
were not often so punctual, and he had rather begun to hope
sue would have required him as cicerone.
Early as it still was when John and Nora had breakfasted,
they found the village streets crowded to excess, and hundreds
A SMMXAVT OF THX MI99X.X A6KS.
a^mdroB tbeirwrnrto thedieatreto Kcmplicei
f gL iAQ g^ Xora to ^ there aIsd, manring her tbi
daj-tee&k the arriTal of spectators had beea Sncmi at,
BO theatre eoald possiUj cootain them all.
Perhaps he wm ri^ at all ercats figvres in OricBtal
^uiHA aad draperies begaa to lit abovt the Tillage ; groapi
ef rkCdm asseaibled before the housei to hare their eM-
xmrnet iaspected ; bat the report of a eaaBon from the pre-
cskcts of the theatre made all tars ia that direetkm ; aod ii
the MidA of a rather Ktlej nniltitiidey Nora and Joha foud
their war to the lar^e endosore formed bj wooded plaaki^
aad aioae lemarkable from its caormoos drciimference.
A short iishi of steps lroa^t them into one of the boiei
thai vere erected behind, and a little abore the spaee thit
4eK9ded ampbitheatricallT to the orchestra, which contsiMd
se&ts for six thoasaad persons. The stage was of soflScieDt
cxte&i to nit thk theatre, aad the great drama abont to be
performed on ic There was a proeceninm ci coosidenbla
depch. and bejood it a closed theatre of mailer dimeosiooii
lor the representation of interior scenes, and tableaux from
the Old Testament : and this theatre within a theatre had at
each side a baildin^, with balconies, joioed by arches to the
side-scenes of the prosceniom. Throogh these arches, two
long streets of Jemsalem were constantly visible ; and when
the middle theatre was closed by its curtain, representiDg
also a street in perspcctiTc, the whole formed a Tiew of the
city of Jemsalem.
Crowds of people soon began to poor In at all the en-
trances ; and the rarions costnmes of the diflferent parts of
Tyrol and BaTaria found numerous representatiyes, in the
brightest aod freshest colors. John found time to become
an enthusiastic admirer of the black bodices, and fantastic
head-dresses, of the women ; while some rague ideas entered
his miud, of procuring for himself one of those loose jackets
and picturesque hats^ that seemed to make ' the commonest
A BXMNANT OF THX MIDBLX AeX8. 249
fellows,' as he expressed it to Nora, 'look something like I '
She paid little attention to his remarks, being at first too
moch OGcnpied with the constraction of the stage, and after-
wards with the demeanor of the andience, as thej defiled
slowly between the benches, and reyerentiallj took their
places, as if in a chnrch eren their greetings to each other
were sabdned; the men exchanged silent nods, the women
whispered gravely, while spreading ont their text-books, and
seemed wholly occupied with the great drama about to be
enacted.
It was corioos that, on observing all this, Nora's doubts
and scruples about the propriety of witnessing the repre-
sentation returned in full force, and that she turned towards
Torp, who, with Waldemar, had taken a place in the adja-
cent box, to see if he shared her uneasiness. Leaning for*'
ward, with an elbow placed on his crossed knees, his chin
resting on his hand, he gazed at the landscape beyond the
theatre, with a calm earnestness that might perhaps ha?e
re-assured a less careful observer ; but Nora would just then
have preferred seeing him watching the progress of Walde-
mar's rapid sketch of the classical stage with its proscenium,
or interested in the groups of picturesque peasants standing
immediately below him.
To Waldemar she would not speak : how could a Tyro-
lean, accustomed from infancy to see his Saviour represented
iu every possible way, pictorial and sculptural, understand
the fear of ptofaDation with which a living representative in-
spired her 1 She herself believed she could, ten years pre-
viously, have taken her place among the spectators, with feel-
ings of more curiosity and interest than uneasiness and awe.
Familiar then with pictures and images of the crucified E-
deemer, not only in churches and chapels, on the high-road,
and beside the scarcely trodden woodland path, but in every
cottage, in every house, almost in every dwelling-room, while
lithographs of the same mild face might be shaken from
250 A BBMNANT OF THE MIDDLE AOBS.
among the leaves of most books of prayer, she would bave
foand far less to shock her in the representation that now
filled her mind with anxiety and dismay. She recalled to
her memory every argument that could tend to reassure her,
- it would be but a succession of living pictures, she hid
heard they were eminently well-arranged, the performen
Were simple religious peasants, full of enthusiasm, deeply
impressed with the necessity of fulfilling a solemn vow,* and
with intentions and objects as pure as could be found oa
earth.
As the echo of the last cannon was lost in the surrounding
hills, the overture commenced. Soon after the chorus filled
the proscenium, and all Nora's remaining scruples were sb*
sorbed in the most intense interest The stage arrangementi
possessed all the charms of novelty to her, and, with the sa-
sistance of a text-book, she easily followed the leaders of the
chorus, as, generally singing, but occasionally reciting, they
explained the tableaux represented on the enclosed and smaller
stage, or prepared the audience for the next act of the drains,
while exhorting them to devotion and repentance.
And this chorus, so fantastically dressed in white tunica
colored sandals, girdles, and mantles, with crown-like plumed
head-dresses, soon became so familiar, as not in the least to
detract from the reality given to all else by the bright day*
light, the summer sky with its passing clouds, and the paa*
ture-land, hills and woods, seen beyond the streets and abon
the houses of Jerusalem.
It would be difficult to describe Nora's feelings as the re-
presentative of Jesus appeared on the scene, but so com-
* In the yftr 1688, when the village waa Tialted by a derastadng
and contagious disorder, the monks of Ettal induced the parish to msks
a TOW, * That in thankful deyotion, and for edifying oontemplatioB,
they would, erery ten years, publicly represent the Passion of Jesot,
the Saviour of the world.' V^hereupon the parish that had made thi
vow was immodiately freed frm the peetilence.
A BBMNANT OF THSMIDDLX AGXB. 851
I^etely did the penon and manner of the artist performcfl*
Batisfjr her high-wrongbt expectations, that dissatisfaction or
disappointment was certainly not among them. She per-
ceived iastantly that what was then before her, wonld take
the place of all the pictures and statnes she had ever seen,
and remain indelibly impressed on her mind for ever. It
was, therefore, this one deeply interesting figure, with the
pale face, finely chiselled feaiares, and parted waring hair
which has become typical, that she followed with breathless
interest and anxiety throughout, and nerer did the eminence
of the character of Christ strike her so forcibly, or the worth-
lessness of mankind, and the ignoble motives that are the
springs of their actions become so glaringly apparent as on this
occasion. The monologues of the principal actors, showing
the current of their thoughts without reserve, made each as
it were a psychological study, yet so simple and forcible, as to
be within the comprehension of the most illiterate among the
andience. The sending of Jesus from one tribunal to an-
other, the wish of those who knew his innocence to avoid the
responsibility of his martyrdom, yet determination that he
shonld snlTer, his being forsaken by every friend at the mo-
ment of danger, in short, all that habit enables us to read
and hear read almost unmoved, and as a matter of history,
was brought before Nora, with a force so perfectly irresisti-
ble, that, Tarious and eloquent as had often been the sermons
she had heard, excellent and celebrated as were the pictures
she had seen, never had she been moved as on the present
occasion. A skeptic might perhaps have followed the repre-
sentation with criticizing curiosity, a less imaginative mind
with calm self-possession, Nora forgot herself, time, place,
spectators, everything, and saw, heard, and felt, with a vivid-
ness that at length completely overwhelmed her. As the
crucifixion was completed a shudder of horror passed through
her whole frame, a sensation of extreme cold seemed to chill
her blood, and after some ineffectual efforts to control, at
S5i A &BMNANT OT THX MIDDLS AOS8.
least outwardly, her emotion, she bent down her head tad
covered her face with her hands, remaining motionleae, nntfl
roused by a whisper from Waldemar. 'Mademoiselle,' he
said, ' allow me to advise jou to leave the theatre now; m-
other scene might weaken an impression well worth preserr-
ing in all its strength. '
Nora rose, looked back for a moment, saw the commence-
ment of the removal from the cross, and soon after foaod
herself outside the wooden building with Waldemar and
John, both more tranquil than she had jet seen them, as
they walked slowly beside her towards the silent and deserted
village.
The pause at the end of the first four hours of the per-
formance had been that day unasually short, in conseqaeoce
of a threatening thunder storm, which, however, had greatlj
heightened the effect of the latter part of the drama, bj the
gloom cast on the scene from the darkening clouds and the
incessant rolling of distant thunder. A favorable wind
seemed now about to waft the storm away from Ammergao,
and leave the evening sky clear and cloudless.
Followed by Torp at a distance, which his curiosity to
hear what they were saying induced him by degrees to lessen,
Waldemar and Nora reached the cottage, which they bsd
left much about the same time in the morning. The door
Was open, and Nora entered, turning into the little sitting-
room, while Waldemar, instead of following, remained oat-
side, and leaning on the window-sill looked into the room,
apparently continuing their conversation when he obserred,
* So you have no curiosity no wish to see Pflunger J Not
even when I can assure you that you will not be at all dis-
appointed by a nearer acquaintance with him ? His resem-
blance to the pictures of our Saviour does not lose in the
least by close observation, and there is even something in bis
manner which accords perfectly with all our preconceived
ALMENAU. S53
Let me delay mj departare for an hoar, and take you
hoase. '
o, thank jon,' said Nora, qnicklj, 'not for any con-
ktioQ wonld I see him Jn another dress. I intend to
i that be exists otherwise than as he appeared to me
lay. Kot even ten years hence would I desire to wit-
^his g^eat drama again; he will then most probably
lost in appearance some of his present eminent ad-
ges, and I wish to preserve the impression made on me
f aa pure as may be, and as long as possible.'
kldemar seemed to consider this conclusive ; he raised
it without speaking another word, and followed the evi-
r impatient Torp, who, having canght a glimpse of
advancing to meet him, had began to stride towards
Uage in a more resolute than civil manner.
CHAPTER XIX.
ALMENAT7.
IRA was perfectly sincere in what she had said to Wal-
r, for, much as the artist peasants of Ammergaa had
sted her, she was so unwilling to weaken the impression
iiat she had jast witnessed by a personal acquaintance
any of the actors of the drama, that she used all her
(nee to induce her uncle to leave the village without
'. Her account of the classical arrangements of the
re, its immense dimensions, the hundreds of actors and
lands of spectators, joined to a performance that had
i eight hours without producing a moment's lassitude,
! Oeorgina half regret her absence ; but Mr. Nixon con-
d to condemn, in terms of the strongest censure, what
22
(
3S4 ALMSHAV.
lie ealled 'the whole concern ;' he voold not liiten to esjex-
plao&tions, and on reference being made to pictarea aai
aUtaea declared equally stronglj hia objectiona to dthcr in
chnrehea, never failing, during their joomej of the aueoecdiig
daya, to ezpreaa hia aerioas disapprobation of every Mat
of the Madonna, or way-side crucifix, that they passei
The wax and wooden images which abounded in the amall ibm
where they stopped to dine or sleep he pronounced an alxAm-
nation, treating with contempt Nora's quotation from GKiethe,
that they served perhapa occaaionally to recal wide wander-
ing thoughts, and torn them into a higher and better chansel.
Travelling for the first time in his life, and strongly imbued
with every description of Bnglish prejudice, Mr. Nixoa
found much to surprise, still more to condemn, in all hi
saw ; but Nora perceived, with secret satisfaction, that the
scenery was beginning to make an impression on him that
ahe had scarcely ventured to expect. He first ' allowed' that
the country itself was ' well enough,' then he admitted that
the woods were very extensive, aud the mountains high and
picturesque, and ended by acknowledging that the sceDeiy
was g^and, very grand. * But he had always known that Tjrol
abounded in mountains, on the map it was quite black with
them.'
' This is not Tyrol ? ' exclaimed Nora, for the hundredth
time, ' we are in the Bavarian highlands. '
'Well, well,' he answered testily, 'it's all the aame yoa
know to us ; but having seen this sort of thing, I'm glad to
think that we too have highlands ^very. Nora, you're very
clever, but you'll not be able to show me anything here that
we have not at home and better.'
'Woods and forests for instance?' said Nom, laughing;
'however, as my knowledge of England is chiefly derired
firom books, and your's of Oermany from maps, we had
better not attempt a discussion.'
What resemblance to England there might be ia the beaa-
LICXRAU. SU
tifol eooBtiy tHroagh which they were traTelling, Nora knew
sot, and could therefore make no mental comparison. She
gazed with profound admiration at the Tast extent of forest
4hat covered long ranges of mountains ; for Almenan was essen
tially a forest district, and the road as it approached the village,
formed in the aide of a mountain, presented a wall of blasted
stone on one hand, while on the other, a wooded precipice de*
scended to a foaming torrent that forced its way boisteronslj
through, and orer masses of rock. Innumerable Alpine
plants still flowered lazuriantlj whereyer the dark heath-
moald could find a resting-place, and nothing as jet marked
the approach towards autumn.
The windings of the road brought various changes ; some-
times an opening showed the rocky-pointed or rugged sum-
mits of the mountains, that had appeared far distant but a
few hours before, now quite close to them ; at others, enclosed
in wood, an occasional glade gave an opportunity of admir-
ing the foliage of the beech, birch, and maple, that seemed
to have replaced the pine in every sheltered nook. On
reaching the top of a long ascent, where on a guide-post the
wofds, ' Drag-chain, or fine,' were printed in large letters
beneath a sketch of something greatly resembling a plough-
share, the postilions having descended and commenced a
clattering with chains beneath the carriage, totally indifferent
to the courier's entreaties, in broken German, that they
would not injure the wheels, Nora learned, between their
mutterings about the monstrous weight and proportions of
the carriage, that the Journey was drawing to a close, and
tiiat the next village was Almenau.
Directly before her lay a valley with a river winding
through it, and bounded on each side by wooded mountains,
beyond which she saw still higher with summits of stone, and
tUlI further distant than these last, others partially covered
with snow. A tall pointed church-steeple formed the middle
if the view, denoting the site of the village, and on reaching
S56 ALMXNAU.
that part of the road which partially followed the coime of
the river, some isolated cottages already formed a tort of
sabarb to it.
" Well now . aw - really -^ all this* is yery pretty, ' ob-
seryed Mr. Nixon.
'Whose place is that?' asked Gkorg^a, with more this
nsaal animation, as she caaght a glimpse of a large bnilding
close beside a small bat pictaresqne lake, on the calm waten
of which the golden colored clonda were distinctly reflected.
' It's the brewery,' said the postilion, on being qaestioned;
and Nora, as nsnal, interpreted.
' Bat there is a chnrch with Oothic windows and a belfry.'
' He says it was a monastery in former times,' explained
Nora.
'I declare I shonld not at all dislike living there,' con*
tinned Georgina. ' What beantifal trees I and those little
promontories rnnning into the lake make it so pretty! I
wonder is there a good neighborhood here !'
' In that case perhaps yon woald marry the brewer f sog*
gested John.
Georgina threw back her head, and smiled diadainfally.
'If this place, or anything similar, is to be sold,' ssid
Nora, ' I shall be tempted to purchase it, and remain here
for the rest of my life.'
' Yon are not serious, Nora ?' asked Nr. Nixon, gravely.
'Perfectly, I assure you,' she answered; 'bat I shall not
be in a hurry, for I might perhaps prefef that rained castle
on the hill. You, who understand so perfectly the state of
my affairs, will be able to tell me if I can afford to rebuild as
well as purchase it.'
' I should rather have expected to hear yoa talk in this
way ten years ago,' began Mr. Nixon, seriously, 'but after
having resided so long in England '
' So long in Russell-square, you mean,' said Nora, inte^
rnpting him, laughingly ; ' I know nothing of England bat
ALMINAU. 26t
m great deal ^out such places m this ; and eren if I retorn
to London with jon, I am afraid jon will neyer be able to
persuade me to remain long there.'
' I perceive that yon will marry a foreigner, and deaert us
altogether, Nora.'
'Let me asaare yoa that I hare no thought of marriage at
present, though a very strong desire to have a home of my
own somewhere or other. By that lake for instance, or on
iJt^ hill, in the valley of the Inn, or or anywhere provided
I can look at such mountains as these, and feel young again 1
What wonderful castles in the air I used to build in such
places, with my mother, when I was a child ! I wish,' she
added, with a sigh, ' I wish she were now nllTe, and able to
join me in the more solid kind of architecture in which I may
Boon be tempted to indulge.'
The read had turned from the river, the valley widened
perceptibly, the houses, with their long fancifully painted
wooden balconies, and their overhanging shingle-coTered
roofis secured from the ravages of storm by large stones
placed at irregular distances upon them, seemed to draw
closer to each other, until they were at length merely sepa*
rated by their respective orchards, or a clump of old trees ;
yet so little appearance of what might be called a street was
visible, that they were all a good deal surprised when the
carriage drew up before a house perfectly similar to the
others in form, though on a much larger scale. It was the
inn, and presented a large gable with double balconies, to
the road ; looked very freshly whitewashed, very spacions,
and very clean; and a very stout landlady with a good*
humored face, and rosy cheeks, advanced towards them,
while the ostler, in his linen apron, red waistcoat, black
velveteen jacket, and tasselled cap, busied himself about the
horses.
The necessary questions about rooms were asked, and
Oeorgiaa not a little astonished when informed that she could
22*
S58 ALMXIIAU.
not haTe flie namber she required, and that tlwre vaa noli
aingle private sitUng-room in the whole honse I Noim a-
plained in vain that there was a parlor little nsed bj strugm
dnring the day, and that people passed their time ehieij is
the open air in summer ; and she pointed aeross the rosd to
a grass garden where, under the shade of lunriant cbestast
and lime trees, tables and benches of every size were arraigcd,
while a long many-windowed wooden building, equally vdl
furnished, had been erected in continuation of an endonre
for the faTorite game of skittles.
Georgina shook her head and murmured something shoot
the impossibility of existing without a drawing-room; hot
she descended from the carriage and followed Nora into the
honse. At one side of the broad passage where they entoed
there was the parlor mentioned by Nora, containing tabla
covered with green oil cloth, glazed cupboards filled with
china and silver, a row of pegs for the hanging up of hsti
on the wall, numerous portraits of the royal family in blad:
frames, and a guitar. On the other side a wide open door
permitted a full view of the capacious peasants' room, where
at some of the numerous deal tables about fifteen or twenty
men were drinking their evening tankard of beer, and st
intervals singing loudly in chorns. Here John remamed,
while the others ascended the broad staircase, preceded by
the landlady jingling a monstroas bnnch of keys. She passed
by the rooms on the first floor, observing to Nora that they
had been engaged some days previously by Count Waldemar
Benndorff, and his friend M ilor Torp.
These last words Gkorgina understood, and Torp himself
had not been more amased when he heard of Milor Nixon, thsa
she now was. ' I think,' she said, langhing, ' I think, Non^
we must give him strawberry leaves, and call him the Marquis
of Carabbas he really seems to be everywhere.'
The landlady, proud of her house and its capacious corri-
dors, could not resist the temptation to show her ball-ioom
ALXXNAU. S59
and its adjoiniiig apartments to the strangers, and Gteorg^na
iroold willingly have taken one of the latter for a drawing-
room, notwithstanding its hare walls and want of proper
faTDitare, bad she not been informed that these rooms were
TCqnired for weddings and other festivities, and that the
ehuTch consecration flSte was to be celebrated in them before
long. Nora, who interpreted, added, ' I shall resign what-
erer room I may get to yon, to-morrow, Gkorgina, as I have
been offered a lodging at the forester's honse, which is close
by, and will be a mnch qnieter place than the inn ; and now
let OS lose no more time, for I wish to go to the charchyard
before it is dark.'
On a well-chosen prominent spot in the midst of the vil-
lage stood the large massively bnilt church, with its high,
pointed, green steeple. An ascent of several stone steps,
and a wooden gate, led to it and the churchyard, which was
enclosed by a low wall, and appeared tolerably full of monu-
ments both in stone and iron. The wish to be remembered,
talked of, and thought of after death, seems much stronger
In Germany than in England, and manifests itself in the
churchyard of the most insignificant hamlets. Not only the
innkeeper, smith, miller, and other leading families of the
villages, have their burying-places furnished with handsome
monuments, in or near the walls of the church, but every
peasant in the neighborhood who makes any pretension to
being well off, possesses likewise his burying-ground, more
or less furnished with ornament, and all carefully tended by
the survivors. The most common monument is in the form
of a cross, frequently of iron, painted, varnished, and gilt;
on a plate of copper, in the centre of the cross, one often
sees, painted in oil, a miniature full-length portrait of the
peasant whose body is mouldering beneath the turf; the
figure generally kneeling with clasped hands, gazing upwards
at a Madonna or an ascending figure of the Saviour. If
the village painter be skilful, or chance sends a wandering
(
S60 ALMSKAV.
artist to the neigbborliood who will undertake aoch woil,
the whole peasant family appear kneeling side by side-^io
great demand for striking resemblance in the portraits heisf
made on snch occasions, or any artistical arrangement con-
sidered necessary. The dead and living take the places sf-
signed them by custom father and mother generally sons-
what apart, their offspring before them placed according to
size, like organ-pipes, and sometimes as back-ground a rstkcr
Incongruous pillar and red curtain, which latter befaig draped
aside discloses a view of the village with its church and nI^
rounding mountains. English eyes resting on snch a pieton
would scarcely be able to discover that those represented
with hands clasping a crucifix, were deceased, the other mem-
bers of the family alive, at least at the time the picture in
question was painted.
The churchyard at Almenau possessed many snch pic-
tures ; they were not new to Nora, yet she lingered bende
them read the long epitaph of the maiden Marie Msier,
rich in virtue and honor stooped to decipher the name of
th^ infant represented being borne in swaddling clothes ob
the arms of a bright-winged angel to heaven and even
glanced at the unusoally numerous triangles in which an eye
of large dimensions was used as an emblem of the Supreme
Being, until the eyes, many of which were newly and well
painted, seemed to turn and watch her as she at length
moved slowly towards the gprave she had travelled so &r to
visit. It was, as had been described to her, somewhat apsrt
from the others, and on a black wooden tablet^ a couple of
feet above the surface of the ground, and already partially
hid by the long rank grass that grew wildly around it, she
read the name of Arthur Niion, and the date of his demise.
Having pulled up by the roots some offensively luznrisnt
weeds, she held them unconsciously in her hand, while me-
mory brought Arthur before her with all his worldly ambition,
his self-made cares and sorrows, disappointments and early
LMXNAU. S61
death. The end of all a few feet of earth not more than
was accorded to the poorest peasant in Almenaa 1 Yet he
had choaen well when he had desired to rest in that peacefnl
charchyardy for a more lovely spot could scarcely be imagined.
Blight as was the elevation, it snfBced to render visible the
coarse of the river, and to give a view into an adjacent val*
ley, the moontaina of which formed distances that wonld have
delighted a painter, while through an opening in them the
setting sun cast a long bright parting ray of light on the
village and its old church, lingering on Arthur's grave, as
Nora observed, with a sort of fanciful superstitions pleasure,
for some time after shade had fallen on the others.
At length the sun disappeared, but the summits of the
mountains continued to glow in fiery light, changing imper-
ceptibly in color, and apparently reflecting on their rocky
heights the gorgeous hues of the evening sky, where ired
deepened into crimson, with which the darkening blue of the
sky mixed, producing various shades of violet that in their
torn were lost in the neutral tint of night. Before this last
change Nora had felt the light evening breeze that in fine
weather invariably blows from the mountains to the plain,
heard the rustling of leaves in the not distant wood, saw
groups of laborers returning from their work, and was slowly
roused from the meditations suggested by the place in which
she stood, and the magnificent scenery around it, by the ap-
proach of a noisy party of peasants, who, with some sun-
burnt merry girls, passed through the churchyard on their
way home. The laughter ceased, and the loud voices were
hushed when they entered the hallowed place : while some
walked gravely on, others dispersed to visit the graves that
were the object of their constant pious care. One strongly-built
healthy-looking girl drew near the place where Nora^tood
on her arm a wreath of fresh ivy, and in her hand a bunch
of bright blue cornflowers bound together by the stalk of a
still green ear of wheat. For a few seconds she stood with
ALMSNAV.
downcast eyes and moving lips beside an iron cross, and thai
prepared to decorate it The cornflowers had alreadj foond
a place in the little receptacle for water, and the wreath of
iyj was being raised in both hands, when her eyes fell od
Nora, and in a moment she guessed that she was the penos
who was expected to Tisit the gpra?e of the Englishmsn.
Moved either by Nora's dejected countenance, or a feeling
of regret that the stranger's grave should be found in a con-
dition of such obvious neglect, the girl advanced awkwardly,
and after a moment's hesitation shyly placed the ivy wreath
so as to form a frame to the space containing Arthur's naoM
and the date of his death.
'Thank you,' said Nora, warmly, 'I am very mach
obliged to you, for I have just been regretting that then wsi
no one here to decorate this gprave with a few flowers oeci-
sionally. It must in future be better cared for than daring
the year that is past. '
' I think it may be something more than a year since he
was buried here,' said the girl, using her reaping-hook to re
move the long grass f^om the grave. ' They say the llrrt
thing he did the evening he came to the village was to walk
to the churchyard here and admire the view from it; sad
when he was taken ill next day, and there was no hope of his
getting better, he said they must bury him at this side near
the wall, and that there was one who he knew would come
to see his grave and have it taken care ofand that's yon, of
course.
Nora bent her head. Arthur had evidently attached great
importance to the performance of her promise perhaps he
had stood where she was then standing and thought of her.
Large tears gathered in her eyes, and, falling on the monnd
before her, she unconsciously fulfilled his last request as com-
pletely as he could have desired.
When she looked up she was alone, but she heard tht
sound of joyous voices and children's laught^ ftom the
J
SAINT BKNXDIGT'8 AND ITS INHABITANTS. 268
ictfest. hoviies, mixed with the distant bark of dogs and the
tinkling bells of cattle driren oat to graze in the woods.
Nora was certainly not a strong-minded woman, for she
left the charchjard rejoicing that Arthur's grave was within
reach of all these cheerfal soands.
CHAPTER XX.
SAINT BINSDICT'S AND ITS INHABITANTS.
OxoKOiN A was made happy the next day by Nora's resigna-
tion of her apartment, which was immediately coaverted into
a sitting-room. Its large dimensions and fine windows made
it appear bat scantily famished when divested of everything
but its hard sofa, six chairs, round table, and looking-glass
between the windows, placed so high that it nearly touched
the ceiling, where it slanted forwards in a manner to render
it just possible to obtain a glimpse into it from some distant
parts of the room. In vain had Nora pleaded the cause of a
massive chest of drawers with brass ornaments, and a glass
cupboard filled with all that was most precious in the house
of gilt china and silver spoons. Oeorgina wondered how
she could think of having such things in a drawing-room.
'But/ suggested Nora, 'you could put your books on the
drawers, and your worsted-work into them.'
'I rather expect^' said Ckorgina, *that our landlady will
find me some furniture when she sees the room so completely
destitute of every comfort.'
Nora shook her head. 'You had better ask at once for a
few tables and benches from the ball-room,' she said, smiling,
'for if 70a will not dine in the garden or the parlor, like
264 SAINT bbnsdiot'8 and
other people, this one table, thongh large, will Bcaredj
answer for working and writing, breakfasting, dining, and^'
' I see, I see, ' cried Georgina. ' Yes, we mnst have in the
deal tables; thejr will be rery nglj, bnt very convement;
and as we are not likely to have any visitors, it is of little
importance of what wood they are made. I hope you htre
got a comfortable room at the forester's. Had yon no diffi-
cnlty in making yonr arrangements with the family 1 '
* None whatever. They have a spare room, and even pro-
posed my breakfasting in the garden, where there is an arbor,
or on the balcony. The temptation is strong, it wonld so
remind me of old times. '
' Oh, Nora, this will never do ! If yon do not come here
every morning, papa will be angry with me, and say it is
because I have turned you out of your room. '
' I intend to come here every day to luncheon,' said Nora,
' but in case of rain, it may suit me to remain at the foresttf's
in the morning. Besides, I shall probably sometimes be
absent, as I intend to make excursions to all the lakes,
waterfalls, and alps in the neighborhood, and hope to induce
yon to join me in most of them, though, as yon have never
lived in a country like this, you can form no idea of the
longing that I feel to be again in such places.'
No answer was made, for the attention of both, as they
leaned together out of the window, was just then attracted
by a light carriage, or rather cart, that drove rapidly up to
the inn-door. There was a sort of cabriolet seat in front,
and a peasant driver was perched on its foot-board, his feet
hanging in trustful proximity to the hind legs of a hone that
seemed to have been taken from the plongh or some such
agricultural occupation, and forced into the service of a
couple of hunters, in whom, notwithstanding their change
of costume, it was easy to recognise Torp and Waldemar.
' I wonder who, or rather what, that man is I ' exclaimed
ITS INHABITANTS. 266
Oeorgina, as Torp sprang to the gronnd, accoutred In Eng-
liflh shooting habiliments of nnimpeachable correctness.
'I think his companion infinitely more interesting,' said
Nora ; ' he is jnst now one of the most pictnresqne-looking
men I have seen for a long time. '
'Ton mean the artist ? Well, I confess he does look hand-
some and even gentleman-like, though he is dressed completely
like a peasant.'
'Bather like a forester or hunter,' said Nora.
'But,' continued Georgina, 'I have seen several peasants
pass the inn this morning with precisely such grey jackets as
his, and you see he has a green hat and naked knees, and
nailed shoes, and even a leather belt with letters upon it I '
' The baldric or broad belt was formerly worn as a dis-
tinguishing badge by persons of high station^' observed Nora,
smiling. ' Suppose now, he were a prince in disguise '
'Nonsense, Nora.'
' Or a nobleman of high degree, ' persisted Nora, laugh-
ingly; 'let me, at all events, advise you not to judge too
rashly of the station of men in a dress such as he now wears,
while you are in the Bavarian highlands ; it is popular in
the mountains here, and I have seen odd mistakes made from
too hastily drawn conclusions.'
The innkeeper, his wife, a couple of waitresses with black
bodices into which silver spoons were thrust as badges of
office, and some laborers about to return to their work, now
gathered round the carriage, and began to peep, one after
the other, underneath a cloth of green baize spread over
something that was laid in the cart-like back of the vehicle,
and which firom its uneven surface excited their curiosity in
no common degree. Waldemar threw aside the cloth and
disclosed a large roebuck and a chamois ; the graceful head
of the latter he raised, and pointing to a scarcely perceptible
wound in it, observed, with a commendatory nod to Torp,
' Not a bad shot for an Englishman 1 '
1.-38
266 BAiKT bknsdiot's and
Now Torp was in ail probabilitj exceedtngl j pleased, M
Englishmen generally think it dignified to conceal their
feelings or moderate the expression of them ; so, with the
impertarbability of a North- American Indian, he tuned
away while Waldemar good-hnmoredly expatiated on the
difficulties thej had encountered, and the excellence of the
shot, to John Nixon and his father, who had left the gardes
to join them, dwelling especially on the fact that the chaiBoii
had been brongfat down by a rifle, and at a distance of tt
least a hundred and fifty paces I
Mr. Nixon, to whom this last remark sounded rather an-
biguous, inasmndi as be had nerer in the coarse of his life
had a rifle in his hand, perceived, ncTertheless, that surprise
and admiration on his part were expected, and therefore mur-
nrared some of those qacnlataons ia whidi the Eng^h kn-
guage abounds.
'Aw ah exactly I Well really now! Ah to he
sure aw capital hem fismous ! '
John wished for further infomatioa, bat unwilling to be
OTerbeard by Torp, moTed quite close to Waldemar, and
leaning on the back of the cart, pretended to examine the
chamois, while he obserred in a low Toice, ' Well, now, I
should hare thought it was pretty much the same thing,
whether rifle or fowling-piece were used.'
^ By no means,' said Waldemar ; * there is a great diiBr
ence between one shot and another. Surely yon wonld rather
hit and kill with a bullet, like a good marksman, than peAaps
make an ugly wound or mangle with a diacharge of shot,
and*
' Oh I see, I undarstaind,' cried John, ' I am not a bad shaft
at a target, or pigeons, and am sure I shonld enjoy this
deer-stalking amadngly ; it most be capital sport in sack a
country aa this, and I wish you would let me go oat with yoa
next time I '
Torp's ears were as good as his eyes ; htine Waidenar
ITS INHABITANTS. 86t
cenld ftBBwer, be called out impattentlj, ' Come, C(MBe, Walde*
mar, let's haTe sometlimg to eat ; yoa seem to forget that 70a
baye been complainiDg of hanger for the last two hoars I '
Waldemar tamed to the garden, while Torp, stretching
himself at full length on one of the wooden benches, added in
German, ' If 70a intend to invite that 7oath to go out with
70a, let me know in proper time, that I ma7 take m7 fishing-
rod and seek amnsement dsewhere, for I strongly suspect he
is more likel7 to shoot one of us than an7thifig else. '
These words were spoken so deliberatel7 and distinctl7 that
the7 were heard b7 the forester and his son as the7 approached
the inn, and both smiled 8ignificantl7, while anceremoniousl7
removing the chamois from John Nixon's sight. Nora too
had heard, and thought to herself, ' Is it worth that man's
while being so er7 ill-natnred and rude to ns ? ' and then she
called from the window to John, who instantl7 ran into the
honse and np stairs to her.
' Did 70a understand what was said f ' she asked, as he
took his sister's place beside her at the window.
' Not exactl7 all the words, ' he answered ; ' but it is ver7
evident that this Mr. Torp is a disobliging, disagreeable
fellow, and won't let the other be civil to us. I must now
tr7 to make up to the forester and his son, and if the7 cannot
or will not give me a day's sport, I shall borrow a gun from
some one here, and go out deer-stalking b7 m7self.'
'No, Jack, 70U must not do an7 such thing,' cried Nora,
quickl7 ; ' that would be turning wild hunter, and 70U might
run a chance of being shot 70urself ! '
' Oh I don't imagine the danger is so great after all,' said
John, 'and wild hunting sounds uncommonl7 tempting. '
' Call it poaching, then, ' said Nora.
'No I won't ^because 70U see there is a fellow here who will
help me if I ask him. He was just outside the village break-
ing a horse this morning, and rode so well that I asked about
him, and beard that he had been six 7ears in a cuirassier
i
S68 SAINT bxnedict's and
regiment, and was now a free man as they call it, to the great
Tezation of the foresters in the neighborhood, as he is, or
was, a notorious vnld-shoots.^
* Yon mean Long Seppel from the Crags,' said Nora, 'bat
I can tell yon he is not likely to attempt anything of that
kind now for many reasons, so yon had better leave it to me
to speak to the fqrester for yon. I hare got a room at his
house, and can easily find out what he can do for yon, tod
when this Mr. Torp is likely to be ont of the way. In the
mean time yon mnst take some walks with me, and perhapi
my nncle and Georgy may be tempted to join ns. '
Immediately after their early dinner, or luncheon, as
Georgina chose to call it, Adam brought the letters and news*
papers that had accumulated for them under the address
'poste restante ' at the neighboring town ; they afforded oc-
cupation for a couple of hours, and it was late in the after-
noon before Nora could persuade her uncle to walk to Saint
Benedict!s, the secularized monastery, with an eztensiTe
brewery, the situation of which beside a small lake, and al-
most completely surrounded by wooded mountains, had so
greatly pleased them the day before.
Their way led them along the banks of a clear stream, in
which, from time to time, they could see small tront darting
backwards and forwards in all directions, which so interested
Mr. Nixon and his son that they spent nearly an hour in
watching and waiting, and poking long sticks under the banks
to dislodge the fish hiding, or supposed to be hiding there.
They all stopped on a bridge of planks where a boy of
about twelve years old stood fishing, with a rod of such simple
structure that John could not repress a loud ' Bravo 1 ' ss
almost immediately after they drew near him he flung a toler-
ably large trout on the grass.
The young angler was not alone ; beside him stood a man
in the prime of life, but what his station in the world might
be it was at first difficult to guess, as his toilet gave no clue
IT8 INHABITANTS. 269
whateTer to it. Hia head was covered by a straw bat of the
same materials as those worn by the reapers in the neighbor-
ing fields, noF was it in much better condition than the most
of them, being rather dingy and of uncertain form ; a black
kerchief was very carelessly slnng round his throat : he wore
one of the loose grey jackets that seemed to be common to
all ranks ; and hia trousers, of the same rather coarse ma-
terial, were nevertheless carefully turned up above his nailed
shoes to prevent them from being injured by the marshy
ground or water into which he occasionally splashed with
perfect unconcern. The boy called him Ernst, and danced
round him while he disengaged the struggling fish and
arranged another bait upon the angle, which consisted merely
of a piece of twine fastened to the end of a still green branch
of hazel-wood.
Mr. Nixon's knowledge of fish was confined to a market
or a dinner-table; of the art of angling he was utterly
ignorant, but it seemed to be such child's play in that clear
shallow brook that he was suddenly seized with a desire to
become a fisherman, and accordingly advanced with an air
of grave interest to look on ; while Jol^n, in execrable Ger-
man, wondered that anything could be done with such miser-
able tackle : he supposed fish must be very plenty there-
abouts.
* We are not badly off,' replied Ernst, in very good
French ; ' the streams have small try such as this, the river
below the village large trout and greylings, and the lake is
well stocked with carp, pike, and so forth.'
Nora interpreted to her unc)e, but no sooner had the
stranger heard her speak English than he turned to Mr.
Nixon and said, with a smile, ' If you are a fisherman you
can have much sport here but Englishman fisherman
fishermau Englishman is all the same. '
Yfhj yes I believe we are considered pretty good in
that line, but for ray own part I have never thought it worth
23*
STO SAINT BENEDICT'S AND
while to lish ; the London markets afford snch choice aad
Tariety that, aw a man is not likelj to think of proTidiDg
for his table himself, as he might be obliged to do here.'
The stranger looked at him with some wonder, and sog-
gested that the sport was generally the strongest indoce-
ment.
' Well perhaps you are right. I can imagine it a pleasast
enough sort of pastime in sach a place as this, and confess I
shonld like to try my hand at it.'
' In that case, ' said the other, ' I may venture to offer you
the fishing of this stream and the lake during the time yoa
remain in this neighborhood.'
'Yoa are very kind very liberal, indeed I' said Mr.
Nixon.
' Not at all,' said Ernst, giving his young companion bis
rod again, and directing him where to throw it, ' not at all,
for were you what the English call a "complete angler," I
should probably not have made the offer. One a year is as
much as I can permit here, and there is now at Almenau aa
Englishman '
' Mr. Torp 1 ' said John.
* That was not the name the note, I think, mentioned a
Lord somebody. '
' Oh, they call him Lord Torp at the inn '
* And is he not a Lord V asked Ernst, turning round.
* Not he 1' answered John, laughing ironically, not more
Lord Torp than I am Lord Nixon. Titles are not so plenty
in England as in Germany I '
* I suppose you know him well 1 ' said Ernst, half interro-
gatively.
* No not at all and I don't want to,' replied John, with
ill-concealed pique.
' Very odd very odd , ' murmured the other. ' The
English, when they meet in a foreign country, always seem to
avoid and dislike each other I Now Monsieur Torp,' he
w,
ITS INHABITANTS. 271
idded, laagbing, ' will perhaps say just the same thing of 70a
when he comes here to-moirow.'
' Yery likely,' replied John. ' I don't myself think there
is mach love lost between us. '
' It is not improbable/ observed Mr. Nixon, rather pomp-
onsly, ' that this Mr. Torp is a highly respectable person,
but we do not know him ; he has not moved in our circle in
London, and the name is utterly unknown to us ; his friend,
the young German artist, made altogether a pleasanter im*
pression on ns I '
' Do you mean Bendorff 7'
' They call him Waldemar, ' said Mr. Nixon, my son says
he is quite a gentleman.'
'I should think he was,' replied Ernst, almost laughing.
As he spoke, they reached the high road from Almenau to
the monastery, and at a short distance perceived, advancing
towards them, the two men of whom they had been speaking.
Nora prepared herself to hear Terp presented to their new
acquaintance by his true name, and to see the change which
she did not for a moment 4oubt it would produce in the
manner and conduct of all her relations ; but John hurried
forward, saying, 'Let us go on and look at the monastery
church that the people in the village talk so much about.'
' Must we not a^ permission to see it ? ' asked Georgina,
speaking for the first time.
'By no means,' answered the stranger, stopping to let
them pass him, ' our churches are always open.'
He raised his hat, and then turned to meet Waldemar and
Torp.
' Now who may that man be 7' soliloquized John, as soon
as they were alone.
'The proprietor of the monastery or his son,' said Nora.
' That is, you suppose him to be either the brewer himself
or the brewer's son and heir V
'Yes.'
StS SAIMT BXNXDICT'S AND
' Might he not be the steward or book-keeptr ?^
'Certainly not,' said Georgina, with more thaa
decision.
John laughed. ' Well, do yon know I took him, in tk
first instance, for something of that kind, and aa to Oeorgy,
I am sare his hat and hob-nailed shoes disgnsted her at onee,
to say nothing of the way in which he stood in the water sad
washed his hands. I have known her call a man vnlgar for
less.'
'And yet/ said Georgina, 'I suspect I discoTered that bi
was a gentleman before yon did.'
' Because he spoke French, perhaps 1 but I can tell yon
that is a common accomplishment here. Howerer, whaterer
he may be, he seemed very much inclined to be civil, and I
dare say wonld have shown ns all over the place if that Torp
had not, as nsnal, come in onr way. '
They turned from the lake towards the church, the entraneo
to which was through one of those carved stone Byzantine
portals, with mysterious combinations of human figures and
animals, that are supposed to represent the triumph of Chris*
tianity over paganism ; and having found the door wide opes,
to admit the warm air from without, they wandered ap aa4
down the long aisles, looking at the pictures and monument^
altars and curiously-carved confessionals, until their attention
was attracted by a noise in the gallery, and on looking up
towards the organ, they perceived Waldemar, Torp, and
their new acquaintance, striding over the musicians' benchei
until they reached the front row, where, seating themselves,
a whispered conversation began, which, from the directioB
of their eyes, Kora strongly suspected was m mnch about her
relations and herself, as the church of St. Benedict's.
She had been much pleased at the permission to fish, given
so unrestrictedly to her uncle ; had even begun to indulge a
hope that John would, in the course of time, be allowed to
shoot on the grounds belonging to the monastery ; and now
ITS INHABITANTS. 278
eld her enemy pouring his English prejodices into the
ike attentively-Iisteniag Ernst, and, in all probabilitj,
kting any agreeable impression that she and her rela*
ight perchance have made on him a quarter of an hour
isly.
time Nora did Torp injustice; he had not spoken
Smst had made direct inquiries, giving, as a reason,
I wished to be civil to the travellers, and show them
nastery, but considered it necessary to ascertain that
ere people who might be introduced to his mother and
who happened just then to be at home.
ys answer seemed to amuse more than enlighten, when
erred, that he believed them to be highly respectable
, but, as they did not exactly move in the same circle
bmily in England, he had never chanced to meet them
few days ago.
e fact is, yon know nothing about them;' said Ernst,
ig; 'and I had better reserve the acquaintance for
, and show them our cells and corridors some other
If I had considered a moment, I should not have
med you ; for how could you give me information con
^ a family who, I had already ascertained, knew no-
f you not even your name ?'
ey have not yet heard it properly pronounced,' replied
' nor is it necessary that they should. I consider it
t fortunate circumstance that Waldemar has furnished
;h so short and insignificant a nom-de-guerre, and you
ittch oblige me by not entering into any explanations
) subject with any one, especially with any member of
nglish family. I believe I must add that, though per-
f unacquainted with these Nixons, they are not alto*
unknown to me, and you need have no hesitation in
ting them to either your mother or sister.'
it,' said Ernst, hesitatingly, 'a day can make no great
iDce ; and my people are going to-morrow to spend a
274 BAINT BSNDI0T'B AND
ireek or two with the Bendorffs, at HerrenlNirg, ia 1^ Val-
ley of the Inn. Waldemar has perhaps told job that bn
brother Carl haa long been engaged to mj sister, and tiieir
marriage is to take place next month. Carl and I hare
served many years in the same regiment ; we always applied
for leave of abeenee at the same time ; he preferred spending
his with ns, instead of going home, and, as a nsatter of couse,
fdil in love with my sister. Their engc^ment has caused
great intimacy between onr family and the Bendorffs ; and if
it had not been for Walderaar's arriyal, I should hare kft
St. Benedict's to-morrow with the others. I mention thii
to convince yon that I really do remain here on his account
and yonrs, and therefore wish yon would both take np yov
quarters with me as I proposed. '
' ' Thank you,' said Torp, ' I should have accepted your
offer, were I not likely to be here for several weeks ; and
before I leave Almenan yonr house will be so ftiU of wedding
guests that you would scarcely know where to put me.'
' We have plenty of cells, ' answered Ernst, laughing ; ' and
the only person we expect who requires more than a reason-
able quantity of room, is the Countess Schaumberg; sIm
generally travels with so many servants, and hones, and dogs,
that she overwhelms quiet people such as we are. To do
her justice, however, she puts aside some of her grandeor
when with us, and can be very charming when she chooses to
please, as you know perhaps better than I do, for no friend
of Waldemar's could avoid intimacy with the Schaumbergs.'
'Tet it was through them that I became acquainted with
Mm,' said Torp, smiling ; ' their house was one of the plea-
santest in Vienna, and Waldemar almost lived with them !'
'That was natural enough,' rejoined Ernst, 'as he and
Schaumberg had been educated together, and were like bro
thers. Waldemar is now guardian to the Countess's daugh-
ter ; and I suppose it is in consequence of that, and his inti-
macy with her, that, directly after she became a widov,
ITS INHABITANTS. 275
"people said he was engaged to be married to her. At aU
events, I know he likes her, and the sooner she comes here
tibe better pleased he will be.'
' I don't know that,' said Torp, looking towards Waldo*
ssar^ and smiling, as he obserred him leaning eagerly for-
ward, forgetful of their presence, aad wholly occnpied with
the persons moTing about in the chnrch beneath. * I rather
tiiiak that until Waldemar is actnally affianced or married,
he will always contrive to find some one to interest him, or,
as he says himself, some one to whom he can lend his heart
ibr a few weeks occasionally.'
' One of these, perhaps V said- Ernst, looking significantly
downwards.
Torp nodded. ' That one standing at the door,' he said ;
'and now, if yon feel disposed to show these people yonr
monastery, Herr von Falkner, let me again assure you, that
there is nothing whatever to prevent you from introducing
them to yonr mother and sister, should chance bring them
together. In the mean time Waldemar must take me to
your father. '
Ernst called Waldemar, and having shown him a door
leading f^om the gallery into the intorior of the building, he
himself descended by a narrow staircase to the church,
whence he followed and overtook the Nixons, just as they
reached the conrt in which the principal entrance to the mo-
nastery was sitnated.
Unconscious that any one was near them, Kora observed
that this part of the building seemed of much later dato than
the church, and was neither very ancient nor very modem,
IS far as she eonld judge. She believed i^ was rather
disappointed the monastery certainly looked better when
Been from the road, with its dark background and pretty
lake.
Mr. Nixon said it was a prodigious pile of stone, and
would require monastic revenues to keep so many diffsiaeot
276 8AINT BNZDICT'B AND
buildings, and such an extent of roof in order ^to say notbin^^
of the innumerable windows !
John thought it mast be a confoundedly gloomy sort of
barrack inside.
Georgina pronounced it an interesting, fine old place, sad
declared she should hare no objection whatever to live in it
' Perhaps yon would like to see the interior,' said Ernst,
who was so close beside her that she started, and left it to tiie
others to accept his offer.
They did so eagerly enough, and followed him as be
mounted a handsome stone staircase their impressions witb
respect to the immense proportions of the building being
confirmed on seeing long, wide, well-lighted corridors braoch-
ing off in different directions. The one through which tbej
were conducted was decorated with well-painted coats-of-
arms, and led to several large, lofty, but simply-fumisbed
apartments ; a long row of cells had been converted into bed-
rooms, but did not seem to be at present in use ; and then
Yrete apparently endless suites of apartments quite unoccupied.
There was a handsome library, without books ; and a mosie*
room, or rather hall, of beautiful proportions, with marble pil-
lars, paintings in fresco, elaborate stucco-work ornaments, asd
church-like windows, of which the upper parts were of painted
glass. The only furniture of this room was a marble fountain,
at the end opposite the windows ; and Georgina, after ex-
pressing unqualified admiration of the apartment, could not
help adding, that she wondered it had not become the favorite
resort of the whole family.
' My mother thinks it too large for our small household,'
said Ernst, ' and in fact we only occupy ten or twelve roooi
at the lake side when we are alone.'
'Is it long since you purchased the place?' asked Mr.
Nixon.
' It has been in our possession as far-baek as my recoDeo-
tion reaches.'
w
ITS INHABITANTS. 2t7
* Then I suppose yon csDDOt tell me what the valae of a
property of this kind may be ? '
'I fear I mast refer yoa to my father,' answered Ernst;
' the woods and brewery make it rather valaable, but both
have long been gpreatly mismanaged, as until a conple of
years ago we never resided here. '
'The yicinity of the brewery was not agreeable per-
haps ? ' suggested Oeorgina.
' Oh, not at all 1 ' answered Ernst. ' Brewing is a very
good business in Bavaria, and my father has quite a predi-
lection for it, but until very lately he was in active service in
the Austrian army : I have also been many years a soldier,
and could only get a few weeks' leave of absence occasionally,
so there was no one to attend properly to our affairs here,
and the place was going to ruin as fast as possible. '
While speaking they had reached the cloisters that were
open towards a small court, in the midst of which a foun-
tain played in the almost eternal shade of the surrounding
buildings, throwing showers of light drops beyond its stone
cistern on the dark grass around.
Here Nora and Oeorgina stopped, while Ernst, springing
lightly up a few stone steps, threw open the nearest door,
saying, * This is my cell : here I do penance for my sins on
rainy days. '
Mr. Nixon and John followed him, and found so much to
interest and amuse them that a considerable time elapsed
before tbey again made their appearance ; when they did so
they were supplied with fishing-rods, and Nora heard with
infinite satisfaction an appointment made for the next day at
the tront stream near the lake.
They passed soon after through a garden : at one end of
it was an arbor close to the lake, and two ladies were sitting
there with Torp, but they did not look round or seem con-
scious of the presence of strangers, although Waldemar and
an old man with snow-white hair left them, and the latter
L 24
2tS SAINT BXIIBDICT'8 AND ITS INHABITANTS.
approaching the Nizons was immediately introdaced to then
by Ernst with the words, 'My father.' Being, however,
unable to speak English like his son, he conld only bow to
Mr. Nixon, and then turn (not as it appeared anwillingly) to
Georgina and Nora.
Before they parted he seemed sincerely to regret thai
' business and pleasure, ' as he termed it, obliged him to
leave home the next day ; he hoped, however, to find them
at Almenau on his return, and in the mean time offered them
the use of his lake, boat, and garden.
As they slowly walked back towards the village^ Joha
observed that it was a great bore not being able to spetk
either French or German well, adding, ' I dare say now the
old fellow would have let me shoot on his grounds as well $
fish in his lake, if I could have mustered German enough to
have asked him properly.'
' Uncommonly civil people indeed, 'said Mr. Nixon ; 'thej
evidently wish to become acquainted with us. I suppose
because we are English I '
' I rather think that Mr. Waldemar has kindly recoo*
mended us to them, ' observed Nora ; * but at all events I am
glad that you and Jack have found an occupation likely to
amuse you for a week or two. '
THK MOUNTAIN HILL. ST9
CHAPTER XXL
tnn MOUNTAIN MILL.
L was put in possessloii of a cbeerfal little room at the
'a, and her ancle and John went regularly ererj daj
ienedict's. Oeorgina frequently accompanied them,
ng the garden there to that of the inn, which was
le resort of beer-drinking gentlemen and coffee-drinking
ban she approved.
eems, ' she observed one daj to Nora, when preparing
w her father to the lake, ^' it seems to me as if the
leighborhood had chosen the place as rendezroas.'
t at all improbable,' said Nora.
; sarely, Nora, yon do not approve of yonr Germans
BO constantly lounging about the inns, as seems the
here?'
At entirely depends upon the circumstances in which
rmans live. '
:an tell you from personal observation, for I have
d them, that there are some many in fact who
lere regularly every day. I begin to know their faces I'
)11 7 ' said Nora.
e young men amuse themselves rolling those horrid
1 balls that make a noise likfe distant thunder quite
Qg to one's nerves ; the more elderly are occasionally
anied by wives and shoals of children, but they also
itly come alone, and may be seen day after day smok-
i drinking coffee while reading a small newspaper that
o contain nothing but advertisements.'
^e people,' said Nora, 'are probably men who have
280 THK MOUNTAIN MILL.
sitaatioDs in the offices of the neighboring town; the db-
tance to this Tillage is abont an hour's walk, and aa such
perhaps tbej nse it dailj for exercise and recreation.'
'Bat,' continued Georgina, 'some who come in the after*
noon remain until quite late at night. Even after you have
gone to your room at the forester's, and I hare dismissed
Nesbitt, they may be seen sitting in the garden, smokiDg,
talking, and singing by candle-light I '
' This,' said Nora, ' is a southern German custom that I
cannot take upon me to defend.'
Georgina was silent for a few moments, and then obswred
hesitatingly, ' The custom does not appear to be altogether
confined to the employes of the neighboring town. M. Walde-
mar, and even the Englishman Torp, are sometimes among
the company, which is of a very mixed description. I cannot
tell you how surprised I was tp see that gentleman-like
Austrian officer, Captain Falkner, from St. Benedict's, here
also. '
Nora was not at all surprised, and merely suggested that
he might perhaps find it dull at home without his family.
' Oh, I perceive you have turned completely German again,'
said Georgina; 'but you managj^to keep John very nicely
from these beer-drinking parties.'
'Who? If
' Yes, you. I dare say Mr. Torp's disagreeable manner
to him was at first the cause of his ceasing to frequent the
garden, but now we see him regularly every day either go
with you, or follow you to the forester's directly aft^r
luncheon.'
' When he goes with me,' said Nora, ' it is to take a walk,
but I am much more frequently obliged to engage Bosel as
guide and companion, and naturally supposed that when he
did not call for me, he was fishing at St. Benedict's. '
' He will never learn to fish, ' said Georgina, and does
nothing but mutter and grumble, and destroy Captain Falk*
w
THE MOUNTAIN MILL. ' 381
Ber's tackle whenever he Is with as. Papa, however, is yery
Biiccessfiil, and yesterday caught qaite a large troat at the
hridge near the brewery. Captain Falkner was with him,
and was so polite and good-natnred, that we took qnite a
fimcy to him. '
Nora, who had first tnmed to Oeorgioa, and listened with
marked attention, seemed wonderfully little interested either
abont the fish, or Captain iPalkner, so that even when her
cousin added, ' He remained with us afterwards daring the
afternoon, and chatted very pleasantly/ she scarcely appeared
to hear her, and proved her inattention by asking abruptly,
' Has Jack been talking of chamois hunting lately ? '
'Not 80 much as at first,' answered Georgina ; ' it is pro-
voking that the forester takes care of, and rents the game on
the lands of St. Benedict's, so that Captain Falkner has no
longer a right to give permission to shoot upon them. He
nentioned having nsed all his Influence lately in favor of M.
Waldemar's friend, or something to that purport ; so you see,
dear Nora, this tiresome Torp is again in our way. '
' Tiresome I ' exclaimed Nora, ' he is perfectly detestable.
The most complete egotist I ever met. That good-natured
IL Waldemar and the forester would, I know, have made no
difficnltics about allowing Jack to go out with them occasion'*
ftlly, if that odious man had not objected. I heard what he
said myself, atid as there is no chance of his giving way for
some time, there is every probability that Jack will end, by
making the acquaintance, and hunting with a young man
here who is a noted wildschnetz t Do you not remember hitf
threatening to do so the very day after we came here ? '
No. Oeorgina had no recollection of anything of the
kind, nor the remotest idea of the danger to which her
brother might be exposed, should he put his threat into
execution. Nora did not think it necessary to alarm her,
bat resolved to endeavor to keep John out of temptation, by
eoromnnicating her apprehensions to the forester's daughter
24*
283 THS MOUNTAIN MILL.
BoB&I, and iDdncing her to speak to Seppel. She therefore
parted from Georgiaa at the tarn to St Benedict's, and, par-
suing the course of the stream in a contrary direction, was
soon again close to the Tillage, somewhat beyond the last
houses of which the forester's was conspicuous, from its dazzliog
white walls, bright green jalousies, and the gigantic antlers of
a stag that decorated the gable beneath which the entrance
was placed. It was separated from the road by a trim gar-
den, with a rustic paling, and also by the stream, which here
began to give unmistakeable tokens of its mountain origin,
by brawling over large stones, and working its way beneath
rocks protruding from the banks, effectually undermining the
roots of the few old trees that still remained in its immediate
vicinity.
Nora entered the eyer-open door, and in order to put her
plan at once into execution, requested Rosel to acoompanj
her to the Crags, informing her immediately after they left
the house why she wished to go there, and making no attempt
to conceal her anxiety about her cousin.
Every trace of color forsook Rosel's face as she listened.
She remembered having seen the young Englishman pass their
house frequently ; she had observed Seppel standing with him
near the inn on Sunday morning ; and recollected, with dis-
may, her lover's unqualified praise of young Herr Nix, whom
he had declared to be 'a lad of spirit, up to anything,
afiraid of nobody, and the making of a good soldier 1 ' Tet
a natural inclination to defend Seppel from suspicion, even ia
the mind of Nora, made her refrain from giving utterance to
her misgivings, and when she spoke, it was with a forced
smile, and in assumed confidence.
' He promised me never to go out wild-hunting again,' abe
said, ' and I don't think ho will. Not that he wouldn't dare,
but his father has been brought round, to promise to resign
the Crags to him, and with such a prospect in view, be will
Dot be easily tempted I '
THE MOUNTAIN MILL. 283
' Don't yoa think, however, it woald be better if yon were
to speak to him ? ' said Nora.
'Of course I'll speak to him, hot it's hard to know what to
nj, when he tells me he is no longer a wildschuetz, and that
I ought to believe him when he says so. '
' At least,' said Nora, 'yon can recommend him not to ven
tore his life, and injure his fntnre prospects, by attempting
anything of the kind now, when your father, and brother.
Count Waldemar, Mr. Torp, and Captain Falkner, may meet
him any day, and at any hour.'
' That's not the way to talk to him,' answered Rosel, 'the
danger is just what he likes best I am more afraid of sus-
picion falling on him than anything else ; there is not much
chance of their either seeing, or taking him prisoner, for he
knows the mountains better than any of them. '
' Remember,' said Nora, ' my cousin wtll^ be with him, who,
perhaps, cannot so easily make his escape in case of danger,
and they may both be fired at as armed poachers, and
wounded '
'Or killed,' said Rose!, with a shudder, 'killed by my
father or brother if they do not instantly stop when called to,
and deliver up their rifles on the first summons ; and that,
Seppel will never do, though he knows that when my eldest
brother lost his life in an encounter with a wildschuetz, my
father swore that in future his second call should be the
whistle of a bullet, and he would henceforward hunt a wild-
schuetz with as little compunction as if he were a chamois or
deer.'
' And your father is, probably, a good marksman ? ' said
Nora, half-inquiringly.
'Few better,' answered Rosel.
' And is it possible, that, under such circumstances, there
are men in this neighborhood daring enough to venture out
deer-stalking f '
' More than I like to say,' replied Rosel, nodding her head ;
SSI THK MOUNTAIN MILL.
* the danger is the last thing thej take into consideratiOD, and
many are only prcTcnted from going out by want of time, or
the chance that their absence from home might excite suspi-
cion. There is no nse in trying to make oor yonng men here
look npon this hnnting as a crime only those who hate
served their two or three years in the army can understand
the game laws, and refrain altogether from hunting.'
' I thought they were obliged to serre six years/ observed
Nora.
' So they do, nominally, but when the frequent leave of
absence is reckoned, it is in the end not more than half the
time. Serving in the army improves and steadies them all,
^more or less ; and even Seppel has become quite another man
since he has been in the cuirassiers. '
While speaking they had sauntered in slow ascent along
the banks of the stream, which began to fall in noisy cascades,
and fonn deep green pools among rocks, that as they advanced
imperceptibly assumed larger proportions. The valley nar-
rowed, the high road seemed to dwindle into a pathway far
up on the side of the mountain, and a sudden turn brought
them so near the mill, that they could see the stream splashing
over the laboring wheels, which, with all the demoniacal
breathless energy of machinery, ground com in one building,
while in another the trunks of trees were sawed into boards
with undeviating accuracy.
A little further back, at the base of an abruptly-rising,
thickly-wooded mountain, the handsome house of the miller
came into view ; its balconies, as is usual in the Bavarian
highlands in fine weather, draped, as it were, with feather-
beds and pillows, the size and number of which, with their
blue and red striped covers, being considered a sort of crit^
rion among the peasants of the wealth and cleanliness of the
inhabitants. Inflated with warm summer air, they presented
a BO aatisfactory appearance to Rosel, that she became lend
THE MOUNTAIN MILL. 286
in their praise and in that of the miller's wife, who was the
most active and indefatigable woman in the parish.
' And her daughter J ' said Nora, interrogatirely.
'Madeleine is jonng,' she answered, eyasivelj; 'and, as
my lather saysv has now money enough to make one overlook
a little want of steadiness/
' So, then,' said Nora, ' she is not exactly the sort of sister-
in-law yon desired ? '
' My mother and I looked higher for Franz, and my father
too, nntil the miller inherited his brother's fortune. Franz
has studied and passed his examinations, and there is nothing
to prevent him from becoming a forstmeister and marrying
a lady.'
'And would that be more agreeable to yon than his
choosiDg one of the friends and companions of your youth ? '
' A good connexion,' answered Rosel, ' such as the daughter
of a counsellor of the forest board, might have helped him
on in his profession. My father often said that connexion
was better than money for a man who wished to rise in the
world. '
' Must I hear this, even here ? ' murmured Nora.
' It is true,' continued Rose!, * I have gone to school with
Madeleine, and known her all my life. Perhaps I know her
too well. In a small village like ours, one hears and sees
everything that goes on in the houses of one's neighbors.'
'And what did you see here to displease you?' asked
Nora. 'Madeleine seems to be a remarkably quiet and
extremely pretty young woman.'
'She is not so quiet as you suppose,' answered Rosel,
'and is always trying to make people love her. I saw
myself the trouble she took 'to please Florian, until he down-
right asked her in marriage.'
' Ton mean the painter, Florian ? '
' Yes ; he was as sure of her as my brother himself could
have been but Madeleine laughed, said that nothing was
286 THS. UOUNTAIN MILL*
further from her thonghte, and that she had onlj talked to
him because he was less namannerly than the other men ia
the Tillage. '
'I believe I had better not attempt her defence/ s^d
Nora, ' though she is prettj enough to be pardoned a tittto
coquetry.'
' Florian forgare her at all events/ said Rosel. ' He is a
kind soul, and bears no malice; but there is anotbef who
will not be put off so easily, and that is black Seppel, the
Tyrolean. '
' Black Seppel I ' repeated Nora, ' I have heard of him
somewhere.'
'He is the miller's man, who manages everything, tod
has lived with them upwards of six years. He is come of is
good people as the miller's family, and need not have served
if it had not been for an accident that caused a quarrel with
his father, and forced him to leave home for a while. I bus*
pect Madeleine is not easy in her mind about him, for sb^
has been lately teasing her father to dismiss him ; and it
seemed qaite a relief to both when he left them to spend i
month in the Valley of the Inn. They may expect his return
any day now, however, and what he'll say to the betrothtl
I'm sure I don't know.'
' Is your brother aware of all this ? ' asked Nora.
' I believe,' she answered, ' Madeleine tells him just what
she thinks necessary, and in such a pleasant sort of a waj,
that he only laughs and likes her all the better. '
Nora stopped before the house, which looked so clean and
cheerful that she was induced to ascend the stone steps to
the door. The miller's wife peered out of her kitchen, aod
then came bustling towards her, leading the way to the
dwelling-room with many expressions of pleasure at so unex*
pected a visit. The room was large; the windows well
furnished with geraniums ; the clock filled the place made
for it in the wall ; the great green stove occupied the u.snn)
T
TII9 MOVNTAIN MILL. 28Y
pace i tbe beoches rpand the room, and cross-legged table,
rere scoured to an unnsnal degree of whiteness; and in
agea at an open casement two canary-birds warbled londlj,
training their little throats to drown the voice of the miller's
rife as abe repeated her welcome to Nora, and yerj nnneces*
ttrily swept the spotless table with her apron.
' What a very nice honse,' said Nora, looking ronnd her
irith unaffected pleasure ; ' so beantifnlly situated I so large
md airy I '
' Well, the house is one of the best built hereabouts, and
[og:ht to be, having cost money enough,' answered the
(niller's wife ; ' and I don't deny that I could have my pride
uid pleasure in it if my old man wasn't always wishing for
the old house back again, and talking of how happily we
lived in it. Rosel knows better, and yoong as she is, can
remember the sonrow and poverty we had to endnre there,
and the state it was in I might say the fire that burnt both
bouse and mill was the greatest piece of luck that ever hap-
pened to us, if the miller had not quite broken down from
lngbt and never been the same since. And he grows worse
from year to year, Bosel, and takes no interest in anything,
so that but for our man, Seppel, the business could not be
carried on at all. '
' I have heard of this Seppel,' said Nora, perceiving that
Bosel would not speak, and that an answer of some kind was
expected ; ' he is your head-workman, I believe ? '
'He's everything,' answered the miller's wife, 'saved me
and my daughter the night of the fire, and when, in the midst
of the coniimon, I remembered that we had not had money
to pay the high insurance, and thought everything we had in
the world was lost, never shall I forget his telling me that he
had himself gone to tne town a month before, and paid it for^
us out of hia own money. From that time he has been like a
son to me, and if I had another daughter, Rosel, I'd give her
toSeppeL'
288 THX MOUNTAIN MILL.
' People say be would take Madeleine if sbe would baiv
him,' obserred Rosel.
' Well, I don't know but he would,' she answered, witht
smirk indicative of satisfied motherly vanity ; * and if sk
wasn't promised to yonr brother, he'd be worth thinkiog o(
I can tell yon. Perhaps,' she added, on observing Nora ton
from the window and the canary-birds towards the door,
* perhaps the yonng lady would like to see the house ; stnogen
often ask to look at it'
Nora smiled a ready acquiescence, and followed her acroa
the passage to the miller's room, when, after admiring some
jugs and mugs of china and earthenware in glass cases, the
drawers beneath them were pulled out, and she was requested
to inspect the Sunday and holiday suits of the old couple.
Without explanation, much might have escaped ^ora's notice,
notwithstanding all her quickness of comprehension ; buttbe
miller's wife liked talking, and had no desire whatever that
the double row of buttons on her husband's coat and waiat-
coat should pass for ordinary workmanship, when they were
good pieces of silver money coined at the mint. This peasaat
mode of exhibiting wealth was new to Nora, and she showed
the necessary portion of respect for the buttons, but was nato-
rally more interested in the wardrobe of the female part of
the family. The high heavy fur cap of the miller's wife^a
curious grenadier sort of head-dress, worn on state occasioai)
and too costly to become common the silk spencers, apro&i,
black bodices with silver chains and pendent crown-pieces,
were all admired in a most satisfactory manner; and thea
they went up stairs, where^ with a look of subdned exultatioa,
the door of one of the firont rooms was thrown open by the
miller's wife, while she observed, with prond hnmility : 'Tbii
is'' our best room, a poor place for a young lady like you to
look at, but peasant people, such as we are, have a pride in
it somehow.'
' And with reason/ said Nora, aa she nnaffectedly admired
THX MOI^NTAIN MILL. S89
the handsome bedsteads and beds, with elaborately flonnced
pillow-cases and coverlets. As completing fornitare to the
room, there were tables and chairs, white curtains to the
windows, a chest of drawers, and a remarkably large double*
doored wardrobe, which last, when opened, disclosed a soffi-
cient quantity of linen to have furnished a small shop. Care-
fully bleached and pressed, the pieces were folded and bound
round with red tape as if for sale, and with surprising accu-
racy the miller's wife could tell the number of ells contaiued
in each, the winter when the flax had been spun, the spring
when it had been woven, and the summer during which it had
been bleached.
Nora remarked that a great number of wax tapers, gilt
and decorated with foil, or brilliantly colored, were placed iu
front of the shelves, and soon learned from her loquacious
companion that when they disposed of their hives they gene-
nlly took some wax in part payment. ' For it would look
poor not to have a store of these, ' she explained, ' and some
we want, at all events, for the church. You may be sure',
Rosel,' she added, turning to the admiring girl, 'you may
be sure that our Madeleine will not enter your family empty
handed. These silver spoons and my mother's necklace go
with her to the Forest-house.'
This latter she now held towards Nora. It was composed
of twelve rows of heavy silver chains, fastened in front by a
roecoco clasp of immense dimensions, containing some garnets,
topaz, and other gems more remarkable for their color than
intrinsic value.
' Indeed, Al that yon see win te given to Madeleine when
she marries,' continued the miller's wife, 'for my old man
talks of nothing now but selling the mill, and settling in some
other part of the country.'
' Oh, you must not let him do that,' eried Bosel, eagerly $
I could not bear even the thought of having strangers living
I. 25
890 THS MOUKTAIN MILL.
here, where I have spent the happiest days of my life playioK
with Madeleine and Seppel from the Crags.'
' Rosel,' said Nora, looking at her watch, 'yon haye Joit
reminded me that we were on onr way to Seppel and tliB
Crags, and I perceire it is much later than I snpposed.'
Bosel ]ed the way to a steep moantain-path, Nora followed,
bnt before they again entered the wood she stopped and
looked back.
' What a lovely spot it is I ' she said to her companion ; 'I
think I could live here myself with pleasure if ^it were a little
less noisy.'
' Noisy I ' repeated Rosel. ' Snrely yon don't mean tbe
water ? '
' N;ot exactly, I could easily get accostomed to that'
* Or the canary-birds V
' No, I like them ; bat I think the clatter of the mill, and
the grating of the saw, must be intolerable when heard in-
cessantly.'
* ' That 's just what makes the mill so pleasant and chee^
ful, ' rejoined Rosel. ' I love the place and everything ia
and about it, for it was here' I played as a child, climbio;
over the planks at the saw-mill when they appeared like
mountains to me, and running into the mill to be chased out
of it by the miller or one of his men, whom we children
called the dragons.'
' You seem to like the mill better than the Forest-hoose.'
' I believe I do. My father was feared by the children of
the village, but the miller let us jump about him as muchea
we pleased, so we got the habit of coming here, and to this
day I like to take my knitting and sit on the rocks beside the
stream, and think of the years that are past.'
'And perhaps,' said Nora, merrily, 'perhaps also of those
that are to come f '
* ' I cannot deny it,' answered Bosel, moving on while her
cheeks crimsoned with a blnsh. ' It was here that I nv
THS OBAQS. 291
Seppel first and last, as I maj say : he nsed to come down
from the Crags when we jodel'd where the echo is.'
As Rosel finished speaking, she placed a hand at each
side of her month, bent her body backwards, and uttered a
long, load, clear musical shoot composed of a succession of
notes that were repeated, as she had expected, by the echo ;
but scarcely was the last faint sound lost in the distance when
an equally loud and still more joyous answering shout
reached them, and then Rosel, laughing gaily, sprang for-
ward with an ease and elasticity of step that obliged Nora
to use some exertion in order not to be left behind.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE ORAOS.
The Crags was an isolated place, and might, from its ele*
Tated situation on the side of a mountain, have been sup-
posed an autumn alp, had not the surrounding corn-fields
and welUfilled orchard prored that the ground was good and
the climate temperate. In fact, it was a well-sheltered nook ;
and though the upper fields and some extent of pasture-land
were bounded by the wild bare weather-beaten crags from
which it derived its name, a wood of fir and pine trees
flourished above them, reaching the summit of the mountain
in spite of the frequent interruptions caused by colossal
masses of protruding rocks, in the Dssures of which not only
plants bnt trees contrived to find sustenance, and grow in the
most fantastic and unaccountable manner.
The peasant's house bore evident marks of age, and was
picturesque in no common degree; the ground-floor alone
was bnilt of stone, all else of wood; brown, and weather-
THK CRAOB
ftained ; the small lattice windows were glaied with rosid
pieces of the most ordinarj glass ; and so low was the bal-
cony that a tall man standing at the door mig^t eaaflr htxt
touched it with his hand, or eren plucked one of the crimsoi
pinks that hung temptingly downwards from the half-decayed
boxes on the shelf above the balustrade. There were seariet
geraniums there also, and stiff balsams flowering exnbcniitiy
in broken pitchers and cracked earthenware kitchen utensils,
adding more to the picturesque interest of the abode thai
the inhabitants could easily hare imagined.
The barn, an extensive wooden building forming a cchh
tinuation of the house, and under the same roof, had aa
entrance from the fields so constructed that by means of a
short and steep ascent the loaded carts could be driven into
it. The gate was now wide open, for the com was being
brought home, and seemed to have required the hands of all
the household : no one was to be seen, though the sound of
cheerful voices and the barking of dogs might be heard at no
great distance.
Nora sat down on one of the benches before the honse,
taking care not to displace any of the bright yellow milk-
basins ranged against the wall, and then looking round her,
perceived a small house at a little distance, with closed door
and window-shutters, evidently uninhabited, though on its
diminutive balcony large heaps of peas were drying in their
pods for winter use, and some well-grown green and yellow
gourds had been placed there for ornament or to ripen their
seeds.
'That's the honse for the old couple when they resign,'
said Rosel in a whisper.
* Which for your sake I hope they may do before long,'
answered Nora ; ' the place is charming, but the honse seems
very, very old, and rather neglected too. I dare say it will
look quite different when yon and Seppel enter into pos-
session.'
w
THE CRAQS. S9S
'A little tidier, perhaps,' said Rosel : 'bnt we conid not
make any great changes as long as the old people live, thongh
a new house woald not cost mach, as the neighbors would
help, of course, a;id the forest rights are as good here as on
the miller's proncrty.'
' Yoa most ^ell me all yon know abont these forest rights,
and forester9',^8ome other time, ' said Nora.
' I don/^ know as much as I ought to do,' answered Rosel,
' for af^r hearing all my life of forest laws, and rights, and
revesiues, and regulations, I only understand what I have
B9^n with my own eyes.'
/ ' Quite enough for me, ' said Nora, rising, ' and now as
these people won't come to us we must go to them.'
' They are taking advantage of the fine weather to bring
in their first com/ said Rose!, apologetically. ' Seppel will
be sure to come to us as soon as the cart is loaded. '
'We need not take him from his work,' observed Nora,
amiling at her eagerness to excuse his absence. ' I can ask
him a few questions about my cousin, or you can give him a
little good advice in the corn-field as well as anywhere else.'
They found the whole family working together father,
mother, sons, and servants all equally busy, Seppel alone
perhaps not completely engrossed by his occupation. That
his eyes wandered round the field, and that he was the first
to perceive Rosel's approach, was remarked by his mother
with a laugh as she followed him, when, shouldering his
pitchfork, he advanced to meet the visitors. There was
much friendliness in the pump-handle hand-shakes that fol-
lowed ; but a good deal less warmth in the manner of the
Crags peasant, who continued to give directions to the ser-
vants, until Nora was close behind him, when, slowly turning
round, he formally raised his battered straw hat, and held it
pertinaciously in his hand until repeatedly requested by her
to replace it. His figure was a good deal bent by age and
hard work, his large marked features furrowed with wrinkles |
26*
294 THX CRAOS.
but the red and brown tints of the face denoted health, and
contrasted well with the long snow-white hair that hnng down
to his shoulders : he wore black leather shorts, white stock-
ings, shoes, and a red waistcoat with silver buttons : coat he
had none, nor any of the men present, bnt their shirt-sleeves
appeared in keeping with every costnme, excepting that of
Seppel, whose bine cairassier tronsers, foraging cap, erect
figure, and well-trimmed moustache made the want of coat,
waistcoat, and ^cravat rather remarkable. The peasant'i
wife was a stout, elderly woman, wearing a black bodice, a
red-printed calico petticoat, and a broad-brimmed man's fati
of coarse black straw. Her cheerful face was lighted op
with smiles, and once in possession of Rosel's hand she kept
it fast, swinging her arm backwards and forwards while assor-
ing her that she was delighted to see her, and hoping before
long ' to be with her old man on a pleasant mission to the
forester house.'
Nora had walked on with the old peasant, and before long
had heard the history of his rheumatic pains during the win-
ter, been made acquainted with his doubts that he would erer
again be what he was, and his resolution, in consequence, to
resign the Crags to his son Seppel, reserving a reasonable
maintenance for himself and his wife, and a sum of monej
for Anderl, which he expected would be paid out of the
dowry that the forester would give his daughter.
The peasant spoke as if he took it for granted that Nors
had heard of the projected marriage, and knew the plans of
the family ; so she nodded approval, and then said, Shall
I tell them you will come down and talk the matter over to-
morrow evening V
'I don't mind if you do,' he answered; 'they can dis-
course about it among themselves, and I don't object to yonr
leUing them know also that Anderl must have his two thon-
aand florins down before I or my old woman turn into the
oflf house, Anderl has been always a good and steady lad,
7HS CBAGS. 295
never caased me a day's tronble since he came into the world,
and* has as good a right to his share as another, and let that
ether be who he may I '
This was said in a very determined manner, and was suc-
ceeded bj a succession of nods of the head, evidently in-
tended to challenge opposition. Now Nora, who knew that
the two thousand florins amounted to something less than
two hundred pounds English, considered the sum so moderate
a proTisiou for a younger son, that she remained silent, won-
dering what he meant, until he continued, ' And the money
mast be raised at once, by hook or by crook for Anderl,
after being, as I may say, master and man here for the last
three years, is not likely to turn into a day-laborer on his
brother's ground I'
'Of course not,' said Nora.
' Yet it's a common thing about here,' said the old man,
who seemed possessed with a spirit of contradiction. ' I've
known two or three brothers living on together, so that there
wasn't a hired servant in their house.'
'Most creditable to the family who so lived,' observed
Nora.
' May iTe so,' he rejoined, peevishly, ' but they never came
to anything after all. Now my Anderl is ambitions, and
intends to make a fortune as ostler in an inn where the custom
is good.'
' I was ' not aware that ostlers were so well paid as to
enable them to make fortunes,' said Nora.
' It's not a bad thing in a house where waggoners stop the
night, and there is a regular business on the road in salt,
com, or hides. If you would mention this to the forester it
would be doing a service, as he's a sensible man, and will
understand why we must have the money paid down and no
put off in any way. '
Nora promised, and stopped for a moment to look at the
double row of bee-hives ranged on shelves along the side of
296 THE CRA08.
the hense, while the peasant advanced towards a tall, strongly*
bailt, dark-complexioned man, who with long strides *was
descending from the Crags directly towards the path leading
to the mill.
'Hallo, Sepp,' was shouted by the peasant and his sons
with stentorian Toices, ' stop a minnte and tell ns how joa
are, and if yon have seen onr people at the Kerbstein lake.'
The man turned back, not very willingly as it appeared,
answered the various greetings of the family with ill-concealed
impatience, and then informed them that he had been that
morning at the Kerbstein lake with their relations, who were
all well, and expected a visit from long Seppel the first con-
venient holiday.
'Which maybe next week,' observed Seppel, 'and per-
haps to invite them to my wedding I '
' Oh, ho ! ' cried the other, glancing qnickly towards Rosel,
'wish yon joy with all my heart it will be the first wedding
in the village this year, and the sooner it takes place the
better. A wedding's as good as a church fete any day, and
ttt yours there will be the best music and '
'Not so fast,' cried old Crags, interrupting him, 'the
betrothal mnst come before the wedding, and we are not
clear abont that yet. If the forester does handsomer by hit
son than his daughter, why, all I have to say is that the son
will be married sooner than the daughter. No offence to
yon, Rosel; my old woman has of course told you that
Anderl must have his portion in hand the day I turn out of
this house, and all depends cm your father now. '
' Don't be cast down, Rosel, ' said the peasant's wife, con-
solingly, 'leave me to manage for yon and Seppel. Tour
brother Franz will be a forester himself in no time, I dare
say, and the miller's Madeleine is so rich that a thousand
florins more or less just at first will not '
' Franz and Madeleine ? ' repeated the Tyrolean, interrupt-
ing her, while a dark shade seemed to pass over his features
1
THE 0RAQ8. 29?
and his brows contracted into a fearful frown. ' What do
yoo mean ? '
' That they are to be married at Michaelmas,' she answered,
' and we fear the forester may do more for his son than his
daughter.'
' His BOO will reqnire little from him on this occasion/ he
rejoined, with flashing eyes.
' Well, that's jnst what we all said, ' observed the peasant's
wife, ' Madeleine is so well off, that it cannot be of the least
importance when Franz receiyes what the forester may be
able to give him.'
' Set your mind at rest, ' said the Tyrolean, his deep voice
trembling perceptibly, while his colorless lips were forced into
a smile ; ' Michaelmas will come and pass over often enough
before the miller's Madeleine is the wife of the forester's
Franz. '
Wichont waiting to observe the effect produced by his words,
he tnmed to the mill-path and was out of sight in a moment.
A few exclamations of astonishment from the peasant and
his wife preceded Nora's leave-taking. Rosel and Seppel,
who perfectly understood the cause of the Tyrolean's ire,
merely exchanged looks of intelligence, and prepared to follow
her ; they loitered, however, considerably while fastening the
rustic gate in the fence towards the wood, in order to give
her time to precede them, which little manoeuvre so delighted
the peasant's wife, that she showed her appreciation of their
tactics by a shout of laughter, and by bawling after them a
profusion of those coarse epithets that the tone of voice in
which they are uttered can make alternately terms of intense
ndearment or virulent abuse.
That Seppel and Rosel had much to talk about, and many
hopes and fears to communicate to each other, may easily be
imagined. Certain it is that the distance between them and
Nora lengthened as they proceeded, and that she descended
the steep path and reached the mill alone. The saws worked
298 THS OBAQS.
on through the qaiyering wood with a harsh grating sonad,
the water splashed o?er the hearj wheels and made thea
labor round/ creaking and clattering without intermission,
and so great was the din within the corn-mill, that as Non
stopped for a moment at the door, the civil requests to enter
of the men at work there were perfectly unintelligible except-
ing as far as gestures and smiles expressed them.
It was perhaps in consequence of these noises, that she
reached the miller's house before she heard the sound of the
loud angry voices within, though they were accompanied by
a shufQing and tramping of feet, to which was soon added s
succession of half-suppressed screams, ending in a loud cry
of murder. Then Nora rushed into the house, and the door
of the sitting-room being open, she beheld black Seppel, with
eyes rolling wildly beneath his frowning eyebrows, and featores
perfectly lirid with rage, holding at a distance the miller^s
wife with one hand, while with the other he grasped her
husband's cravat and shirt-collar, pressing his knuckles od
the old man's throat, and shaking him in a manner thst
threatened strangulation. Breathlessly, and through his fixed
teeth, he muttered huskily, ' Miserable villain, did yon dsre
to forget that you were in my power I Was it not with yoor
consent that I set fire to your cursed old mill ? '
' Ye ye yes,' gasped the miller, with great difficulty.
'And did you not say I should have your Madeleine as
bride the day my father resigned his mill to me ?'
The miller made some inarticulate sound, intended perhspi
for affirmation.
' Let him go, Seppel, for the love of heaven I' cried his
wife, in a voice of agony, while endeavoring in vain to place
herself between them. .
At that moment Nora rushed forward, and as she vaialy
tried to remove the rongh hand, or even loosen its grasp of
the neck-cloth, the miller's wife called out, ' Untie it I ^untie
it, or he will be choked I '
THB GSAG8. 899
With trembling^ hand Nora caught the long ends and drew
them towards her, bat the knot yielded with great difficulty,
and only after repeated efforts, leaving both cravat and shiit-
(Mllar still in the hands of the enraged Seppel, who, stagger-
ing backwards a few steps, dragged the miller after him to
the bench beside the table, where with a jerk he released him,
and then, as the storm of passion began to subside, gloomily
watched the old man's efforts to arrange his disordered dress.
To the miller's wife, who bad bnrst into tears the moment
ber terror had been allayed, and was now sobbing violently,
Nora turned and whispered, 'Adieu, Fran ; I can be of no
further use here, and must return to the village.'
The woman looked up anxiously, followed her into the
passage, and said hurriedly, ' Ton you have not been here
long, I believe T '
' Only a moment before you saw me.'
'Did you hear '
'Not more than a few words,' said Nora, anxious to re-
assure her.
' It will be better not to mention this quarrel at the fores-
ter's,' she began, with evident embarrassment.
'Neither there nor elsewhere,' answered Nora; 'you may
depend upon me.'
She walked towards the garden, and looked up in the
direction of the Crags, but instead of Rosel, perceived Made-
leine tripping gaily homewards. She had gone at daybreak
to her father's alp, having heard from the forester and his
son that they were likely to hunt in that neighborhood with
Captain Falkner, Count Waldemar, and Mr. Torp; and
after having done the honors of her hut, by supplying them
with cream, butter, and cheese, she had in requital been
flattered and cajoled to her heart's content by the mirthful
and hungry sportsmen. They had accompanied her down
the mountain, parted from her but a few minutes before, and
tho flush of gratified vanity was still on her dimpled cheek
800 THB OJiAOS.
as she approached her home, adroitly carryiDg on her head
a flat basket, in which, corered with a napkin, she had put
some fresh butter and a cheese for her parents.
She was still singing a snatch of one of the Schnaderkueih
feln with which Captain Falkner and Walderoar had be-
guiled the time of rest on the alp, and in clear loud tones
was offering a bunch of green ribbons to some imaginary de-
serted loTer, when her mother called out, 'Hush, Madeleine I
hush I or you'll make him as road as ever !'
' Who ? ' asked Madeleine, with a careless smile, remoriog
her basket from her head, and then curtseying in her best
manner to Nora.
' Seppel. He's within,' said her mother.
' Does he know has he heard ,' began Madeleine, and
then she paused, raised her apron, and passed it across her
face, which became colorless as her mother nodded despood-
ingly, and pointed to the door of the adjacent room.
'I don't see why I should be more afraid of him than any
one else,' she said, forcing an appearance of courage that
her pale lips belied. ' I've ohosen Franz, and I'm not likelj
to change my mind for anything Seppel may say I '
Impatiently shaking off her mother's detaining hand, she
advanced into the room, and, in a half conciliatory, half
defiant manner, held out her hand, exclaiming, ' Welcome
back, Sepp ; we almost thought you had forgotten us.'
He took her hand, but only to fling it from him with ssch
yiolence that she reeled to the wall, and with difllculty kept
herself from falling.
'Unmannerly boor !' she cried, angrily, 'the next time I
offer you my hand you'll take it, or I'm much mistaken.'
'Madeleine,' said her mother, coming forward, 'lam
afraid he has a right to it and yourself, any day, for the
asking. '
' I should like to know who gave him such a right I' she
aakedy saucily.
M
THE CRAG 6. 301
Your father,' answered the miller's wife, heginning to
lob afresh. ' I did not know until to-daj that he was bound
3y a promise.'
'J 'ye made no promise,' said Madeleine, anginlj inter-
rupting her ; ' and if I had, I wouldn't keep it.'
' Have you not J Would you not f cried Seppel, fiercely,
catching her arm, and drawing her towards him.
'No,' she answered, boldly; 'and I won't be made
answerable for every thoughtless word I may have spoken to
yon when I was a child.'
Child 1 ' he repeated, in angry derision, ' why it is but two
years ago, and you were as tall as you are now, and nearly as
stout, and quite as handsome, aiid a deal quieter and humbler;
but at that time, Madeleine, you did not know that an uncle
^onld die suddenly and make you rich; you thought that few
in the village and least of all the forester's Franz would
think of you as a wife; and you knew and right well too
that I was the son of the rich miller at the other side of
the mountains. One thing yon did not know,' he added,
gloomily, ' but your father might have told you any day, that
as long as he lives you can never marry any one but me. '
' I don't believe you I ' cried Madeleine, vehemently ; * and
if you think I'm afraid of yon, you're greatly mistaken.'
'You're so completely in my power,' continued Seppel,
with savage tranquillity, ' that I can insist on our bans being
published next week, and maybe I'll do it. Tour father
daren't object ; for we've done that together which makes us
more than friends for life. '
'You have no proof,' cried the miller, interrupting him, in
a harsh, discordant voice ; ' no proof of any kind. '
' Have you forgotten the letter you wrote me from Munich,
telling me not to do the deed we had planned together ? '
aske4 Seppel, malevolently. ' It reached me twelve hours too
late, but I have kept it by me carefully, and on my person,
ever since. It is here here I' he said, tapping the breast-
L 26
SOS THE CRAGS.
pocket of his jacket; 'and though for mj own sake I AtSl
not use it, unless driTen bj jcaloasj to rerenge myself, jm
maj as well remember that I am not a man to be trifled with.
Qive me yoar daughter, as joa promised, and '
* I won't be given to yon !' cried Madeleine, passionately;
* for I like Franz's little finger better than your whole bodj.
If you had twenty letters from my father, I would not many
you 1'
' Wait till yon know what the letter's about,' said Seppd,
with a bitter smile. ' You have worried me enough for more
than three years, Madeleine, and I'm tired of this sort of life.
As to your fancy for the forester's son, it will pass away, like
your love for many another that I could name. I was the
first, as you've often told me I intend to be the last ; and
the sooner you make up your mind to cross the monntaiiis
with me, the better for both perhaps.'
He strode across the room, bent his tall figure when pass-
ing through the doorway, and as he ascended the stairs to his
room, Nora left the garden, to join Rosel and her companion,
too much occupied with all she had heard and seen, to re-
member that she had intended to question and warn the latter
about her cousin John. It occurred to her after he had left
them to return to the Crags, and Bosel had honestly confess-
ed having forgotten to mention the young Englishman to her
lover; but Nora, though greatly provoked at their motiial
forg^tfulness, had no time to repair it, as she was obliged to
hurry on to the village to dine with her relations.
Mr. Nixon was in high spirits : he had caught a trout of
considerable size, and had invited Captain Falkner to dine
with him and partake of it. Fish and fishing was the chief
topic of conversation, which in no way interested Nora, ex-
cepting inasmuch as she observed John's indifference on the
subject. When questioned by her after dinner, he said he
had no patience for fishing, preferred making excursions on
the mountains, and had been that day at Saint Habert'i
TH2 CRAQS. 808
chapel, and in Tyrol, where, at a shabby little Inn on the
frontiers, be had drunk some capital wine, and made the ao-
qnaintaiice of a miller retarning to Almenan.
Black Seppel V suggested Nora.
* I don't know -his name,' answered John ; 'he Is head man
at the new mill outside the Tillage here, and had been to see
bis father, who is very old and infirm. He often crosses the
mountains for that purpose, and appeared known to all the
people we met indeed he seemed quite at home at most of
the peasants' houses, especially on the Tyrolean side.'
' That was black Seppel, I am sure,' said Nora.
'Very likely,' replied John ; 'half the men abont here are
called Seppel, or Sepp, which I believe means Joseph. You
have only to call a fellow Sepp on chance, and nine times out
of ten you will be right. '
' I saw this man at the Crags to-day, ' obsenred Nora, ' and
took no fancy to him whatever.'
'Nor I either,' said John; 'so we parted company soon
after passing the frontiers, and I returned to the village by
St. Benedict's. By-the-by, Nora, tliat Torp and the others
had famous sport this morning ; they were out at daybreak,
and, I hear, shot black-cock and a gigantic bird called AueV'
Jiahn, Georgy might say something for me to Captain
Falkner ; she sees him every day, and I suspect he fishes with
the governor that he may talk to her ; but when I asked her
to give bim another hint about me, she declared she could
not possibly do so, it would have such an odd appearance.'
' Nora smiled. 'Have patience, Jack, and you will find
that Mr. Torp will tire of the village and its inhabitants be-
fore long ; another week's shooting will probably satisfy him,
for the forester told me he had already begun to talk of going
to Herrenburg in Tyrol.'
' Where the Falkners are 7' asked John.
' Yes ; and when he is gone the forester and his son will
do whatever I ask them. In the mean time yon must be satis-
804
THE CRAQ8.
fied with exploring the moontains aboat here; and I tbislL
you had better not ask long Seppel to go with joa as goide,
for his father wants him at the Crags, where they haveagreil
deal of field-work to do just now.'
' Oh, I know that/ he said, impatiently. ' I was up then
yesterday for two or three hours. '
'Jack,* said Nora, reproachfully, 'you went there tobor*
row a gun, and ask him to go out with you ; I'm sore joa
did.'
John did not attempt denial, and she continued, 'If do
fears of the consequences, as far as you yourself are con-
cerned, can deter you, have at least some consideration for
this yonng man, whose prospects would be completely rained
if he engaged in any exploit of the kind just now. '
' Do not be uneasy, my dear Norry,' said John, eTidently
wishing to end the conversation. ' Your yonng man has, tf
you observed just now, no time, and, it appears, bat little
inclination, to do anything but wield a reaping-hook at pr^
sent. I never was so disappointed in any fellow as in this
long Seppel. '
' I am glad to hear it,' answered Nora. ' It seems that
Bosel was right when she supposed a few years' service in
the army had quieted him.'
J
WATS AND MXAirS. 805
CHAPTER XXIIL
WAYS AND MBANB.
A retnmed to the forester's house at an unasnallj
oar the next evening, having been requested by Rosel
as mediatrix, if necessary, between her father and
ag peasant, shonid ,any difference arise in their pro-
arrangements. She found both families assembled
little parlor, well supplied with beer, bread, and to-
Rosel seated somewhat apart, apparently occupied
tier spinning-wheel, but looking very anxious and
L
'a's arrival as inmate of the house caused neither sur-
nor embarrassment ; they all knew her, some had even
i to pronounce her name from the servants at the inn,
reeted her as *Mees Nora,' and Franz and Seppel
led against each other in their eagerness to hand her a
but after she had drawn from her pocket a piece of
t-work and bent over it, they immediately resumed
places, and the conversation, as if no interruption
curred.
Crag peasant had a packet of yellow-looking papers
3ld leather case before him, and Franz, apparantly act-
secretary, sat pen in hand, prepared to draw up any
dent into which they might enter.
was in the year twenty, ' said the peasant, adjusting his
dea OB the end of his nose, ' in the year twenty that I
i into possession of the Crags, and, according to con-
26*
806 WAYS ANB MBAN8.
tract, agreed to give my parents yearly, as follows.' He
opened one of the papers aud read slowly
' 1 bushel of wheat,
2 ditto rye,
1 peck of barley,
18 lbs. of batter,
100 eggs,
25 lbs. of meat,
6 lbs. of linseed oil,
12 lbs. of flax,
' One qnarter of the orchard fmit ; cabbage, potatoes, and
tnrnips as reqnired ; a quart of milk daily ; wood for foel,
and the necessary repairs of the off-house ; a pair of shoes
and a pair of slippers annually ; and twenty florins a-yetr,
paid quarterly.'
'That's all fair,' observed the forester, with a nod of ap-
probation. ' The ground about the Crags is good, and there
is no mortgage on it, I believe ?'
'No mortgage,' repeated the peasant, 'and therefore I
expect yon will make no difficulty about the provision for
Anderl. The young lady there has, perhaps, told you that
I expect two thousand florins for him. '
' Ton must be satisfied with half the sum,' said the forester,
decidedly, 'or we shall never come to terms. I am not a
rich man, but my daughter will not go ill provided into joar
house. Besides her bed and her spinning-wheel, her clothes
and house-linen, she shall have one thousand florins on the
day of her marriage, and perhaps the same sum alter oj
death ; but more than this I cannot give her.'
'Then, neighbor,' said the peasant, doggedly, 'there is
no use in talking longer about this matter, unless yon choose
Seppel to raise the money on mortgage, which, however, 1
cannot take upon me to recommend. '
'No,' cried the forester, pushing his chair backwards,
' no ; I know too well that such a beginning would lead to
WAYS AND MBANS. 801
TQin. I cannot allow mj daughter, and joa cannot advise
^onr son, to commence housekeeping with a debt thej may
aerer be able to pay off. '
^ I don't advise,' said the old man, with a peculiarly artful
amile ; ' I said if you chose. It all rests with you. Seppel,
in his wish to possess the Crags and marry Rosel, is ready
to agree to anything, thongh I have counted over a/id over
the income and expenditure, and proved to him that a few
florins at the end of the year is all he can expect to put aside,
and ^ay be thankful, when he has a family, if he can keep
clear of debt. Oh no I I don't advise I I leave everything
to you ! '
'Come, come. Crags,' said the forester, smiling, 'we all
know your love of contradiction, but this is going too far.
People say you have managed to save money, and I suppose
your son can do the same. '
' My savings are said to be more considerable than they
really are,' observed the peasant ' After thirty years' man-
agement of the Crogs, I have, it is true, contrived to scrape
together a few hundred florins, but it is only since my sons
could help in the work, and corn and cattle have risen in
price. The house is now in want of repair.'
'Well,' said the forester, 'there is no denying you might
have kept it in better order. '
' What for 7' asked the peasant. ' May be that it might
look handsomer when seen from the off house after I had re-
signed. No, no, forester, you don't know me yet !'
' I believe that's true,' said Franz, who had latterly been
biting the end of his pen, as he sat with his eyes fixed on the
peasant. * My father is upright and honest, and speaks his
mind, but the devil himself could hardly make out what you're
at now. Perhaps you're not willing to resign. If that's it,
say so ; there's nobody has a right to compel you. '
'I'm willing enough to resign,' he answered, slowly.
' After laboring ten years for my father and thirty for myselfi
S08 WAT8 AND MBAN8.
I're bad enoagli. And what with the rhenmatism and my
goitre, and the wish of mj old woman to see her Seppel mar-
ried, I'm at times more than willing ; bat knowing the income
and expenditure, I can't advise the bnrdening of the land
with a debt, and see no way for the yoong people bat joir
coming forward with the money. '
* I canH give what I haven't got,' began the forester, sa-
grily ; bat an appealing look from the two women opposite
him, and a glance at Rosel's dismayed face, seemed to appease
him. ' Let as go a little more into detail,' he added, qoietlj,
' and see how matters stand. Perhaps you have got joar
last year's account, and from it we can make an estimate.'
Seppel came forward noiselessly, and added one to the
eager faces around the table, as the peasant drew from kii
.pocket a large sheet of paper covered with sprawling writing
and figures, and, as if he had been prepared for the reqnett,
read without comment an account of his outlay and income
during the preceding year, which, being drawn up in a rather
confused style, was listened to with but the more intense at-
tention b? all his auditors.
When he had ended, no one seemed inclined to speak, asd
as he laid the paper on the table, and took off his spectadei,
he observed composedly, 'After deducting the taxes and
parish rates from the overplus, the remainder, I take it, will
prove somewhat less than was expected I'
Old Crags rubbed his chin and mouth very diligently for
a few seconds, Nora almost thought to hide a smile of satis-
faction at the dismay he had caused, and then began to fold
up his papers, and replace them in the leather case.
' The value of your property has been greatly overrated,'
said the forester.
'That's not my fault,' answered the peasant, 'the truth
might have been known any day for the asking. I thought
you had lived long enough in the mountains to know that the
soil so high up is not always. of the best deacriptioik'
WAYS AND UBAN8. 309
* I know yon grow wheat every year, ' rejoined the forester.
' Well, I don't deny that worse land might be found in the
parish than at the Crags,' said the peasant ; ' I don't com*
plain. If I'm not rich, I can at least say that no one ever
felt want in my honse. There's always enough to eat, and
something to spare for a stray gaest ; my servants are paid
regularly, and get their shoes, jackets, linen, and harvest-
money at the time appointed. We don't woric on holidays
at the Crags, and keep our church festival in a becoming
manner, and I have always been a contented man, and so was
my father before me, and his father before him, and Seppel
can live as we have done, and is willing if you'll consent to
raise the second thousand on the land. I dare say you'll pay
the interest during your life-time, and in your will make all
straight again. '
' No,' said the forester, rising, ' I cannot consent to this
arrangement. Yon seem to forget that I have two children,
and whether or not I may live to save another thousand
florins, Qod only knows. My eldest son fell by the hand of
a wildschuetz, and such may be my fate any day in the year
there are enough of them in our neighborhood' here he
glanced for a moment towards Seppel, and amended his
speech, by adding, 'from Tyrol I mean and I shall
never rest until I have hunted them all down. Now with re-
gard to this money, you see I can do nothing, and promise
nothing. My daughter has not been daintily brought up ;
she is willing and able to work, and can live at the Crags as
others have done. It is hard enough that her fortune is
taken from her before she enters into possession, as I may
say, and given to Anderl ; but as to her commencing with a
loan, and having to pay interest for it, perhaps as long as
she lives, that is out of the question, and there is nothing
more to be said if you will not do something handsome for
them.'
'I can neither do nor say anything more/ observed the
310 WAYS AND MBAN8.
peasant, closing his leather case, and dropping it into one of
the pockets of a grass-green coat, that seemed to have bees
inherited from his father or grandfather, the waist beiog
formed by two large buttons placed almost between his
shoalders, the remainder of the garment sweeping the floor
at each side of his chair, when seated, and hanging down to
his heels when he stood up. ' I have two children, as well as
you, forester,' he added, ' and I do not see why one shoald
get all, and the other next to nothing.'
* But the "all" is not much,' interposed the forester's wife,
' Seppel and Rosel will have enough to live on, and no more.
A thousand florins with what you will give him from yoor
savings, and a home at the Crags, when he chooses to sUj
there, is surely enough for Anderl. '
'Do yon suppose,' said the peasant angrily, 'that mj
Anderl is likely to be a day-laborer at the Crags, or to turn
wood-cleaver, or charcoal-burner on the mountains here under
your husband 1 We have other plans for him, as the jonng
lady there might have told you, and he shall not come short,
let what will happen, for it is only lately that my wife has
made me give up my intention of resigning to Anderl instead
of Seppel.'
'Ah ah 1 ' cried the forester, with a look of intelligence,
* is that your drift ? then indeed there is no chance of our
coming to terms. Rosel,' he said, turning to his daughter,
' yon see that no ill-will on my part against Seppel stands
between yon and your happiness. You know that I cannot
do more than I offered just now, and after hearing that the
income at the Crags, even In good years, so very little exceeds
the expenditure, yon must be convinced that I am right in
refusing my consent to the proposed mortgage.'
'Of course, father of course you know best,' faltered
Bosel, 'but but I cannot give up Seppel I' One hand
wiped the tears from her eyes, the other she extended franklj
to her lover.
WAYS AND MEANS. 311
Nora^ who had followed attentirelj the calcolations of the
peasant, and listened to the discussion that had preceded and
followed it with the deepest interest, now rose, and laying
her hand gently on Bosel's shoulder, said, ' I can be of use
here, or rather we can be of use to each other, Bosel. You
know,' she added, taming to the forester, ' that I have come
to Almenaa to erect a tombstone on the grave of a very near
relation in the churchyard here. I want some one to take
charge of this grave, to plant flowers on it in summer, and
decorate it with wreaths during the winter, and consider a
thousand florins by no means too much for this purpose.
Rosel shall receive the money from me any day you appoint,
on condition that Seppel promises for himself, and imposes as
a duty on all future possessors of the Crags, to attend to this
grave in the manner I have described.'
Great was the surprise and delight caused by this speech,
the old Crag peasant alone appearing more astonished than
pleased. Rosel seized Nora's hand, and stared at her in
speechless happiness ; the forester bowed repeatedly, and said
the proposal was munificent, the engagement should be con-
tracted formally, and an agreement concerning the grave
drawn up, signed, sealed, and delivered into her hands ;
Seppel standing before her erect, as if about to present arms,
first thanked, and then assured her she had not misplaced her
generosity, and that no grave in the parish should be better
attended to than that of her relation.
The forester's wife and Seppel's mother were loud in their
expressions of gratitude, but no entreaties could prevail on
the Crag peasant to resume his seat, in order to drink another
glass of beer, and wish the young people a speedy and merry
wedding.
' Time enough time enough,' he said testily, drawing a
black silk night-cap over his head, and taking up his hat,
'time enongh when the day of betrothal comes.'
' Bat|' said the forester, ' I hope you'll go to the town and
312 WAYS AND MEANS.
ask the judge to name a day next week for the drawing np of
the surrender and marriage contract ; and when all is in
order, we'll bare a little merrj-making here, and I dare uj
Mees Nora won't disdain to join us, or Gonnt Waldemtr
either. '
'I'm not going into the town till Wednesday, ' said tbe
peasant, peevishly.
' Well, Wednesday is not long off, ' observed the forester,
good humoredly, ' we're not going to be nnreasonable ; and
if Seppel sows the winter corn on his own account this year
at the Crags, it's all we want, or expect.'
Nora had fonnd an opportunity of leaving the room nnpe^
ceived, and it was evident that the peasant had been put into
a more congenial humor afterwards, for as he passed beneath
the balcony on which she was standing, when he left the hoose,
she heard him talking and laughing as gaily as the forester
and his family, who all accompanied him as be turned into
the pathway leading to the Crags.
While Nora looked after the noisy, happy party, her mind
was so occupied with kind sympathy, and generous plans for
future benefits to be conferred on Roscl, that she was uncon-
scious of the approach of Waldemar and Torp, who, having
fished with tolerable success in the trout streams near tbe
village, now turned to the forester's house, to inquire about
their chance of sport the ensuing day, should they go ont
deer-stalking.
Waldemar loitered and looked around him, Torp strode
quickly forward, for, like most Englishmen, he made a bust*
ness even of pleasure ; and, with the most unceasing perse-
verance, fished and hunted alternately, pursuing his sports
with an intentness and eagerness that not unfrequently made
him overlook the beauties of the country about him, or caused
him to consider many of them as mere impediments, which,
when overcome, would serve to enhance in his own and others'
eyes the triumph of success.
\FAT3 AND MEANS. 318
While Waldemar, with head uncovered and nptarned
Ktbiling face, addressed Nora, and induced her to lean over
^he balcony to answer him, Torp, scarcely glancing toward
^et, merely touched his hat, and stalked into the house. He
Bras still employed questioning the stupid old woman, who
BTis rinsing beer-glasses in the kitchen, as to the time when
tbe forester was expected home, when he heard his friend
^ter the adjacent passage, and bound up the stairs three or
Toar steps at a time. It was in Tain he cleared his throat,
i^oughed significantly, and finally called to him. Waldemar
either did not or would not hear, and Torp, with an impa-
tient shrug of his shoulders, entered the little sitting-room,
Ewd naturally turned to the gun-rack as the object most likely
to interest him while awaiting the return of the forester or
his son. In order to gain a nearer view of the rifles and
fowling-pieces, he pushed aside with his foot a spinning-
wheel, and, on the floor where it had stood, perceived a small
patent pocket-book, firmly closed with patent pencil. He
picked it up, examined it for a moment, and, though there
was no name or initial on the green morocco cover no
engraving on the pale amethyst that decorated tlie top of the
pencil he knew that it could only belong to Nora Nixon,
and therefore pitched it carelessly on the nearest window-
stool. This would not be worth recording, had he not after-
wards occasionally interrupted his inspection of the fire-arms
in order to glance towards the neat little book, and ended by
once more taking it up, and then deliberately walking out
of the room.
Restoring it to its owner would, he thought, serve to inter-
rupt a Ute-d-tite that had already lasted long enough ; yet he
hesitated, and hardly knew how to put his plan in execution,
when, on reaching the lobby, he caught a glimpse of Walde*
roar through the door that opened on the balcony. He was
fitting on a wooden bench with Nora, bending forwards, and
explaining the last drawings he had made in his sketch-book,
1.-21
814 WATS AND MEANS.
which was spread open between them. The Doise of tk
stream before the house prevented Torp from hearing whit
Waldemar said, when, pointiog to some spot on the paper,
he obserred, ' It was somewhere here that Torp shot tk
black-cock yesterday morning, and with a rifle too ! He is
a capital shot with a ballet, and hnnts with a patience asd
perseverance that is at times quite incomprehensible to tat
I like deer-stalking as well as most sportsmen, and will climb,
and creep, and crawl as long as any one ; but to stand for
honrs waiting for a shot, either in the twilight or moonlight,
is a thing I can't endare, so I generally leave him with the
forester or Franz, and take refuge in the nearest hut. We
were last night on this alp, the highest about here ; in fact,
it can only be used in the heat of summer, and the cattle are
to leave it in a day or two ; but the view from it is magnifi-
cent, and will well repay you for the trouble of mounting.'
' Do you think I could undertake such a walk 7 ' asked
Nora. ' Your drawing gives me the idea of a very wild
place.'
' It 18 a wild place, and is called the Wild Alp,' answered
Waldemar ; ' but I have taken it into my head that yon csn
not only walk but also climb well, and that difficulties would
not easily discourage you. '
Nora smiled.
'We have had such remarkably fine weather lately,' be
continued, * that I may safely recommend you to undertake
the excursion ; one day's rain, however, would make part of
the way impracticable for a lady, on account of the cows'
stockings.'
' Cows' stockings ? ' repeated Nora, interrogatively.
' I mean holes in the swampy ground which have been
made by the passage' of cattle in wet weather, when they
follow each other in single file, stepping regularly into these
holes, then filled with water, and carefully avoiding the more
solid mud around them. A{ter a succession of footbaihi
1
WAYS AND HKANS. 315
of this description, yon may imagine the appearance of the
cows.'
' I can,' said Nora, intermpting him with a langh, ' and
understand your hint so well that I shall certainly choose dry
weather for an expedition to the Wild Alp. '
* Why not make it to-morrow,' rejoined Waldemar, eagerly,
* and let me accompany yon ? '
* If I conld persuade Jack, ' began Nora.
' Oh, never mind him I * cried Waldemar. * Take Rosel
with yon, who can make herself nsefal, and carry a basket of
provisions. Yon don't mind getting up at daybreak, I
hope ? '
* Not at all, and yon tempt roe so strongly that I really
must endeavor to make arrangements, with both Jack and
Rose], to start at four o'clock to-morrow morning. I sup-
pose that is early enough ? '
*If Monsieur Jaques go with you,' said Waldemar, 'you
might as well make a two days' tour, and go on to the Kerb-
stein lake.' He placed a sketch before her, in which high
monntains enclosed an apparently more deep than extensive
sheet of water; towards the foreground some remarkably
jagged rock impeded a stream that flowed from it, forming
long low cascades ; and in a sheltered nook, the probable
opening into a narrow valley, stood a solitary ch&let built
half of stone and half of wood, fishiug-nets pending from
the balcony, and a couple of roughly-made boats so near that
Nora scarcely required the explanation given when he added,
'That's the Kerbstein fisherman's house, where yon conld
^main the night ; Torp has already spent a day there, and
ays the people are nncommonly civil ; by-the-by, he might
go with US or meet as at the lake or something? '
'No, thank you,' said Torp, who had reached the door to
the balcony a conple of minutes previously, and now stood
leaning against it. ' You seem to have quite forgottc^n that
If we do not hunt to-morrow you proposed going to Saint
816 WAT8 AND MEANS.
Hnbert's chapel, and afterwards across the moniitains into
Tyrol. I know yon are expected at Herrenburg. '
These last words were uttered with much meaning, and
seemed to cause some annoyance to Waldemar.
* I have fixed no time for my return home, Torp,' he an
dwered, a little impatiently, * and having been accepted u
guide to the Wild Alp by Mees Nora, you must excase my
leaving you either to hunt with Franz, or inspect the ancient
altar at Saint Hubert's without me. '
* I cannot allow you to break an engagement on my
count,' said Nora, 'for if I want a guide one can easily be
found in the village. In fact, the painter Florian has already
offered his services through our landlady, and I ought to
have gone to see him and his mother long ago, as it was at
their relation's house I was so hospitably received at Am-
mergau.' She spoke without looking at Torp, for she was
vexed that, having heard her ready acceptance of Waldemar's
offer, he had not also been made aware of her intention to
decline his being invited to join their party : she felt, too,
some natural irritation at his thinking it necessary to defend
his friend from the imaginary danger of her society, and not
a little increase of indignation at his interference on all occa-
sions.
* Am I to understand that you have changed your mind,
and will not accept my escort V asked Waldemar, rising.
'Precisely,' answered Nora. ' I shall defer my excursion
to the Wild Alp until next week, and spend to-morrow in
the village. The old castle on the hill deserves a visit, and
when there I can amuse myself rebuilding the edifice in ima-
gination ^it will not be difficult, as they say it was inhabited
toward the end of the last century.
' So I ' cried Waldemar gaily. ' So you build casdes in
the air occasionally J '
* Ratber say continually, ' replied Nora, laughing ; ' for
WAYS AND MEANS. 317
unce I entered the Bavarian highlands ererj hill has been
supplied with a castle, and every dale with a cottage I'
' And have yon peopled your castles and cottages V asked
Waldemar.
N o/ answered Nora, and a sndden melancholy over-
spread her features, for the light question had brought
strongly to her recollection her depressingly isolated position.
Of the few near relations left her, was there one she could
ask to live in a German cot or castle with her ? Her uncle's
treasure was in London, and with it his heart; Oeorgina
would call such a residence being buried alive ; Jack was a
mere boy, full of youthful frolic, with a decided inclination
to enjoy the world and its pleasures to the utmost ; his bro-
ther Samuel she scarcely knew, and friends she had none !
Yes one-^Irene Schaumberg ; but what changes might not
a ten years' separation have produced in her regard 1 These
thoughts had but flashed through her mind, however, when
Waldemar, surprised by her seriousness, said, with a mix-
ture of curiosity and interest,
'Not peopled I not swarming with English friends and
relations 1 '
Nora shook her head.
'So much the better,' he said, reseating himself on the
wooden bench beside her, and nodding a laughing defiance
to Torp, ' so much the better ; there will be the more room
for Bavarians and Tyroleans I You really must allow me,
Mees Nora, to accompany you to this ruin to-morrow; I
know something of architecture, and we can build and plan
together in the most satisfactory manner imaginable. Now
don't refuse, or I shall think it time to be offended.'
'I cannot well refuse,' answered Nora, smiling, 'seeing
that the ruins of Waltenburg are quite as much at your ser-
vice as mine. '
'And yon will permit me to go there with you, or,' ha
21*
818 WATS AND-MEANS.
added, correcting himself, ' to be there at the same timi
that you afe?'
' Of coarse, ' said Nora, as she rose from her lowlj seat
'TlDtil the castle is mine, I cannot raise the drawbridge, and
refuse you entrance.' When passing Torp, who stood in the
doorway, she perceived her pocket-book iu his hand.
' This is yonrs, ' he said, coldly handing it to her ; ' I foond
it on the floor in the room below stairs. '
' It is mine thank you,' said Nora, and a so anwonted
color spread oyer her face as she received it, that Walde-
mar's attention was instantly attracted.
' I wish, ' he said, ' that I had found ypur book ; it eyi-
dently contains secrets, and you fear that Torp, in lookiDg
for the owner's name inside, may have discovered '
'I have no fears of the kind,' said Nora, interrupting
him. ' Nothing, I am sure, would have induced Mr. Torp
to open this book or read a line of its contents. If he had
not known it to be mine, he would have left it in the parlor.'
Torp seemed to consider even a word of assurance oa-
necessary.
' You do not deny that there are secrets in it, Mees Nora,'
persisted Waldemar, ' and I would give much to possess it
See, here are my sketches of Ammergau ; you have more
than once said you wished to possess them. Let us make an
exchange they are yours for the note-book I'
Nora thought over the contents of her little green book,
and then dropped it into her pocket. Secrets such as Wal-
demar perhaps expected to find in it there were none. She
had got the habit, during her solitary hours in Russell-square,
of taking notes when reading, of writing lists of books,
short critiques of those just read, and other matters of an
equally unimportant description. A box full of such small
volumes had been left in Mrs. Dncker's care in England, and
any of them, or many of them, she would, without hesita-
tion, have given for the tempting sketches now offered her ;
I
WATS AND MEANS. 319
bat the little green book in question unfortunately contained
in its side-pocket the letter that Charles Thorpe had written
to her uncle ten years prerionsly, and a few memoranda,
'which, if shown to Torp by Waldemar, would inevitably
lead to explanations that she by no means desired.
* I am sorry I cannot make the exchange you propose,'
Bbe said, turning away; 'I wish these sketches had some
other price.'
' Stay,' cried Waldemar, springing after her to the head
of the staircase, 'listen to me, Mees Nora the sketches
?iave another price ; they shall be yonrs for for a cup of
coffee made by you yourself for me any day yon please on
any of the alps about here. '
'A cup of coffee I' repeated Nora, incredulously. 'You
shall have a dozen, if you desire it. '
' I shall remind you of this agreement,' said Waldemar.
' You need not,' she answered, laughing, ' I shall take care
not to let you forget it.'
Waldemar could scarcely wait until she was out of hearing
before he exclaimed, 'You see, Torp, I shall win the wager.'
'Perhaps you may,' he answered, dryly; 'that you will
make a fool of yourself, is, however, even more certain, and
I greatly fear that your father will think that I led you into
temptation. '
'Pshaw I' cried Waldemar, impatiently. 'I acknowledge
that I am considerably Spris with this black-eyed nymph of
the Thames ; but I could go to Herrenburg to-morrow, and
in a week or let us say a fortnight, I could forget her
yes, I think I could forget her in a fortnight or three weeks.'
' Then go, ' said Torp, earnestly, ' go while the effort is
easily made, and you will spare yourself and your family a
world of annoyance. I have made the inquiries about these
Nixons that you desired, and heard to-day, from a friend
of mine who knows everybody in London, that this man has
undoubtedly a large fortune, but also a large family ; there
820 WATS AND MXANS.
are sons in Anstralia and elsewhere, one a lawjer in LondoB,
and the interesting yonth now here, called Jack. The eldeit
daughter is well known in town from being' constantly with
the Savage Waywards, the yonnger my friend cannot wefl
remember, he belieTCS she has resided chiefly in the coontiy;
some people supposed her consmnptire, others said she wis
eccentric, and many now ass^ she is^dead. We knowtbtt
she is neither dead nor consumptive, bnt I think the word
eccentric may be nsed when describing her. At all events,
according to the letter, the young ladies may 'be worth'
about twenty thousand ponnds a-piece I'
' It is the connexion and not the fortune I wanted to heir
about,' said Waldemar, with a look of annoyance.
' My informant,' continued Torp, 'could not give me mneh
more information on that subject than I gave you at Am-
mergau. The founder of the family, according to the
legend, was a peasant boy, who wandered to London in the
Whittington fashion, and afterwards made a fortune in trade.
This is an old story, and a convenient one for finding arms
when they become necessary ; whether true or not is of little
Importance, for though love might manage to blind yon,
your father would certainly put on his spectacles wbce
examining the genealogy of the Nixons, and nothing but the
most enormous fortune would induce him to overlook its
defects. Perhaps, after saying so much, I ought to add,
that one of this family married ' a relation of ours many
years ago.'
' Ah 1 ' said Waldemar, ' such marriage cause no com-
motion in an English family I '
' The lady was a widow, and perfectly at liberty,' answered
Torp ; ' so, though my father greatly disapproved, and indeed
opposed the marriage, which turned out even worse than he
expected, he could not prevent it. I have spoken to little
purpose, Waldemar, if it has not yet become evident to yon
that one of this family is no match for a BendorfT of Herren-
I
WAYS AND MEANS. 321
iu^, who has everj chance of sacceeding to a principality
md becoming a Serene Highness in the course of time'
'That's it/ cried Waldemar, 'that chance is what makes
my father so hard to please. I hope your succession to an
English earldom has served to hamper you in the same way.'
' I have not thought much about the matter as fitr as con*
cems myself,' answered Torp, 'but my brother gave me
much trouble about ten years ago, when I was obliged
strenuously to oppose his making a disagreeable match of
this kind. Oddly enough,' he added, Mt was one of these
I^ixons, the daughter of that relative of ours of whom I spoke
just now, that he took it into his head to marry. The very
name of this family is odious to me ever since, for though
Medway yielded to my remonstrances in the end, we quar-
relled a whole year about the matter. Do not expect me,
however, to make the same efforts for you, Waldemar ; but
I am ready and willing to leave Almenan to-morrow, and
share your flight from, this nymph of the Thames as you
call her.'
'No, Torp, I ask no such sacrifice. You are right; I
shall order horses for to-morrow morning, and leave without
again seeing Mees Nora. In fonr-and-twenty hours, my
friend, I shall be at Herrenburg, admiring the magnificent
dress of Irene, Countess Schaumberg, and making grave
inquiries about the education of my unruly little ward,
Adelheid.'
' That's right ! ' said Torp, ' I should not have thought a
retreat so necessary if I had not seen plainly to-day what has
happened to Falkner.'
' There is no doubt how that affair will end,' said Walde-
mar laughing ; ' Ernst evidently hopes to persuade the other
nymph to follow him into Hungary, and if he succeed, she
will not be the first Englishwoman who has married into our
regiment as we call it, from having so many relations among
the officers. My brother tells me that two of his best friends
322
WAYS AND MEANS.
have Eoglisii wives, patterns of perfection by all acooimti,
women who stop at home and all that sort of tbiog ; and I
suspect it is the recollection of them that has made Falkner
think of Mees Nixie. She is not ill-looking, however, ht
from it, bnt not to be compared to Nora mj Nora our
Nora I i wonder he did not choose Nora I '
* I wish he had,' said Torp, * or rather I wish the whok
family and their projected tombstone were in some other
Bavarian village. After I have hnnted on the Wild Alp
yon may expect me at Herrenburg, as I shall of coarse miss
yon greatly and find it dnll here without you. But g^ joa
must, Waldemar, and without delay, for I see plainly thtt
this girl is just the sort of person likely to make you more
desperately in love than you have ever yet been, and that is
saying a good deal. '
' Ah ha 1 Then you admit that she is charming f '
' She is dangerous,' said Torp, ' and -a you will go to
the Valley of the Inn to-morrow, old fellow, won't you 1 '
'I will,' answered Waldemar, heroically.
XND or VOLUME I.
M
QUITS;
A NOVEL.
BT
THE BARONESS TATJTPHCEUS,
AUTBOm OF **TBI ITTITIALB.'
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
PHILADELPHIA :
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
1858.
i::! I'it'V YORK I
PUBLIC LIBRARY
822857
ASTOR LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
R I9l8 L
Entered, aeeording to Aet of Congressy In the year 1857, by
J. B. LIPPINCOTT A CO.,
In tbc Clerk's Office of the District Court of tbe United Statei tct
the Eutem District of Penn^lTania.
V
CONTENTS OF VOL. II.
CHAPTER I.
insTic Studio Page 7
CHAPTER n.
:at8 or Mabbiaoz and othxr Matters 19
CHAPTER m.
k'b riBST Exploit 38
CHAPTER IV.
I Wild Ai* 49
(Ui)
Iv
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
Tele Fo&ssteb's BamaE
63
CHAPTER VL
A Modern Idtl
84
CHAPTER VII.
Post Horses bring the Idyi^ ft) a conclusion 94
CHAPTER Vni.
The Biq Sausage.'.
112
CHAPTER IX.
AlPENR08EN
m
CHAPTER X.
The old Char-a-banc.
ISO
CHAPTER XI.
Pastime roR a Raint Day.
149
V
CONTXNTS. T
CHAPTER Xn.
'^ow 163
CHAPTER Xin.
kfXN AT Work 183
CHAPTER XIV.
196
CHAPTER XV.
Pleasxtres 208
CHAPTER XVI.
ra OF DIFFERENT EiNDS OF LoVE 218
CHAPTER XVn.
7NTRE8S WITH TWO STRINGS TO HER BoW 232
CHAPTER XVin.
rUARD 247
1*
Tl
G0NTSNT8.
CHAPTER XIX,
Jack's last Exploit.
256
CHAPTER XX.
Ths Break-up.
272
CHAPTER XXL
Who wins the Wager.
281
1
QU ITSI
CHAPTER L
A BUBTIO STUDIO.
Nora, was in th^ Tillage at so early an honr the next mom-
Kng that most of the inhabitants were at chnrch, for it is
tliere the Highland peasant commences both work and holi-
dajy inyoking a blessing alike on toil and pleasure. The
ftonnd of the well-plajed organ indnced her to follow some
dilatory laborers into the handsome edifice, which, with its
ahowily decorated altar, was the pride of the parish. She
saw her companions doff their battered straw hats, stroke
down their hair on their forehead, and reverently kneel down,
while bright beams of earliest sunshine, finding an entrance
through the high narrow windows, passed oyer their rugged
features, and directed her glance to other groups of men i&nd
women who, in remote comers or at side altars, forgetful of
the presence of those around them, gave an outward expres-
sion to their devotion, both in feature and posture, which is
said to be a peculiarity of southern nations, but seems com-
mon to all votaries of the Roman Catholic religion.
The service was soon over, the congregation, not having
time to linger in or about the churchyard as on Sundays,
dispersed at once, and Nora turned towards the not far dis-
tant house of Florian and his mother. It had a rather
(7)
10 A BU8TI0 STUDIO.
be necessary to have a second price when dealing with 701,
bnt the peasants are so accnstomed to hiaggle and bargiii,
that they wonld think themselves cheated if I did not rednee
my demand ; so I always ask a krentzer or two more thtn I
afterwards take, and then they go away satisfied with thoh
selves and with me. '
Nora was amnsed, and some time elapsed imperceptiblj
while she learned to keep shop. The mystic nnmbenand
letters were made perfectly intelligible to her, and also, in
some degree, the profits and losses of a village trader. She
learned that peasants incurred debts qnite as readily, tnd
often as thonghtlessly, as people in other ranks of life ; soma
bnt paid an old account in order to commence a new one;
and her proposal to Madame Cramer to insist on readj-
money payments in futnre was answered by a shake of IJm
head, and an assurance that all her customers would desert
her, and go to one Hans Maicr in the neighboring town, wbo
had injured her enough already by obliging her to keep msoj
articles in her shop that remained long on hand.
Madame Cramer could not leave her shop, and Nora was
conducted up stairs by a remarkably plain, red-haired, sod
very freckled girl, of the name of Vevey. She was the
adopted daughter of Madame Cramer, and Nora, struck bj
her likeness to some one she had seen occasionally at the inn,
asked her if she had any relation there.
' The sennerin on the landlord's alp is my sister,' she an-
swered, smiling, ' and you have seen her perhaps every San-
day morning. I shall make her guess who spoke of her when
I go to the alp to-morrow.'
' Rather tell me at what hour you leave the village,' said
Nora, ' for I should greatly like to go with you.'
'When you please, miss; it is quite an easy path, and
hardly two hours' walk.'
' I most choose the latest boor possible,' said Norm, /ai I
A RUSTIC STUDIO. ll
kope to indace some others to join ns who are not rery earlj
Vevey now led the way along a short passage, tapped
rather timidly at a door, and having obtained permission to
enter, held it open for Nora to pass her, and then closed it,
and withdrew so noiselessly, that Florian continned his occn-
pation totally nnconscions of the presence of a stranger. He
was a pale, dark-haired, small man, with a perfectly pic*
tnresque beard, open shirt-collar, and well-danbed linen
bloQse, and stood before a cast-iron cross intended for the
churchyard. Though only painting it black to defend it
from mst, his postnre was that of an artist before his easel ;
and he seemed to encourage the delusion, by having hnng
his pot of black paint on the thumb of his left hand, as if it
liad been a palette, stopping occasionally to look at the pro-
l^ress of his work, and turning his head from side to side in a
manner that greatly amused Nora, until, on a nearer approach,
she perceived that there was a small picture in the centre of
the cross, which might be supposed to have caused the pan-
tomime.
Nora's visits to artists' studios had been frequent enough
in former times to make her acquainted with the almost un-
avoidable litter and disorder usual in such places, but any-
thing like that around her now she had never beheld. Beside
the usual casts of legs and arms in plaster of Paris, half
finished pictures, sketches, palettes, brushes and colors, there
were all the more ordinary requisites for house-painting.
Window-frames were placed with portraits against the wall
to dry, and near them a couple of small coffins of a bright
blue color, such as were usually placed (yver the graves of
children in the churchyard. On shelves round the room
there was a large collection of distemper colors in earthen-
ware pots, and numerous filigree arabesque patterns for the
decoration of the walls of rooms and ceilings, while angels
with broken wings, saints with tarnished draperies, and
12 A RUSTIC STUDIO.
TariouB pieces of cariouslj carred wood, still awaited repaia
from the skilful hand of the village artist.
How long Meister Florian might have continaed to id-
vance and retire before the black cross, had he not bea
interrupted by Nora, it is hard to say. He started wbn
she addressed him, made some apology for having supposed
her Gknoveva, and then, for her nse, began to disenciimber
an old brown leather chair of its accnmolated lumber. Non
did not wait for the completion of this operation, but begu
at once to speak of Ammergaa and his relations there, the
great drama and the wood-carvers.
Florian's embarrassment was at an end ; he listened atten-
tively, and answered eagerly. She spoke of Manich and bu
studies there, and asked to see some drawings. Willmgiy
he brought his large portfolio, and exhibited a successioa of
copies in chalks from well-known busts and statues ; but tliej
bore testimony to more assiduity than talent His attempts
in oils were of the same description; and Nora saw that
though he might in time, and with perseverance, becone
perhaps a good copyist, he was no genius struggling with
adverse fate, as she had been somewhat romantically incliaed
to imagine him.
'I wonder you have not tried landscape painting,' fihft
observed, after having patiently listened to his complaiott
about the difficulty of getting people to sit for their portraits.
* In such a country as this you could never^ be at a loss for
studies, and mountains, lakes, and trees must submit to be
sketched and painted how and when you please. '
' I have not the slightest inclination for landscapes,' bo
answered ; ' my ambition was to paint altar-pieces for church-
es, but I have never arrived at composing anything. Per-
haps I have not studied enough, for even in portrait-paintiog
I am often at a loss. The miller's Madeleine was the only
person who ever sat as often and as long as I wished ; bot
she has since said that I made a scarecrow of her, and that I
A BUBTIC STUDIO. 13
required & whole morning to paint the molu on her throat;
vhile CoQDt Waldemar, as she expressed it, "had her down
ia bis pocket-book in a quarter of an hour, as like aa two
peas, and no mole at all I " '
'It is dtfficalt to paint female portraits satisfactorily,'
obserred Nora. ' Women expect to be idealized and to
have their defects either concealed or altogether omitted.'
' That mole is no defect, ' said Florian, ' I tbiuk it beauti-
ful.'
Nora smiled, and obserted that he seemed to have employ-
ment enough to put portrait-painting out of hia head.
'I cannot complain,' he answered, looking aronnd his
room, -there is employment enongh sacbasitis!'
'Tbej told me at Ammergau,' she added, "that the
renovation of the altars at St. nubcrt'a had been conGded to
yon, and that is by all accounts a very flattering distinction.'
'True,' said Florian, with heightened color. 'I get as
niDCh work of that kind as I can manage to do ; bat yon see,
mademaifielle, my mother is from Ammergau, and I have a
sort of natnral talent for wood-carving. These old altars
re crowded with fignres in alto or basso relievo, and it is
DOt everyone who can supply the lost or broken arms, legs,
ud even heads, so easily as I can.'
' And,' asked Nora, ' has that never led yon to soppose
that as wood-carver yon might be more successful than as a
painter f '
' Yes,' he replied with a sigh ; ' but wood-carving is a
common talent, both here and in Tyrol, and no one ever
became rich or renowned by it 1 '
' Fortunately, thousands of people are very happy without
being either,' said Nora, tnmiug from him to examine the
old altar, with its folding-doors and figures about a foot high
ia alto relievo, representing the legend of Saint Hubert being
converted to Christianity by seeing a cmcifis on the head of
the atair of which he had long been in pursuit. Tbe mterah
14 A RUSTIC STUDIO.
she expressed in his carefal and jadicioas reparationB seemed
greatly to gratify Florian, and he hoped, if she intended to
visit the chapel of the sainted huntsman, it would be at the
time when he also shonld be there.
I may as well confess that I came here intending to pro-
pose some such arrangement,' she answered; 'bnt besidei
St. Hubert's I wish to see the Wild Alp, and the Eerbsteia
lake.'
' Seppel will be a better guide to the lake,' said Florits,
' bnt to St. Hubert's or any of the alps about here, I cm
show you the way as well as as if I had been out withi
rifle, and knew where a wildschuetz was likely to find a wel-
come and a breakfast in case of need. '
'And have you never been out in the way you describe?'
asked Nora archly, and not much fearing tiiat the suspicion
would give offence.
'No,' he answered, 'though I have little doubt that maoj
would think more of me if I had. A man who cannot handle
a rifle has a hard stand here ; there is no end to the joking
and laughing about him ; even the women cannot spare tbeir
jibes, and are always making comparisons, and lauding tbe
foresters to the skies I I have heard it said that in towns tbe
soldiers are made much of by them ; but in the villages about
here the foresters are better off still it is forester here, and
forester there, and one never hears of anything else ! '
Nora pretty well understood the drift of this speech, hot
she betrayed no consciousness, as she acknowledged having
herself rather a predilection for foresters ; their dress was so
picturesque ; their employments so manly ; and they had all
a certain ease of manner that was irresistibly pleasing.
' Ease of manner I ' exclaimed Florian. ' I dare say and
no wonder they keep good company! All the noblemen
and bureaucratists of the neighborhood pay court to them
for an occasional day's shooting ; and their wives are civil to
make sure of getting venison. Old Oeneral Falkner, who is
I
A RUSTIC 8Tt7DIO. 15
as proad a man as can well be, makes no gaest so welcome
at St. Benedict's as the forester ; the captain's first visit, when
he comes home on leaye of absence, is to the Forest-house ;
and even Coant Waldemar himself, who speaks to me when-
ever and wherever we meet, has not a word if the forester be
be present, or his assistant only drop a hint about having seen
a chamois or roe on the mountains I '
'Did you never think of becoming a forester yourself?'
asked Nora, wishing to turn his thoughts from his jealous
grievances, for such she knew them to be.
' I had not health or strength for it, ' he answered ; ' but
even had it been otherwise, my whole thoughts were bent on
being a painter. As soon as I was free from the day-school,
I began to carry my father's paints ; when I left off attend-
ing the Sunday-school, I learned his trade, thinking, in my
ignorance, that it was a good foundation for my future career ;
and I ended by going to Munich, with ideas so contracted,
that I supposed technical skill all that was necessary to make
me a celebrated artist I '
'A very natural mistake on your part,' observed Nora,
' when one takes into consideration the trade you had le^tned
from your father. '
' Perhaps so ; but coming into a knowledge of one's igno*
ranee is not agreeable. Mademoiselle. It seemed as if the
more I learned the less I knew. '
' That is the case with most people,' said Nora, ' and is by
BO means confined to artists and their studies.'
' I got into despair at last,' continued Florian ; 'tried portrait-
painting, but soon discovered that the photographers were
- competitors with whom only first-rate artists could contend ;
so, when my father died, I returned home and established
myself as his successor. My Inother and Oenoveva were
made happy, they say, but I'm sure I don't know why, for I
give them both a great deal of trouble, and am often ungrate-
ful for their attentions. Yevey especially has had a hard
IL 2
16 A RU8TI0 BTVDIO.
life lately ; bat my mother is kind to her, and in retnrn she
has patience with me.'
Nora, who had long been standing beside the half-open
door, now took leave. He accompanied her down the stain,
promising, as he opened the door of the shop, to let her
know when he had completed the renovation of the altar for
St. Hubert's.
Great was Nora's surprise to find her cousin John in eager
disscussion with Madame Cramer, about the purchase of some
very coarse, dark-green cloth, to make what he called a 'rain
mantle.' 'A famous thing,' as he immediately explained to
her, 'worn by all the men employed in felling wood on the
mountains.' To judge by the pattern, it was a very formlea
garment, with merely an opening in the centre for the head;
nevertheless, some seams it must have had, for it was to be
sent to the tailor, and the measure of John's shoulders was
carefully taken by Madame Cramer.
' I thought you had all sorts of water-proof jackets and
caps?' observed Nora.
' Well, so I have, but I prefer being dressed like other
people. There is no use in making oneself remarkable, joa
know ; and I may be in places where being known by my
coat might prove troublesome.'
'Am I to understand. Jack,' said Nora, 'that you hare
found some one to go out deer-stalking with yon?'
' Deer-stalking or chamois-hunting, as the case may be,'
he answered, seating himself on the counter, and, in the fall
security of not being understood by any one but his cousin,
continuing, ' I have been thinking, Nora, that I must begin
*to limit my confessions to you ; and, indeed, for your own
sake, you had better ask me no questions in future about
where I am going, or what I intend to do. You see, dear
girl, if you know too much, you may in the end be obliged to
bear witnes? against me, and you wouldn't like to do that, I
am sure I'
^EUSTIO STUDIO. It
'I thongbt,' Baid Son, reproBchfally, 'I thoagbt yon
would hftve waited a week or ten days longer, nntil Mr. Torp
had left the Tillage.'
'He baa no intention of leariog,' said John. 'I heard
him say that the scarcitj of game enhanced its value ; and
that be beliered an Englishman liked wandering through a
picturesque country jnEt as well a a German, though he
might talk less abont it. He seems to enjoy himself here,
this Mr. Torp, and likes wearing his tweed jacket and
wide-awabe and hunting, and fishing, and playing skit-
tles, and pretending not to see as, and all the rest of it;
and I tell yon, Nora, he has no mora idea of leaving the
Tillage than we have. The forester's son is going out to-
morrow to look after some chamois that were seen above
the Wild Alp ; and the day after, Torp and Waldemar are
to fannt there. Xow they all know I wish to join them, bat
not one can invite me becanse that fellow Torp won't allow
theml'
' Ton have not yet tried Captain Falkner.'
'Yes I have,' answered John. ' He is evidently flirting
irith Georgy, so I asked bira yesterday, point-blank, to let
me shoot on his gronnd and what do you think he said f
His father had given up hunting ; he himself was only occa-^
Bionally at home on leave of absence, and that they had now
let their chase to the forester : he had only reserved a right
for himself, and was obliged to pnrcbase his own game when
bis mother wished for it I I saw he was sorry he coald not
oblige me more, of course, on Georgy'a acconnt than mine ;
and he even proposed speaking to the forester; bat, as I did
not choose him to know that, at Torp's instigation, I had.
already been refused in that quarter, I requested him to sky
nothing about the matter, for that I could amuse myself walk-
ing aboDt on the monntains, and making excursions into
Tyrol.'
2*
18
A RUSTIC STUDIO.
* I wish 70a would, for the present, be satisfied withdoisg
so,' said Nora, earnestly.
' I am mach more likely to have a shot at the cbamoUt
near the Wild Alp, before any of them,' cried John, exult-
ingly.
' Then I may not hope that yon will go with me to ooi
landlord's alp to-morrow 7'
John shook his head, and turning to Madame Cramer,
requested, in broken, but very intelligible Oerman, thtt
his woodman's mantle might be made in the course of the
next few hours, as he should probably want it that reiy
evening.
Nora left the shop with him, and walked towards the ina
without asking another question, or attempting rem^nstrancei
that she knew would be useless.
1
TREATS OF M4RBIA0X. 10
CHAPTER II.
TREATS OF BiARRIAQX AND OTHER BIATTXRS.
Nora fonod her ancle and Oeorgina still sitting at the
breakfast-table, and was at first somewhat provoked at the
little inclination shown to join her alp party. Now, though
she did not, perhaps, very particularly desire their company,
the appearance of separating herself so completely from
them as of late, was not in accordance with her ideas of
propriety, so she combated with some pertinacity all Geor*
Sana's objections.
' Change of weather to be expected I' she repeated ; ' not
in the least probable for some days. The wind blows oat of
the monntains in the morning, and into them daring the day,
in the most satisfactory manner.'
' Bot I have heard, ' said Georgina, ' that the alps about
here lie very high, and the excursions to them are,' in con-
seqnence, exceedingly fatiguing. '
' We are not going to a high alp ; the cattle have already
left most of them. The one I mean is quite easy of ascent'
' I dare say, however,' rejoined Georgina, 'that there are
places without a path, and rocks to be scrambled over, and
springs and rivulets in all directions, to wet one's feet.'
Nora could not deny the probability of such impediments
being in the way, but suggested that strong boots would
make the path of little importance, especially after a con-
tinuance of fine weather, such as they had lately had.
'They say,' persisted Georgina, 'that one generally
arrives at such places ravenously hungry; and there is
nothing to eat but dreadfully greasy messes, sqc^i as the
TBSATS OF MAftRIAGI 1
peasants here delight in and they might disagree withpipi, 1^^
joaknow!' l"'-^
' I shall take care that no such messes be set before bio,' I '
said Nora, good-humoredly. 1^'
'I'm afraid of nothing bot the too warm* weather/ ob- 1^
served Mr. Nixon. I
'And 1/ said Georgina, ' am much more afraid of of ^ I
' Of what V I-
* Of the dirt and smoke,' she replied, with a slight grimtet 1 ^
' Bat we are not going to sleep there, and I am qnite son K
that where I propose going every thing will be perfect); I
clean.' 1^
' John has had experience, Nora, and he assnres me ' y
' Most probably,' said Nora, interrnpting her, 'John did I
not waift to have yon with him. He does not wish for mj I
company either, bnt fonnd other means to prevent me firom I
joining him. ' I
' That may be the case,' rejoined Georgina, thonghtfallj, |
* for when I first came here I really intended to make some
excursions ; bnt he told me at once that they were not tin
sort of thing I should like, and that a in short, my feet
were better fitted for parquet floors than mountain paths.'
'I think," said Mr. Nixon, with a sly smile and a wink to
Nora, ' I think that was said by the captain at St Benedict'Si
as we were getting out of the boat, Georgy.'
'Well, perhaps it was,' she answered, her color a good
deal deeper than usual ; ' he, too, rather dissuaded me from
undertaking any expeditions of the kind, and he has a
sister '
'Who,' said Nora, 'has most probably been on every
mountain in the neighborhood. '
' Yes, but made herself quite ill last year by attempting
to follow a Countess Schaumberg from Vienna, who, be
tells me, can use a rifle and hunt as well as the keenest sports-
maUi and from his account must be a specimen of a Oermaa
AND OTHER MATTXB8. 81
^ascaline woman. In England, when we become manly, we tnrn
^f)mpletelj to the stable, talk of horses and delight in slang ;
^lis countess does not ride, or even dri?e a pony carriage,
bat she has a choice collection of fire-arms, and takes her
chasseur and dogs wherever she goes. '
' When is she expected here V asked Nora.
' In about a fortnight or three weeks. She comes here for
the marriage of Captain Falkner's sister, who has long been
engaged to Count Carl Benndorff of Herrenbnrg Achenan-
ger Drachenthal. '
' How well you pronounce these hard words,' said Nora,
laughing ; * one would think yon had been taking lessons in
Qerman. '
' Well, so she has,' said her father with a significant gri-
mace, ' she is reading a book of poetry with the captain, and
seems to get on famously ; but she can't understand other
people's German, or talk a word to the little boy who
catches minnows for me when I want bait.'
'Perhaps,' said Nora demurely, 'my proposed alp party
might hare interfered with the German lessons ?'
'Not far wrong,* Nora,' cried Mr. Nixon, with a lond
laugh. * Come, Georgy, tell the truth and shame the devil.
[f Nora had said the day after to-morrow, you would have
made less difficulties a certain person will be out hunting
then, you know.'
Georgina's color again deepened as she said that she had
lot thought of Captain Falkner when objecting to the alp
party.
' Well,' said Mr. Nixon, nudging Nora as she sat beside
nm, ' well, /'m not ashamed to say that if yon will put off
rone excursion until the day after to-morrow, we shall be
lappy to join you, eh Georgy ? To-morrow, you see, the
raptain might expect us to no matter what we couldn't
iisappoint him, you know on no account he might be
inhappy or offended, for the caotain is very fond of us, he
TBEAT8 OF MARRIAaX
is I and I, for my part, shonldn't mind confessing to you, if
Georgy was ont of the way, that I 'm uncommon takra viti
him. He doesn 't sit at my end of the boat, and has latdj
began to ride on the beach, almost, indeed, turning his bsck
to me ; bat it's all for the purpose of teaching Oeorgy Oermtn
she has told me so a hundred tiroes, and I most beliere her
i he has not a thought beyond that book of songs '
' Sonnets, ' said Oeorgina, joining half unwittingly in VonH
merry laugh.
When Mr. Nixon left them together a short time after-
wards, some minutes elapsed before either of them spoke t
word. At length Oeorgina, while playing diligently with
her lace-sleeves and bracelets, observed, 'M. Waldemar im-
proves on acquaintance, Nora ; we begin to think him veiy
gentlemanlike.'
' I never thought him otherwise,' said Nora ; * he is very
unaffected, agreeable, and gay, and forms a most pleasing
contrast to oar cold proad countryman, Mr. Torp.'
' Who certainly does give himself wonderful airs for a Mr.
Torp 1' said Oeorgina, scornfully. 'I am rather glad be
avoids our acquaintance, though I am inclined to think he is
not so insignificant a person as I at first supposed ; he is not
vulgar or pompous, and his insufferable arrogance I now
begin to think may proceed from his having a large fortune,
and considering himself an object of speculation to designing
young ladies. Nesbitt tells me he has a servant who dresses
as well or rather better than his master, and walks about til
day amusing himself ; it seems, too, he imitates Mr. Torp in
manners as well as dress, declines all the civil advances of
Monsieur Adam and Mrs. Nesbitt, and was so seldom heard
to speak that for a long time people could not find oot
whether he were Oerman, English, or French 1'
' I suppose, however,' said Nora, ' the interesting discovery
has been made at last ?'
'Nesbitt says that Adam's abuse of a Russian family with
A.ND OTHBR MATTMB8.
had travelled last year, roused him in so nniisnal a
lat little doubt now remains of his being a Russian.'
u real] J feel any cariosity on this snbject, Oeorgina V
ra, sarprised.
nasmnch as it proves that this Mr. Torp has proba-
led about a good deal.'
you care to know,' said Nora, ' M. Waldemar told
is friend had been for the last ten years almost con-
1 the continent,'
lid rather like to know something about him and his
lid Georgina.
V asked Nora.
ise one naturally feels curious about a person with
3 has spent some weeks under the same roof in a
ige like this. Captain Falkner has seen him very
[ believe, and calls him generally ''my friend's
IS if to prove that he knows nothing about him. '
lot say that I feel the slightest interest or curiosity
g him,' observed Nora, carelessly,
^ps you will not say so when I tell you that M. Wal-
not, as I supposed, an artist by profession : he is
. son of a Count Benndorff, a Tyrolean noblemaiAf
family .' She paused, as if expecting some de-
on of surprise on the part of Nora.
' said the latter, smiling, ' do you not remember my
)a not to judge of people by their coats or shoes in
tains here 7 I said it was even possible he might be
in disguise V
recollect your saying something to that purport, '
rgina ; ' and it is odd enough that he probably will
ce in the course of time. Papa says these foreign
perfectly worthless, and Mrs. Savage Wayward told
e I lefL England, that I should find princes, counts,
ns like mushrooms in Germany. They don't seem
plenty, after all, which is curious when one considers
lie children inherit the parental title.'
{
24 TRKATS OF MABaiAGX
'Captain Falkner's instroctions,' obserTed Nora, 'btTe
apparently not been confined altogether to the song-book u
my uncle calls it.'
'No/ answered Oeorgina, 'he speaks good English and
excellent French, so we have discussed a variety of subjects.'
' Such as, for instance ' said Nora, and then she paused
with a look of interrogation.
' Whether I could make up my mind to remain in Germuj
*- " for good,'' as papa says when he means for ever.'
' And do you feel disposed to resign the pomps and vaDitiei
of the London world, and retire to the cloisters of St Bese-
diet's V
'Unfortunately that is only a happiness in perspectire/
answered Oeorgina, ' for Captain Falkner cannot or will not
give up his profession as long as there is what he calls a
chance of war.'
' And you like him well enough to follow his regiment, sod
submit to the discomforts of country quarters in Hungaiji
Transylvania, or elsewhere ? '
'I requested twenty-four hours for consideration, ' replied
Georgina, gravely. ' After being so often and, as yon knoT,
so recently deceived in my expectations, I resolved to attach
no importance to Captain Falkner's attentions, and was
therefore completely taken by surprise yesterday evening. If
you had not come here this morning I should have gone to
you for advice, knowing no one more competent to give it'
' Had you so spoken ten years ago,' said Nora, 'I should
have discussed this matter in a manner that would have cod-
vinced yon I was worthy of the confidence placed in nj
wisdom ; for my mother having herself made two love matches,
and neither proving particularly happy, educated me in an
almost overstrained rational manner, making me not at all
disposed to fall in love myself, or fancy others in love with
me. At the age of sixteen or seventeen I might have been
reasoned or have reasoned myself into almost any proposed
I
AND OTHXa MATTERS. 25
je de convenance, while now, strange to say, at six-
enty I feel myself gprowing seriously sentimental and
4C, and consider love the chief desideratum.'
hink I may take it for granted that Captain Falkner
le, ' said Qeorgina, smiling, * and I like him, not per-
[uite as well as one who never really cared for me.
nm tired of struggling in the world of fashion, and am
^er young, have no wish to end my life as the unmarried
the family ; and my chances are few at home, Nora^
increase of the female population in England is mon-
they say. So all things considered '
. things considered, ' said Nora, laughing, ' yon have
ip your mind to marry, and only ask advice in the hope
g confirmed in your resolution. Now I begin to think
can scarcely venture to give an opinion on this occa-
iiving scarcely seen Captain Falkner half-a-dozen times.
., were he to burst upon my dazzled sight in the full
f his Austrian uniform at this moment, I should possi-
lot know him. Don't you think, instead of the grey
and straw hat, you could persuade him to dress him-
all his accoutrements for our gratification, when he
this evening formally to demand your hand of my
Dress does make such a difference, as Bob Acres
ira, you are laughing at me,' cried Georgina, a good
Iscomposed.
ught rather to envy you, ' replied Nora, seriously, * for
ve evidently gained the affection of an honorable man,
without knowing anything of your family or fortune,
ou he loves you, and asks you in marriage. I have
had the happiness of being loved in this manner,
ina ; but so highly have I learned to value a perfectly
rested attachment, that I would willingly give all I
I to be able to inspire any one with such an affection
Of this, however, there is now no chance, so I most
2G TEIAT8 OF MABSIAQK
take the plnce yoa decline; and become the " anmarriedone" I ^''^
of our family.' ^ I 1
'Then,' said Oeorgina, smiling cheerfally, 'then yoa do 1^
not think I am about to do a foolish thing, Nora ? ' 1^^
1
' Certainly not, ' answered Nora, moving towards the doot, I
* that is, if you are quite sure that you love him.' '*^
On descending to the road before the inn, she perceived i
number of children just released from school, disperaog
homewards ; the boys whooped, whistled, shoved and enflid
each other, playing at ball with their caps, hats, and boob,
as boys will do to the end of time most probably. A mad-
cap girl occasionally attempted to join in the rough spoil,
but as often retreated, hurt or frightened, to more quiet oon-
panions. She was scarcely well received by the groups of
little girls, who, with arms entwined, were confidentiillj
whispering to each other their little secrets, or perhaps sai-
mad verting severely on her unruly conduct. Two reiyyoatk*
ful maidens lingered among the feeding-tronghs for honei,
ranged along the wall of the inn, and Nora perceived at ooce
that they were imitating their mothers, and enjoying a little
gossip.
' It was when I was going to school this Tery moraiiig
that I heard her,' said one little chatter-box to the other;
'"Adieu, Count Waldemar," says she, "and a pleanit
journey home," says she.'
'Well, to be sure, the courage that she has!' interposed
the other. * As mother says, the boldness of that girl is
not to be believed. '
' Ana,' continued the first, ' " A pleasant journey home,"
says she, "Count Waldemar," and runs away, and he after
her, and laughs and lifts her up ever so higa and shakes
her.'
'I'm glad of it,' said number two; 'many a shake slie
gets from her mother, and well she desenres them.'
' She didnt mind the shake a bit' said the first speaker,
AND OTHER HATTERS. 27
* for the connt told the landlady to give her the biggest piece
^f cake in the honse, and she came rnnnlng after me with a
l^nip of kngelhopf foil of cnrrants and covered with almonds,
^ttd she as prond as a peacock. '
'Well/ said number two, ' I coaldn't think where she got
tliat cake : it was very good, and she gave me a piece of it,
and Catty, and Lina, and '
' She did not dare to offer me any,' said the first speaker,
with prond propriety. ' I had seen her pertness, and taxed
her with it. To speak to the connt and he getting into the
carriage, and the strange gentleman from England, and all
the people of the inn, and the postilion from the town stand-
ing by 1 '
Here Nora, not altogether nninterested in their discourse,
moTcd towards the speakers, bnt after a hurried frightened
curtsey, they both scampered off, and she turned to the little
romp, who, having been thrown down in a concluding scuffle,
was now rubbing the dust and gravel from her pink petticoat
and black bodice, while a red-haired boy, riding on one of
the feeding-troughs, alone remained to pity or enjoy her dis-
comfiture. She looked up as Nora approached, and showed
a pretty, round, sunburnt face that no doubt had attracted
the artist eye of Count Waldemar, and made him acquainted
with her. She was not at all shy, and laughed as Nora
shook some gravel from her thick curly hair, and asked who
had thrown her down.
' Red Hans,' said the little girl, pointing to the grinning,
freckled-faced boy, who was moving about on the trough in
a reckless manner, making movements with his long, dangli**
bare legs, as if spurring a horse.
' And who is Red Hans ? '
' He belongs to the widow at Waltenburg.'
* And you t '
'I'm the hammennnith's Nanerl. Come, Hans, let's go
home to dinner.'
II. 8
88 TSEATB or MABBIAQS
The boy instantly descended from his imaginary horse tsd
came towards her. 'Nanerl won't tell/ he said, glaodng
towards Nora. ' She knows I'd get no dinner from the ham-
mersmith if she made a complaint.'
' Why don't yon go home to dinner ? ' asked Nora.
' 'Caose mother's so poor, and the hammersmith said I
could have a bit with Nanerl every day. '
' I'm afraid yon 're a very naughty boy,' said Nora ; 'joo
ought to take care of her instead of throwing her down, u
you did just now. '
Hans looked embarrassed.
'He's a scamp,' said the little girl, promptly. 'Fatlici
says 60, and mother too ; but I like him, and we play at
wildschuetz together. '
' And yon are the sennerin on the alp, and take care of the
cows?'
'No, I'm a wildschuetz, too,' she answered. 'Coim
along, Hans, I won't tell ; come along.'
Olad to escape, he seized her hand and pulled her after
him as he rushed down the road into the midst of the village.
Nora looked after them and smiled.
' Now that girl is regularly "doing the poor," muttered
Torp to himself, as he peered from behind one of the old
chestnut trees in the garden, beneath which he had break-
fasted. ' I suppose,' he continued, in soliloquy, ' she ia
waiting for Waldemar, expecting him to go to the ruins with
her. *'Me9 Nora," you may wait long; by this time I
should think your adorer must be in Tyrol. '
Had Waldemar been beside him, Torp would have turned
away his head, to prove his total indifference to the preseooe
of so insignificant a personage as a Miss Nora Nixon ; whereaa
he now thought proper to indulge his curiosity without reserve,
and for the first time took a long and steady stare at the un-
conscious Nora, as she stood on the road .between the garden
and the inn. Dressed, as usual, in a check black and grey
AND OTHKB MAT7KBS.
Ok, he thonght her figure as graceftil as any he had seen for
a long time ; and even beneath thehideoas coarse straw hat
the delicate little face appeared to such advantage that he
magnanimonsly rejoiced in the absence of his friend, and
applauded himself for his disinterested condact.
Jast as Nora was about to walk away, she perceived the
forester's son, Franz, coming towards the village; he
hastened his steps, and advanced so directly towards her,
that she first stopped, and then moved a few steps to
meet him.
* Oh ho I what is the meaning of all this ? ' thonght Torp,
as the yoang man, raising his hat, exhibited a pale, agitated
face, and began to speak with an eagerness and vehemence
of action very diffi^rent from his nsaal tranqail manner.
Nora's cheerfal smile faded away, and a look of deep
interest spread over her features as she listened, and began
to walk slowly along the road with him.
* Madeleine said you were at the mill, mademoiselle,' ob-
senred Franz, ' and that you can bear witness that she told
black Sepp she did not care for him, and would not marry
him.'
* I remember hearing her say so,' replied Nora.
'He reminded her/ continued Franz, 'of some promise
that she made years ago.'
Nora nodded assent.
'But,' he added, 'that is of no importance, for she must
have been then almost a child; and she confesses having
made promises of the same kind to half-a-dozen others before
she was sixteen. '
Nora looked grave, but did not speak.
' She would have braved him if she had dared,' he con-
tinued ; ' but her father, she says, has entered into solemn
engagements with the Tyrolean, who contrived to make hin^
self useful and necessary when the family were poor and in
debt. It seems he not only served without receiving wages,
8*
80 TaX^ATS OF MARBIAQK
bat ereu assisted them in Tarioos ways, all, as it now appesn,
on condition that Madeleine was to be his wife. '
* It is incomprehensible to me/ observed Nora, ' why ^
miller permitted an engagement with you under soeh cu-
cnmstances. '
'I cannot say he was exactly willing,' said Frans; 'it
was my father who urged it at Ammergan, on aocoont of the
fortune, perhaps and other friends helped, and laughed at
the idea of the miller consulting his workman about the lDa^
riage of his daughter I I only thought of Madeleine's betotj,
and the triumph of carrying her off from all the others, ud
80 it was settled an hour after we came together.'
' Has Madeleine broken off her engagement with yon atto-
gether 7 ' asked Nora.
' She said she must, for that her father, at black Sepp'i
instigation, had withdrawn his consent, and until his death
she would have no fortune; I have none either, and most
wait long to become forstwart. '
'You seemed just now,' said Nora,, after a pause, 'to
think I could be of use to you. I cannot, however, imagise
in what way. '
' Madeleine thought if you called on the priest, and got
him to speak to her father and black Seppel, it might do
good ; they have both a great respect for his reverence.'
' Could not her mother explain the state of the case better?'
suggested Nora.
' Madeleine tells me her mother takes part with the miller,
and is now more disposed towards the Tyrolean than me.'
' That is not improbable, ' said Nora, musingly, and if joa
really think that my interference can be of use to you, I will
go at once to the priest. '
' Thank you, mademoiselle, you are very kind. His reve*
rence is at home now, I am sure, and either in the garden or
looking after his bees. I should not have given you this
trouble, if Madeleine had not expressly forbidden any iattf*
AND OTHKB MATTBBB. 81
ference on mj part, which, she said, wonid do no good, and
only serve to irritate her father. She hoped that yoa, who
had been so kind to Rosel, wonld not refuse to help her, and
it seems she was not mistaken.'
' Will yoa wait here to be made acquainted with the resnlt
of the conference ? ' asked Nora.
*I cannot,' he answered, 'for Connt Waldemar sent
express for me this morning, to tell me that he was going
borne, and must trust altogether to me to find sport for his
friend from England, as the captain at St. Benedict's had
said he had no time at present to call on the gentleman, or
go out bunting with him ; so I must now look after some
chamois, said to be in the neighborhood of the Wild Alp,
and I'm glad of the walk, or anything that takes me from
the TUlage just now. '
He opened the wicket of the priest's garden, bowed low
as she passed him, and stood looking after her; when she
entered the open door of the house, and commenced a con-
Tcrsation with the old housekeeper, who had advanced to
meet -her.
Unperceived by both, Torp sauntered along the road, his
bands thrust into the pockets of his shooting-Jacket, his eyes
fixed on the sunny summit of the mountain that rose high
above the shingled roof of the parsonage.
Light, and airy, and clean, like all the priests' houses
Nora had ever seen in Germany, was this one also. It
seemed as if everything had been just freshly scoured ; and
when the door of the reception-room was opened, she found
herself in precisely the sort of apartment she had expected.
Two side, and three front windows were furnished with very
white, thin muslin curtains carefully draped aside ; there were
six chairs, a round table, a sofa, and two chests of drawers
in the room y on one of the latter, a well-carved crucifix, on
the other a pair of silrer candlesticks. She had scarcely
time to look round her, when the door of an adjoining room
82 TBEATS 07 MA&BIAOS
was opened, and a middle-aged, intelligent, and ntkr
solemn-looking man advanced towards her ; his coat was Tcrj
long, his cravat very stiff, his high forehead rendered higiM
by incipient baldness, and his carefuUy-shayed cheeks sod
chin remarkably bine colored. He approached Nora with a
succession of slight, shy bows ; and as he stopped before ber,
and placed his right hand slowly in the bosom of his coat, the
peculiar priestly movement betrayed to her at once his embw*
rassment, and removed hers.
Accepting the offered chair, she informed him of as mud
of the miller's story as she felt herself at liberty to relate, tad
he listened to her throaghont with the most andeviatiiig
attention, observing, when she pansed for an answer, that
' He was not surprised, but sorry for what had occorred, oa
account of the forester's family ; he should scarcely feel jofU-
fied in speaking to the miller in the manner she desired ; aad
had little hope of influencing the Tyrolean, who was in the
habit of avoiding the church in Almenan, by crossing the
mountains to visit his family, almost every Sunday and holy
day ; the man was violent and resolute, and not likely to listen
to expostulations from any one. '
' I regret to hear this, ' said Nora, for he seems to have
the miller completely in his power.'
A momentary flash of intelligence gleamed in the priest^s
eyes, but passed as quickly as lightning ; and it was with his
eyes fixed on the ground that he observed, ' The miller is a
weak a very weak man, mademoiselle, and has unfortu-
nately left his affairs completely to the superintendence of his
chief workman during the last six years, and has become
dependent on him : he was very poor when I came to reside
here, but has since inherited a good deal of money from a
brother ; and his daughter, as village heiress, has been latp
terly the prize for which all the neighboring peasants hare
been contending. She has been the subject of more quarrels,
and the cause of more brawls, than she is worth ; and knowiog
HP OTHBB MATTEB8. 8S
her to be an idle, pleasure-loving girl, yon mast ezcnse mj
saying that a separation from her would be the greatest piece
of good fortune that could happen to the young assistant
forester. '
' Unfortunately he does not think so,' said Nora, 'and he
and Madeleine now place their whole reliance on you.'
' I shall speak to him this evening, and I hope to some
purpose, ' he answered dryly.
' Ton will not find him M home, as he is going to the Wild
Alp,' rejoined Nora ; 'and if what I have said has led yon to
form the design of dissuading him from a renewal of his en-
gagement, I have indeed proved but a sorry advocate, and
had better cease to plead. '
' Mademoiselle, ' said the priest, politely, ' no better advo*
cate could have been chosen on this occasion ; I have heard
of your generosity to Rosel, and can assure you it is not mis-
placed ; she is, and always has been, a good girl ; her brother
also is worthy of regard, and you cannot be more interested
in bis welfare than I am. I have bitberto avoided all inter-
ference in the marriages of my parishioners : they are gene-
rally rational contracta made by the parents, in which the
parties most concerned are so little consulted, that the refusal
to bestow a cow or calf has not nnfrequently broken off a
match in every respect desirable. Now I have little doubt
that interested motives induced the forester to propose his
son to the miller for his daughter.'
'I understood,' said Nora, 'that Franz and Madeleine
had long been attached to each other. '
'Madeleine's attachments,' said the priest, with a con-
temptuous smile, ' have been very numerous. Franz has not
lived at home for many years ; and though I think it more
than probable that he admires Madeleine, who is considered
very handsome, I suspect she accepted him for the purpose
of becoming, in the course of time, a forester's or perhaps
even a forstmeister's wife^ and being able to wear a bonnet.'
84 TRKATB or XABBIAOX
' Wear a bonnet ! ' repeated Nora, ' could she not wear om
now if she pleased ? '
' No, mademoiselle, a peasant's daughter does not wears
bonnet in this country ; bnt what J meant to express wsi,
that Madeleine's ambition was to become a ladj.'
' Oh,' said Nora, ' I understand yon now. '
VYet I was not speaking in the least metaphorically, 'cos-
tinned the priest ; ' Franz has been to the forester acadenj,
will receive a place nnder goyemnient, and, as his wife, then
is nothing to prevent Madeleine from substituting a bonnet
for the peasant hat, or still simpler black kerchief so nmve^
sally worn here. The silver-laced bodice, short skirt, sod
apron will be thrown aside, and replaced by a modish gown,
and the ignorant^ vain girl will fancy the metamorphodi
complete.'
' She will look uncommonly pretty in any dress, ' said Kors.
* I have seldom seen more perfect features. '
' Mademoiselle,' said the priest, almost reproachfully, 'yoa
attach too much importance to beauty. I could prove to yos
that the plaiuest girl in this village is by many degrees the
cleverest and most amiable 1 '
' Ob pray tell me all about her,' cried Nora, eagerly, 'yos
can in no way oblige me more than by giving me informatios
concerning the people here. '
* If that be the case,' said the priest^ * perhaps you will go
to the school-house with me, and look over the judgment-
books.'
The school-house was not far distant. An unpretending
building, in no way differing from the others in the village,
excepting that the whole of the ground floor was required
for the large school-room, which was amply lighted by side
and front windows, and furnished with long rows of benches
and desks, suited to the different ages of the pupils, and in-
creasing progressively in height as they receded towards the
door. A broad space in the middle of the room served to
AND OTHSB MATTBB8. tt
separate the boys from the girls, and afforded the schoolsias-
ter a place, which he constantly perambulated, to the no
small terror of idle or mischieroas children.
As Nora and the priest advanced into the schooUroom,
Torp's head might have been seen at one of the open windows
thrast through the clustering leaves of a vine trained against
the wall of the house. There was a mixture of curiosity and
irony in the expression of his face as he listened to Nora's
questions, and saw her poring over the large blue books so
willingly presented to her for inspection by the schoolmaster.
It is probable she asked questions he had no objection to
hear answered, as he remained at the window, and even
stretched forward once or twice as if he also wished to see
the contents of the judgment-books.
When Nora took leave, followed to the door by both her
companions, she found Rosel waiting for her near the church,
and they soon after entered the footpath in the wood that
led to the ruins of Waltenburg.
At some distance before her Nora soon perceived Torp.
Why he just then chose to go where, from her conversation
with Waldemar the previous evening, he knew he was likely
to meet her, she could not well imagine. It never occurred
to her, that, unconscious of the information she had obtained
of Waldemar's departure, both from the school-children and
Franz, he felt a mischievous pleasure in the expectation of
seeing her sitting on some fragment of the ruin confidently
expecting the arrival of bis friend I Yet it must be confessed
that this idea had for some minutes served to amuse Torp,
when he first turned into the wood, and seemed to recur,
when, having scrambled to a prominent place on a weather-
beaten wall, he looked down with laughing eyes, and watched
her progress over the few mouldering planks that supplied
the place of the drawbridge.
Scarcely, however, bad she and Rosel entered the precincts
of the ruin and looked over the wall that commanded a view
8S TBXATB OF MAERIAOX
of the high road/ than they heard a load and jojoqb jodd,
and saw soon afterwards a yonng man springing np the hm,
flonrishing his hat in the air, and followed more leisurely by
an old peasant, whose long-tailed, short-waisted, grass-greei
coat made Nora instantl j recognise the man now well knowi
to her bj the name of ' Crags. '
Nora's inclination to bnild castles in the air on the runn
of Waltenbnrg instantly vanished, and she tamed back to
meet the old man and his son, who were evidentlj bearers of
good news. With mnch pleasure she heard that the judge
had appointed the following Thursday for the signing of tiw
contract of resignation, and that he wonld that very alte^
noon come to Almenaa to speak to her.
'About the thousand florins, you know, miss,' said^ the old
man ; ' for I told him I was sure you were ready to deposit
the money in his hands on Thursday, or even sooner, if it
were necessary.'
' Quite right,' said Nora, smiling at the peasant's cunDiog
way of informing her that she would be required to keep her
promise sooner perhaps than she had expected.
' When I have once made up my mind to do a thing/ he
continued, with much self-complaisance, ' I do it. And that's
why I did not wait till next week to go into our town, bat
says to Seppel this morning says I If the young lady is
willing to make that agreement respecting the churchyard,
says I, let's take her at her word, says I, and strike while
the iron is hot.'
Again Nora smiled, and he continued : ' If it's agreeable
to you, miss, the betrothal can take place at the forester's on
Thursday evening, and before you leave the village I'll move
with my old woman into the off house, and let Seppel briog
home Rosel.'
' You could not do anything that would give me more
pleasure,' said Nora.
She had scarcely ceased speaking when, more to her
AND OTHSB MATTXftS. BX
mmnsement than sorprise, Seppel. waved his hat in the air,
and at the same time raising his right leg, he gave Tent to
liis feelings of exaltation in a shont that caused Torp to
look in some astonishment at the pantomime being performed
on the green hill beneath him.
'This yerj daj/ said Seppel, 'I'U go to the Eerbstein
lake, and invite my mother's brother to come to us on Thars-
day next.'
' The fisherman there is your nnclc,' observed Nora.
'And my godfather, too, miss, and has done his daty by
me handsome from beginning to end. I would not miss
being the first to tell him of my betrothal for any considera-
tion, so I'll last ran on, and take leave of my mother, and
perhaps I may get to the lake before nightfall ; if not, I can
tarn into one of the hats on the Wild Alp.'
'The cattle have been driven down from want of pasture,'
shouted his father after him, as he bounded down before
them. ' You will not find a cow or sennerin on the whole
mountain now I '
' No matter, ' he answered, laughing, ' the keys of the huts
are to be found under the benches before the door, and I can
have my choice of the lofts, and the hay in all of them I'
'A spirited and a handsome fellow he is, there is no doubt
of that,' murmured old Crags, as he plodded on beside Nora
and her perfectly happy companion. ' I sometimes think a
little of his life and energy would do Anderl no harm, but
one can't have everything one wishes, and in respect of
steadiness there's no comparison I '
JACK'S FIESt EXPLOIT.
CHAPTER III.
jack's first exploit.
The next day was partly spent by Nora in becoming better
acquainted with Captain Falkner. She perceiTcd that Im
knew more of Torp than he was at liberty to divulge eren to
GeorginB, and rejoiced that the incognito was to be continued
for some time longer, as she had learned to distrust her ancle's
professions of indifference to rank, and feared that Torp'i
haughty reception of his ciyilities might put her patience to
a severe test.
She accompanied her nncle to the lake at St. Benedict's,
interpreted for him when he chose to talk to the people aboat
the place, joined Georgina in trying to persuade Captain
Falkner to leave the army, and made plans for the future io
which, as possessor of Waltenburg, she was to be their nearest
neighbor. She would have spent a pleasant day in the society
of companions so evidently happy, had not John's absence
caused her much uneasiness. He had left them the day before
after a hasty dinner, and laughing congratulations to hi3
sister and Captain Falkner, and not having returned during
the night she feared, and at last firmly believed, that he had
gone, as he had said he would, to the Wild Alp. It wn
there, also, that Seppel had proposed to pass the night, and
she knew not whether to suppose a planned meeting on both
sides, or an unlucky chance that would inevitably lead to
mutual temptation. She remembered, too, with increasing
anxiety, that Franz had returned home for Torp during the
previous evening, and that Rosel had mentioned having seen
(hem pass the forest-hoose together just before she went to
I:
':. a
jack's riS6T BXPLOIT. S9
bed. Their destiDation was also tbe Wild Alp, and Bh
dreaded to think what might occar there ehoDld a meelin;
take place.
Long, tbererore, appeared the da;, still longer the evening,
bnt at last, leaTing her uncle, Georgiiia, and Captain Falkner
under one of the trees near tbe inn, she sauntered through
tbe Tillage, preoccnpied and dejected, responding more laconi-
callj than was her wont to the ' Good erenings ' wished ber
by the peasanta who sat or stood beFore their doors. Scarcely,
however, was sbe beyond the village, and within sight of the
forest-hoDse, when she heard her name prononnced in a low,
cautious manner, and on looking towards tbe place where tbe
Toice came she saw her consio John, standing far above her
in the deep shade of an old beecb-tree. lie seemed to have
just descended from the summit of the mountain, along the
steep side of which the road had been made ; but instead of
joining her, as she expected, he beckoned impatiently, and
then receded slitl farther into tbe wood, as if nnwilling to be
Been.
A good deal alarmed at his manner, Nora sprang ap the
bank, and when beside him looked anxionsly into his face. It
was still light enough for her to see him distinctly, and, under
any other circumstances, sbe wonld have indulged in a hearty
laugh, so oddly did bis disordered bair and srantted face con-
trast with his smart English walking-dress : bnt the streaks
of soot about tbe roots of his bnir, and the comical prolong-
ation of bis eyebrows, produced hardly the shadow of a smile
on her countenance, as, reassured of his personal safety by
his presence, she said, gravely, 'I see, Jack, you have had
your face blackened, and been out poaching.''
'Call it wild hunting, if yon please,' be cried, embracing
her somewhat tnrbalently, 'and let me tell you, Nora, Umt I
have no wish to be anything but a hunter of tliis sort, as long
Mi I may chance to remain in Ibis jolly country, for more
exciting sport it is impossible to imagine ; I voold ool Vu.i
II. -4
40 JACK'B FIRST EXPLOIT.
missed last night's hunt, or this morning's fan, for ftnytUi^
that could be offered me. But I have got into a little dilemma
Nora, out of which you must help me, and keep my secret
toto the bargain. '
'A dilemma, ' she repeated ; ' oh, Jack, I hope it does not
concern Seppel in any way I. Yon do not know what nnbap-
piness it will cause, if he should be detected, or even suspected
just now. I say nothing of the consequences to yourself bst
for a mere frolic to destroy irretrievably the prospects of i
young man whose father has so lately consented to resign liii
property to him, that he may be able to marry the person to
whom he has been so long '
* Oh, I know all that 1 ' he cried, interrupting her, * I'le
promised to dance at his wedding, if he has not to wait
another half-dozen years before he celebrates it. '
' Should he be brought before the judge as a wildschuets,'
said Nora, ' there is an end to all his hopes, for his fatba
will undoubtedly disinherit him I '
' There is much more danger of his being shot by yoor
friend the forester, than brought before the judge,' said Jack.
* I never saw such a dare-devil of a fellow in my life, to nj
nothing of his having friends and accomplices at both sidei
of the mountains. '
' And you have induced him to re-commence these danger-
ous and unlawful practices,' observed Nora^ reproachfully,
' after his having refrained from them for upwards of dx
years 1 '
' Bosh I ' cried Jack. ' The people about here may belieTO
that, and think he never touches a rifle now ; but he told me,
no matter what a different story, at all events, and I
must believe him, for he had his clothes in one house and hii
gun in another, and knew perfectly well where to find the
key to the uninhabited ch&let in which we blackened oar
faces. '
' On the Wild Alp, lyost probably ' said Nora^ sorrowfcllj.
jack's riBST EXPLOIT. 41
The very place, ' exclaimed Jack ; ' but we did not remain
long there, for directly after sanset we began onr hunt, and
were joined by three fellows from Tyrol, who had seen no
trace of chamois, though they had been out all the previons
night. They proposed, however, giving me a "stand," as
they called it, near a spot of gronnd that has been mnch
freqnented lately by deer ; and, as we had famous moonlight,
I had only to keep to leeward of the direction in which they
were likely to come. But to get to this place, Nora, Seppel
and I had to creep through narrow defiles and over rocks, to
clamber up-hill on loose sand, through bushes and brambles,
and, at last, actually to crawl like worms over stones and
tronks of trees, cast about in all directions by one of those
moontain-torrents now without a drop of water, though
sometimes quite a broad, deep stream.'
"I can easily imagine such a place,' said Nora; 'and,
though I do not exactly understand why you crawled over
the stones '
' To prevent them from rolling, and either alarming the
deer or attracting the attention of those foresters, who are
perpetually on the look-out. '
'Well,' said Nora, 'go on. You shot something, I
suppose, or yon would not have got into a dilemma ? Tell
me what happened. '
' ' Oh, that was long after ; and I rather expect you will
enjoy, or at all events excuse, the scrape I have got into this
time, as there is no harm done, and you can easily prevent
any unpleasant consequences.'
'Tell me how, and let me do it then,' said Nora, impa-
tiently.
' I thought you would like to have a full and true account
of all that occurred ; besides, you cannot be of any use until
to-morrow morning. '
'In that case,' said Nora, ' you may be aa c\Texxm'!^A.Tv^a\
4*
42 jaok'b riBST bxploit.
as joa please ; and while joa relate, we can walk towarda
the inn together.'
By no nieans/ cried Jack, catching her arm to detain
her. ' I do not wish to enter the Tillage until it is dark, or
the inn, until I can get to my own room, and wash my face
without being observed : besides, for reasons which yon will
afterwards understand, I don't choose any one to know that
I have seen or spoken to you. '
' This sounds very mysterious. Jack ; I wish yon would be
more explicit.'
' Well, don't interrupt me so often,' he rejoined ; and then,
having seated himself deliberately on a huge stone, he looked
up with an air of extreme satisfaction, and an odd twinkle in
his eyes, and asked abruptly ; ' Do you know what a achmam
is, Nora ? '
' A sort of omelette, cut up into little pieces,' she answered.
'And a woodman's schmarnV he asked.
' Something similar, I believe, excepting that it is made
with water instead of milk.'
'Right: they call it holz-muss; and a better thing for
keeping off hunger was never invented. That's what they
gave me for supper yesterday evening.'
' Where ? ' asked Nora.
'At one of the houses I don't know whether it was in
Tyrol or Bavaria; very civil people they were wanted to.
return me the greater part of the money I gave them. '
'Then you were probably in Bavaria,' observed Nora;
'but go on.'
' It was fortunate I had had so substantial a supper, and
carried off a piece of rye-bread in my pocket, for, after we
came to the "stand" they had talked so much about the
three Tyroleans left us, and we had to lie ensconced behind
some rocks for hours and hours, listening to every sound,
distant and near, with fatiguing attention, and peering out
continually, to see if we could distinguish anything approach-
jack's PIB8T XXPLOtT. 43
lag the green spot at tbe other side of the nearly dried up
riralet tbat ran between the mountains. I think it muEt
hare been a conple of hoars past midnight, vhen we heard
the Eonnd of rolling stones and gravel, aud soon after per-
ceired a stray roebuck descending from the more barren
heights to the grass plot nearly opposite as. I could see
every moTement; and at one time, as he raised his bead, aod
came forward to tbe very edge of the grazing- pi ace, he was
not thirty yards from the mnzzle of my rifle 1 I raised it
my hand was on tbe trigger when, can yon believe it,
Nora? I got into snch n state of agitation, that I conld
not attempt to take aim. I don't think I ever in my life had
Qch a palpitation snch a fit of trembling '
' And this is what yon call sport 1 ' said Nora.
'Pshaw I' he cried, starting np impatiently; 'there's no
nse in telling a woman anything of this kind, she can't nn-
dentand one I In short, be moved aboat nnconscions of his
danger ; gave me ample time to recover my self-possession ;
and I shot bim. Tbe row caused by tbe report of my rifia
is not to be described 1 Why just on tbat spot there should
be snch an infernal echo, I cannot tcl!. It may have sounded
louder ^om the long silence that bad preceded it perhaps,
also, my wish to do the thing quietly made me more obser-
rant of the noise but it seemed as if a regular discharge
of musketry bad taken place, followed by a rolling, like
tbnnder, along the moantaiu-side, apparently endless; for,
even as it gradually died away, a fresh report in the distance
seemed to rouse the echo afresh, until I was perfectly aghast
at the commotion I had caused.'
' I suspect,' observed Nora, 'you are not the first wildschnetz
who would have liked to silence the echoes about him : but
fitayl' she added, hastily; 'yon say this happened about
two o'clock iu tbe morning? now, Mr. Torp and Franz
left Almcnan at midnight, and must have been In tbe direc-
tion, and near enough to bave beard your shot. '
44 jaok's fiest exploit.
* To be Bure they heard it,' answered Jack, laaghiag ; 'm4 f^
I dare say did their best to get at ns : but, in order to pre*
vent an unnecessary encounter, while I was listening to the
echo, Seppel had scrambled across the stream, to where the
roebuck was lying, nearly motionless, only giving CTideoce
of life by deep breathings and an occasional shiver, vfailo
enormous quantities of blood flowed from a wound in lus
side.'
' Poor thing I ' said Nora, compassionately ; * I hope bfi
did not suffer long. '
' Oh, no,' said Jack ; ' his struggles were soon over ; for
Seppel plunged his hanger into the nape of his neck in i
most scientific manner, and he never moved afterwards.'
' Well well and then ? ' said Nora.
' And then, ' continued Jack, ' he butchered away for some
time in a manner that I need not describe to yon, and ended
by placing the roebuck partly in his green linen bag, and
slinging it^ with my assistance, on his back. Ho afterwardi
put his fingers between his teeth, and produced a successioA
of piercing whistling sounds.'
* What for ? ' asked Nora.
A signal to the other fellows to join us : they had been
searching about the rocks above us, as I had promised them
something if I got a shot. Seppel said it was better to be
satisfied with the roebuck for this time, and proposed going
on to the alp, as he believed the forester was out on the
mountain, and he was the last person he wished to meet jost
then,'
' What a passion this hunting must be,' soliloquised Nora;
' not to be able to resist the temptation even now, when so
much is at stake I '
' You may well say that,' observed John ; * for if the old
man had seen ns, we should have had bullets ** whistling as
they went for want of thought." They tell me he fires in a
very unceremonious manner at every wildshnetz he meet9
jack's riBST EXPLOIT. 46
CTer GiDce bis eldest son was shot bj one somewhere thoat
here. '
' The forester was, forlDnately, at home last night,' bcgaa
Nora ; ' but his son and Mr, Torp '
'I know, I know,' cried John, interrapting her; 'the^
came upon na at the Wild Alp, jnst as we had made a fire,
and were going to cook our breakfast. One of oar Tyro-
learn was on the watch ; and, as we were five to two, we let
Ihem come on, and prepared for battle.'
Nora looked alarmed, bat John's langh reassured her, and
she let him coutiaae without interruption.
' Our sentinel gave the alarm; we seized onr riQes, and
looked through the window, just in time to see the enemj
advancing up the hill, and over the ground tramped ioLo
boles b; the entile in wet weather. Torp and his companion
sprang behind some rocks, raised their rifles, and shouted to
the Tyroleons, who appeared at the door, to deliver up their
arms. They were answered by an order to sheer off, if they
tfaonght thi'ir lives worth preserving. Seppel, in the mean-
time, kept in the back-ground with me ; and I am much mis-
taken if Torp, supposing us to be but three, did not consider
himself, with the assistant forester, more than a match for
D8 1 At all events, be showed more courage than prudence,
for no sooner had the Tyroleans retreated into the hat, than
be left his place of safety, and rashed after them, notwiih-
standing the loud remonstrances of hia companion, who,
nerertbelesE, seemed to think himself obliged to follow bim.
Too shonld hare seen how Seppel pounced upon the young
forester '
' What 1 ' exclnimcd Nora ; ' sorely yoo must be mistaken ! '
' Not a bit, ' cried Jack : ' he knocked his rifio ont of his
hand, and then they wrestled desperately for a few seconds;
bat, with the assistance of one of the Tyroleans, he managed
to get him dowa on the ground, and then tied his handa
behind his back, and afterwards his feet together.'
46 jack's fibst exploit.
' And Mr. Torp 7 ' asked Nora.
' Torp floored the two fellows who attacked him without
any diflficulty, and was evidently making for the door, with
his eye on his rifle, until I rushed to the rescue ; and thotig;h
I determined not to betray myself by speaking, and didnH
say, " Come on," I'm afraid I looked it, for he turned to me
at once, and we had a regular set-to, pitching into each
other like '
'Jack, Jack,' cried Nora quickly, 'you have betrayed
yourselfto Mr. Torp, and will be completely in his power.'
' Tou could not expect me to wait until he knocked me
down, too I ' cried Jack ; * I gave him fair play afterwards,
at all events, for as soon as the others attacked him again I
drew off. I tell you, Nora, you would have died of laughing
had you seen him, as I did, struggling on the floor, and
giving them all employment before he was pinioned. He's
an uncommonly powerful fellow, that Torp ! '
'Perhaps,' said Nora, 'he did not observe any difference
in your mode of attack from that of the others, for, after all,
his surprise and the confusion must have been too great for
him to make nice observations. '
' I don't know,' replied Jack, carelessly, ' I kept out of his
way as much as I could from the time he was overpowered
by numbers. The young forester kicked, and writhed, and
raged, vowing vengeance on us all: Torp never moved from
the time that resistance was useless, and actually contrived to
look dignified when lying helpless on the ground, fixing his
great grey eyes upon us one after another with such scruti-
nizing glances that we thought it expedient to get him oat
of the way, and had him carried into the little inner room
and laid on the boards that had served as bedstead to the
shepherdess I mean dairy-maid, that is what they call
sennerin.'
* And did he not speak a word then 7 ' asked Nora.
' He said that he hoped we would send some one up to
I
jack's virst xxploit. 47
n before they were starred to death ; but Seppc!
bat he was not sacb a fool as to ran the risk of
messenger brought before the jadge of the district
3. Torp then proposed terms, said that ho wonld
ya to discover ns, and if we wonld release him at
aid CTen promise to remain three or four hoars in
rder to give us time to get into Tjrol ; bat Seppel
derstand sach chivalry, laughed in his face, and
door of the room.'
eavens, what a dreadfal sitnation I ' cried Nora ;
ck, yon interfered at last ? '
' he said, with a laugh ; * they would not hear of
forester's being set at liberty, and I could not
ig Torp's discomfiture, after all his incivility to
urse I thought all the while of telliug yon, and
your making an excursion to the alp to-morrow,
' your numerous peasant friends. Yon know yoa
te astonished at finding them prisoners, and all
' thing. Take plenty of prog with you, for they'll
' hungry, I suspect, by the time yon reach them. '
I could go this moment," said Nora, uneasily,
ible to think of their passing the night in such a
idn't Torp let me have my sport by fair means ? '
; ' if I can only have it by stealth, he shall not
th me. You know yon have often said he was a
greeable man, Nora, and a little punishment of this
ring down his pride perhaps. At all events such
not nncommon hereabouts, and as to their being
anything of that kind, there is no danger what-
the old forester did not go to look for them, he
nt an anonymous letter, you know. The simplest
;, however, will be for you to go to the alp ; Torp
i yoa are continually making excursions of the
4S jack's VIR8T EXPLOIT.
' Aod,' interposed Nora, 'i^nd fortiiDatelj be has heard oe
say that I intended to go to this very place.'
'Then go,' cried John eagerly, 'go, and get np a lond
scream when yon see him afterwards yon can laugh td
question him as mnch as yon like. '
' I have only to leave Rosel in ignorance of all that hu
occurred,' said Nora, ' and she will be astonished and shocked
enough for us both. And now. Jack, I must leave yon to
make arrangements with her, and put off my uncle and Geor-
gina, who had at last consented to go to one of the lower
alps near the village. The man who was to have been our
guide must be told to call for me at three o'clock in the morn-
ing instead of eight, and I shall take all the provisions pro-
vided for my uncle to your prisoners.'
' I say, Nora,' cried John, caUing after her as she descended
to the road, ' don't betray me by looking conscious when yoa
see Torp, and avoid answering any questions he may ask yoa.'
Rosel was not much surprised at Nora's change of plan:
the excuse was so plausible, that she must take advantage of
the fine weather to go to the Wild Alp, as every one said that
the path after rain would be impracticable for her, and a con-
tinuance of the present warm weather was not to be expected.
And Rosel explained this at some length, not only at the
inn, but also when she went afterwards with a pair of Nora's
boots to the shoemaker and requested him, late as it was, to
put large nails in the soles, as otherwise her young lady woald
find it hard to get over the rocks and loose stones on the way
down the mountain from the Wild Alp.
I
THX WILD ALP. 49
CHAPTER IT.
THJB WILD ALP.
AT had not dawned, bat the moon, though completely
med bj the moontains, still afforded a pale grey sort of
. as Nora, accompanied by Rosel and an athletic young
1-cleaver named Michael, left the forester's honse. Their
was at first through meadows and gently sloping hills,
woods of beech and maple, past isolated peasants' houses
-e, early as it was, the threshing-flail was already being
ig by busy hands. Many were the morning greetings
Nora and her companions received as they passed the
L barn-doors, and great the surprise expressed when it
known that they were on their way to the Wild Alp,
*e the huts were uninhabited and the cattle driven home
he winter I Higher up, Nora observed fields of com and
it scarcely ready for the sickle, and oats still green as
s. By degrees the beech, birch, and maple trees became
r, and they entered a forest of pine and fir that Nora
ght endless, and, in fact, it covered a not inconsiderable
atain, over which they had to pass before they reached
ne on which the Wild Alp was situated,
lie mountains around Almenau joined those of Tyrol, and
nnfrequently the line of boundary between Bavaria and
:ria was made evident by a clearance of wood about the
b of a road, which might be distinguished for miles
igh the forest district, seemingly made with as little
rd to hill or dale as a line drawn on a map. Nora had
60 TnS WILD ALP.
been oat some hoars, and the son had risen before she arrired
at those higher regions whence she coald observe this and
look down on the chains of wooded monntains beneath, witli
their intersecting valleys and winding rivers ; then, too, sbe
canght the first glimpse of the long row of glaciers that so
deeply interest the Highland tonrist, each step rendering
visible a greater extent of eternal snow and ice. More and
more ragged became her path,, while rocks of the most gro-
tesqae form seemed to start from the groond in all directioos,
and as thej woand roand the monntain on a narrow shelf that
had been blasted in the rocks for the convenience of charcoal-
bamers and cattle, Nora stopped for a few minates to look
down a deep dry water-coarse, and wonder at the havoe
cansed by a small waterfall that now, trickling scantily fron
the heights above, seemed in no way to render necessary tlie
bridge of felled trees over which she stepped ; bat which in
spring or after rain probably swelled to a raging cataract, ai
it had prostrated trees and carried away everything impedioK
its coarse down the mountain. Masses of loose stones, grarel,
and sand, forced along by the torrent, had not remained in
the bed excavated by the water, bnt, spreading over a wida
space of ground at each side, had created a scene of devasta-
tion that widened as it proceeded until finally lost in the chaoi
of rocks that vainly opposed the progress of a river far below
in the gorge between the mountains.
When Nora turned from this spot and began to pnrsne
her path, she perceived Rosel far above her, kneeling beside
a wooden cross that had been placed in a sheltered nook b^
neath a ledge of rock ; the sun's first glowing rays fell on it
and the bent figure, and as Nora approached she perceived
a tablet containing a picture fastened to the cross, and knew
that on the spot where it stood some one had died suddenly,
by accident or otherwise. When Rosel stood np, Nora bent
forward and saw a very rough representation of a man with
a blackened face, intended to represent a wildschaets, but
THX WIID AL?. 61
vfaich might kIso hire been the portrait of a fiend incarnate,
aa trom an ambnsh ho fired at a joang man^faose trim ooi-
form ahoired him to b a Iraoter and wood-ranger by pro-
festion.
.' Your eldest brother, I inppose V said Nora.
' Yes. My father, who heard the report of the rifle at the
sip, ran on liere and fonnd him shot through the heart.'
' And the wildscbnetz V asked Nora.
' He escaped bj sliding down the monntain on the sand,
near the watcr&ll, at the place jon were standing Jnst now,
and ODCe in the forest below, there was no chance of finding
him. Hy mother had this pictnre painted by Florian's
btber and pat np here ; bnt I sometimes think it would be
bettr if she had been satisfied with the cbnrchyard cross, for
eTery time my father comes on this mountain, he tows fresh
Tengeance against erery wildschnetz he may hereafler meet.
When be is hnnting or inspecting the woods abont here, I can
BOTer sleep at night, and was right glad that he stayed at
home, and sent out Franz with the Englishman yesterday.'
'You feared, perhaps, that Seppel once oat on the monn-
tain, might be tempted to '
' Oh no, I did not think of him,' said Bosel ; ' yon know
he has gone to isTite bis people to onr betrothal.'
' And this Is not the way to the Kerbstein lake,' said
Nora.
Not the shortest,' answered Rosel, with some hesi-
tation ; 'yet not much out of the way either; bnt I can trust
Seppel now, and eren if be did pass by the alp, it wonid bo
with no nnlawfal intention.'
Nore walked on in silence, bo occnpled with her thoughts
that she took bnt little notice of the SDrroandtog scenery,
until startled by a lood shont from their guide ; then she per-
ceiTed that they had reached the base of the walls of rock
that formed the summit of the mountain, while beneath her,
with ita desertAd ehtlets and roek-bouid nameless lake, lay the
n. 5
5S THS WILD AXP.
Wild Alp. There was a gloomy grandeur in the aeene tlnfi
Nora had not expected ; no tree or shmb g^w on the steep
shore of the emerald green lake, in the wonderfnllj dor
waters of which eyery cleft in the surrounding rocks was n-
fleeted ; no riyulet poured itself into the tranquil basin, cor
was there any apparent outlet for the water supplied by
hidden springs ; equally secret channels conyeyed the snpc^
fluons water throngh the adjoining mountains. leaving the
lake in unruffled serenity, and rendering distinctly yisible the
sand, stones, rocks, and plants, that afforded refuge to shoili
of large and thriylng fish.
Nora descended to the lake, clambered along the pathlea
shore, until she reached the deserted hut of a charcoal-bonier,
and there remained while her companions went on to the
ch&lets, which were at some distance, on a rising groand
She heard Michael's gay jodel long after he was out of sigbt^
then a^pause, followed at intenrals by shouts of four or fire
notes in a descending scale, leaying time between them for
an answer, after which all was still.
Had the prisoners called for help, and been able to make
themselves heard ? Nora thought so, and began slowlj to
mount the cow-path, now dry and hard, but perfectly an-
swering the description g^ren her by Waldemar of the placet
called cows' stockings; she soon, however, found awajto |
the short green grass of the alp, and, by a slightly circnitoa
path, was enabled to ascertain that the door of the nearest
ch&let was open.
Let not the reader suppose that the word chftlet is here
used to designate a building such as is known in England bf
this name, or that of Swiss cottage ; the common appellation
in Tyrol and Bavaria for these dwellings is Senner hot, --
senner (herd and dairy-man), being usual in the former, sad
Sennerin (herds and dairy-maid) almost nniyersal in tbe
latter. Perhaps the proper word in English is cowherd's
oot ; but these words would acaroely give a eorrect idea of
TBB TILD ALP. 53
the pictorcsqne samiDer residences of the BaTariaa highland
herdswoman. The small gable front, with ita door and
window at each side, ia of stone sod whilewashed ; the loft
bove is of wood, as also the long adjoioing cow-hooiifl ; and
all are under the same low overhanging roof of shingles, kept
lead/ by Btooes of dimenaions calcnlated to defy the stornis
that rage ronnd the exposed place in winter. Generally a
wide extent of the greenest pastnrage sarrounds these senner
hata ; on the Wild Alp the herbage seemed to hare sprung
up among rocks ; it was short, thick, and to the eje of the
botanist presented a vegetation qnite different from that of
the plains, or eren the valleys at the base of the monutains.
Tfo garden or glass-hoDse can fornish more beantiful plants
than are here to be fonnd forcing their way through moss,
or the clefts in the rocks, creeping round the decayed roots
of trees, or luxuriating in the damp atmosphere of some ever-
flowing spring. Hon clambered np among the rocks, and
had gathered a handful of these wonderfully delicate flowers,
when Rosel suddenly appeared at the door of the hut, with
raised arms, called loudiy to her, and then, with both bands
pressed to her forehead, rushed impetuously down the slope,
before Nora had time to descend from her elevated position.
The poor girl's passionate vehemence was so great, that
her relation of what had occnrred would have been perfectly
unintelligible to Nora had she not previouGty been so well
informed. She was still standing on a fragment of rock, as
Bosel ended her recital by a burst of tears, and the not unex-
pected iuformatiou that her brother Franz had recognized
8eppe) among the wild hunters, and had vowed he would
have him prosecuted, if only to prevent his sister from mar-
rying an incorrigible wildschuetz, who would bring disgrace
on them hereafter, and being in league with the Tyroleans,
might, for all they could tell, have been the accomplice, if
not bimself the villain who had shot their brother Philip.
'At if,' she sobbed, ' as if Seppel would ever tuvv ^\a^
5*
54 THB WILD ALP.
oar hoose, or spoken a word to me, after committing mA%
crime 1 '
' Don't make youVself anhappy about so preposterou ta
accosation,' said Nora, consolingly ; 'yoar brother spoke is
anger, and does not, I am sure, entertain the slightest sospi-
cion of the kind. That Beppel was one of the wild hnnteii
is possible is probable and we mast endeavor to acommo-
date matters as well as we can, and persuade Franz to fo^
give '
' Oh, he won't forgive,' cried Rose), intermpting her, 'I
know he won't ^for he says that Seppel singled him ont^asd
roshed npon him with a fury that was perfectly incomprehen-
sible.'
' But, ' said Nora, thoughtfully, as they walked towards the
hut together, ' but he cannot prove that it was Seppel, for I
suppose he took the usual precaution of disguising himself f
'His face was blackened,' answered Rosel, 'but Fnoi
said he could not be mistaken in the tall figure, and thick
black hair, and large white teeth, and he is ready to swear
that it was Seppel and no other. '
'He had better not,' rejoined Nora, 'for Seppel majbe
able to prove that he was at the Kerbstein lake with bis rela-
tions when your brother was taken prisoner. What did Mr.
Torp say ? '
'The Englishman!' exclaimed Rosel, confused, 'I dont
know, I did not see him, I never thought of him. Michael
helped me to cut the cords that bound Franz, who was so
fierce and wild that he quite frightened me, and put everj-
thing else out of my head. '
She had not quite finished speaking, when her brother sad-
denly appeared before the hut, and directly afterwards darted
past them, with a velocity that rendered all attempts to arrest
his progress ineffectual. Where the ground had been ren-
dered rough and uneven by the cattle, he stopped, bent down,
appeared to rub his ankles in an impatient, hasty manDir,
THE WILD ALP. 65
nd then moved on with a very perceptible limp. Rosel
tarted forward turned round spoke a few agitated,
carcely intelligible words to Nora about the necessity of
oUowing ber brother rushed after him without waiting for
in answer, and a few seconds afterwards they disappeared
together behind the rocks.
At the door of the. hut stood Torp and Michael, not a
trace of displeasure on the face of the stoical Englishman.
Nora bowed slightly, sat down on the bench outside the
boose, and leaned back against the wall, as if determined to
rest after her fatiguing walk.
Now though Mr. Torp chose to be haughty and repulsive
to every member of the Nixon family, he could be very much
the contrary with other people, and Nora found him talking
in the most unaffectedly familiar manner to her guide.
*I believe after all,' he said, glancing downwards at his
feet, ' that I was quite as firmly bound as Franz, but my
boots saved my ankles, and by remaining quiet I spared my
wrists. All things considered they behaved well enough,
brought me my cigars that had dropped out of my pocket
during the scuffle, and told me I should find my rifle in the
cellar.'
'And,' said Michael, in a confidential tone, 'and do yon
too think that long Seppel from the Crags was one of
them ? '
' If yon moan the tall cuirassier, with the black hair,' re-
plied Torp, ' I think he was.'
'No wonder the forester's Bosel took on so,' observed
Michael.
' She seems a good girl,' said Torp, ' and did all she could
to pacify her brother, at least as well as I could hear what
they said from the inner room, for Franz quite forgot lae in
the first burst of his wrath.'
' He had cause enough for his anger,' observed Michael,
(
66 THI WILD ALP.
' if 80 be that Seppel did indeed single him out, and fall npn
him at once with all the signs of the bitterest enmity.'
' I was too bnsilj engaged myself, to observe what hap-
pened to Franz/ answered Torp ; ' but I dare say his sister
will make him pardon this affront, for after all it is littk
else.'
' She may follow him all the way home, and go down m
her knees to him, and he will not pardon this insnlt,' said
Michael. ' I heard him tell her that he conld have excused
the attack under the circumstances, knowing how mnek
Seppel had at stake ; and had he only been overpowered bj
numbers and made prisoner, why it was not more than migbt
happen to any one ; but that as long as he lived he Derer
would forgive or forget Seppel 's coming back to the hot
after the others were gone, standing grinning at him whea
he lay helpless on the floor, and then brutally spuming and
kicking him, as if he had been a cur or reptile that he longed
to destroy.'
' Impossible I he never could have acted so I ' cried Nora,
starting from her listless posture, and looking up with an ex-
pression of so much surprise and concern that Torp opened
his eyes wide in wonder at the interest so openly avowed by
his countrywoman for a notorious wildschuetz.
' These were the assistant forester's own words to his sister,'
said Michael, ' and grief enough they caused her.'
' He must have been out of his senses, unconscious of wbat
he was doing,' began Nora.
' Well,' said Michael, ' it 's not unlikely that he did take a
glass too much of Tyrolean wine. We are more used to
beer than wine in Bavaria, and it may have got into his head,
though the others did not feel it. The son-in-law of the
sexton at St. Hubert's, who lives at the other side of the
frontiers, has good wine, I am told, for his friends, and the
gentleman here says there were four from Tyrol with Seppel'
T-HB WILD ALP. 6t
* Three,* interposed Torp, with strong emphasis: 'the
fourth was certainly not a Tyrolean.'
' One of the boys from onr village ? ' asked Michael.
' I think it very likely that be came from Almenau, ' an-
swered Torp, his eye resting on Nora, while be spoke, with
so much meaning that she perceived he already began to sus-
pect that she had beeb sent to release him.
The interest excited in her mind by the recent occurrence
was, however, on Rosel's account, too great to allow her to
think of herself, or even John, at that moment ; she there-
fore looked up without embarrassment, and observed, ' It is
80 much more likely that Seppel would endeavor to keep in
the back-ground, and avoid being seen on this occasion, that
I am inclined to think that Franz, after the first attack, may
have mistaken one of the Tyroleans for him. He did not
speak, of course ? '
' A few words to me,' said Torp ; ' but I do not know his
voice. '
'Well,' said Michael, after a pause, 'I wonder if they will
he able to prove anything against him this time. Often and
often has he been brought before the judge, but was always
dismissed for want of 'sufficient evidence against him. If he
can contrive to mystify them all this time, why he has the
devil's own luck, and they may as well let him alone in
future. '
*Yet,' observed Nora, 'the accusation will, I fear, be
sufficient to injure his prospects materially. The forester
may refuse to give him his daughter, and even Bosel her-
self'
'Oh I as to Rosel,' said Michael, winking knowingly to
Torp, ' that will make no difference to her, she likes him all
the better for being a scapegrace. It's the way with the
girls about here the wilder a fellow is, the more they like
him.'
Torp looked amused, and Michael qontinued : ' Seppel 'a
68 THB WILD ALP.
what tbey call here a fresh boy, "a frisher,*' who never tapped
at a window that it was not opened, who never tnmed into
an alp but that the best milk and butter was not set before
him ; and certain it is that no sennerin conld ever be made
to remember having seen him hunting, or even carryisg a
rifle.'
'You -are speaking of many years ago,' said Nora, 'for
since he has been in the army no yonng man coold be
steadier.'
' He was a cuirassier in the year forty-eight, and took Mf
pleasure on the mountains here as well as any of us.'
'In that year there was no law to prevent the peasaoti
from hunting, ' observed Nora.
* And a pretty mess they made of it, ' interposed Torp.
'It was about that time,' said Michael, 'that I was en-
gaged by the forester as one of the charcoal-burners at the
clearance above the Trift Alp, part of which belongs to the
miller, whose handsome daughter was there that year as sea-
nerin.'
' I was not aware, ' observed Torp, ' that the peasants sent
their daughters on the alps as sennerins.'
' Often enough about here, ' answered Michael. ' If they
go with free will and for pleasure, as many of them do, tbej
call it their ** sommer frish, ' and fresh enough the sennerioi
were that same year. The Trift Alp is on the frontiers, half
Tyrolean, half Bavarian ; the miller's Madeleine was there,
and Afra, a smith's daughter from Tyrol, that some said was
even handsomer. At all events, a more frolicsome pair were
never seen, and the talk of their beauty was so great that the
boys came from far and wide to see them, and none more often
than Sepp from the Crags. '
' High and low, all all the same,' soliloquized Nora. 'He
had pledged his troth to Rosel that very year ! '
'We found out afterwards,' contlnned Miehael, witb a
THS WILD ALP. 59
laoghy ' that he was all the while after a chamois that was
liorering about the frontier.'
* Oh, I 'm glad to hear that, ' she said, qaicklj.
Torp smiled, and looked towards her, but she did not ob-
lerre him.
'And didn't we tease the girls afterwards abont him,' con-
tinned Michael, ' and didn't Madeleine chafe and fame at his
hypocrisy, as she called it ) 'and the very next time he tapped
at her window, only opened it to call him a scamp, and then
banged it to with snch force that every pane of glass was
smashed to atoms I '
Torp and Nora langhed simnltaneonsly. ' And what did
Seppel do then ? ' she asked.
* He went on to Afra's, but she neither opened window nor
door, and only answered his call by wishing him a pleasant
hnnt.'
' And then 7 ' asked Nora.
* He ate his schmarn at old Nandls, and shared her coffee,
and made light of the girls' anger, and said he 'd send a lad
to Madeleine to mend the window; and sure enough the next
day np came Black Seppel from the mill, and was well re-
ceiTcd, though as dull and dismal a fellow as could be found,
even in his country. '
' I never heard that the Tyroleans were dull and dismal,'
observed Torp.
'An earnest people, or at least very little given to cheer-
fulness, we consider them at this side of the mountains,' said
Michael ; ' and the more south you go the less yon hear of
singing and dancing,' until at last both seem forgotten, and a
wedding is about as gay as a funeral. '
' I believe they avoid all unnecessary revelry from religious
motives,' began Torp, ' and are, perhaps, somewhat fanati-
cal'
' Eh 7' what's that 7' asked Michael.
' I mean their religion is of rather a gloomy description,
60 THS WILD ALP.
bat thej are an interesting people ; the women handsome, the
men courageons, and the best marksmen I ever met; oot
even the Swiss can surpass them in the handling of a rifle.*
'Well, I don't think we're behind- hand in that way in
Bavaria, ' said Michael. ' I conld name a good many in Ai-
menan who have brought home prizes from Tyrol. Ko one
can deny that they are steady marksmen at the other side of
the mountains, but they are tardy in taking aim. Slow and
sure is their motto, and when a Tyrolean is in the shooting-
stand he is in no hurry to leaye it. At a target we fire fife
shots to their three. '
' Of course, ' said Torp, ' there is a good deal of rifaliy
between the two countries on this subject V
* No doubt of it,' answered Michael, laughing, 'and aboot
other matters too.'*
'Which,' said Torp, 'causes occasional skirmishing at the
inns most probably.'
' Often enough formerly, ' answered Michael ; ' but we can
get up a row without the Tyroleans, and require small pro-
vocation to take up the cudgels and lay about us. I've got
into trouble myself for a trifle.'
'And,' said Nora, 'besides the wounds given and received
in these battles, accidents with firearms must be of qoite
common occurrence here. How can it be otherwise, with
guns in every house, and boys longing to use them, after
hearing men boasting continually of their prowess out hunt-
ing or at target-shooting matches ?'
'Tct I don't remember any accident ever happening in
our neighborhood, 'said Michael, 'excepting Black SeppePs,
and that was in Tyrol. '
' What happened to him ?' asked Nora.
' One day, about seven years ago, when he was trying a
new rifle behind his father's mill, his younger brother came
springing towards him unawares, and received a wound in
his neck that caused him to bleed to death. Seppel left
THE WILD ALP. 61
home, it is sapppsed, for this reason, and entered into service
at oar miller's, where he has been ever since, and remains,
they say, for love of the miller's daughter. At all events, he
has never since touched a rifle, goes out of the way when-
ever there is a shooting-match, and I shouldn't like to be the
man to ask him why be dislikes the smell of powder. '
'I wish he would go back to Tyrol,' said Nora; 'he is
exceedingly in the way just now, and Madeleine does not
care for bim in the least. '
' Doesn't she V cried Michael. ' I've heard her say often
Boougb, that she liked him, and why she liked him.'
' Ton seem to know her well, ' observed Nora.
'Are we not from the same village?' asked Michael, 'and
is not that next to being of the same family ? She liked
Black Seppel just because he was morose to all the world but
herself. '
'And who is this Madeleine?' asked Torp, with some
cnriosity.
' The mountain miller's daughter,' answered Nora, rising ;
' and I am afraid I must add as perfect a coquette as you
could find in any London or Paris ball-room. '
Stay, Miss Nizoi)^' cried Torp, perceiving her about to
leave them, ' or at least before you go have the charity to
give me some of the provisions that are so temptingly pro-
truding from your guide's green bag.'
' I ought to have thought of that before,' sud Nora, turn-
ing into the hut, ' and poor Franz has gone off hungry in all
probability 1 '
'Franz filled his pockets with bread before he left us,'
sud Torp ; ' and I confess to having stolen a couple of sand-
wiches, for after having fasted upwards of fonr-and-twenty
hours, the temptation was more than I could resist I can-
not remember ever being so hungp^ so ravenously hungpiy
as at this moment,' he added, seating himself on the low
hearth, and beginning to eat with so apparent an appetite
62 THS WILD AIiP.
that Nora contiooed langhinglj for some time to aapplj Iub,
altogether forgetful of herself or her gaide.
'What a profusion of proyisions V he remarked, at last,
when she had spread the whole contents of the bag befm
him. * Quite a banquet for an alp party V and as his eyei
rested on a bottle of wine, and a couple of small tomblen^
he added, ' One might almost suppose jou had had a sort of
presentiment, Miss Nixon, that half-famished prisoners would
require your good offices 1'
Nora saw a proTokingly meaning smile playing round bii
lips, and the eyes that had disconcerted Jack and his com-
panions by their scrutinizing glances seemed very much in-
clined to try their power on her.
* When I desired Rosel to pack up these things,' she so*
Bwered, quietly, ' neither you nor your companion were in my
thoughts I can assure you. We intended to have made a
family party to one of^he lower alps near the village, sod
the wine especially was intended for ' she stopped, sot
chbosing to betray herself by saying the word ' ande.'
' For the old gentleman who fishes at St. Benedict's,' in-
terposed Michael, as distinctly as his crammed mouth would
permit him to articulate.
'Exactly,' said Nora.
' And you changed your plan aw -suddenly perhtpi
yesterday evening ? ' persisted Torp.
' You may remember having heard your friend M. Walde-
mar recommend me to visit this alp before a change of weather
made it inaccessible,' she answered, ' and fortunately for yoa
I have followed his advice.'
'Change of weather,' he repeated, 'not much chance of
that, I should think.'
' I would not take upon me to answer for this evening,'
observed Michael, glancing towards the open door, 'those
light streaky clouds denote storm. '
' Perhaps we had better leave the alp at once,' proposed
THE rORKBTSR'8 BRIDOB. 68
Nora, hastily ; ' I confesa I should not like to be weather-
boand here.'
.' We have had clouds like these continually during the last
fortnight,' said Torp, ' and you will be dreadfully tired, Miss
Nixon, if you do not rest after your fatiguing walk before
you attempt the not easy descent of this mountain.'
Nora said she could rest more pleasantly at the shore of
the lake than in the hut, and left them, rather glad on any
pretence to escape the further questionings of Torp.
CHAPTER V.
THE FOBSSTEB'S BBIDOE.
ToBP would have been little flattered had he known with
what extreme satisfaction Nora left him to the society of her
guide. It had become quite evident to her that he suspected
Jack of having assisted in taking him prisoner ; and though
his wish to obtain some certainty on the subject was natural
enough, his quiet attempts to embarrass her had been, to say
the least, disagreeable, as she felt very doubtful as to the use
he might make of any proof of Jack^s guilt, or her connivance,
that he might be able to procure. Had Waldemar been in
his place, she would without hestiation have told him all she
knew of the vexatious affair, and would have* requested his
good offices for Seppel, and complete forgiveness of Jack's
share in the exploit, almost with the certainty that neither
would be refused her. Torp's cool self-possession repelled
confidence, and her experience led her to consider him a hard,
worldly-minded man, who would undoubtedly call a wild-
schuetz a poacher, and let the law take its course. Her best
plan, then, was to avoid him \ and as she thought it
II. 6
CI THE FOBCSTER'S BRIDQB.
probable that the little lake would have more interest for him
than any other spot in the neighborhood of the hat, and might
tempt him oat eyen in the noontide heat, she tamed her steps
in a contrary direction, mounted the rising ground behind the
hots, and eoon reached the base of the chain of rocks tbtt
gave the alp itself the wild appearance whence it derived iti
name.
Among these rocks, Nora climbed with nnrelazing perse-
verance, antil she came to a height from which she coold see
a great part of the Bavarian Highlands, and far into Tyrol:
then seating herself in a sheltered spot, she overlooked at ber
leisure a world of hill and dale, forest and rocks, the last
named in such masses, and of such wild and fantastic forms,
that they must have surprised even those accustomed to soch
scenes. Mountain on mountain rose innumerable, some
rounded, some conical, others long ridged, but almost all with
high rocky summits occasionally starting abruptly out of the
pine-forest, but more frequently allowing the eye to follow
the gradual cessation of vegetation, until the bare stone rose
sharply against the blue sky. No stretch of the imaginatioa
was required to discover what appeared the ruins of gigantic
Btrodgholds or watch-towers : it was rather necessary to call
reason to assist the sight, in order to be convinced that the
hands of men could never have constructed buildings of such
proportions in such places. To an English observer the most
striking objects in the view would have been the immense ex-
tent of forest, the ultramarine blue of the distant heights, and
the long region of eternal snow and ice beyond. For Norst
these objects possessed noi the charm of novelty, but the hi
far more deeply felt attraction of strong resemblance to
similar scenes indelibly impressed on her memory, and trea-
sured in her heart of hearts for ten long years, serving u
solace in hours of London solitude, when the chimneys of the
neighboring houses, and the dusky sky above them, had
wearied her eyes and dulled her senses.
f
THS yobsstsk's bbipgs. 66
f
Tbat part of Nora's life was now in its torn beginning to
appear like a dream its monotonj giving the delusion plaosi*
bilitjy so that the events of a decennium dwindled easily into
the recollections of half an hoar, while previons years ex-
panded, and bright visions of childhood and early yoath
flitted before her. Half reclining on the small patch of moss
that she had chosen as resting-place, hours might have passed,
and in fact did pass unobserved by her. The sun was high
in the heavens, the rocks no longer afforded any shade, bat
rather seemed to attract his beams, causing a feeling of in-
tolerable heat, the fresh current of air that scarcely ever
fails on the alps was replaced by an oppressive calm,-*when
Nora, at length, started from her recumbent posture, and sat
upright, her hands clasped round h^r knees as she gased in-
tently about her. Had she been sleeping ? dreaming ? She
could not think so, for those fields of snow had not been
lost sight of, but had rather given rise to a long train of re-
collections ending at the Gross Yenediger, on which she now
looked. Years ago, when travelling through the valley of
Pin2gan, she had passed a night at Mittersill, near that gla-
cier, and had first seen it with the gorgeous background of a
summer evening sky. When they had arrived at the inn,
every one had been occupied with preparations for the ensu-
ing day, on which the primiiz of a youug priest was to take
place. They called it his primitz, that is, prima miasaf-'^
first time of reading mass ; and as he was the son of a peasant
in the neighborhood, he had chosen the inn at Mittersill for
the celebration of the fete usual on such occasions. The
guest-chamber and staircase had been decorated with green
wreaths, a room near the kitchen contained a row of tables
covered with dishes full of flour, eggs, sweetmeats, pounded
sugar, and other ingredients that only awaited the dexterous
hand of the cook to change their nature and their name. As
if it were but yesterday, Nora remembered having entreated
Ler mother to allow her to be present the next morning at the
6*
66 THE FOBSSTER'S BRIDGE.
oeremonj in the church, and the landlady's good-natnred offa
to take charge of her. *My little daughter Marie/ she said,
' is to be his rererence's bride. He knew what he was about
when he chose her, for, of course, I shall do something hand-
some towards his fntnre housekeeping, to say nothing of my
husband, who is his cousin.' Nora's father and mother bad
talked much during the evening of the custom of celebrating
the primitz of a priest as if it were a marriage, of the usefid
presents given by the parents of the brides, and much more
that she had not understood ; but in the morning ' his rerer-
enoe's bride ' had come to waken her, and greatly had sbe
admired the demure, rosy-cheeked little girl, scarcely seTen
years old, and her fresh muslin frock and wreath of white
flowers placed like a coronet on her%ead. The procession
to the church had been long and pompous, the crowd there
dense, and universal and deep the devotion pictured in the
faces upturned, or the heads bowed reverently to receive the
blessing of the agitated young man, who, with raised arms
and flushed cheeks, looked down from the pulpit on a con-
gregation above whom his recent vows had placed him so im-
measurably high. As the crowd dispersed, Nora's attention
had been directed towards the glacier by hearing some pea-
sants observe that the * Venedigcr,' was putting on his cap,
and they might expect a change of weather before long and
as it had then appeared to her, so it was now. A light mist
seemed to hover about the summit, rendering the outline in-
distinct, and spreading along the snow-fields in a shadowy
manner, that made it difficult to decide whether the vapor
rose from the snow or was drawn downwards towards it. The
more distant glaciers were soon lost to sight, and, as if at a
given signal, clouds gathered round most of the adjacent
peaks, and higher mountain ridges. All this was at first so
distant so far away in Tyrol that Nora watched the lights
and shadows, and the changes produced in the scenery, with
delight and interest, undisturbed by a thought of her own
XHX rOBXSTXB'8 BBZDax* 6Y
position, nntil some long light cicada began to rest on the
snnimits in her immediate vicinity, and wreaths of whito
transparent vapor rose from, and hovered over, the wooded
acclivities. Then she commenced a qnick descent of the
rocks, and met her gnide, who said that he and the English
gentleman had been looking for her at the lake, and that they
had not a moment to lose, if they hoped to get partly down
the mountain before the storm commenced.
'Perhaps,' said Torp, who was standing with folded arms
on a prominent crag, and looking along the horizon with such
engrossing attention that he did not even tarn round while
speaking, ' Perhaps it wonld be better to await the storm
here, Michael ; it seems to me nearer than you supposed ;
and Miss Nixon will scarcely be able to reach in time the
shelter of the first houses on the mountain, though we might
manage it by making a violent exertion.'
' I am a very good walker, ' said Nora, rather alarmed at
the prospect of spending the night in the hut.
' The alp is greatly exposed,' observed Michael, ' and in a
few hours may be covered with snow. If the sennerins were
still here, the young lady might stop in the hut for a day or
two pleasantly enough ; but without provisions we could not
attempt it now. The rain that's coming will be no summer
shower, I can tell you ; and what with the bare rocks on this
side, and the waterfall across the way on the other, and the
river flooded below, it might be long before any one could
reach us, or we make our way down the mountain with the
young lady, though she did climb it as well as the queen her-
self could have done 1 '
Nora smiled, and observed that climbing a mountain like
a queen was very dubious praise.
'Not in Bavaria, Miss Nixon,' said Torp, 'as Michael
wonld explain to you at some length, if we had time to
listen to him.'
* Then/ said Nora, ' having beard that I mounted so well.
68 THE F0ES8 ' BBIDQS.
yon wOl scarcely doubt my being able to descend also, and
if we harry forward, perhaps we may reach the peasant's
house, where the corn was still green. '
' Let ns try at least to get past the waterfall before the
rain comes down npon as, ' exclaimed Michael, springiDg on
to the hat.
He reappeared with Torp's rifle slang over his shoalder,
and bnsily employed barying in the recesses of his green
poach the ^rnall remains of their recent repast.
A few minntes afterwards they were on their way to the
lake, which Nora scarcely looked at in her eagerness to leave
the yalley of the alp and reach a more elevated spot, where
she coald better judge of the state of the weather, and see
the approach of the storpi.
* This is really a magnificent sight ! ' cried Torp, soon after,
warmed into a sort of enthnsiasm, as once more the long
range of mountains became visible.
' What a change,' said Nora, contrasting in her mind the
blae sky, cloudless mountains, and sunny valleys that she had
seen from the same place but a few hours previously ; ' what
a complete change of scene ! One might almost expect to
see Woatin himself appear among that chaos of clouds.'
' You mean the wild huntsman, miss,' said Michael ; ' people
say he is out regular in the thunder-storms at the change of
the season, and this may be the last summer storm. I sap-
pose,' he added, half-interrogatively *I suppose it's the
queer-shaped clouds that give rise to the saying aboatthe
wild hunt ? '
'Not exactly,' answered Nora; 'Woatin was, I believe^
supposed to be the god of thunder, and has in some way
been confused with the wild huntsman. I wish whichever
brings the last summer storm, would at least delay his appear-
ance until we were safely down the mountain.'
' And I,' said Torp, ' wish I could remain here and watch
THS jobxbtkb'b b&idoe. 69
tlie coming of this storm, which is the Teiy grandest thing I
ever saw in my life.'
' Are yon deterred from remaining on acconnt of the wa-
terfall ? ' asked Nora. ' I am qaite sare the danger has been
exaggerated, for it would reqaire hours of rain to produce a
flood that would fill the space beneath the wooden bridge I
passed over on my way here.'
You are not aware,' answered Torp, 'that the water has
been kept back for tho woodfall. A few days ago Franz
showed me the place that had been dammed up, and the felled
wood piled up beneath it. The reservoir was at that time
nearly full of water, and he said a few hours' rain such as
might be expected after this sultry weather would burst the
temporary sluice, and save him the trouble of sending up
men to hew it down. '
'I thought,' said Nora, 'that most of the timber about
here was sledged down the mountain in winter. '
' Water carriage is always the cheapest,' answered Torp ;
' enormous quantities can be conveyed, without either expense
or trouble, down the mountain with the fall of the water ;
and once in the river below us, it will work its way to the
neighborhood of Almenau, where a grating across the stream
stops its further progress, unless it be considered desirable to
give it free passage to another place.'
While they were speaking, a thick white cloud began to
wreath itself round the mountain on which they stood, its
motion scarcely perceptible as it rolled along, avoiding the
bright sunbeams that still lingered on the summit. As the
heavens above lowered, valley after valley darkened into
deepest shade, a struggling ray of light resting last of all
but for a moment on the white steeple of a secluded pil-
grimage chapel that had failed to attract the eye in brighter
hours. Torp and Nora watched with intense interest the
last array of clouds that, rushing across the sky, at length
effectually obscured the sun's disk, and caused an indescri-
to THX FOEXBTXB'S BEIDOS.
bable gloom to fall on all around them. Distant liglit^gi
darted through the leaden-Imed firmament, and in thd*din
tion of the Wild Alp a long stripe of green-colored^
made itself remarkable. I
'That looks like a hail storm,' said Michael, nutrnj-
* Indeed, Miss Nora, it wonld be better if jon moved on^sDd
tried to pass the waterfall before it comes to the worst h
a Terj short time we shall not be able to see a yard before
ns, and when yon come to the narrow path, with a wsll of
rock on one side and a steep fall at the other '
' I had forgotten that place,' said Torp, interrupting Idfli,
* and wish for yonr sake. Miss Nixon, that we had takes oar
chance of starvation in the hnt. Franz would ha?e msn-
aged, I am sure, to get to us some way or other. Em
now,' he added, stopping suddenly, 'even now we fniglit
turn back, and at least secure shelter from a storm that maj
cause you more discomfort than the wetting for which yot
are of course prepared.'
Yes go back do,' chimed in Michael, eagerly; 'sad
early to-morrow morning, let the weather be what it mty, I
shall return here with provisions, and Franz and his father;
and it will be odd if we can't find some way of bringing jot
home in safety.' He had unslung his green pouch while
speaking, and held it towards Torp.
' No, no, no,' cried Nora, ' it is not to be thought of: go
on. I shall follow you as carefully as I can. If I fall jos
must help me up again, and for a shower-bath of some hours'
duration I am fully prepared.'
' On then, ' said Torp, without the slightest attempt to
urge an acceptance of his proposal.
And on Michael went, followed recklessly enough by Norii
who did not choose to be the cause of delay when every mo-
ment was of consequence. They had all ceased to look
round them, or speak, and were just within sight of the wil-
derness of rocks around the &11, when a few gusts of
THE rOBSSTEB'S B&ZDQS. 71
put the cloads abore and below them into commotion, and a
Vew seconds afterwards an impenetrable mist enveloped them.
The gaide preceding them shonted, Torp answered, and
I^ora sprang on between them with a fearlessness that was
ery satisfactory to the latter.
' Keep to the left, Miss Nixon,' he said, as the first bnrst
of the tempest swept past them, and the wind seizing her hat
nearly tore it from her head.
' To the left to the left,' he repeated, springing towards
her ; but the words were nnintelligible, and at all events,
INora was too much occnpied with efforts to retain a cover-
ing for her head in snch inclement weather, to pay mnch
attention to anything else. In vain, however, she raised
both hands, and straggled with the wind ; the straw yielded
in all directions, and even while Torp was speaking, the hat
was borne aloft, and she had made an eqoally fmitless and
imprudent attempt to snatch at it.
Another blast of the storm whirled her ronnd nntil she be-
came perfectly giddy ; bat she was not immediately aware
that, when raised from the ground, the path was no longer
beneath her feet, and that she was on her way down the
monntain precisely at the spot chosen by the wiidschnetz for
his desperate slide. The first horrible consciousness of her
danger flashed across her mind on finding herself flung on a
heap of sand and gravel, that, without affording her a mo-
ment's support, began to glide downwards, carrying her
amidst a cloud of dust and sand, clumps of loose earth, and
a shower of gravel, towards the river that she had, in the
morning, seen dashing in cascades among the rocks at the
f)ot of the mountain.
Down, down, down she was carried with a rapidity that
increased every moment. Being unhurt, she long retained
both consciousness and presence of mind ; made no resistance
where the fall was hopelessly steep, and endeavored to grasp
whatever seemed likely to arrest her progress, when the de-
v&
T8 THX fobxstsb'b bbidox.*
creasing Telocity enabled her safficientlj to distingaiBb eB'
rounding objects. She did not despair even when a deafta*
log hurricane swept through the ravine, carrying with it i;^
large branches of trees, and raising the sand abont her is
palpable masses ; bnt when the forked lightning dazzled, and
instantaneously following thunder pealed aboTe her hetd,
when she once more felt herself raised from the ground and
borne along without the power of resistance, a feeling of utter
helplessness took possession of her mind, she expected in*
stantaneous death, or horrible mutilation, and munnnriogs
prayer, had scarcely touched the trunk of a fallen tree before
she became completely senseless.
How long she remained in this state she never could ascer-
tain ; her return to consciousness was, perhaps, accelerated
by the furious raging of the wind, and unceasing rolling of
thunder, that was echoed a hundred-fold by the surrounding
mountains. When she again opened her eyes, Torp wu
bending over, and watching her, with an expression of such
intense anxiety, that a natural impulse made her sit upright
and look round her.
' Are you much hurt ?' he asked, gravely.
'I think not,' she answered, putting her band to her
head.
' Thank Ood 1' he exclaimed, fervently ; ' for never io my
life was I so horror-struck as on seeing you lying there, sp*
parently dead.'
' I have, indeed, had a most miraculous escape,' said Nora,
rising slowly, and supporting herself against the stem of a
tree.
'If you can walk, let us leave this place,' cried Torp,
quickly, as he heard the crashing of falling timber behind
them, and observed some young fir-trees rolling past, that
had evidently just been torn up by the roots. ' We are in
actual, immediate danger here, and ought to endeavor to
cross the fall, before the rain cuts off our retreat.'
YSB rOSIITIK'B BBIDQa. 73
He gare ber ber -- -*-~ -*-* whicb be bad fooBd Ijriag
OD tbe gToDnd, Miied ber hand, and bBrried from tbe naaaCt
shelter of the wood. Bat so Tioleot was tbe tempest, that
tbej had hardlj staggered a bimdred jaidi towards the fall.
when Nora was again thrown to tbe gronnd. The darkness
of night seemed to orerspraad the skj ; a few large, beaTj
drops of rain preceded a long, whistling gnst of icj-coU
wind, which was instantly followed bj the most Ttoleot
shower of hail that Nora and Torp had CTer in their Utcs
witnessed.
Let not the Englisb reader snppoae that these faailstoBes
were soch as maj be occasiooalljr seen pattering against their
plate-glass windows. Thej were compact masses of ice, like
stones ; and giring a blow that cansed actnal pain. Torp
palled off his shooting-jacket, and throwing himself on the
gronnd bcflide Nora, formed with it a partial shelter for hw
and himself the more necessary, as thej were both without
coreriDg for their heads and there they sot together, r-
signed and silent, during the hailstorm, and immediatelj suc-
ceeding torrents of rain, which poured like a bnrating cloud
upon and around thetn. Sheets of water seemed borne along
bj the wind ; and the noise cansed by tbe mshiug of the
already-flooded river below the still rolling thunder above
and the storm sweeping over the adjacent forests, at first
prevented them from hearing the approach of the long-ex-
pected, and not a little dreaded wood-fall, which they knew
would cut off all oommnnication with Almenau for many
hours, and effectually prerrat them from returning the way
they had come.
When Torp started to his feet, tbe turbid torrent was
thuDderiag down the mountain-side, carrying stones, gravel,
and sand, with blocks of wood, tossed wildly in all directions ;
and, while he and Nora were still retreating, the overflowing
water spread to the sand on which they were toiling, ankle
deep half-blinded by rain, and blown about by tbe stom.
74 THS foexbteb's bbido.b.
' This 18 hard work, Miss Nixon,' said Torp, from wbon
manner every trace of coldness and indifference had diop-
peared ; * and I am afraid there is still harder in prospect^
if yon expect to have a roof o?er yoar head to-night.'
'I suppose,' said Nora, as they once more stood in tte
doubtful shelter afforded by the trees, on the skirt of tk
wood, 'I suppose there is no use in trying to climb ik
mountain, and regain our path f '
' None whatever,' he answered ; * we cannot ascend os tke
sand that is now under water ; still less here, where the trea
grow on terraces, separated by walls of rock. One oaold
not easily have found a more inauspicious place for an sed-
dent such as you hare met with. Fortunately, I know the
country about here pretty well, from baring fished in the
river below us : wo must cross it ; and once on the woodmen's
path, on the other side, a conple of hours will bring us to i
few peasants' houses, where we can g^t a Tehicle of Bene
kind or other, to t|ike us on to our village before midnight'
' There is a bridge, I suppose ' began Nora.
'One of a very primitive construction,' answered Torp.
' A couple of well-grown trees have been thrown across the
stream, for the convenience of the foresters, but it will, I
hope, save us from spending the night on the mountain.'
While he was speaking, Nora had been employed in
pushing back her long braids of platted hair, now withoot t
comb to keep them in order.
' I am afraid, ' he added, on observing an expression of
pain pass over her features, ' I am afraid you have not
escaped as unscathed as you at first supposed. '
^Only a few bruises,' she answered, cheerfully; 'hot we
have no time to attend to such trifles now. The storm hu
abated ; it is not to be expected that the rain will cease for
some hours ; so, if you will lead the way, you may depend on
my making every effort to follow you. '
He turned at once into the wood, through which they had
TBE rOEEBTEB'S BBIDOS. 76'
to toil for some time, oyer rocks, p/otrading roots of trees,
and an occasional morass of black, slippery earth. Torp at
first frequently oflfered assistance; but it was Invariably
refused, with a decision that not only effectually silenced him,
but, in the end, indnced him to walk on, and only show his
conscionsness of Nora's presence by stopping at interrals, to
ascertain that she was keeping np with him.
On reaching a tolerably-extensire clearing, Nora perceived
that the ravine became narrower as they advanced, and that
there was little more than space for the river between the
mountains.
It was however but at intervals that she could see the
foaming stream ; for a succession of vapory clouds rolled
through the gorge, giving only occasional glimpses of the
opposite mountain, and making it appear of fabulous height
and grandeur. At times, she scarcely knew whether she
were ascending or descending, so rocky and precipitous were
the vast masses of mountain- wreck around her so unceasing
her efforts to pass over or among them, without receiving
assistance from her companion.
At length, they began a descent to the river ; but were still
about a hundred yards from it, when the forester's bridge
came into view, greeted by Torp with an exclamation of
pleasure by Nora, with a start, and shudder of apprehen-
sion.
The trunks of two tall trees had been thrown across the
water, where the stream was narrowed by the rocks ; a suc-
oession of foaming cascades completely filling the upper part
of the gorge, while, in the lower, the yellow flood spread
itself out as far as the ground would permit, successfnlly
undermining many a stately pine : some of these, already
uprooted, were being borne off triumphantly by the stream,
their green boughs stretching upwards, and waving in the
distance, as if in despair, while others seemed to struggle
hard for the privilege of death on their native soil; and,
li. 7
t6 THB FORSBTER'8 BBIDOB.
vith roots entwined in those of the trees around them, resiitsd
the violence of the waves, and were, not unfreqaently, flung
by them above the level of the water, where, covered witk
sand, earth, and weeds, the rain poared in no longer refrnk-
ing torrents, on their drooping branches.
* Halloo I ' cried Torp, ' the path is under water 1 Whit
are we to do now ? '
'I'm snre I don't know,' answered Nora; 'ezeeptisg
there is some way of ascending the moontain on this side.'
'Impossible, without climbing-irons,' he said, looking
upwards.
' I have pointed nails in the soles of my boots,' she ob-
served, stretching oat a foot, so covered with mnd, that the
material of the said boots might have formed a snbject of
speculation 'regular hobnails, I assure you,' she added,
eagerly.
' So I supposed,' said Torp, quietly : ' otherwise you wonld
not have been able to follow me as you have done this last
hour. However, I am happy to say, our situation is not so
hopeless as you apprehend. I think I hope I can take
you to the Kerbstein Lake, on the frontier. In such weather
as this, we shall require four perhaps even five or six hours,
to get there; but the fisherman and his wife will give as
shelter and dry clothes ; and you will need both, I greatly
fear, before we reach their house.'
' Must I cross that bridge 7 ' asked Nora.
' Yes, but I think I had better first try if it is all safe :
in these sort of places, it sometimes happens that the trees
become decayed ; and only the foresters are aware of '
* Ob, then,' cried Nora, interrupting him, pray don't
venture on it.'
But he was already in the middle of the bridge, and put*
ting its stability to the proof, by stamping his feet, and kick*
ing away the remnants of monldering bark and accumulated
XHX rO&X8X&'S BEIDOl. TT
withered leayes, that were likely to make it more perOoiia
than it was already.
'All right. Miss Nixon,' he said, returning to her: 'yon
bad better follow me ias closely as yon can, and hold my staiT
as a sort of rail ; for these barkless old trees are confoundedly
slippery, I can tell yon. '
'I know it,' replied Nora; *yet were they anywhere but
oyer that foaming water, I could walk upon them without
the assistance of either your staff or mine. '
' Of that,' said Torp, ' I hare no doubt, after ha?ing seen
you spring along the rocks on the shore of the lake, to-day. '
' A fall into such shallow water would have been of little
importance,' she answered; 'but here 'she stopped, em-
barrassed.
' You think one might easily find a pleasanter place for a
plunge than this just now,' said Torp, smiling as he placed
one of his feet on the bridge and held' his staff towards her.
'Here it would be death,' said Nora, 'and a horrible
death too ; the very thought of it makes me giddy I ' and she
leaned over a rock and looked down into the river that im-
mediately under the bridge flowed in an unbroken sweeping
current
' You must not look at the water if you are subject to ver-
tigo,' said Torp, 'but I can scarcely think you are, after
having seen you walk so fearlessly on the brink of a precipioe
not two hours ago.'
' Yon forget,' answered Nora, ' that I had then a wall of
rocks on one side to give me at least a feeling of security^
while here ' she paused and then asked abruptly, ' Is there
no way of overcoming this sensation of giddiness ? Surely
when it is not caused by weakness or actual illness, a strong
resolution must conquer it! I must not give way to such
folly go on, I will follow you. '
' Take my staff to steady yon,' said Torp, not quite liking
7*
T9 VHE VO&SSTEB'S BftlDOX.
the manner in Which she changed color, ' and don't look ik
the water. '
Nora took the staff, bot before they had advanced ha]^^
dozen steps on the bridge, Torp felt it tremble so rioleotly
that he stopped.
' Go on, eaid Nora, faintly.
' Kather let us go back while we ean,' he rejoined, tonung
round and catching her amo.
Nora sprang from the bridge, covered her eyes with her
hands, and exclaimed, in a tone of the deepest chagrin, ' I
cannot cannot cross the river on those trees, they seemed to
glide from beneath my feet, and the water to rise nntil I feh
choking. Mr. Torp, yon must go on to the lake without mc^
and send the fisherman and any peasant you can procore to
take me out of this place. '
'I shall require at least four hours to reach the lake,'
answered Torp; ' the . fisherman and his son fonr more to
return here ; and in the meantime you propose to sit alone
and wait for them in this deluge of rain ? '
' I dare say it will clear up presently,' said Nora, looking
round her rather disconsolately.
' It will not, ' replied Torp. * There is a fresh storm coming
from the south- west, and even supposing you had a conslito*
tion to bear eight hours exposure in such weather without the
necessary movement to save you from cold, it wonld be
evening night in fact before assistance could reach yoa.
Few excepting the foresters about here could find their waj
to the lake after nightfall, and of what more use the fisherman
and his son could be to you than I can, I am at a loss to dis-
cover. '
' True, most true,' said Nora, despondingly, ' I only thoagbt
that with one at each side of me I should feel more secure
perhaps *
'I doubt it,' said Torp, ' and as to our remaining here all
night, of my leaving yon in such a place, it is not to be thongbt
THS jrO&XfiTXE'S BEIDOX. 79
of. Tlie case is argent, Miss Nixon, and something mnst be
done. Give me yonr handkerchief,' he added, after a panse,
* I beliere I most blindfold yon. '
Nora drew her handkerchief from her pocket, and bound
it herself over her eyes.
'Are yon quite sure that yon cannot see ? ' asked Torp. ^
' Quite,' she answered holding cat her hands towards him
in a groping manner^ evidently expecting to be led forward.
A moment afterwards she felt an arm thrown around her,
and found herself raised from the ground before she had time
to ntter a eingle word of expostulation. In another moment
she knew they were on the bridge, knew that her feet were
nspended over the water she had so much dreaded ; but so
strong was the arm, so steady the stride, of her bearer, that
not a particle of fear mixed itself with, or ameliorated, the
acute sense of morti6cation she felt at having yielded to a
weakness that had made such a step on his part a matter of
necessity.
'I beg yonr pardon, Miss Nixon,' said Torp, as he de-
posited her safely on the opposite bank of the river, ' I shall
never take such a liberty again without permission, but it
could not be helped this time. '
'I am sur^,' answered Nora, greatly disconcerted, and
blushing deeply, ' I am sure I ought to be very mnch obliged
to you. '
'But you are not,' said Torp, smiling, for he had been
perfectly aware of her unwillingness to be assisted by him,
'and,' he added good-humoredly, 'there is no reason why
yon should be. The rest of the way. Miss Nixon, though
long, would be pleasant and interesting enough in fine weather
for so good a walker as you are, but in storm and rain like
this a march across the modntains to the lake will probably
prove an excursion that neither you nor I shall forget for
sometime.'
Nora was already convinced of this as for as she was con-
89 THX FO&SSTBE'S BB.IDOX.
earned, but she answered cheerfully that she waa prepani
for anything excepting passing over rivers on foresterl
bridges ; and thoogh the storm Torp had foreseen jnst then
burst over their heads, she declined his proposal of seeking
temporary shelter, and followed him up the steep, roggd
side of the mountain that arose abruptly before them. Not
one word of complaint did she utter while scrambling throagk
the pathless forest, heedless alike of the showers that tiM
wind shook from the dripping trees upon her bare head tnd
saturated clothes, or the slimy mud or treacherous moss thii
caused her to slide and slip, stumble and even fall repeatedlf.
They reached the ridge of the mountain, bat unable to see
more than a few yards before her, Nora could only follow her
companion as he wound round or climbed over the rocks there^
without having the slightest idea of the appearance of tbe
country beyond or beneath the spot on which she stood.
Their descent was rapid, and Torp showed considerable
knowledge of human nature in general and Nora's in psr-
ticular, when a shallow turbulent stream was to be crosed,
by splashing into it at once, and taking it as a matter of
course that she could and would follow him though the
water reached to her knees, and was of a rather repelling
dirt color.
A succession of marshy meadows succeeded, where the
ground seemed of sponge, scarcely offering resistance enough
to the foot or staff to afford a resting-place for one moment,
the water springing up on all sides, and forming a little pool
in each footstep. The ascent of a number of hills was s
relief, and a narrow pass beyond them, with a stony path
through it, made Nora hope they were approaching some
dwelling, until Torp informed her it was the cattle road to
an alp already deserted ; they should reach it in about as
hour, he said, but in case she did not wish to rest there, they
could pass by without going to the huts. If not too mock
for her, he should recommend goinjg on, as the lake was oo
THl YOBISTIB'S-BKIDOK. 81
tbe other nde of the monntain on which the alp was sitoatedp
and it would be erening before they could reach it at all
events.
Nora made no objection. Wet through as thej were, an
nninhabited alp hat offered no advantage, and as yet the
weather showed not tbe least likelihood of clearing np.
Thunder-storms and showers succeeded each other unceas-
ioglj the latter filling to overflowing the dried-up rivnlets,
and causing innnmerable, nameless waterfalls to foam down
the mountain-sides, or, blown into spray by the tempest, to
mix once more with the rain from which they had derived
their origin. The clouds hung so low on the monntains, that
Torp could with difficulty find the way. Once they were
obliged to turn back, and, on another occasion, to wait until
a storm had passed over, in order to look for the alp and
mountain that lay between them and the lake.
These delays, the various impediments to be overcome,
and the labor of walking on wet and slippery ground, or over
loose stones, caused the evening to ^be far advanced before
Torp, pointing downwards through a forest of trees, informed
Nora that the lake was below them, and a little more than
half an hour would take them to its shore. Invigorated by
the intelligence, she hurried on throngh the darkening wood,
on a path that in som^ places resembled a quagmire, in others
was composed of flights of uneven stone steps, among which
small rills meandered busily, or fell in tiny cascades. She
no longer refused Torp's assistance when it was offered, and
even during the last steep descent to the shore, placed^her
hand in his, or on his shoulder precisely as he desired her.
' At length they reached the lake, out of which the sur-
rounding mountains rose abruptly on all sides but the one
opposite to them. The full moon struggling hard with the
lingering clouds of the last thunder-storm, and at times
forcing a way through them, cast furtive floods of light on
the water, and the fisherman's lonely dwelling which had
81 THB rOB18TlE'0 BRIDOS.
been bnilfc on the only patch of pastnre-land in the neiglAor-
hood. It resembled an alpine hnt in its isolation, and nr-
rounding meadows, while the deep, dark lake, and backgitMud
of lofty mountains, gare a grandeur to its simplicity, that
rendered it picturesque in the extreme.
From the lower windows of the house bright gleams of fed
light were visible. Nora even thought she coold distifignifll
the flickering flames on the kitchen hearth but nnfortnottdy
the green fields, house, lights, and fires, were on the opposite
side of the lake, and Torp shouted long and londly for a host
-in rain.
'They are at erening prayers, or at supper/ suggested
Nora.
* Yery probably,' he answered, ' but if they are all prajiog
aloud together, as the peasants generally do, I have little
chance of being heard. The wind, too, is nnfisTorable
blows right into my mouth! I wish I could manage to
alarm the dogs 1 ' A succession of shrill whistles proriof
perfectly ineffectual, he added, impatiently : * This wfll nerer
do we cannot stand shivering here in our wet clothes sll
night '
* Can we not go round by the shore ? ' asked Nora.
'It is not possible,^ he replied, 'at one side of us the
mountains descend into the water like well-built walls, on the
other there is a river, now of course flooded, and ^no bridge.
Just walk up and down these few yards of level ground here,
and keep yourself warm. Miss Nixon, while I make another
effort to procure one of those scooped-out trunks of trees that
the people about here call boats 1 '
Nora did as he requested, and unconsciously prepared her
ears for a ^hout that would waken the echoes far and wide
instead of which she heard a plunge into the lake, the
splashing of water, and, on turning around, could but jist
distinguish Torp's head, as he swam out towardu the middle
of the lake^
f
THl VOEISTKB'B BBIDOl. 8S
He had thrown his shooting-jacket and boots on the bank,
and placed his parse and Watch on a stone, and Nora, care*
less of his well-meant exhortation to keep herself warm bj
exercise, sat no she actually laid herself down on the wet
grass beside them. She had not allowed Torp to perceiTC,
bat she now confessed to herself, that she was fatigued beyond
measure; wayworn, weather-beaten, and exhausted, as she
had neyer been before in her life.
The rain' had ceased some time prerionsly, and an occa-
aional gleam of moonlight enabled her to follow the long
furrow made in the water by the swimmer, so that she could
judge pretty accurately of the time of his arrival at the boat-
house. She once more heard him call the fisherman, but
this time the response was quick and satisfactory, the door
of the house opened, and men, women, children, and dogs
rushed forth. A light glimmered in some one's hand, there
was a confusion of roices, a barking of dogs, and not long
after the steady sound of oars dipping' regularly in the
water.
An unshapely boat neared the shore, and on hearing
Torp's Toice, Nora instantly started to her feet He was
rowing rigorously, afid when she entered the boat, and pre-
pared to take a place in the stem, he observed, * If you know
how to handle an oar. Miss Nixon, let me recommend you to
take one now, and row across the lake, as the best preserva-
tive against cold.'
Nora stepped across the bench, and took the oar out of
the hand of the fisherman, notwithstanding the most earnest
expostulations on his part. Torp, the while, neither inter-
fering nor looking round.
Who can describe the surprise and curiosity of the as-
sembled family standing at the boat-house to receive them,
when they landed on the other side of the lake f Who cau
enumerate the questions ? The exclamations ?
We decline the task, and leave all to the imagination of
the reader.
84 A MODBftW IDTL.
CHAPTER VI.
A MODERN IDTL.
It is to be hoped that Nora, and eren Torp, hare excited
safflclent interest to make the reader nnwOIing to leare tfaem
at the door of the fisherman's hoose in the state described
by Job as ^Wet by the showers of the mountains. ' Nora's
clothes were not only saturated with rain, but torn and soiled
in a manner difficult to describe, and Torp bad so recentlj
emerged from the lake, that the water still trickled unceas-
ingly from both his garments and hair.
The old fisherman, whose own curiosity had been in a greet
measure satisfied during his row across the lake, put an end
to his wife's and daughter's questions, and exclamations, hj
pushing them towards the staircase, and telling them to get
dry clothes for the young lady to give her the best thej
had, and the choice of their Sunday suits. He made the
same offSer on the part of his son to Torp, and the whole
party began to mount the narrow steep stairs together.
While the fisherman's wife unlocked the door of her state
room, Nora turned to Torp, and, with unusual warmth of
manner, thanked him for having saved her from the calamity,
if not peril, of passing the night without shelter on the monn-
tains. ' I am aware, ' she added, * that you pat yourself mto
danger by coming to my rescue. '
* Not so much as you suppose. Miss Nixon, ' said Torp,
interrupting her, ' my fishing and hunting expeditions hare
made me tolerably well acquainted with the country here-
abouts. For you there was undoubtedly danger had yoa
remained alone, but being together, there was none, except-
MODERN IDXL. 86
ng, perhaps, that of yoor not haTing strength to reach this
place for the night
Charmed at his so magnanimonsly makmg light of his
lenrices, and reliering her mind of a weight of care and an
Doyance thereby, Nora extended her hand with a smile, and
Bald, ' I hare incurred a debt of gratitude nerertheless,
which ' here she paused a moment, for Torp, who had
taken her proffered hand, let it fall with suddenness that sur-
prised her, and he was already turning away, as she added,
' which I can nerer in any way repay. '
Though Torp's actions, and not his thoughts, hare hitherto
been chiefly deemed worthy of notice, the latter here deserve
a place to explain an ungraciousness so strongly in contrast
to all he had said and done during the previous five or six
hours. Alas for the vanity of human nsture-* he had mis-
understood the grateful glance of the dark eyes fixed on him
so earnestly, and imagined nothing less than that he had
found favor in them, and that after the manner of sentimental
young ladies Nora might think it incumbent on her to be-
stow at least a portion of her heart on the man who had pre-
served her life I To put an end therefore to all such * stuff
and nonsense,' he scarcely looked at her while saying,
' Really Miss Nixon, you attach too much Importance to this
little adventure ; the small service rendered you this day, I
should have considered it my duty as a Christian and a man
to have offered to any one similarly situated.'
' That ought not to lessen my sense of gratitude,' rejoined
Nora, in happy unconsciousness of the current of his thoughts,
' and yon must therefore allow me once more to thank you
for having fulfilled the " duties of a Christian and a man,"
in a way so essentially serviceable to me. '
* Pray say no more about it^' cried Torp, with an impatient
gesture. ' Ton seem to have forgotten that you released me
from a very unpleasant imprisonment this morning ; if I
have saved you from spending the night on the mountains, it
86 A MODSBN IDTL.
is bat a retarh for a benefit receiTed, and tbere is no ooetsoi
for gratitade or thanks on either side. '
8track even more by the inciviiity of his manner than bii
words, Nora tamed abruptly to the attendant peasants, wbo
with wondering eyes, and half-open moaihs, had been be-
wildered listeners of this dialogue, in a, to tbem, nnknovi
tongae, and saying she should be mach obliged for asj
clothes they would lend her, entered the low wooden-wtUad
room with the fisherman's two daughters, leaving Torp to
make similar arrangements with their brother.
Any one less acquainted with the BaTarian highlands this
Nora, would hare had little hope of finding garments fit far
her use in the humble abode of an eridently very poor
fisherman. She had observed that the house low, sad
chiefly built of wood ^was very old, and the interior stainad
to the darkest brown by age and smoke ; that though the
fisherman and his wife wore stockings, the others had only
shoes, and three or four little children had capered about on
the wet grass before the house perfectly barefooted ; yet not
for one moment did she doubt that from the gayly-paioted
wardrobes in the best room all her wants could be supplied,
and she smiled and expressed the admiration expected,
when the eldest girl, with innocent ostentation, opened wide
the doors of the linen-press so as to exhibit all its treasures,
and then, by mistake as it were, pulled out drawers contsis-
ing green felt hats with gold tassels, black bodices, sod
flaming colored neck-kerchiefs I Nora's patience was how-
ever rewarded at last by a choice of coarse but white linen,
blue and white stockings, and printed calico, and bright
colored stuff petticoats. From tike elder girl she borrowed
one of the latter, as it suited her in length, from the yoonger
a slim maiden of thirteen, a black bodice and a scarlet and
green kerchief; a pair of well-knit stockings took the form
of her feet, but no shoes could be found in which she codd
walki until, after having dried and freshly platted her hsir,
A HODXBN IDTt. 87
it occurred to the girls that ' brot'.ier Hansl'a new SnndftT
boota woold not be a bit too small for- tbe joang lady,' and
the Snnday boota of Btrong leather, donble soIcd, trell gar-
nished with naila, and made to lace in front with thongs,
were forthwith produced. Fortunately Ihcj prored neither
too long, nor ry moch too wide, and Nora, perfectly con-
TiDced of the impossibility of ever again beinff able to make
Bie of her owd, was bat too glad to avoid the contingency
of being boot or Ehocless tbe next day when the time came
for her return to Almeoau.
The passage outside the room was very dark, and as one
of tha girls remained beliind to put everything in order
gain, and close the wardrobes, on ceremoniously retaining the
light for that purpose, Nora laid her hand on the arm of
the other, and go groped her way to the staircase. At the
foot of it, a red-flamed guttering candle in his hand, stood
the fisherman's son, and near him Torp, completely equipped
as a peasant, and looking remarkably well in a dress peca-
liarly calculated to show to advantage his well-proportioned
mnscolar figare. With hia anna folded, and head thrown
back, he leaned againat the open door of the kitchen, and
Nora aaked heraelf was it possible that the calm, indolently
lounging personage before her could be the man whose an-
remitliog energy and athletic strength she had during that
day, BO much against her inclination, been forced to ad-
mire. Greatly she rejoiced that he had apumcd her thanks,
and reminded her so opportnnely that she had released him
from imprisonment. And it was trne, qnite tmc, that she
had been brought into an unpleasant predicament, and some
danger, by her effort to relieve him from a sitnation just as
unpleasant, and nearly as perilons, as her own bad been snb-
eqnently. In short, as he had himself observed, she had
been nseful to him, and he to her, and now they were
mntually free from all obligation.
'Anything yon please,' said Torp at that moment, as if in
II. 8
MODSBN IDTL.
answer to some question on the part of the fisherman's wife;
* give ns anything jon please, provided it be qnicklj. Peopli
who have not eaten for so many honrs are not likely to be
dainty, and a walk across the mountains from the Wild Alp
in such weather would give any one an appetite. '
The woman laughed, threw fresh wood on the hearth U
hurry the process of cooking ; and as the flickering flsoM
lighted up Torp's features, he bore so strong a resembkoea
to his mother, especially as Nora remembered her, sitting by
the fireplace at The Willows on the memorable last eyeDing
there, that all her bitter feelings towards his family, and per-
sonal dislike to himself, returned with double force, and sbe
passed on in silence to the dwelling-room, thinking how
much she could have enjoyed so pleasant a termination to
her mountain adventure had any one but Torp been her
companion.
The sitting-room at the fisherman's was like all such apart-
ments in peasants' cottages, but the ceiling, composed of
beams of wood darkened by age, was lower, and the windows
smaller than in any room Nora had yet seen ; and throagh
the latter the moonlight entered sparingly. As for conre-
nience and warmth, the winter store of fuel-wood was piled
against the walls of the house, merely leaving free the spaee
occupied by the diminutive square window-frames. The
fisherman and his younger children were seated on the
wooden bench with which the sides of the great green tile
stove were furnished. Above their heads, suspended on a
rail, hung shirts both large and small, worsted stockings ssd
leggings, airing in preparation for the piig^mage to the
distant church the ensuing morning.
The children m6ved near to their father when Nora entered,
and whispered eagerly, ' She's got Ur^i's best gpreen gown and
Lina's new black bodice ; and oh, father I they've been and
given her Hans's spick and span new boots. '
The last words attracted the attention of a bare legged
A MOBIBN IDTL. 89
boy who, sitting astride on the bench at the table, was
watching intently the flame of the candle, evidently prepared
with a pair of old rusty iron snuffers to swoop down on the
wick whenever it had attained a length that would enable
him to do so without incurring a reprimand from his father.
He turned round, slid nimbly from the bench, bent forward
to ascertain the truth of what he had heard, and then, resting
the forefinger of the left hand on his under teeth, sidled towards
his father, all the while gazing at Nora from beneath his eye-
brows, with a mixture of curiosity and dismay.
As she took the place he had vacated, and drew him towards
her by his shirt-sleeve, for jacket he had none, Torp entered
the room.
' Hans,' cried the fisherman, 'take your finger out of your
mouth and tell the young lady she's welcome to the loan of
your boots.'
'It will not be for long,' said Nora, smiling, 'and when I
send them back to you, Hans, you will find something that
you like packed up in the same paper with them. Can you
guess what it will be ? '
Hans eyed her keenly, placed his thumbs beneath the faded
green braces of his tighily-fitting black leather shorts, yielded
to the impulse given by her hand, and on finding himself
standing close beside her, asked shyly, ' Is it a harmonica ? '
'I think it is,' she answered, ''but I don't exactly know of
what kind. '
' Ton put it in your mouth and blow music, ' he rejoined,
more confidently ; ' there were hundreds of them at the fair
in Tyrol, but they cost twelve kreutzers.'
'Ah, exactly,' said Nora; 'and if there be anything else
yon would like, I can send it by the same opportunity. '
'A great, great, big, long, smoked sausage,' said the boy,
to Nora's infinite amusement; and evidently gaining courage
as she nodded her head and told him to go on.
'And a ^bouqnetal of real flowers' (he meant a bouquet of
8*
90 A MODERN IDTL.
artificial ones, bat Nora understood him). 'And a bonqnebl
of real flowers for mj holiday hat I and a a fishing-line
and and hooks,' he continued, eagerly placing his hand on
her arm to secure her attention, for just at that momcDt his
mother entered the room, carrying in her hand a steaming iron
pan, fresh from the kitchen fire, and containing a quantity of
the chopped omelette called ' schmarn.' She deposited it od
a tripod, placed on the table for the purpose, motioned to
Torp to advance, gate him and Nora each a horn spoon and
an enormous slice of very dark-brown bread, and then, placing
her hands on her hips, uttered a sort of satisfied sigh, as she
wished them a good appetite, and hoped they would not dis-
dain what her poor house had to offer on so short a notice.
Nora not only reassured her, but flattered her vanity by
immediately commencing to eat and praise with such thorongh
good-will that the whole family began to gather round her,
while Torp, silently helping himself to his share from the
other side of the pan, glanced towards her occasionally with
a sort of amazement that, unknown to himself, began to verge
on admiration.
When the remains of their repast had been removed, and
Nora turned from him to talk to the fisherman and his wife
about their cattle and crops, and then to the latter of her
homespun linen and the childi'en's school attendance; to the
fisherman's son of the forest clearings in the neighborhood,
and the occupation that the sledging of the wood and cha^
coal gave the peasants in winter, Torp placed both his elbows
on the table and leaned forward, surprised alike at her know-
ledge of such matters and the finent highland patois in which
she discussed them. He fonnd himself wondering where she
could have acquired both, when the fisherman drew him into
the conversation by referring to his fishery, and describing
his winter occupations. This subject interested Nora also,
and she moved nearer tb listen, taking up at the same time
the ponderous half of a colossal blue stocking, and beginning
A MODERN IDTL. 91
to, knit with a rapidity tliat only a German edncation conld
give.
For some reason which she would hare found it difficult to
explain, even to herself, Nora did not choose Torp to know
how completely she was fatigued, so she forced herself to knit,
and listen, until the effort became downright painful to her.
The stocking seemed to widen immeasurably, and rise to her
very eyes ; the voice of the speakers sank into an indistinct
murmur, like the hum of distant bees : one hand sought her
forehead, to rub away the unwelcome drowsiness, but remained
to support her drooping head ; while the other, round which
the blue thread was twisted in a manner incomprehensible to
the uninitiated, at length fell powerless among the knitting-
needles. A few faint struggles she made to raise her heavy
eyelids, to look around her, to move, in vain ; overcome by
weariness, she first slumbered lightly, then, slept profoundly.
The younger children had been taken off by their mother
in succession ; the elder girls had followed, and might be
heard at work in the adjacent kitchen ; the ticking of the
clock in the wall became audible at intervals, for the fisher-
man alone continued to talk, Torp having ceased for some
time to answer, even in monosyllables. He was, however,
not sleeping, or even sleepy on the contrary, very wide
awake, though he no longer heard the voice of the speaker,
or took cognizance of anything in the room, save the slum-
berer opposite him. Perhaps he had been attracted by the
white hand and arm, that appeared so strikingly inappropri-
ate to the short, coarse linen sleeve ; or the rounded figure,
that gave so much grace to a rustic costume of most ordinary
materials ; or the fair face, in perfect repose ; or the braids
of shining black hair; or the long eyelashes, or or all
together, perhaps. Certain it is, that he might have seen
Nora in London at fifty balls, and as many d^jeunds, in the
most splendid dresses that can be imagined ; or spent a fort-
night under the same roof, in the most distinguished and
92 A MODERN IDTL.
popular of country-houses, without her having bad the power
to interest and fascinate him as she had done that day, daring
the storm on the mountain, and in the dwelling-room of the
fisherman's lonely cottage.
And there was no mother or chaperon to pat him on his
guard, by looks of ill-concealed exultation ; no relations, to
point out personal, and hint mental perfections not ereo a
friend to laugh at him I But, after all, what danger could
there be for a fastidious man such as he, in the contemplation
of a Miss Nora Nixon, especially when she happened to
be asleep ? So Torp gazed on, in a pleasant, dreamy sort
of way, until the fisherman rose to wind up the clock.
Nora opened her eyes, smiled drowsily, ' belieTed she vas
rather tired,' and left the room in search of a candle. A
minute afterwards, he heard her speaking in the passage,
and, on looking out through the half-open door, soon di
covered that she was making earnest enquiries respecting the
time that the cuirassier, Seppel, had been with the fishe^
man's family.
' Not here until six o'clock in the morning ? Did he come
by the woodman's path, that was nnder water to-day; or
orby the Wild Alp?
' By the Alp. He told us he had slept in the loft of one
of the huts there for a couple of hours.'
'But he may have left it very early,' suggested Nora;
before day-light most probably, or even during the night-
there was moonlight, you know.'
' Oh, as to that, there's not a bye-way on the monntaini
unknown to him ; but I suppose he wanted to find us all np
and together, to his good news, or else he would have been
sure to corae on without stopping. Moonlight is his delight^
and,' added the fisherman's wife, with a knowing look, 'Sep-
pel has been often enough out in the mountains about here a(
night, to find his way in the dark, if necessary.'
Wag he alone ? ' asked Nora, gravely.
JL MODERN IDTL. 98
' Alone ! of coarse he was. He came here to inyite ns to
his betrothal.'
* Are yoa qnite sure,' asked Nora, * that there were no
"boys" from Tyrol, or other people with him ?'
* Quite sure. '
'And,' continued Nora, hesitatingly, 'he was not uneasy
in his manner, or in a hurry to leave you ? '
' By no means. He was as merry as a grig, and took a
swim in the lake, and sang all the Almenau schnader-huep'
feln, and danced the polky as they do in Munich, and was
as fresh, and fresher than ever I saw him in my life, and
that's saying something I '
' Did he not say he had met people at the Alp f ' asked
Nora, slowly, as if unwilling to disturb the pleasant impres-
sion made on her by the last speech ; some hunters, I mean,
who were there last night ? '
'No,' answered the woman, thoughtfully, and looking
round to her son and elder daughters as if for confirmation.
'I don't think he mentioned anything about them; but he
said he had heard the report of a rifle when on his way here.
Six years ago I should hare had my suspicions, and asked
him some questions; but now he has grown steady, and
wouldn't, on any account, anger his father-in-law that is to
be. If you think he was out with wildhunters, Miss, you're
mistaken. I can answer for him. '
*I hope you may be right,' said Nora, slowly mounting
the staircase, at the top of which she turned round to say
good night.
Torp, less fatigued, was soon after tempted to step out on
the balcony, where he remained among the flower-pots and
fishing-nets nearly two hours, in apparent admiration of the
lake, mountains, and moon. Why he afterwards went to his
room, muttering the word ' stuff and nonsense,' we have not
time to take into consideration.
94 POST HORSES BEING THE IDTIi
CHAPTER VIL
POST HORSES BRING THE IDYL TO A CONCLUSION.
When Nora awoke the next morning, completely refreshed
after a night of nndistnrbed rest, not a cloud was to be seen
in the heavens. The mountains over which she had toiled
the previous aflemoon, together^ with those that enclosed so
* large a portion of the lake, were already glowing in the first
rajs of the rising sun, and standing out clear and distinct
from a background of the deepest blue, while the fisher-hoose
still remained in complete shade. It was situated in the
midst of green fields, at the entrance to a vallej throogh
which the overplus water of the lake found its way as a tur-
bulent stream to the river Inn. There was pasturage ia
abundance for cattle, and a not inconsiderable herd were
now in the neighborhood of the house, collecting in gronpi
round the haj-sheds on the meadows, before they com-
menced their daily wandering to the mountains. There
clambering among the rocks, or roaming in the woods,
the sound of the deep-toned bells suspended round their
necks, gave constant indication of their whereabouts, and
might be heard tinkling incessantly in the distance, until the
loud, wild jodel of the fisher's daughter assembled them, to-
wards evenjiig, at the skirts of the wood. During the sanT-
mer months they generally remained out at night, not nofre-
quently, in unusually warm weather, returning home of their
own accord during the day-time to the shelter of the long
wooden cow-house attached to the dwelling. They lilted
standing in the lake too, and regularly eat all the appies they
could find under the trees in the orchards. In shorty if Xora
could have believed all that the fisherman's daughter told
TO A OONOLITSION. 95
her, as she walked throagh the wet grass with them to look
at their fayorite cows, there never had been in this world
such excellent, good-tempered, or intelligent animals.
' But here's the best fellow of all !' cried XTrsi, stalking op
to a great bull that stood raminating at the cow-honse door,
and throwing one arm oyer his neck with the other she drew
his great head towards her, ' I brought him up myself, and
DCTer let him be rexed, and now he follows me as steadily as
the old bell cow herself I'
Nora began to retire towards the house, not a little alarmed
at the vicinity of the great animal, that even, while caressing
and being caressed, could look so terrible.
The younger sister laughed. * Don't be fearful, miss,' she
said, encouragingly, ' as long as TJrsi has a bit of salt in her
pocket, he will not come near us I'
* You are afraid of him too, ' said Nora.
* Oh no he never minds me, and lets Hanse beat him
vith a stick when he is sent to drive him out of the potatoe-
field or the oats. '
TJrsi, who was a stalwart young woman, with a waist and
ahoalders greatly resembling those of a man, seemed highly
amused at Nora's avoidance of her favorite. In order to
prove the truth of her last assertion concerning him, she
moved on, and was, as she expected, followed by the bull,
nibbing his head and shoulder against hers in a manner that
would have thrown to the ground any less vigorous per-
sonage.
Nora retreated by stepping backwards, and stulnbled
against Torp, who had come to tell her that her guide, Mi-
chael, had arrived, and was waiting for ordei^.
'Oh that's right,' said Nora, *he can bring ns some
clothes or at least take a message to Almenau. But how
did he find out where we were ?'
* He at first thought we had returned to the alp,' answered
Torp, ' and as he had the remnants of our provisions, thought
96 POST HOKJ9X8 BRING THS IDTL
it necessary to go there. On his return, the waterfall m
dashing over the path, and then it occurred to him that
in short, he guessed what had happened, and was confirmed
in the idea when he obserted the removal of some large stooti
that I had displaced in springing on the sand ; he followed
us, arrived here late at night, made his way into the hay-loft,
and is now at your service.'
'I suppose we had better write,' began Nora.
'Let us consider,' he said, following her into the house,
* let us first consider whether or not it be worth while. The
pathway to the village is, yon know, under water. If Hi*
chael have to go round throngh Tyrol, he cannot reach A1-
meuau until late in the evening : it will not be early to-mor-
row when your clothes reach yon, and yon may find it neces-
sary to remain here another day. Perhaps you have no
objection to do so f '
'No objection?' cried Nora, intermpting him; 'every
possible objection I I cannot will not remain here if it
can be avoided. It is of the greatest importance that I
shonld see the forester and his son without delay I most
also endeavor to prevent the Crag peasant from taking anj
hasty step; you know he might refuse to resign he migbt
even disinherit ,' she stopped suddenly, remembering that
Torp could not understand her, and that he was the last pe^
son to whom she could explain her anxieties. ' What do
you mean to do f ' she asked abruptly.
' I shall return to Almenau to-day.'
' In that dress ?' she asked.
'I snppose so,' he answered, looking down at his hare
knees with a slight grimace.
' If it were not a holiday,' said Nora, musingly, ' and if we
had not to pass through part of Tyrol but after all there
are only a couple of villages before we get into the Bavarian
Highlands again, and I must see the forester and Frani
before I sleep this night. '
TO A OOHOLOSIOIf. 91
Torp, wbo feftred he had shown too much interest in h.T
decision, now thonght it necessftry to appear snpremetj in-
different. 'Had I mj fishing-tackle,' he said, walking to the
door and looking ont st the lake, ' I could have spent a
couple of days here pleasantly enough perhaps witlioot it
I sboold of course be bored to death.'
Xora understood this speech in a way he had not intended.
She supposed him onwilliag to make arrangements for her
return to Almenaa, and when he looked round she was gone,
and he bad soon a^c the mortification to find that she had
engaged the fisherman's son to take her and her gaide
Michael in a hay-cart to the nearest Tyrolean Tillage, so that
if he did not resoUe to walk sereral miles unnecessarily he
must reqnest place in her humble equipage, and receive as
a favor what he might have offered to her.
To add to his annoyance he soon perceived that she had
resolved to give him no further opportaaity of exhibiting
either his indifference or unwillingness to a nearer acquaint-
ance; for, while she remained at the fisherman's house she
effectually contrived to avoid him ; not, however. In the
downrightly mde manner to which he had had recourse with
her and her family, bat by qoietly withdrawing altogether
from his presence. While be was left in solitary grandeur to
breakfast on weak coffee and thick cream in the dwelling-
room, Nora sat in the kitchen surrounded by the whole
bmily; and when the fisherman's wife assembled ber children
to examine their dresses before they set out for church, she
did the same by Nora, placing on her head the smartest little
green hat in the honse, and loudly declaring she was the
prettiest girl she had seen for many a day.
What Nora afterwards said or did so completely to gain
the hearts of the fisherman and bis family, is not recorded ;
certain it is that they gave her a bouqnet of Alpenroien, too
large for both her hands, that the children filled ber pockeU
with aooles, and that they were all, without exception, em-
98 POST H0B8E8 BRINO THX IDTL
ployed in arranging the hay-cart for her receptioa. The
board which was to be her seat was covered with horse-cloUa
and jackets, oyer the straw beneath her feet the fisherman^i
son had spread his cloak, and soon after led from the stable
a bay mare, whose foal of the preceding year showed a stroo;
inclination to, make the ezcarsion with them. While he took
his place in front as coachman, his legs dangling downwards,
in closest contact with the tail of his horse, Michael stretched
himself on the straw in the back of the cart, beside a tolerably
large bntt containing fish to be sold to the Tillage innkeeper,
and during reiterated exclamations of ' Adien,' and 'Mayyos
reach home in safety,' Nora was assisted, or rather lifted,
into the vehicle by the fisherman himself.
Jast as they were abont to drive off, she looked np towards
Torp, who was standing on the balcony, imagining himself
forgotten, hesitated for a moment, and then frankly proposed
his going with them, as it would save him a very long walL
'If you have a place for me,' he answered, 'I shall be
mnch obliged ; but yon need not wait^ for I can easily 0Te^
take you before you reach the end of the meadows.'
The flush of annoyance was still on his cheek, when be
joined her at the entrance to the valley, and he long continoed
to walk beside her in a silent thoughtful sort of way, takisg
no sort of apparent interest in her conversation with tbe
fisherman's son, and her guide of the previous day.
The road resembled the dried bed of a rivulet, being chieflj
composed of tbe stones and sand left on it by the river ato
various inundations. On one side of them the swollen waten
now rushed on, struggling with the impeding stones ; on the
other the mountain rose abruptly, at times wooded, bat not
nnfreqnently exhibiting a succession of bare wild rocks, or a
mixture of both, and seldom leaving more space than was
absolutely necessary for the passage of the cart.
'If the road continue much longer like this,' observed
Nora, ' I think we might just as well have walked.'
TO A CONCLUSION. 99
0b, we shall get into the wood presently,' eaid the fisher-
man's son, ' and once on the road there, yon shall see how
Lizzie can step ont.' ^
And soon after they began gradually to ascend a long hill,
or rather mountain, on a very rough narrow road. A steep
descent followed, where Lizzie in fact stepped ont in a man-
ner that made it impossible for Nora to keep her seat without
clinging to Torp's arm. She did so unconsciously at first,
and he was more pleased than he chose to acknowledge to
himself, or wished her to perceiTe ; but he immediately after-
wards laid aside his haughty manner as if it had been a gar-
ment, and when Lizzie became skittish, and made occasional
clumsy attempts at a kick or shied at a felled tree, he laughed
heartily, and held Nora's arm faster than ever. What per-
haps most amused them both were the frequent expostulations
of their driyer with his bay mare ; the idea of touching her
with a whip neyer seemed to enter his mind, though he had
one in his hand, which he continually cracked and flourished
in the air, in a remarkably carter-like manner, the surround-
ing mountains echoing quickly and distinctly the loud sharp
sounds.
'Go on, Lizzie,' he said, in a coaxing manner, as she
distrustfully eyed the upturned root of a prostrate beech-tree,
bearing a grotesque resemblance to a stooping human figure.
' Go on, now, and don't be foolish before the strangers, after
my praising you, and saying you could do everything but
speak ! It's a shame to see you cocking your ears after that
fashion, for an old stump that you've passed by every week
last winter, when we brought out the charcoal from the clear-
ings to the iron-works. Oh, if yon want to look at it, and
sniff it, I'm sure I've no objection,' he said, jumping down
and leading her forward, while caressingly stroking her nose ;
* but,' he added, ' but instead of the lappet of red cloth for
your collar that I promised yon at the next fair, it's a pair
of goggles, or a lorry to stick in your eye like the town folks,
IL 9
fW^-i*
100 POST HOftSXS BRING THI IDTL
that yoa shall have, yon shy old fool. She's as steady as aa
02,' he said, half apologetically, while resuming his seat, 'u
steady as an ox when we're sledging charcoal in winter I '
Notwithstanding varions trifling delays of this kind, uA
longer ones where the road had been injured by the rain of
the preceding day, Torp thonght they reached the Tyrokta
Tillage in an astonishingly short time. As they drove op
to the inn door, the landlady came bustling forward, aod
nodded a familiar greeting, but judging too hastily from
appearances, showed infinitely more interest about the fish
that she expecteij, than the arrival of guests of so little appa-
rent importance.
Torp and Nora were, therefore, for some time left to their
own devices, and after having looked into the peasant-room,
which was crowded to excess, and where a ciTil but tiib
effort was made to find a place for them, they naturally went
into the other reserved for persons of higher rank, and found
in it a numerous assembly of well-dressed people and some
travellers, who all turned round, and seemed not a little siff-
prised at their intention to join them.
' Perhaps there is a garden where we could dine alone,'
suggested Nora.
* There is, ' answered Torp. ' I remember being here a
couple of years ago with Waldemar. '
' Then let us go to the kitchen and inquire about it and
our dinner at the same time, ' said Nora.
And they moved away unconscious of the curiosity caused
by the few words they had spoken in their native language.
It was long afterwards that Nora first became fully con-
scious of the comical position in which she was placed with
Torp that day, as they stood together by the hearth cdn-
salting with the cook about their dinner. Their similarity
of taste and unanimity was remarkable, and a very simple
repast had been ordered, when the landlady suddenly appeared,
and proposed a few additions that convinced them both she
TO A OON0LU8I0N. 101
liad bad some conyersation with Michael and the fisherman's
son concerning them.
In the garden they were not so mnoh alone as Nora had
expected. The hoase was famoas for its dinners, and a long
wooden arcade and capacious snmmer-honse were furnished
with tables and guests. For Torp and Nora, howeyer, a
place was quicklj arranged, and so complete was their peasant
costume, that they might haye escaped notice, had not the
landlady chosen to serye them herself, and afterwards waited
for an iuyitation from Nora to take a seat beside them.
* I think,' she obseryed, turning to Torp, * I think you 're
the foreign gentleman who was here the year before last with
the Count 7 '
'I was in this neighborhood about two years ago,' he
answered, eyasiyely.
' He was here last week,' she continued, 'and a large party
of ladies and gentlemen ftom Herrenburg. There 's to be a
wedding in the family soon perhaps two if we may belieye
what the senrants say.'
Torp did not answer ; but the landlady conld not belieye
him as indifferent as he looked.
' They say, ' she continued, ' the Count can haye the lady
from Vienna for the asking that she 's come on purpose
and the old Count is uncommon well satisfied with the match.'
' Ah, indeed I ' said Torp, carelessly ; while Nora, strongly
suspecting this lady from Vienna to be her friend Irene
Schaomberg, would gladly haye asked a question or two had
he been absent.
* They haye announced their intention of coming here to-
day, and honoring our theatre with a yisit,' said the landlady.
' At what hour ? ' asked Torp, quickly.
* At two o'clock. And if yon and the yonng lady would
not disdain our yillage performance, you might as well remain
for an hour or so to see it. '
9*
102 POST HOBSES BBINQ THX IDTL
'I think/ said Torp, taming to Nora, 'I think the delay
woald scarcelj be desirable for either of ns. '
'The plaj is much admired,' interposed the landlady;
' and the Connt said he would go any distance to see oor
smith act the villain, and the work-woman do the duchess.'
Nora smiled. She had no doubt that Waldemar had so
spoken, but also no inclination to be seen bj him and his
friends, wandering about so adventurouslj in the guise of a
peasant ; so she became as anxious as Torp to avoid a meet-
ing, and joined him in requesting the landlady to send as
express to the nearest town for post-horses.
When she had left them for this purpose, Torp informed
Nora that the inn-keeper and his wife had found it a good
speculation to build a theatre ; and he pointed, while speak-
ing, towards a tolerably large wooden edifice at the end of
the garden, adding : ' Their house is crowded before and
after the performances, in a manner that amply indemnifies
them for the outlay of capital.'
' Under any other circumstances, ' observed Nora * and in
any other dress, I should have liked to remain here a fev
hours longer, in order to see this drama, or melodrama, in
which the smith and work-woman have so distinguished
themselves.'
' I dare say we should have found it amusing enough, ' said
Torp ; ' though why these peasants always choose dramas in
which they have to represent princes, and dukes, and knights
in armor, I have never been able to make out. '
' Consider these dramas as a criterion of peasant civiliza-
tion,' said Nora, 'and you will no longer wonder at their
t.iste. '
'I do not understand you,' said Torp.
' Do we not in infancy like talcs of giants and ogres and
fairies?' said Nora. 'Learning to read and exercise onr
reason brings us further on to the Arabian Nights, or
legends holy and profane. A smattering of knowledge, a very
TO A CONCLUSION. 103
little history, takes as to the crnsades, with all their array of
kings, queens, princes, knights, and tournaments. This is
the longest and brightest period, the manners, the dress, the
glory of personal strength, courage, and honesty, the very
superstition of that age.'
* Ah, I see,' cried Torp, interrupting her, * you consider the
peasants in the mountains here to have attained somewhat
about the degree of culture that we possess in our tenth or
twelfth year. '
* I cannot otherwise account for their theatrical taste, ' an-
swered Nora. ' At all events that they can enjoy such dramas
is no small proof of peasant cultivation ; that they are able to
act them, and wonderfully well too, is a still greater. Now
I should like to know,' she added, leaning her arms on the
table and looking at him gravely, ' I should like to know if
our peasantry in England, Ireland, or Scotland could do as
much ? '
* I am decidedly inclined to doubt their histrionic talents, '
said Torp.
' Can you then tell me,' she continued in the same tone,
' what are the amusements or recreations of the lower orders
in England, especially in the villages ? '
' Really Miss Nixon,' said Torp, half laughing, ' one might
suppose you a foreigner making inquiries about the habits
and customs of the inhabitants of the British Islands 1 It
would be preposterous my offering information to a person of
your intellect and information, and your question can only be
put to extort the answer that our peasantry have no recrea-
tions of this description, and that I scarcely know whether or
not they would be capable of enjoying them if they had. '
'Excuse my ignorance,' said Nora, quietly; * I have, in
fact, had no opportunity of judging for myself, for London
has been England to me.'
' Ah, I had forgotten that,' said Torp, 'or rather I have
latterly found it impossible to suppose an English and es-
104 POST HORSES BRING THE IDTL
peciallj a London edncation, could have made joxx what joi
are.'
He paused, perhaps expecting her to ask what he meant,
but as she remained silent he added of his own accord, 'Ton
give me the idea of a person who was in the habit of spending
more than half the year abroad, and the rest of it in tho
wildest parts of the Highlands of Scotland.'
Nora could not help smiling at a remark that prored sbe
had been much more observed than she had supposed. 'I
have never been in Scotland, nor even in any of the country
parts of England,' she observed, after a moment's considera-
tion. ' The trees and grass of a dingy square have for maoj
years represented woods and meadows to me, and solelj
through the medium of their sooty blighted vegetation, hare
I been made aware of the gradual change of season going on
beyond the houses of our overgrown metropolis. '
' And yet, ' said Torp, ' I am convinced yon like these
dingy squares, think London the most delightful place in the
world, and make it a standard for all others.'
' No, oh no r said Nora, shaking .her head.
' You surprise me,' he rejoined, somewhat cavalierly, 'for
most London people consider their town par excellence a
perfect paradise I'
Not a little amused at finding herself civilly called a coek-
ney, yet unwilling to enter into any explanation, Non
watched in silence and with some interest the effect which the
supposition and recollections of her family would produce on
her companion. He had been building a pyramid of smaD,
bright, yellow-colored apricots, and conUnued his occupation
in an absent manner until a little boy placed a play-bill in
Nora's hand, which she instantly began to study. Then Torp
looked up, leaned slightly across the narrow table in order to
read with her, and as she placed the paper between them and
they bent over it together, cockneys, Nixons, London, and
England, seemed altogether to fade from his mind, and be
TO A 00NGLU8ION. 105
became what she had learned to consider his better self
agaiD.
' I am much mistaken,' he observed, with a langh, ' if that
be not the very thing I saw in Brixlej a couple of years ago.'
' And what sort of a " thing" is it ? ' asked Nora.
' Why, let me see it was melodramatic the duchess, I
remember, sang very tolerably, and wore a red gown trimmed
with a wonderful imitation of ermine a yellowish cotton
stniT with black spots.'
' And the subject of the drama ? ' asked Nora.
' I am afraid I bestowed too much attention on the people
with me, the audience in general, the theatre itself, an( the
persons of the peasant actors, to have any clear recollection
of the drama. I remember there were a couple of large
leather dolls, representing children, which were most in-
humanly used, though whether they were to be killed outright
or exposed in a wood to be found by a kind-hearted charcoal-
burner, or brought up by a compassionate doe '
^ ' You are getting into the legend of Oenoveva,' said Nora,
interrupting him.
' Ah, very true there was a sort of resemblance I believe
at least, the duchess in the red gown was very unhappy
about these children, or something else. I think, too, she
was turned out of doors by her lord and master, a fellow with
a long feather in his hat. The villain of the play was deci-
dedly the best actor, with a few pieces of rather incongruous
armor, a plumed helmet and buskins. He "strutted and
fretted his hour upon the stage," to every one's satisfaction ;
but whether in his character of robber-knight he only carried
off the children, or actually attempted to murder them,
whether he merely provoked the jealousy of the marvellously-
dignified duke, or went the length of endeavoring to assas-
sinate him in a lonely wood, I have not the slightest idea.
That be had been foiled in all his atrocious attempts was
Blade pleasantiy evident by the appearance of the dolls, dncbess
106 POST HORBEB BKINQ THX IDTL
and duke in the last scene, while the yillain himself, wounded
and in a half recumbent postare, confessed all his sins and
misdemeanors in deep, broken, and sepulchral accents!'
*I think,' said Nora, 'that after so evident a proof of
flagrant inattention to the drama itself, I maj reasonablj
expect that jour observations of other matters will prove
unusnallj accurate.'
' I grant without hesitation,' answered Terp, 'that tk
fact of such theatres and performances being popular in the
Bavarian Highlands and Tyrol interested me infinitely more
than the actual representation going on in mj presence, aod
that I made inquiries on the subject of every one likdj to
give me any information. '
' And the result ? ' asked Nora.
' I found that from time out of mind, these plays had been
acted by the peasants about here. The original taste for
them, and the habit of acting, seems to have been acquired
from moralities and mysteries such as we saw at Ammergsn ;
as in some plays a sort of explanatory tableau vivant sti])
precedes each act, and a genius, holding a long-stalked lilj,
walks up and down before the foot-lights to expound its pur-
port. There is a decided predilection for tragedy or serions
drama, and all attempts have failed to procure popularitj
for modern plays or modem dresses ; equally evident is the
strong prejudice against prose compositions, and the more
stilted the style and metre the more certain of applause.'
'That I consider a matter of course,' observed Nors,
' when one takes into consideration that actors and audience
are peasants with glowing fancies and partial educations.'
' Yet the spirit of improvement or change is at work even
here,' said Torp, ' and daring the last few years some inno-
vations have been attempted that are likely to cause an altera-
tion in these performances calculated to make them, if not to
the peasants, to us, at least, far less interesting. Formerly
the actors were, as at Ammergan, altogether composed of
:t
TO A CONCLUSION. 107
the inhabitants of the village and the neighboring peasants
vho, not having much time at their disposal, only studied a
Goaple of dramas each year, performing them with perseve-
ring regnlaritj, on alternate holidays, at the end of the sea-
eon dividing as shareholders any profits that remained, and
generally appropriating the amount to pay the expenses of a
fete in which actors and audience mutually participated.
Latterly there have been found enterprising men who have
undertaken the management, supplied the dresses, paid the
actors according to their capabilities, and not unfrequently
tempted performers from the neighboring towns to appear on
their stages.'
' I have not the slightest wish to see anything of thai kind,'
said Nora, once more taking up the play bill.
' They are, I believe, still quite primitive here, ' continued
Torp ; ' and even at Brixley, there were no actors or ac-
tresses from Innsbruck or the intervening towns. If, how-
ever, the stage is to be a sort of moral institution, a means
of instructing the people, as has been so continually advo-
cated in Germany, better actors and more variety in the
choice of dramas might be perhaps desirable. '
' I cannot think so,' said Nora ; ' an amateur theatre in-
terests more or less the whole parish, brings the people
together for a common purpose, induces them to read and
discuss what will suit them best, and is certainly a means of
improving their manners. If, as yon have given me to un-
derstand, you have carefully watched the conduct and ap-
pearance of a peasant audience in a peasant theatre, you
;nust agree with me, and wish that our lower orders had
similar tastes and similar amusements. '
* It would never answer in England,' said Torp. 'Even
supposing one half of our population found pleasure in thea-
tres of this kind, the other would consider them & cause of
umbrage, and regard them with indignation.'
' What I even if they were moral or religious dramas t '
108 PObT H0B8I8 BRING THX IDTL
' About them there might be the greatest nnanimitj,'
plied Torp ; ' they would, most undoubtedly, be condemnei
at once as irreverent, if not impious.'
' Yon are thinking of representations such as we saw at
Ammergau, ' said Nora ; ' and I confess that, notwithstaod-
ing the intense interest and admiration I felt for that as an
exceptional performance, had I the power I should forbid it,
and all others in which our Saviour's personal appearance
might be supposed necessary.'
' I am glad to hear yon say so,' obserred Torp.
'But,' continued Nora, 'the drama at Amnkergau hai
convinced me that religious subjects are eminently adapted
for such theatres, such actors, and such audiences. '
' Nothing of the kind would ever be tolerated in England,'
rejoined Torp.
* And why ? '
' We are a religious people, ' he answered, ' and consider
the Bible so sacred that no person mentioned in it can, with
propriety, be made to appear upon a stage. '
' Is that your opinion also ? ' asked Nora.
' Not exactly,' he replied ; ' but circumstances have obliged
me to live almost constantly abroad, and chiefly in Germany,
during the last ten years, so that many of my English prejn-
dices have been modified or relinquislied altogether, and I
heartily wish that our lower orders had rational amusements
of some kind or other to keep them out of the ale-booses
and gin-shops.'
'I believe,' said Nora, 'Mr. Hume said something to that
purport in the House of Commons once upon a time ; bot'
when one reads in statistical reports of hundreds of thoo-
sands who never enter a chnrch in this religious country of
ours, and more than as many who cannot read or write, one
cannot help asking what amusements would be likely to suit
sDth a people.'
Torp shrugged his shoulders, drummed on the table, and
1
TO A CONCLUSION. 109
then said, * I beiieve amasements could be foand for them as
well as for others, bot not sach as jon, in your admiration
of the peasantry here, would propose for them.^
' Yon have gaessed my thoughts, ' observed Nora, smilin^r.
'I confess that I was planning gardens where they could
bear good music, and drink beer and coffee with their wives.
1 should like to hear them sing merrily in chorus, and see
them dance. '
'We are not bom singers and dancers, like the people
here,' said Torp. * Yon would have to teach us to be happy,
Miss Nixon. '
' I understand you,' she replied. ' You think it would be
difficult to persuade English peasants that a waltz in the
evening was a recreation after a hard day's work.'
Torp nodded his head.
'And yet it is considered such here,' she continued. ' Those
- people who danced so gaily the other night at our inn had
been up and at work before dawn, assembled in their church
at six o'clock, and, with but a short rest about noon, had
labored incessantly the whole day I I was astonished to see
them equal to such exertion after so much hard labor. '
' So was I, ' said Torp. ' They seem a robust race about
Almenan, enjoy dancing to excess, and are as ready for a
fight as if they had been bom Irishmen. '
' I cannot deny that,' replied Nora. 'Our landlady told
me that some excesses which had taken place in the neigh*
borhood had caused the church festivals to be celebrated on
the same day throughout Bavaria, in order to prevent a too
great concourse of people in any one parish ; and there is
also some difficulty in obtaining permission from the land*
judge to dance, excepting on occasions such as weddings, or
shooting-matches, when the company are invited, and there
IS no likelihood of a brawl.'
'These are the expedient restrictions of a patriarchal
government,' observed Torp; 'but I need scarcely remind
110 POST H0K8XS BKINO THX IDYL
you, that oar constitution allows no interference of this kind,
even for a good purpose. '
The iandladj announced the arrival of the horses from the
neighboring town, and thej both started up, equally annoai
to accomplish their departure before the arriral of Waldemtr
and his friends. Neither made the slightest objection to tiw
high old-fashioned jellow calash and long-legged half-hir-
nessed horses that awaited them. Michael seated himself
beside the grey and red liveried Tyrolean postilion/ and tiMj
set off at a rate that promised a speedj return to Almenia.
At a short distance beyond the village they met a number
of carriages containing ladies with gay bonnets and flutteriog
ribbons, and gentlemen in summer coats, and green or grejr
felt hats of fantastic forms. The carriages passed in qui^
succession, and evidently belonged to the same party : for, is
the gentlemen in the first stood up to look after Torp asd
Nora, whom they supposed to be rich peasants taking their
pleasure in a post-chaise, the others followed their example;
and a gentleman in the last carriage, throwing the reins to
the servant beside him, sprang to the ground, and shouted
' Halt ' to their postilion in a voice that was not to be dis-
obeyed.
Neither Torp nor Nora was surprised to see Waldemsr,
though his amazement at the meeting was boundless. WhOe
Nora explained, he murmured at intervals, ' What an adven-
ture I Why was I not with you J Oh, that I had been in
Torp's placet delightful romantic' and as she bent
down towards him, and in a low voice mentioned her uneasi-
ness about long Seppel from the Crags should the forester's
son prove implacable, and denounce him to the judge, he
instantly offered to return to Almenau for a couple of dsjs
to defend him as far as lay in his power, and to use all his
influence to set matters to rights again.
'Thank you oh, thank you,' cried Nora, extending her
hand to him with the warmth and unreserve that so surprises
TO A OONCLQSIOIf. Ill
and delights foraignen on the part of EnglisbiromeD, esped-
' Mj wben thej happen b be jonng and handfiome. ' Be rare
jon don't forget,' she added, glancing at the carriage that
Btill waited for him in the distance ; ' for I am more interested
in this affair than jon can imagine, or I will venture to tell
yon. '
'If I am to act as connsel,' sud Waldemat, arcUjr, 'yon
mnst give me yonr whole confidence.'
' Is it not enoagh to say that this Seppel is, or rather was,
to be married to the forester's daagbter f '
' Oh, it's the love aS'air that interests yon,' be rejoined,
laagbing ; ' in that case yon may rentnre to tell me all abont
it, and be quite sore of my sympathy. Bnt there seems to
be something else, too,' he added, as the tbonght of bow fitr
her consin John was implicated, made her color deepen in a
very perceptible manner. His eyes sparkled, a sudden flush
passed across his featnres ; bat, without waiting for an luiswer,
he raised his hal; drew back, nodded laughingly to Torp;
and, while they drove off, stood looking slter them as long
as they remuned in sight.
lia THX 'BIO SAUSAOa.'
CHAPTER VIII.
THE *B1Q SAUSAQS.'
All that Nora most feared had taken place. Rosel had
been unable to keep pace with her brother, who, pressing
forward, had reached home long before her, and required bat
a few words to inspire his father with a fury equal to bit
own. Together thej had gone to the judge, Seppel had been
summoned for examination, and the presumptive eTideoee
against him found so strong, when corroborated by his ovn
account of himself, that he had been " taken at once into
custody.
The Crag peasant, affecting even more indignation than ht
really felt, had openly condemned his son, declaring 'he had
never expected anything else from so lawless a fellow, who,
he was convinced, -bad only been playing steady and well-
behaved in order to get possession of house and land 1 bat ha
might now go back to his regiment and the officers who
thought so much of him it was the best thing he could do,
for not a rood of ground at the Crags should ever belong to
him 1 ' To end all discussions and disputes with his wife and
neighbors on the subject, the old man had carried his threat
into immediate execution by taking the steps necessary to
put his younger son into immediate possession of the propertj.
Discord seemed to have changed the character of erery
member of the forester's family. The cheerful Bosel hug
her head in deepest despondency, and, with eyes half closed
by their swelled lids, listlessly and mechanically followed her
mother's restless movements from place to place. The dsosI
serenity of the latter had been completely disturbed by wbai
THE 'BIO SAUSAOI.' 118
she called the imprudent coDdact of her ' man' and ' boy' in
breaking ofif the marriage of Roscl, and giving up the thoQ
sand florins so generously offered by the young English
lady I And for such a trifling offence too I for she could not
be brought to consider imprisoning in an Alpine hut in any
other light, waxing in wrath as the others explained and ex-
postulated, and ending by calling her son a blockhead, not-
withstanding his forester learning, and her husband a fool,
who would live to repent having destroyed the prospects of
one child to humor the anger of another! Fran^ had
snatched up his rifle and retreated to the wood, and the ^
forester, after growling some unintelligible words intending
to convey the idea that he was master of his house and
children, and that no wildschnetz should ever darken his
door, sneaked off to his workmen at the river, while his wife
expended the remainder of her roused energy on her floors
and furniture, scouring, rubbing, and dusting in a manner
that had effectually prevented either of the offenders from
again making their appearance during the day.
The work of cleanliness had been completed, but there
were still damp boards and a strong smell of the fir tree
besoms and wisps so universally used in the Highlands for
the purpose of sweeping and scouring, when Nora stopped
at the forest house to exchange her dress before she appeared
at the inn or the village. A sort of reserve had gradually
crept over her and her companion as they had approached
Almenau, and it was to Michael that she turned when alight-
ing, with the request that he would tell Mr. Nixon that she
was quite safe, and would be with him in half an hour.
' The young English gentleman is gone to the Wild Alp
with some men from the village,' said the forester's wife as
Torp drove off ; ' they hoped to be able to cross the water-
tall this afternoon, and never doubted your having remained
in the Alp hut during the night. '
While hastily relating her mountain adventure, Nora pro-
10*
\
114 THS 'BIO SAUSAOS.'
ceeded to her room, followed by Rosel and her motber. lie
latter iiriinediately began a minnte acconnt of all that had
occorred during the last two days, ending with bitter com-
plaints of both hasband and son, who had thought of nothiof
hut satisfying their own revengeful feelings.
' Let us hope that Seppel's identity cannot be proved,' ob-
served Nora, consolingly. ' They say his face was blackeoed
with charcoal, and there was scarcely any light in the hot
Under such circumstances, your sou cannot ventare to assert
positively that his assailant was Seppel I '
' But the foolish fellow has confessed ' hegao the fores-
ter's wife.
'Nothing ^mother nothing,' cried Rosel, 'he only said
that he had slept for a few hours in one of the hnts oo the
Alp, and heard the report of a gun or rifle somewhere tm
the mountain.'
' I'm afaid that is enough, and more than enongh, to con-
firm every one's suspicions,' said her mother ; ' besides, Frans
heard the others call him by his name. '
'We have no less than nine Seppels in our village,' re*
joined Bosel, eagerly, ' and the name is quite as common at
the other side of the mountains. If they had said Kraft or
Crags '
''Kraft he may still be called, ' said her mother, interrupt-
ing her, ' but Crags never. Before a week is over, Anderi
will be in possession of all that was to have been yours, and
there is no use in talking more about the matter. '
' If they cannot prove him guilty ' began Rosel.
'All the same,' said her mother, despondingly ; 'Too
know the old man only wants an excuse to do as he pleases.'
' Count Waldemar is coming here to-morrow, ' obaerred
Nora, ' and has promised to do all he can for Seppel. '
' The Count has ever been a friend to us, and may go bail
for Seppel, and the judge may set him at liberty ^bnt what's
the use ? Anderi will get the Crags, and Seppel, at tha
:t
THE 'BIG SAUSAGE.' 115
Terj most, fire or six hundred florins from his father, and
with that he cannot marry Rosel 1 '
' How mnch would be necessary to enable him to do so 7 '
asked Nora.
' I don't know,' answered the forester's wife, nnconscioas
of the kind intention that prompted the question. ' I don't
know, and it is of little importance, for Bosel will never be
allowed to marry a wildschaetz. I thought we were going
to have two weddings in our family,' she added, her voice
trembling perceptibly, ' but as misfortunes never come singly,
I was hardly surprised when the miller's daughter told me
to-day that all was at an end between her and Franz, as her
father had promised her six years ago to black Seppel, who
had it in writing, and signed by the miller himself; and that
one might as well try to move a mountain as the Tyrolean,
when he took anything into his head.'
'I have heard something of this,' said Nora ; 'but Made-
leine has resolved not to marry this Seppel, and has told
him so. '
' It is hard to say what she may do,' answered the forester's
wife ; 'he's far richer than our Franz may ever be, and that
may make her forget that he's a gloomy, churlish fellow, and
has blood on his hands, as you may have heard from the
people here. '
' Michael ftientioned his having shot his brother by acci-
dent,' said Nora ; ' that for this reason he had left home, and
made a vow never to touch a rifle again. I think a man in
such a position more to be pitied than blamed.'
' That's as may be,' said the forester's wife, nodding her
head sagaciously. ' Now, if Crag Seppel were to shoot his
brother Anderl by accident, what would you say ? '
' That he was a most unfortunate man, ' answered Nora,
perfectly understanding the drift of her question.
' Well, others would judge the deed less charitably, and it
would be many a year before old Crags would forgive him.'
116 THS 'Bia 8AT78AGS.'
'Oh, mother, mother! how can 70a talk in this yn,jV
exclaimed Rosel, wringing her hands.
' I mean no disparagement to Seppel, child ; he'll never
do, or even think of, anything of the kind ; bat as to ssjing
that he was not with the Tyroleans on the Wild Alp the dtj
before yesterday, that is ont of my power. Ton know he^
a wildschnetz, Rosel, and nothing woald ever restrain hio,
excepting, perhaps, a marriage with yon, and the chance of
an occasional hnnt with yonr father or brother. Too see
even Miss Nora, who likes him for your sake, thinks '
Nora, who was abont to leave the room, stopped snddenlj
on hearing a violent bnrst of grief from Bosel. She torsed
back, pnt her hand on the arm of the weeping girl, and said,
kindly, ' If they cannot prove him guilty, Bosel, we are boond
to believe what he himself says. '
* I believe him now on his word,' cried Rosel.
' Of coarse yon do,' said Nora, smiling ; ' it wonld be veiy
odd if yon did not. '
Nora, deprived of her ronnd hat, was obliged to pat on a
gay little Paris bonnet to walk to the inn. Torp was looking
oat of his window as she entered, and seemed to have a pecu-
liar pleasure in counting the volnminons flounces of her lilte
muslin dress, and the varioas falls of lace and knots of flat-
tering ribbons that waved round her now well-gloved haodi
' I am glad she has donned her mountain toggery before
Waldemar*s arrival,' thought the considerate friend; Mt
would have been all over with him had he seen her for any
length of time in that peasant dress. What a precious fool
he would have made of himself, had he been in my place during
the last two days I '
Nora found that neither her uncle nor Cteorgina required
any explanation of her prolonged absence. They had heard
from Adam that there were villages at the base, farmhonsei
on the sides of the mountains, a picturesque lake and charm-
ing chftlet on the Alp itself, where mademoiselle could per
E
THB 'Bia SAU8AQB.' IIT
fectlj well pass the night. Jack's uneasiness abont her had
been incomprehensible to them ; and as he had entered into
no explanation, and eren confirmed Adam's accoant, they
supposed he had onlj wanted an excuse to leave them and
Alinenau for a few days again. More at length, and with
greater interest, they spoke of Captain Falkner, who had
gone to his family to urge their return to Saint Benedict's.
* They may be expected about the end of next week,' said
Georgina ; ' and in the meantime everything and person abont
the place is at our service. Papa was out fishing all day with
the gardener, and I spent the afternoon in the drawing-room,
where there is an excellent grand piano-forte of Mademoiselle
de Falkner-'s. There are astonishingly few books in the house,
and not one, as you know, in the beautiful library at the lake-
side, but we shall change all that. Papa has planned a new
approach, and thinks we shall have to buUd something, or
make a plantation, to shut out that straggling hamlet that
is so close to the monastery. There are some neighboring
flBLrm-houses, too, which must be thrown down at once, as it
would never do to have them visible from the drawing-room
windows I '
' The houses of which you speak are not farms,' said Nora ;
' they and the land about them are the property of the pea-
sants living in them, and have been in their families for
hundreds of years perhaps. AU the peasants about here are
proprietors.'
' I thought they belonged to the monastery, and that the
people would be our tenants, ' said Georgina.
'They may have been something of the kind in former
times,' replied Nora ; ' but the forester, who seems to under-
stand these things, tells me that they have been made free
from feudal duties long ago, and from most others in the
year 1848.'
' Bless me I ' cried Mr. Nixon, ' one might almost suppose
the people here better off than in England t Ton don't mean
118 THE 'BIQ 8AU8AOE.'
to Bay, howerer, that if I chose to parchase and give a fut
price, I could not have my choice of all the land about here T
'The forests belong to the State,' answered Nora; 'and
though the peasants can undoubtedly sell their ground if tlwy
please, they seldom do so if not overwhelmed bj debts, and
compelled by creditors.'
' Oh,' said Mr. Nixon, ' I really was preparing myself to
htor that these peasant estates were entailed on the eldest
heir male, and so forth.'
' Not exactly, ' said Nora ; ' for, curiooslj enough, in sobm
places and in some families it is the youngest son who inherits.'
* That ts curious,' said Mr. Nixon.
' Not more so than that many houses in the village hare s
right of trade, ' obserred Nora.
What does that mean 7 '
' That only a certain number of tradesmen are allowed to
establish themselves in a town or village. For instance, one
master-mason is considered sufficient for a place such as Al-
menau. The mason here died a few years ago, leaving s
childless widow in possession of a red-balconied house with s
mason's right of trade. The widow put an advertisement in
the newspaper for a journeyman mason who could undertake
the management of the business for her, with something more
than a hint that if he gave satisfaction he mig^t become
master as well as manager. Several applied for the situation,
producing certificates, and offering the most satisfactory re-
commendations. In the course of a few weeks the widow had
made her choice and given Almenau a mason. '
' Do you know whether the certificates or her own inclina-
tions were most taken into consideration 1 ' asked Georgina,
laughing.
' Probably the certificates, ' answered Nora ; ' the peasanti
are very calculating and prudent in their marriages ; friend)
and relations are consulted. These often overlook strange
disparity of age, and put personal inclination oat of the qaei-
THK 'BIO SADSAQX.' 119
tios ftltogetber.* In this iasUncs the choice seems to hare
been ra^ooal ; the mftson is a middle-aged iadDstrious uan,
who, as the people hers say, bronght some money, into the
house, and nov carries on the business to ereiy one's satis-
bction. I had some conversation with him concerning the
expense of rebuilding the cutle of Waltenberg, and found
him Terj intelligent.'
'Ob, hot' cried Mr. Nixon; 'have you that crotchet in
yonr head still 1 '
' Yes, ' said Nora, ' the miu I can eauly obtain, but rerj
little land in its immediate vicinity.'
' Ton had better let Sam find oat something at home for
you. Son. After all, there's no place like England.'
' I leave Qeorgina to answer yon,' replied Nora, aa they
moved towards the dinner-table, where the trout and venison
soon turned her nncle's thoughts into another channel.
While Torp the next morning loitered over hia solitary
breakfast under the lime-trees in the garden of the inn, and
deliberated whether he should or should not take advantage
of the clondy sky, to fish in the stream between the forester's
house and the road, he perceived Nora (the probability of
whose appearance on tiie balcony overlooking the said stream
he had also noconsciously taken into consideration) walking
quickly through the village. She had evidently been making
porchases in the little shop there ; for, not only had she re-
placed the round flat hat lost in the storm on the mountain
by one equally huge imd hideous, bat she also carried in her
hand a parcel tied np peasant-like in a colored cotton band-
kerchief, from one of the comers of which there protruded a
gay hunch of arUficial flowers.
Torp began to poor out a fresh cup of the now cold coO'ee,
and to heap an unnecessary number of lamps of sngar into it^
not overseeing, while doing so, a single movement of the
approaching figure ; and he had no sooner convinced himself
t^t Nora was likely to posa without a glance tatrx^\^.
120 THI 'BIO 6AU8A.GB.*
or eren a perception of his preseDce, than lie rose and ad-
vanced to the paling that separated the garden from the roid
to wish her good morning.
'Good morning,' she answered, depositing her parcel oa
the top of the gardengate, and leaning her arms on it while
she added, ' I have jnst heard of an opportunity of sending
back the clothes I borrowed, to the fisherman's family.'
'And these bright colored things go with them, I suppose,'
replied Torp; 'the "real flowers" are, I know, for master
Hanserl. '
' Rightly guessed, ' said Nora : ' I have got the harmooict,
too,' she continued, diving into the parcel. ' Madame Cn-
mer had the kindness to open a new packet fresh from the
manufactory for me, that I might have no objection to trjiof^
them myself. It is wonderfully good for the price,' she added,
raising the little instrument to her mouth, and breathing
rather than blowing a succession of harmonious chords.
Torp smiled, and as he afterwards held it in his hand for
a few seconds, he felt marvellously inclined to raise it to hit
own lips, and ' blow music,' as Hanserl had said : but he re
frained.
' Everything I wanted,' continued Nora, ' was to be found
at our wonderful little shop, excepting the " great big sao-
sage." The half a yard of smoked pork that Hanserl so
desired to have, can only be procured at the post-town, and
I find it impossible to get a messenger in the village, as the
cloudy sky has made every man, woman, and child tun out
to bring in the corn already reaped, before the commencenNBt
of the expected rain. Had I known as much as I do nov,
between six and seven o'clock this morning, I could have
found plenty of people to undertake my commission.'
' Among the peasants coming out of church after matins ? '
said Torp.
' Yes, ' she answered, ' for my frequent visits to the chorcb-
yard have made me familiar with the names and residcBcee
THE 'BIO BAUBAOE.' 181
of most of the families aboat here. I have now a bowing
acquaintance with all, and there are some with whom I am
becoming almost intimate. '
' I can guess who they are,' said Torp ; ' first of all there
is Florian, the painter and wood-carrer, then the miller and
bis handsome daughter, and the old peasant called Crags,
from the name of his property. Bj-the-bj, that custom
seems as common here as among the lairds of Scotland.'
'Quite so,' replied Nora, 'the poorest peasant takes the
name of his land, and it even devolves as a matter of course
on any chance purchaser.'
' Making altogether rather a confusion of names,' observed
Torp, 'for most of the men have soubriquets also.'
' T?iey at least are easily learned and remembered, ' said
Nora.
' I don't know that, ' he replied : ' I have, for instance, had
some trouble in getting acquainted with the dififerent Sep*
pels. There is black, or Tyrolee Sepp ; red Sepp, of the
saw-mill ; Sepp from the Rock-wall ; and long Sepp, from
the Crags; or target Sepp, or wildschuetz Sepp, for by
any of these names he is known. '
' Poor fellow 1 ' ejaculated Nora, ' I hope you will not be
obliged to give evidence against him.'
' You need not be uneasy, ' he answered ; ' as I hare only
seen him occasionally in his cuirassier uniform coming out of
church, I cannot be expected to know him in wildschuetz cos-
tume, and my suspicion that he was the leader of the poachers
who found it necessary or couTenientto imprison me will be
DO detriment to him. There waB a small fellow,' he con-
tinued after a pause, ' who attacked me singly, and drew off
when the others came on to give me fair play : he indeed
made himself known to me in a manner not to be mistaken ;
but,' he added, looking steadily at Nora's half-averted face,
'but I have no intention of Tolunteering evidence of any
122 THS 'Bia 8AT78AOE.'
kind, and the forester's son Franz seems not to have obsened
the individaal of whom I speak.'
Nora tamed away in silence, and Torp no longer doabtd
her having gone to the alp to release him.
' He seems to expect me to be g^atefnl for his forbearaaee,'
thonght Nora, 'and is perfectly nnconscioas that his ill-
natored refusal to let Jack have a day or two's sport hu
been the cause of all that has happened.'
'Miss Nixon,' said Torp, following her, as she crossed
the road, and was aboat to enter the inn, ' if yon will allov
my servant to undertake your commission to the town, he
will be most happy to be employed, and a walk will be good
for his health. '
So the man himself seemed to have thought, for on in-
quiry it was discovered he had gone out, and no one knev
in what direction.
That Torp was an indulgent master had not escaped
Nora's observation. His servant, who appeared to be s
very exclusive personage, of rather stndions habits, usnallj
passed his time sauntering about in a contemplative manner
with a small book in his hand, and a thicker and larger one
in his pocket: this last Monsieur Adam the courier pro-
nounced without hesitation to be a dictionnaire de poche,
which if true may lead the reader to suppose he had on the
present occasion sought some more quiet locality for the
pursuit of his linguistic stupes.
Torp seemed for a moment disconcerted, bat only for a
moment ; the next he turned to Nora, proposed himself ai
substitute, and when she hesitated, said with a smile, * I re-
quire no orders. Miss Nixon ; in a couple of hours you shall
have the ** biggest sausage" that can be found in the neigh-
boring town. '
'After all,' thought Nora, ' there is perhaps some good
in him.'
I
ALPKNB08EN. 123
CHAPTER IX.
ALPXNB08BN.
The two hoars had not elapsed, when Torp strode across
the low bridge of planks conducting to the forest-hoase.
Waldemar had arrived daring his absence, and was now
seated beside Nora on the long bench ontside the door,
where, with his elbow on his crossed knees, and his chin
resting in the palm of his hand, he looked np into her face,
BO profoundly attentive to what she was saying, that he was
nnconscions of the approach of his friend, until he actually
stood before him.
Great was then his amusement, when Torp drew the huge
sausage from the pocket of his shooting-jacket ; still greater,
when Nora thanked him gravely, and at some length, for
having taken such a long warm walk, to give pleasure to a
poor little fisher boy ! Torp, the while, leaning calmly against
the door-post, neither disclaiming nor explaining.
Nora afterwards turned to Waldemar, as it appeared, in
continoation of their interrupted conversation. 'If you
could manage to see the judge, and procure SeppePs release
to-day,' she said, earnestly, * we might perhaps induce the
Crag peasant to defer, at least, the resignation of his pro-
perty. Yon perceive there is no positive evidence against
Seppel, and a week or two may still set all to rights, as the
forester and Franz seem both rather to repent their hasty
denunciation.'
'Tour wishes are orders to me, Mees Nixone,' replied
Waldemar, rising ; ' but let it be clearly understood,' he added,
with a laughing glance towards Torp, 'that I am about to
IT. 11
124 ALPKNB08KN.
take this walk for you, and not for the cairassier and wild-
8chaetz Seppel. '
' Let Qs rather saj for Rose],' suggested Nora ; 'for Roid,
whom yon have known so long 1 '
' No, Mees Nixone, I make no pretension to be a paragw
man like Torp : I will not be good for nothing.'
Nora langhed.
'I mean good for goodness' sake.'
Torp laughed.
' Hang your English, ' cried Waldemar, bursting into Ger-
man, 'we never thooght of speaking it, Torp, until too
joined us. What I intended to say was, that I came here
to-day for your sake, Miss Nixon, and I am now going to the
judge also for your sake, and for yours alone.'
'Well, well,' cried Nora, impatiently, 'for my sake and
for BosePs sake, for erery body's sake ; and, for goodness'
sake, do what you can in this unfortunate business.'
The two men walked off together, Waldemar half expect-
ing a renewal of Torp's former remonstrances, and quite
prepared to retaliate. Not a little was he therefore surprised,
when his corD{anion, after a few minutes' silence, asked him,
with apparent interest, what he expected to be able to do for
the wildschuetx.
* The evidence against him seems merely presuroptire,' he
answered : ^ and as he is the son of a respectable peasant,
and has a capital discharge from the colonel of his regiment,
I shjill SCO security for him. The forester and his son wiB
prvbablr drop the prosecution, the old cnrmodgeon at the
IViiT* will perhaps relent, and we shall dance at RoaeFli
wvvKiin^^ prevbely in the manner projected by Mees Nora.'
* Then, itt (^% you think him innocent ? ' obeerred Torp.
WAMcmar^s glance was comical, as he answered, 'Yoi
ktiow mocv abv^ttt the matter than I do. Torp, but I am not
vln*ov..si K. ^ ^r^ ^^ questions. The &ct is, I made up
m.v mntd U^V^re^b^o^ to believe precisely vhat your ui
ALPBNB08SN. 125
coontry-woman chose to tell me, and have aroided in any
way arging her to be more explicit than she thonght neces-
sary. She pleaded for Seppel with consummate tact ; dwelt
on the attachment between him and Rosel from their child-
hood ; the danger of his worldly prospects being mined, if
his father were given so good an excuse for depriving him of
the succession to the Crags ; and mentioned her own wish to
confide the grave of her cousin in the churchyard here, to
the care of this young man, could he be married to Rosel,
and established on his father's property, before she and her
family leave the village. Now, though I know he was, and
think he may be still, a wildschnetz, the poor fellow wants
to get married, and intends, as we all do sooner or later, to
reform and grow steady, and I am not the man to refuse to
help him out of a scrape, when his cause is advocated in a
manner that would move even a stoic, such as you are 1 '
' I thought, ' he added, perceiving that Torp stopped in a
very determined manner, when they reached the inn, ' I thought
yon intended to accompany me into the town 7 '
' Once a day is enough for me,' answered Torp ; 'and I
must go there to-morrow, it seems, to give evidence against
your prot^g^. '
' Can you do so ?' asked Waldemar. 'Remember a man
is not easily recognised when his face is blackened with char-
coal.'
' Yon have not much to fear from me,' rejoined Torp, 'for
I am by no means sure that my antagonist was this long
Beppel ; there are enough tall peasants in the Highlands to
make it difficult to identify him, though anywhere else in
Bavaria be would be a marked man. '
' Oh, ho 1 ' cried Waldemar, laughing, ' I perceive /on have
also been engaged as counsel for the defendant, as they say
in England. '
' No,' answered Torp, ' that philanthropical office has been
confided to yon alone ; and I confess I should be rather poz-
11*
1S6 ALPSN&OSEN.
zled, bad I to undertake his defence, for although not cerfm
I have a strong misgiving that he was the fellow who joined
the Tyroleans in flooring and handcuffing me, and I shall, of
course, be obliged to say so if asked. Fortunately mj
suspicions will do him no harm.'
' They will do him no good,' said Waldemar, turning awty;
* but there is no use in our discussing this subject any longer.
If you had consented to go into the town with me,' he added,
walking on, I should have told you all about Falkner's lore
affair with your countrywoman ; but I dare say you know aU
about it already. '
* I know nothing more than we suspected before you left
Almenau, ' said Torp, walking after him apparently with some
reluctance ; ' Falkner's sudden departure convinced me that
some decisive step had been taken, and I concluded he was
accepted, as the young lady still passed her days at St. Bene-
dict's, and whenever I chanced to meet her, was more care-
fully veiled than ever. '
'Rightly guessed,' said Waldemar; 'and now tell me
what the adorable Nora has been doing ? '
' Wandering incessantly about the village and on the moon*
tains,' he answered; 'and evidently entertaining a strong #
predilection for the society of the schoolmaster, shopkeeper,
painter, priest, bare-footed children, and peasants in general
It may interest you to know that her especial favorites are
decidedly the wildschuetz, and the young assistant forester.'
'And,' said Waldemar, thoughtfully, 'it is very kind of her
to interest herself so much for them. Few women in her
place could or would enter into the joys and sorrows of people
in a rank of life so inferior to their own ; and her plans for
assisting them are so rational, that I could have listened to
her with pleasure for a couple of hours longer, had not yon,
as usual, interrupted us.'
' I did so for the last time,' answered Torp. ' No Ute^
m
ALPENBOBEN. 12)
iHe of yonrs with Miss Nixon shall ever again be disturbed
by me.'
' What does that mean ?' asked Waldemar.
* Simplj, that I suppose yoa are free from the little entan-
glement of which you spoke some time ago, and that yoa in-
tend to marry my onreiled country woman when Falkner takes
the veiled one. '
* The plan is more pleasant than feasible,' said Waldemar.
' Falkner has been uncommonly lucky on this occasion ho
is really in lore. The lady has fortune, and, to crown all,
his father declares he took a fancy to her himself the very
first and only time he ever saw her. I expected that, at least,
his mother and sister would make objections ; for you may
remember the last evening they were at home, their annoy-
ance at the general's bestowing a few civil words on the
strangen when they came to see the monastery, and saying
his old-fashioned politeness was perfectly intolerable.'
Yes Torp remembered the circumstance, and felt some
qualms of conscience as the thought flashed across his mind,
that his slighting manner towards the Nixons might have had
undue weight with them.
'Well,' continued Waldemar, 'Falkner's sister Charlotte
is now quite anxious to ''exercise her English" with her
future sister-in-law. His mother is sure he has chosen judi-
ciously ; so the whole family and all my people will be here
some time next week. The betrothal and marriage will con-
siderably enliven the monastery ; and who knows what may
turn up for you or me during the festivities !'
' I have a great mind to decamp before they begin,' said
Torp. ' Under such circumstances it will be impossible to
avoid a nearer acquaintance with these Nixons. '
' Spare yourself all uneasiness on that account, Torp,' ob*
served Waldemar, laughing ; ' for, without meaning to offend
you, I must say the antipathy seems quite as great on their
side as yours. Stay here, therefore, friend of my youth!
1S8 ALFSNR06KN.
and partake moderately, as beseems yoar wisdom, of sncli
gaieties as St. Benedict's may offer; and, moreover, bestoir
occasionally on me still, some of the good and worldly admo-
nitions with which I have ever found yon so well provided,
for I fear I greatly fear I shall stand in need of sach
before long 1'
They had reached the churchyard gate, and Torp ascended
the few stone steps to it before he answered :
' My good and worldly admonitions shall be reserved for
myself in fatare, Waldemar ; if yon can recall any of them
when they are likely to be serviceable, so mach the better for
yoa, of a repetition there is not the smallest chance now
or ever. '
Waldemar langhed and walked on. Torp saantered into
the churchyard, and, before long, found himself standing
befbre Arthur Nixon's grave. The alpine roses {rhododen^
dron) that Nora had received at the lake, and so carefully
guarded during her drive to Almenau, had been formed into
a wreath, and now hung bright and fresh on the black wooden
cross. When Torp stooped to read the name and date that
they encircled, he plucked a spray of the deep pink clustering
blossoms, and examined it with an intentness seldom bestowed
on such objects, excepting by botanists. Why, when he
heard the sound of approaching footsteps he stuffed it hastily
into his waistcoat-pocket, he perhaps asked himself, and
found the answer unsatisfactory, for he again drew forth the
little hardy branch, and with great waste of energy, stripped
it of all its brilliant array of flowers, flung the devastated
stem on the ground, and left the churchyard with lips so
closely pressed together, that the word * spoony ' with diffi-
culty forced a way between them.
He fished as he had intended in the stream close to the
forester's house during the afternoon, not once bestowing
even a cursory glance on the dwelling itself or its garden ;
80 that when Waldemar, late in the afternoon, rushed up to
ALFIHBOBEK. 189
him and asked vhere he coald find Miss Nixoo, Torp an
Birered, with perfect Teracit;, that he did not Iedov.
She has not gone out, I hope V
' I hare not the least idea.'
' Yet 700 mast have seen her io the ^rden, or on the
balcony, or at a window, had she remsiDed at tlie forest-
boose.'
' I am by DO means sure of that,' answered Torp, begin-
ning to pack np his fishing-tackle with all the accnracy of an
English angler; 'for, withoat being fumithed with ejes at
the back of my head, I conld not well throw my line at this
side of the stream and know what was going on behind me.'
Waldemar sprang np the rocks, vaalted over the garden-
paling, and finding the arbor nnoccapied, ran into the honse.
When he reappeared be seemed to have forgotten Torp; for,
following the directions of tbe forester's wife,, who accom-
panied him to the door, he tamed into the path conducting
to the mill, and was soon lost to sight
Torp looked after him intently, mnsingly, then deliberately
bstened a fresh fly on his line, and saantered after his im-
petnoua friend, observing to the forester's wife, who seemed
to ezpeot him to speak as be passed her, that ' he was going
to try for a bite in gome of the pools near the mill.'
180 THX OLD OHAB-A-BANO.
CHAPTER X.
THE OLD OHAR-A-BANO.
A Ttbolvan ftnlt-seller, who had harnessed himself to t
small cart filled with grapes and peaches, bronght Nora t
note from Jack, written with very pale ink, on remarkaUj
coarse paper, and containing the foUowlAg lines :
' DxABBST Nora,
'When I left Almenaa to g^ to jonr rescue at the Wfld
Alp, I made the necessary preparations for a pedestrian toor
in Tyrol afterwards, bat altogether forgot to mention mj
intention to our governor. I shall be absent about a week
or ten days, according to circumstances ; I intend, howerer,
to return in time to gire Oeorgy my blessing when the betro*
thai comes off. So make all straight like a brick, as you are
and always have been. In case you should wish to commn*
nicate with me by letter or otherwise during the next week,
I shall leave a few lines for you at the house of the seztoo
of St. Hubert's, to let you know where I am to be found. A
walk there will be little more than moderate exercise for one
of your energetic habits. The man supplies pilgrims with
coffee ; and, if you wish for a glass of Tyrolean wine, hifl
grandson will take you across the frontiers in half an hoar.
* Ever your affectionate Jack.'
' Perhaps it is as well he is absent for a short time,' thought
Nora, as she w&lked towards the inn the next momiDg to
make ' all straight. '
'An ill-timed tour,' observed Mr. Nixon, in a tone of vex-
THX OLD OHAR-A-BANO. 181
ation. ' The Falkner family may return to the abbey to-
morrow or the day after they invite us to dinner as a matter
of course and where is my son John ? '
'And, in fact, where is he 7 ' asked Georgina, without turning
from the nndow where she had been a careless listener of
Nora's communication.
' Wandering about Tyrol,' answered her father; ' and not,
as I supposed some time ago, with that young artist who has
turned out to be a Count Somebody.'
'Certainly not with him,' observed Georgina, 'for he is
now in the garden with Mr. Torp. And, oh ! Nora,' she
continued, 'do look at the strange vehicle they have just
drawn out of the wooden shed they call a coach-house 1 '
' In that same strange vehicle, ' said Nora, ' I shall drive
into the next town about an hour hence. '
You ? for what purpose ? '
' To be questioned by the judge of the district about a wild-
schnetz who happened to be on the Wild Alp a few hours
before me, the day of the storm.'
'A wildschnetz,' observed Mr. Nixon, 'is, aw I suppose
....aw a sort of Freyschuetz ? '
' No, ' answered Nora, ' they would call him a poacher in
England.'
'And you are to be questioned about such a fellow called
np as witness before a judge without my being made ac-
quainted with a single circumstance of the case I This is, to
say the. least, a most extraordinary mode of proceeding. In
what way was the requisition notified to you ? '
' Count Waldemar told me yesterday. '
'That is not a legal summons,' observed Mr. Nixon, with
dignity, ' and you have every right to dispute '
' I believe,' said Nora, interrupting him, ' there was a man
in a uniform with a printed paper at the focester's, and they
sent a gend'arme into the wood to find him and his son.
Bosely who was with me on the Alp, has also been sum-
132 THX OLD OHAR-A-BANC.
moned, and Mr. Torp too ; so we are quite a compaDj o{
witnesses, and Count Waldemar goes I belieTe as Toluoteer.'
*I shall go as yoar ancle my presence will protect yoo,'
said Mr. Nixon.
Now though Nora felt not a little nerTons abont the coniig
examination, and greatly feared that a good cross-examins-
tion might elicit more than she was disposed to confess, she
did not expect that her ancle's presence would in any wty
lessen her embarrassment. Nevertheless she was glad that
he proposed to accompany her, for she thought his appear-
ance might prevent Waldemar from assuming the character
of protector, and there had been something in the expression
of Torp's face the day before, when he had discovered him
sitting with her and Bosel at the mill, that had made an mi-
pleasant impression on her.
The strange vehicle that had so surprised Georgina wai
one of those very antiquated char-tlt-bancs now only to be
found in very out-of-the-way villages; their successor, tiie
one-doored omnibus, is so little inviting, even for pic-aie
parties or fishing-excursions, that the most rattling marked
cart of a peasant, affording an uninterrupted view of the
wondrously-romantic scenery, is preferable. Youthful recol*
lections may, perhaps, cause some elderly people to overvalse
the advantages possessed by those old-fiishioned carriages ; it
may be urged that the cushions were hard, and the springs
of primitive construction : we deny it not ; but these disad-
vantages were more than neutralized by the rows of seati
facing the horses, each apart, and yet together; the open
sides, with the long foot-boards that facilitated a change of
place without interrupted movement, the lofty roof, the ease
of ingress and egress in mountain-districts, when, either to
spare the horses or relieve incipient impatience, steep hills
are so often climbed on foot, the laughing pedestrians be-
guiling the ascent by plucking flowers, twisting wreaths roood
each other's hats, or, with bright eyes and glowing cheeks^
THE OLD OBAB-A-BAHO. 188
looking back to recover brekth, and admire tbe scenery through
which thej hsTe passed and over which, dbtance so soon
hegiDS to throw her veil of altramarine blae.
The charA-baDC of Almenan was in a very neglected con-
dition ; no attempt had been made for man; years to renew
its pristine colors, bo that the wheels and footboards had
hardly a trace of paint left ; tbe lithographs, that, ingeniously
transferred to the panels of the scats, had once glowed through
the yellow varnish as highly-prized decorations, were now
scratched nod partially obliterated ; yet the vehicle, strong
in its clumsiness, seemed to defy time, and its air of rusticity
accorded well with everything in and about the village.
Let ns note and sketch this old carriage and the still nn-
sophisticatd manners of these Highland peasants. A few
years hence an already projected railroad will pass within a
couple of miles of the secluded hamlet, and instead of the
solitary English fisherman or Munich artist, crowds of tonrists
may perhaps poar into the secladed valleys, and, attracted
alike by the beauty and novelty of the scenes brought within
their reach by the all-exploring locomotive, may turn these
Bavarian Highlands and Tyrol into a second Switzerland ;
hotels and boarding-houses may rise with tbe dimensions of
barracks in all directions ; every pebble on the path, an{^
plant on the mo on tain-side, may have its price ; and the
stream that now, as if in recreation, dances lightly over the
jwheels of the isolated mill, may not long hence have to labor
restlessly to tnm those of a succession of fhctoriea.
'I should think,' said Mr Nixon, looking at bis watch,
'that our letters and papers must be here by this time. Mr.
Torp has received his more than an hour ago.'
' His letters do not come vrith onn,' observed Qeorgina;
'they are sent to him by an especial messenger in a sealed
parcel from the post-office, and his servant stands waiting for
them at the inn-door, as if they were political despatches of
the ntmost importance.'
134 THS OLD CHAR-A-BANC.
' Ah I I was DOt aware of that,' said Mr. Nixon. 'Now,
if he were obliging, he woald allow his messenger to take
charge of oar letters also. '
' Bat he is not at all obliging, ' said Nora, following her
uncle and Georgina to the garden.
Waldemar rose, and Torp bowed with nnasaal arbanitj
as th6j entered it, and soon after the latter even pushed the
latest newspapers towards ' Mr. Nixon, when he obserted
him eyeing them with a longing look. His spectacles were
forthwith adjusted on the end of his nose, his head thrown
back, and one of the newspapers held stifQj at that dis-
tance which so astonishes all near-sighted people, ^hile he
eagerly sought and then read attentively the 'fashionable
intelligence. '
* It seems, ' he obserred, after a pause, raising his eyebrows
and looking over his spectacles towards Torp, whom he
addressed as the possessor of the paper, ' It seems that the
Earl of Medway is in Tyrol with some distinguished foreign
friends on a sporting excursion. I wonder is he likely to
pass through this village before we leave it ? '
Georgina turned to her father as if the intelligence were
deeply interesting to her. Waldemar's eyes seemed to dance
in, his head as he asked if they were acquainted with the
Medway family.
'Why, aw-* we are and we are not,' answered Mr.
Nixon ; ' my daughter, Georgina, met them a good deal in
society. '
Waldemar turned to her inquiringly.
' I have been introduced to Lady Medway and her daugh-
ters,' she said, 'but they lived too much abroad lately to
admit of intimacy. The late Lord Medway I met frequently
when he happened to be in England. '
' And his brother 7' asked Waldemar, eagerly, ' hie brother V
' Oh, you mean Charley Thorpe ? '
m
\
\
THE OLD GHAR-A-BANG. 135
y, I mean Charley; do you know anything of
. .in hearsay a good deal,' replied Georgina, smiling.
o was generally considered the brains-carrier of the family
the Solomon and Solon.'
* That is clever ? ' said Waldemar, touching his forehead
significantly.
' People supposed sX, though they talked mor^ of his
eccentric exploits and Herculean strength than of anything
else. '
'Ah I he was a boxer an athlete,' said Waldemar,
amused.
' We have no objection to that sort of thing in England, *
rejoined Georgina ; ' and though ill-natured people said he
used exercise and blankets like a jockey, and ate raw beef-
steaks to keep himself in condition, he some way managed to
make himself of immense importance and very fashionable,
and was always an infinitely greater man than his brother
Lord Med way.'
' What must he be now that he is Lord Madeaway 1 ' sug*
gested Waldemar.
'That is precisely what I should like to know,' answered
Georgina. 'There is a sort of relationship between ocgr
family and his '
Torp, who had been leaning on the table, gently rubbing
his chin with an air of languid amusement, here interrupted
her by calmly repeating the word 'relationship.'
'I believe I ought rather to have said connexion,' con*
tinned Georgina, with slightly heightened color; 'but,' she
added, turning to Nora, 'you at least can '
'No,' interposed Nora, quickly. 'No, I wish for no
acquaintance, and make no claim to any connexion with the
present Lord Medway. '
'Perhaps you are right,' said Georgina, with some pique;
' for from all accounts he is a cold-hearted, calculating maOi
IL 12
186 THB OLD CHAB-A-BANC.
and it is certain was so resolatelj bent on being himself Lord
Medwaj, that he effectually prerented any of the manj mar-
riages projected bj his brother from taking place.'
Waldemar's countenance expressed sarprlse, bnt onlj for
a moment ; the next he shook his head so increduloaslj that
Georgina thought it necessary to confirm her assertion.
' In this matter I have been too well informed to admit of
a doubt,' she said decidedly. ' The stories of blankets tod
raw beef, the steeple-chases, shooting-matches, tree-feliiog,
swimming for wagers, and all his other wild ^exploits, maybe
at least half inTentions ; but that he considered himself his
brother's keeper is certain ; and that he made the poor in-
alid change his place of residence whenever there was a
chance of his committing matrimony, is a well-known fact.'
To this speech Torp had listened apparently nnmoTed,
bnt a perceptible paleness spread over his features vheo,
after a moment's hesitation, he laid down the paper he had
ainly been endeavoring to read, and fixing his eyes steadily
on Georgioa, said calmly, 'Lord Medway is an acquaiut-
ance, a friend of mine, and I have reason to know that he
never interfered in his brother's matrimonial plans bnt once^
and on that occasion prevented him from making an egre-
gious fool of himself.'
Oeorgina had not time to answer, for the inn-keeper, leao-
ing over the garden paling, informed them that the char4*
banc was ready for their reception, that the forester sod
his family had arrived, and, if agreeable, the Crag peasant
and his son Anderl wonld take the remaining places.
Mr. Nixon rose with the others, and turned, as usual, to
Nora for explanation.
Oh I ah I Are we to have more people with us than
these two gentlemen 7 All right is it ? No other carriage
in the village oh very well.'
He assisted her to the seat immediately behind the coach-
man, who was no other than Boots equipped in his Sunday
THE OLD OHAR-A-BANC. 187
low-crowned beaver hat and his black velveteen jacket. Mr
Nixon himself required some time to ensconce his bulky per-
son in the remaining space beside her ; but by allowing the
tails of his coat to pend over the back of the seat, and a few
other judicious arrangements, he was at last seated to his
own satisfaction, though by no means to that of Waldemar,
who, equally surprised and disconcerted at the unexpected
addition to their party, took the vacant place beside Torp.
The forester and his son, his wife and daughter, the Crag
peasant and his son Anderl, occupied the remaining seats,
and when the coachman, without a word of explanation, took
up the old mountain miller as he trudged slowly along the
road in the same direction, a more heterogeneous company
could hardly be imagined, or a dozen of people easily found
who, by an odd series of circumstances, had possessed and
used the power of annoying each other in so determined a
manner.
Nora, who had been apprehensive that her uncle might
become loquacious and confidential, and in the course of con-
versation inform their English-speaking companions that she
was his niece, which would at once betray her to Torp, was
glad to perceive that the manner of the latter to Georgina
had given umbrage, and that her uncle was as reserved as
she could possibly have desired.
No one spoke, and all rejoiced as they rattled over the
pavement of the town, and stopped at the entrance to the
large building occupied by the judge.
In a long, vaulted, and paved hall, formed by a large por-
tion of the ground floor, a couple of gcnsd'armes were walk-
ing up and down, while some peasants, dispersed in groups,
arranged their dress previous to making their appearance
before the judge or one of his adjuncts. With persevering
diligence they rubbed their right arm round the crowns of
their hats, or dusted their shoes with pocket-handkerchiefs
that rivalled the brightest Indian patterns in brilliancy of
12*
188 THX OLD CHAR-A-BANO.
colors : their wives and daaghters, whose presence had been
required, were no less occupied in the setting to rights of
their more elaborate toilets. The white kerchiefs were re-
moved from the grenadier-like caps, the gilt helmets, the
Munich cap, so strongly resembling a fish-tail, both in form
and composition, or the black silk kerchief that threatens to
supersede all other head-dresses. These last were worn by
some tied unbecomingly over the forehead as in Corsica ; by
others they were lightly wound round the back of the head
in the manner of the Neapolitan peasants, or as they may be
seen on the frescoes at Pompeii ; but all were now freshly tied,
and the long ends made to float more wildly over the shoul-
ders. The silver neck-chains, too, were drawn into view,
and many a refractory stocking readjusted quite sans gtne
on legs of more than stout proportions.
Scarcely had the char-ii-banc party had time to look round
them before they were accosted by the fisherman from tbe
Kerbstein lake and his wife: the latter rushed up to Rosel
and her mother, and seizing their hands, began a long tear-
ful condolence, breaking into occasional exclamations by no
means calculated to promote the return of peace in tbe
afflicted family. ' To think that your own husband and son
should bring such sorrow upon you I but the forester was
always hot-tempered, and Franz is a chip of the old block ik
seems I A right reputable match it would have been for
Rosel, and pleasant for all to have her at the Crags. Wei),
I suppose Franz himself having no luck at the mill, didn't
choose his sister to have it all her own way. Hard enough
here we came, expecting a pleasure, and a feast, and a be*
trothal; and a gcn-d'arme marches ns up to the judge, and
expects ns to bear witness against the bridegroom that was
to be, the man who invited us, and is our godson into the
bargain I We had our gifts prepared small indeed, but
such as beseems the occasion.'
This was too much for Rosel and her mother, they borrt ^
THE OLD CnAR-A-BANC. 18^
into floods of tears. The forester turned to the fisherman,
and began an eager explanation and justification of his son's
conduct, Mr. Nixon looked perfectly bewildered, Waldemar
bored, for Nora appeared to have forgotten his presence
while Torp, standing a little apart, seemed not only suddenly
to comprehend, but even in no small degree to sympathise in
the feelings of the agitated speakers. His eyes were fixed
intently on Nora, as she laid her hand on the old forester's
arm, and in a few fervent words hoped that if Seppel should
be acquitted by the land-judge, he would also be considered
guiltless by him, and once more received into favor at the
forest-house.
' I will do what I can, Miss Nora, anything in reason for
yonr sake,' he answered ; and then perhaps willing to have so
kind a mediatrix between him and his wife, he added, ' If
Seppel were not a wildschuetz, I don't know any one to
whom I 'd sooner have given my Rosel but that's all over
now, and no help for it. Old Crags has just gone np the
stairs with his son Anderl, and before they come down
again '
'I know I know,' said Nora, interrupting him; 'the
mischief caused by your son's precipitancy in that quarter
cannot be repaired, so we shall say no more about it ; but
promise me to bear no malice towards Seppel, to let Rosel
speak to him again, and to give him work as wood-cleaver
for a few weeks, in some place where he will not be exposed
to temptation.'
'I 've no objection,' said the forester. * Seppel is a good
workman, and may go up next Monday to the clearance above
the miller's alp that is if the accusation against him can-
not be proved, or the Count goes security for him, as he has
offered to do if it should be necessary.'
Just then they all began to mount the stairs together, and
were conducted into a large room where a number of young
men were seated or standing at writing-tables provided with
140 THE OLD CHAR-A-BANC.
desks, ordinary writing materials, and qnantities of sand,
which they strewed about their tables and the floor in such
profasion that the latter might be said to be sanded.
Many of these gentlemen (for such they all were by educa-
tion, if not by birth) had black linen covers drawn oyer the
sleeves of their coats, and some had pens stock behind their
ears, and turned over the leaves of large books, or counted
money in a manner that gave an official and basiness-like air
to their proceedings which did not fail to inspire Mr. Nixon
with respect. These were the practicants, who, having
passed their theoretical law exaniination, bad now to pat
their acquired knowledge into practice for a couple of ycar^
and afterwards to submit to another examination before thef
could aspire to even the most insignificant situation under
government. Among them there were some who received
remuneration for their services from the judge, others were
there as volunteers, and to a person aware of snch arrange-
ments the difference between them soon became perceptible ;
while the former bent over their desks scarcely conscious of,
and perfectly indifferent to the entrance of strangers, their
pens continuing to move rapidly and uninterruptedly along
the paper before them, the latter looked up, glanced mean-
ingly at each other, ran their fingers through their hair or
twirled their mustachios. Nora's round hat and flounced
dress seemed to produce a decided commotion ; and when s
servant opened the door of an adjoining chamber and said
the judge required the services of Baron Waltenburg as proto-
coller, a young man, the envied possessor of a blonde mons-
tache, rivalling in length that of the present king of Sardinia,
rose with undisguised alacrity to follow him out of the room,
leaving on his table, for the amusement of his companions,
the rough draught of a report in some criminal investigation,
on the ample margin of which he had sketched with a pen a
variety of sylph-like female forms in round hats, with eyes of
amazing dimensions not very artistically represented by elon-
gated biota of ink.
TBI OLD OHA&-A-BAMC. 14l
Tbe forester, his son, Torp, the fishermftn and his wife, had
becQ GaccessWel; sammoned, thea Kosel with her mother,
and nt last Xora, who seemed to derive no sort of confidence
from her uncle's presence, for she turned immediately to Wal-
demar with a look of alarm.
' I can introduce roa to the judge, ' ho said, in reply to her
ulent appeal, ' but he will not give me permission to remain
in the room.'
Mr. Nixon, who perceived that their torn was come, pre-
pared himself for his appearance hefore the judge by twitch-
ing up his shirt-collar, polling down his waistcoat, and
drawing Nora's arm within his in a dignified manner.
Waldemar accompanied them to the door, looked into the
room for a moment, and nodding his head familiarly, said,
' Fritz, allow me to introduce Mr. and Mees N ixone. '
Now Fritz was no other than the judge himself, who rose
from his writing-table as they entered, and politely oB'ered
chairs. lie was a middle-aged man, gentleman-like and pre-
possessing in appearance, wearing a dark-blue nniform with
crimson facings, on which flashes of lightning were em-
broidered in gold; and this dress, added to a decided
authoritative manner, seemed so little to belong to a gentle-
man of the long-robe, according to Mr. Nixon's English
notions, Ihnt he immediately concluded another, and very
unnecessary delay had occurred on his way into ' court, ' and
that the military-looking personage before him most be an
officer, perhaps in command of the soldiers he had seen in
the streets of the town. He therefore accepted the offered
chair with a how and a smile, sprcod out the tails of bis coat,
seated himself deliberately, and holding, or rather balancing
his hat with both hands between his knees, looked calmly out
of the nearest window, and civilly observed, ' Long threaten-
ing comes at last; we are going to have rain now, and no
mistake t'
Toung Baron Walteobnrg, who was seated at an adjacent
143 . THE OLD CHAB-A-BANG.
table arranging some sheets of foolscap, on which "much close
and even writing might be seen without any marginal sketches,
fonnd it necessarj to bend down his head and struggle with
an untimely fit of langhter. The judge smiled and murmured
the word * English,' while Nora hastily began an explanation
to her uncle.
'Eh what 1 no assizes no jury 1 This gentleman a
judge, is he? ah ah very well. I suppose, though I
know nothing of this affair, I had better tell him who I am,
and why I came here ? He rose, waved his hat, and began,
* My name is Nixon '
Nora felt greatly inclined to join in the only half-stifled
laughter of the young practicant ; but the dread of a cross-
examination, such as the reports of the London papers had
made familiar to her, overcame her disposition to mirth, and
she interpreted gravely to her uncle the few words afterwards
addressed to him in French by the judge.
' He regrets that he cannot speak English, ' she said, in a
low voice, ' but on the present occasion it is of the less im-
portance, as he is aware that you cannot be required as a
witness by either party.'
Mr. Nixon sat down.
When Nora then saw the judge refer to his notes, and the
practicant lean forward pen in hand, ready, as she supposed,
to write down her words, she became so pale, and looked so
frightened, that the former thought it incumbent on him to
reassure her. He did so in German, which made her aware
that Waldemar had spoken of her to him, and said he shoold
only ask her a few questions likely to serve as corroboration
to the depositions of her companion Bosel, and their guide
Michael.
Although he seemed perfectly aware that she had not per-
sonally assisted in the release of the Englishman, 'Carl
Torpe, Count of Medoei,' and Franz Hartmann, assistant
forester, in consequence of her having lingered behind the
THE OLD CHAR-A-BANC. 143
others od reaching the alp, yet he made her relate very eir-
camstantiallj all she had seen after her arrival there. . That
she had sat for hoars alone on the rocks afterwards he also
appeared to know ; bat that, and her sabseqaent adventures
iix the storm, he passed over as irrelevant, thoagh he was
minate in his inqairies aboat what she had heard of Seppel
at the fisherman's hoase; so mach so, that she was heartily
sorry she had asked any questions concerning him on that
occasion.
At length Jhere was a pause, and Nora hoped it was all
over, when he added, ' It was a singular piece of good for-
tune for the prisoners, your going to the Wild Alp just that
day, Mademoiselle : had Rosel Hartmann been the proposer
of the excursion, I should have had reason to suspect that
she had been sent there by Seppel himself. She assures
me, however, that the proposition came from you. Is this
the case ? '
* Yes,' answered Nora, with an embarrassment that did not
escape the questiouer.
'It must have been rather a sudden resolution on your
part,' he continued, 'for I understand another excursion had
been projected for that day.'
This appearing to Nora an observation, and not a ques-
tion, she attempted no answer.
' I know you are interested for Seppel,' he observed, not
a little amused at her reserve, 'and I perceive your reluctance
to say anything to his disadvantage ; nevertheless, I must
^ask you if, by chance or otherwise, you did not see him the
evening before you went to the Wild Alp, and if he did not
then request you to release your countryman, and his future
orother-in-law from their unpleasant situation ? '
'No,' answered Nora, still so embarrassed at what she
considered a prevarication on her part, that the judge
thought it necessary to ask her when she had last seen Sep-
pel 'I have not seen him,' she replied, 'since he left the
144 THS OLD CHAR-A-BANC.
Tillage fonr da^s ago, to invite the fisherman at the Eerbstein
lake to his betrothal. '
' Did he send yon an j message bj one of the peasants in
the neighborhood?'
'N o.'
' Or a hint through the mediam of one of the Tyroleui,
who so frequently pass through the village ?'
' No,' again answered Nora, with an expression of relief, for
she perceived the much-dreaded examination was at an end
The judge rose, so did Mr. Nixon, and Nora, feeling her-
self no longer in what her uncle called * court, ' immediaUlj
asked if there were any chance of Seppel's release.
'As you have not seen him, or received any message from
him since this unpleasant occurrence took place,' said the
judge, smiling at her eagerness, ' and as Count Waldemar
offers to go security for him, I believe I can set him at
liberty, provided he remains in the neighborhood, ready to
appear and answer any further charges that may be made
against him in the course of time.'
' Oh, none will be made, I am sure,' said Nora.
' Probably not, ' rejoined the judge, ' I am even inclined
to think that he has been unjustly accused on this occasion.'
Nora looked down, pained with the consciousness of being
better informed than he was.
'Almost all I have heard to-day,' continued the judge, 'is
in his favor. Even the description given by the forestcr^s
son of the brutal conduct of his antagonist, which he repeated
just now, when no longer under the influence of angry excite-
ment, seems so very unlike l;hat of a man to his future
brother-in-law, and so completely in opposition to Seppel's
well-known character, that I am inclined to think the whole
gang were Tyroleans, and that one of them revenged himself
for the unpleasant watchfulness of the forester, on the person
of his son. Seppel himsef assures me he has not touched a
fire-arm since he returned from Munich, and this morning I
II
THE OLD GHAB-A-BANO. 145
sent to the Crags for his rifle, and examined it myself. ' Ho
took it from his gan-rack while speaking, and forgetting that
Mr. Nixon could not understand him, turned politely towards
him, and began to expatiate upon the proofs that it had not
been loaded, or even cleaned, for several months.
Mr. Nixon, who had never loaded a gun in his life, and
was even more afraid of ' dreadful accidents' than Nora of
cross-examinations, drew back, and edged so .obviously
towards the door, that the judge, concluding he was wearied,
merely added, as he turned to Nora, who seemed to wish to
hear more, ' You alone could have convinced me of his guilt,
for had he, by word or message, tried to induce you to go to
the alp, it would have been impossible to have doubted that,
if not a principle actor, he had been at least a party concerned
in this disagreeable affair.'
Nora had heard enough, she was glad to escape into
the adjoining room, though there she encountered the tran-
quil scrutinizing gaze of Torp, quite as disagreeable to her
now, as it had been some days previously to her cousin Jack,
and his wild companions on the alp.
The horses had been taken from the char-2i-banc, and
while waiting for their re-appearance, Mr. Nixon perceived
that the rain he had so facetiously predicted in the judge's
apartment, was now falling in torrents, accompanied by cold
gusts of wind, that made him greatly rejoice in the warm
paletot with which he had not forgotten to provide himself,
and in which he now perambulated the hall, casting sidelong,
half-triumphant glances at the summer garments of his com-
panions, and stopping occasionally to remind Nora of her
folly, in having refused to take a shawl with her. Perhaps
it was the constant reiteration of these now useless remarks
that made her so determinately avoid his vicinity on her way
back to the village ; certain it is, that she took possession of
the last seat but one, and, beckoping to Rosel to take the
vacant place beside her, was soon altogether engrossed by
146 THE OLD OHAS-A-BANC.
tbe occapation of coQsoling the despairing girl, whose vorI
fears had been confirmed by seeing the Crag peasant and his
son Andrew, walking off together to the Golden Lion, wbiie
long Seppel, once more at libertj, had been passed by both
vithont the slightest notice, and now stood leaning against
the gateway of the judge's hoosc, his eyes fixed wistfully on
the char-2i-banc, and the people taking their places in it
' Holloa Sepp,' cried Waldemar, ' there's room here beside
oar coachman for yon, and don't look as if yoa had lost all
hopes of better days, becanse yonr father has cat yoa off with
fire hundred florins, instead of resigning his rocky acres to
yoa, burthened with an alimentation for himself, that would
haye made yonr life a continual straggle with porertj.
Cheer ap, man, the forester has promised to forget, sod
Frantz to forgive, and something may turn ap for yon jet^
of which there is at present little prospect. '
He glanced back towards Nora while speaking, sod
received a smile and nod so animated and confidential that
Torp felt provoked even to the length of accusing her of b^
stowing a too flattering degree of familiarity on his friend;
yet he soon after forgot his disapprobation in honest appre-
ciation of her forgetfulness of self and indifference to pettj
discomforts. The oil-cloth cartain, which she had supposed
would defend her from wind and rain, happened, just beside
the place where she was sitting to be so completely torn, and
in such a state of decay, that, after a few fruitless efforts to
hold it together, she resigned herself quietly, and withoot s
word of complaint, to the pelting of the pitiless storm, thoagh
her glance towards the clouds, and the dripping roof of the
char-a-banc, showed plainly that she knew a very few minates
would complete the work of saturation. She moved nearer
to Rose], and began to speak in a low yet cheerful voice, and
her words seemed to have a magical effect upon the latter,
for her tears ceased to flow : she looked ap eagerly, then
smiled, seized Nora's hand, and, had not a straggle ensaed,
THE OLD CHAB-A-BANO. 147
woald certaiolf have raised it to her lips. Meanvhile,
Torp had foond it impoaEible to alloir the mnslia-clad shoal-
ders and arma before him to remain aiiprotectd ; he leaned
forward, with one hand held the tattered strips of oil-cloth
partially together, with the other raised his broad-brimmed
grej felt bat from his head, and so placed it and his own
}ersoD that neither wind nor rain could reach Nora. With-
oDt touching, he was very close to her, and heard, or oTcr-
heard if we moat ose the word what folly acconnted for
Basel's ebullition of joy and gratitude, explained Waldemar's
glance, and made the expression of Torp'a own face soften
iu a very remarkable manner. Xo one, however, observed
this, for he was sitting in the last seat alone, and Waldemar,
the only person who thought of tnmlng round occasionally,
was JQSt then giving Mr. Nixon a history of the rains of
Waltenburg, which formed a prominent object in the laod-
tcape, and informing him that they belonged to the yoang
practicant he had seen with the jndge, and who, not having
money to rebnild the castle, would gladly sell the remaining
walls of the residence of his ancestors for almost anything he
conld get for them.
When they reached the village, and drew np before the
door of the inn, Torp leaned back, clapped his sopersatQ rated
bat on his head, and assamed his nsaal air of serene impassi-
bility. Daring the nnirersal bnstle attending the descent of
the others from the open sides of the char-^-banc, Nora turned
to him with a smile which he had no inclination to criticize,
and said, significantly glancing towards hia wet hat and
shoulders, ' I cannot let yon suppose me unconscious of the
manner in which yon have shielded mo from storm and rain
during onr drive, Mr. Torp ; and, though I know yon dislike
being thanked, I must say I am very much obliged to yon. '
While faalf-o-dosen people assisted her to descend from the
cnar-ii-banc at the side next the inn, Torp sprang to the
ground at the other, rushed into the bouse, np the stairs and
1113
148 THE OLD CHAB-A-BANC.
into his room, flung his hat on the table, dragged off his
clinging tweed jacket, and then strode np and down the room,
gesticulating like a man in the most violent state of exaspera-
tion, and muttering words that, from the tone in which thej
were pronounced, might be supposed strong iuTectives mingled
with threats of vengeance. ' Infatuation doltish infatuation !
Absurd inconsistent preposterous! No escape in a small
place of this kind, where people arc literally shoved against
each other ! This village, this infernal little nest, will be mj
perdition ! I shall leave it to-morrow with Waldemar, who,
fortunately, miusi return to Herrenburg. Ah 1 there she is
again.'
He darted to the window, and perceived Nora looking np
from beneath a red cotton umbrella, held over her by Walde-
mar. She was apparently answering some question addressed
to her by Oeorgina from one of the windows of the inn.
'I must put on another dress,' she said, gaily, 'muslin is
too cold for weather such as this. '
And as she walked off with Waldemar at one side and long
Seppel at the other, a sudden change seemed to come over
Torp ; he looked after them, nodded his head two or three
times in ironical approbation, and then soliloquised : ' Whj
not ? A man is a fool who avoids the society of an interest-
ing and agreeable woman because he cannot or will not many
her. I did not understand what she was about until to-daj,
but it is now quite evident that, being employed by her father
as deputy in the arrangements concerning his nephew's grave,
she is bent on doing a benevolent action at the same time.
Of course the old man has received carte blanche from Arthur
Nixon's widow, or she could not have made the promise to
the forester's daughter that I overheard to-day. Had I
known alt this sooner I might have spared myself some
anxiety about Waldemar, and made myself perhaps
a little less disagreeable to her. '
PA6TIMX TOR A BAINT DAT. 149
CHAPTER XI.
PASTIME FOB A BAINY DAT^
'Thx best friends mast part, Torp/ said Waldemar the
next morning, as he prepared to leave the village in a pea-
sant's cabriolet, apparently but ill calcnlated to defend him
from rain that poured down in a stream directed bj the
storm. 'I hoped to have returned on foot)' he added, 'and
expected to have had your company at least as far as St.
Hubert's. By-the-by you can meet me there as soon as the
weather clears up, as I intend to take a sketch of the curious
old altars in the chapel. Oh I I was on the point of for-
getting to mention that I told that adorable Mees Nora to
whom you have taken so unaccountable an aversion '
' By no means,' cried Torp, hastily, ' my dislike is rather
to the family, and especially to the one who caused dissension
between my brother and me, but a I have no faissitation in
saying that to this Miss Nixon I have no particular aversion.'
'So much the better,' said Waldemar, carelessly, 'for I
told her, in case she wanted advice or assistance during my
absence, to apply to you. '
'Advice and assistance?' repeated Torp, inquiringly.
'Why yes her own people cannot speak German, yoa
know, and she intends to establish Rosel somewhere about
here, and make her guardian of her cousin's grave. I enter
warmly into her plan, but do not see any way of putting it
into execution just now, for no peasant in the village or the
neighborhood is willing to sell his property. She spoke of
Waltenburg, of giving the land to Rosel and reserving the
ruins for herself; and that might answer, but I have no time
13*
160 PABTIME VOR BAINT BAT.
to ask Waltenbnrg what he considers the valae of his roofless
towers, strip of wood, and half-dozen fields. Now yon
might make yourself useful and find out all about it. The
price is not likely to cause much alarm, for Waltenburg
does not expect much, and these Nixones are certainly enor-
mously rich. Mees Nora can do what she pleases with
"papa," that is evident.'
' That was evident to me at Ammergau, ' said Torp,
' when she went to the theatre there, though he and his other
daughter remained at the inn in marked disapproval. And
here, too, she seems on most occasions to do precisely what
she pleases. '
*I rejoice in her independence,' cried Waldemar, 'for,
with every inclination to be civil, the old man puts my for-
bearance severely to the proof by his pomposity, the eldest
daughter by her fastidiousness, and the student by his mercu-
rial restlessness. I will have the Mees Nora alone. '
* I suspect there are others who would take her on that
condition as well as yourself, ' observed Torp, composedly.
' You do not mean that you would ?' asked Waldemar.
' I was thinking just now of our friend Harry Darwin, '
replied Torp.
* Is not Darwin going to marry one of your sisters ?'
'Yes ; but he has confessed a six years' flirtation with one
of these Miss Nixons (we can easily guess which), as an ex-
cuse for not having proposed sooner to my sister ; and I now
begin to fear that though Jane is a very good girl, and pretty
withal, she will not make him quite forget this first long love
of his.'
' H m. So you think Mees Nora has been six years ia
love with him ?'
'Off and on yes.'
' Do you mean that she did not care much for him ?'
' I mean there were some little heart episodes on her part
during his frequent absences from England. He knew all
PABTIME FOK A KAINY DAT. 151
ftbont them, he snys, bat was enchained either by love or
vanity until nboat two months ago, when, bsTing proposed
for ray sister, he followed these people abroad to pat an end
to all their hopes and speculations.'
' Mees Nors does not seem likely to die of a broken heart,'
observed Waldemar.
' On the contrary, ' said Torp, ' she gives me the idea of a
peraoD in possessioQ of a whole and ereo perfectly unscathed
one.'
' Darwin is a coxcomb,' contiDned Waldemar, ' and fancies
himself irresistible. Tbe last time he was in Vienna be took
it into his bead that Irene Schanmberg was in love with bim I'
' Did yon undeceive hira ?'
' On the contrary, I rather encooraged him, got Irene to
join me, and he afforded as incalculable amusement for some
'It is not improbable,' said Torp, 'that bis imagioatioD
was at work in this affair with Miss Nixon too. At all events,
1 bare a great mind to speak of him and sound her on tbe
Gobjcct when an opportunity offers.'
' Do yon care abont the matter 7 ' asked Waldemar, with
some surprise.
' I ought to, when I consider that Harry will be my brother-
in-law next Christmas,' answered Torp, evasively. ' I must
say,' be added, thoughtfnlly, ' Jane's indifference on this sab-
ject appears to me now perfectly incomprehensible I '
'It is a lucky thing for us that women are so lenient on
Boch occasions,' rejoined Waldemar, lightly. 'A man has
bat to offer his hand in an open bnsiness-like manner, nnd, if
accepted, no qoestions are asked about his heart, which mny
have passed through a blast fnmnce and be ns riddled and
worthless as the dross of metal for all that mothers or daughters
seem to care I We are not qnite so unconcerned, Torp, and
I confess I feel the greatest desire to know how much of her
large warm heart and vivid imagination Mees Nora bestowed.
152 PASTIME FOB A BAINY DAY.
ou yoar fotarc brother-in-law. So commence your sonndiu^
at once, mj good fellow, and let me know the result witboot
any of the reservations you may hereafter think it neceasarj
to observe towards yoar sister/
He did not wait for an answer, bat sprang into the little
carriage, spoke a few parting words to the landlady, and
drove off.
. Torp lingered about the garden and door of the inn, and
played with the hideous watch-dog, until chance procured
him the information concerning Nora that for some nndoobt-
edly good reason he had not chosen to demand. Madam
Cramer sent ' to let Miss Nora know that her son Florian had
finished the renovation of the altar of St. Hubert's chapel
perhaps she would step down and look at it before he began
to pack it up.'
' Miss Nora is not here, ' said the landlady, her hands rest-
ing, as usual, on her ample hips, ' nor likely to be until the
English dinner-hour. Who would go out in such weather as
this, if they could avoid it ? But you need not go on to the
forest-house in the rain, Yevey,' she added benignantly, to
the red-haired messenger, who seemed about to prolong her
walk in that direction, 'I can easily find some one going
there who will do your errand. '
'/shall be at the forester's in about a quarter of an hour,'
said Torp, ' and can undertake to deliver yoar message. '
' Florian told me to let the young lady know without delav,'
began Vevey, hesitatingly.
'And,' observed the landlady severely, ' and Florian never
looked out of the window or thought of you or the weather
when he did so, that's certain ; while you in your hurry to
pleasure him, forgot to take an umbrella or cover your bead
with a kerchief I '
It's but a stone's throw,' said Yevey, taming, away
quickly.
' Stay/ cried Torp, 'there is nothing to prevent m^ going
PASTIME FOR A BAINT BAT. 158
at once. I was only waiting for letters.' And he walked
off at a pace that removed all Yevey's anxiety respecting
unnecessary delay.
' Gone without an umbrella 1 ' ejaculated the landlady.
' That thin summer jacket of his will be wet through before
he reaches the forester's. '
' Shall I run after him ? ' cried Vevey.
' No, ' said the landlady, ' he might take it ill, for you see,
Yevey, that Englishman is not like our count, who, out of
pure gratitude for our care and attention, would offer to take
two umbrellas instead of one. I know,' she added with a
laugh, ' he'd leave them both at the forester's afterwards, if
he did not lose them on the way ; for in wraps and umbrellas
the count's uncommon careless. '
As Torp pushed open the door of the forest-house, and
unceremoniously proceeded to enter the dwelling-room, he
was as thoroughly wet as the landlady had predicted, though
apparently in no way incommoded by his plight, for it was
with an air of more than usual serenity, almost suavity, that
he entered the little apartment. The forester and his son
were arranging a gun-rack at one end of the room, at the
other sat Rosel, once more cheerful and blooming, singing
gaily, in a loud, clear voice, beside Nora, who, bending over
a cither placed on the table before her, was evidently endea-
voring to play by ear the highland air that her companion
warbled forth with its jodel and endless succession of verses.
They were unconscious of Torp's entrance until the forester's
fierce abuse of the weather attracted their attention, and his
recommendation to Torp to get a woodman's mantle at
Madame Cramer's induced them to look around.
Torp delivered his message to Nora.
Her fingers wandered over the strings of the cither, while,
betweeen chords and snatches of the air she had been playing,
she observed that the weather was almost inclement enough
V) deter her from a walk to the village, although a rummage
154 PASTIME FOR A RAINY DAT.
in the shop, and a visit to Florian*a atelier, were abont is
pleasant pastimes as could be found in Almenaa on a rainj
day.
* Do not let my wet coat discourage you. Miss Nixon,'
said Torp, seized with a sudden conviction that in her societj
the shop and atelier would afford him also jast then some
pleasant pastime, ' with an umbrella, a warm shawl, and a
pair of galoshes, you can brave the weather for so short %
distance with perfect impunity. '
' I must brave it, at all events, at six o'clock/ she answered,
musingly.
* Go to Florian's workshop to-morrow. Miss Nora,* nrged
Rosel, coaxingly ; * he '11 not pack it to-day, for who 'd begin
anything of a Saturday? '
'And who,' rejoined Nora, playfully, 'who would go
poking into ateliers and shops of a Sunday, Mademoiselle
Rosel ? Now I might wait until Monday moniing perhaps.'
* No, Miss Nora,' cried Rosel, hastily, if the weather clear
up at all, we're going to St. Hubert's on Monday, and you
know you know '
* Yes, I know I know ' said Nora, smiling. ' So lend
me the great family umbrella, the yellow one that always puts
roe in mind of a fungus ; and I think, with a shawl, and a
handkerchief tied over my head, I shall manage to get to
Madame Cramer's.'
She left the room with Rosel, and Torp, while awaiting
her re-appearance, entered into conversation with the forester
and his son. Five minutes, ten minutes, a quarter of an honr
passed over, and Torp, unwilling to appear impatient, stfll
talked on, waiting another fail quarter of an hour before he
opened the door of the room, and looked into the passage
and up the staircase. Rosel was standing at the top of the
latter, singing a popular verse of a very popular song, in
which a too cautious and prudent lover is sarcastically advised
to wrap up his heart in paper, bind it round with green ribbon,
PASTIME 70R A BAINT BAT. 155
and put it carefallj into some place where the dast cannot
injure it.
Torp laughed, and asked if Miss Nixon were ready.
' Ready 1 ' repeated Rosel, * she must be at Madame
Cramer's by this time. I asked her/ she continued, 'if she
would not take you or Franz to hold the umbrella, but she
said she liked better being alone, as she could tuck up her
gown pleasanter.'
Torp left the forest-house with an air of perfect unconcern,
but he remembered with some mortification that Nora had
not thought about ' tucking up her gown ' the day before,
when Waldemar had offered his services. The storm and
rain, too, brought vividly to his recollection the day he had
passed with her in precisely such weather among the moun-
tains, and the evening afterwards at the fisherman's house ;
and he recalled, with feelings of regret, his ungracious, re-
pulsive conduct at the latter place, and the fact that he had
then and there been little less than ungentlemanlike, in order
to prove to her that a Miss Nixon had nothing to expect
from him but Christian charity I He had forced her to reta-
liate she had done so with ladylike indiference ; and now
what would he not give for another day's wandering under
the same circumstances, or any opportunity to prove that he
was not quite the churl she took him for I These thoughts
strengthened his already-formed resolution, no longer so
scrupulously to avoid her society during the short time they
were still likely to be together in the village ; and, therefore,
instead of reading his letters, and looking over his news-
papers, he hurried after her to Florian's atelier and, when
there, felt or feigned extraordinary interest in the renovated
altar, and the legend of Saint Hubert related at some length
by the highly-flattered artist. When Nora regretted that the
altar would not be in its place on Monday, and promised to
make a pilgrimage to see it there before she left Almenau,
Torp entered into a similar engagement, and said it was evea
156 PA8TIMK FOE A EAINT DAT.
Tery probable that be sbonld accompauj Florian to St. Ha-
bert's on Monday, ' wbere,' be added, tarning to Nora, 'I
believe yon are also going about tbe same time 1 '
' If it be possible,' she answered, not looking particnkrlj
deligbted at tbe prospect of his society.
' I expect to find Waldemar in tbe chapel, ' he continued.
'Yery likely,' she replied; 'he told me he intended to
make colored sketches of the altars there.' While speaking,
it flashed across her mind that Torp might sappose a meeting
with his friend was her inducement to go, ' if it were possi-
ble, ' to St. Ilabert's ; she, therefore, felt it necessary to
explain, and added quietly : ' I should have preferred waiting
for finer weather than we are likely to have on Monday, bat
Seppel has received work as wood-cleaver from the forester,
and mast go on that day to the clearing in the neighborhood
of the Miller's alp.* St. Hubert's is not much out f his way,
and he and Rosel intend to pray in the chapel together, and
make a vow. '
' A sort of private betrothal,' suggested Torp, ' instead of
the public one that was to have taken place yesterday.'
' Perhaps so,' said Nora. * At all events the forester garc
his consent at my request, and I have promised Seppel and
Kosel to be present. '
' And to pray with them 7 ' asked Torp.
* Why not ? ' said Nora, * both with them and for them I'
* Pray for me, too, Miss Nixon,' said Torp.
'You are jesting and I am serious, Mr. Torp,' she an-
swered, composedly ; ' but you cannot know, nor have I any
inclination to explain to you, the strong personal interest I
feel in the welfare of these people.'
' Waldemar has informed me of your generous plans for
them,' said Torp, 'and desired me to obtain the information
you require about Waltenburg. '
' I am much obliged to him and to you for your kind in-
tentions, ' observed Nora, ' but it is quite unnecessary that
I
1
PA8TIMS FOK A KAINT DAT. 15T
yon Bhonld give jonrself this trouble. The jadge is expected
here to-morrow, and from hiui I can hear not only all about
Waltenbnrg, but of everything else that is to be had in the
neighborhood. '
Torp felt half offended at not being employed, as he
doubted not that Waldemar would have been had he remained
in the Tillage; but scarcely had Nora left the atelier, before
he acknowledged to himself that she was quite right to refuse
his services until he had removed the unpleasant impression
made by his previous conduct on herself and her family. As
to making advances of any kind to the latter, that was totally
out of the question : he could merely learn to tolerate them
for her sake, and with that effort on his part she must learn
to be satisfied. Like his friend Waldemar, he ' would have
the Miss Nora alone,' so he followed her to the shop, and
found her standing behind the counter, an amused listener of
the bargaining going on between Madame Cramer and an old
peasant woman about some printed calico, both appealing to
her as umpire, and loudly deprecating, protesting, and ex-
postulating, as they kreutzer-wise drew towards an agree-
ment.
On the counter lay a green felt hat, and a woodman's
mantle. ' The very thing I want 1 ' cried Torp, taking up
the latter and throwing it over his head, which after a strug-
gle he succeeded in protruding through the slit made for that
purpose, ' long enough and a good fit too. Can I have it ? '
he asked, turning to Madame Cramer.
' No,' said Nora, ' that one belongs to me. I had it made
for an acquaintance who wants it on Monday, but I can show
you the material, and another can easily be ready before
evening.' She mounted the* shop ladder, and took down a
large pack of coarse, rough, dark green cloth, which she
spread before him, feeling the texture and recommending it
with all the earnestness of an experienced shopkeeper.
Toro was exceedingly amused, and not a little pleased,
158 PASTIME FOR A KAIKT DAT.
when she offered to give the necessary directions to have it
made exactly like the one he had tried on, which was intended
for long Seppel.
' I should like a hat such as yon have chosen for him also,'
he said, beginning to try on the broad-brimmed low-crowned,
and narrow-rimmed high-crowned hats that were piled over
each other in heaps jnst behind him, turning continually to
Nora, and apparently more inclined to consult her face than
the slip of blue looking-glass placed near a window for the
convenience of other customers.
' This will do,' he said, at length, ' and now. Miss Nixoo,
I should be infinitely obliged to you if you would remove this
chamois beard from my English wide-awake, on which it is
so exceedingly misplaced, and fasten it on this new and more
picturesque hat, where, with a tuft of black-cock feathers, it
will look equally spruce and appropriate I'
Nora felt that, having commenced playing at skopkeepiug,
she could not refuse to go on. ' Have you feathers ? ' she
asked.
4
* No, but I have shot such quantities of black-cock in Scot-
land, that I have no scruple in wearing bought ones.'
Again Nora mounted the ladder, and, after a short search,
found the box containing a few real, and a good many imita-
tion chamois beards, some tufts of black-cock, and other fea-
thers, knots of green ribbon, with gold fringe, and a prolu-
sion of tinsel and spangles.
Torp seated himself on the counter, and looked on with
an air of immense satisfaction. 'Am I not to to have a
bunch of real flowers ?' he asked.
'No, yon are a sportsman, and not a peasant,' she replied,
without looking up.
' Is there nothing else you can give me 7' he said, gaxiog
round the shop, when he perceived her work nearly com-
pleted. ' I am sure I want something else if I could only
recollect what it is. '
PASTIME FOR A RAINY DAT. 169
'Your bilV perhaps/ suggested Nora, demurely.
' Ezactlj. You will write it for me, won't you V
Nora drew some paper towards her, took up a pencil,
wrote, counted, showed it to Madame Cramer, who nodded
her head, and then handed it to Torp, who perceived, with
astonishment, that it was faultlessly written in free German
handwriting, which differs from the English as much as does
the type of their books.
'Miss Nixon,' he said eagerly, ' you really must allow me
to ask you how and where you have acquired this perfect
knowledge of '
But Nora did not choose to be questioned, and turned
from him to sell a packet of snuff to the old schoolmaster,
while Madame Cramer, taking her place, reiterated the pro-
mise that he should hare his mantle that very evening.
' There is not an hour's work upon it,' she said, in explana-
tion, ' merely an opening for the head, a hook and eye to
close it round the neck, and a seam on the shoulders ! If
the work-woman has not time, 1 '11 stitch it up myself for
you. '
Torp lingered after the material for his mantle had been
cut off, the counter cleared, and all the other customers had
left the shop. He seemed to feel the most intense interest in
the rows of penny trumpets, whistles, wooden cows, horses,
sheep, and other rough toys that were ranged on a low shelf,
in order to be within the reach of children, happy in the pos-
session of a few kreutzers. Nora had seated herself on the
ladder, and after vainly awaiting his departure for some time,
said to Madame Cramer, in a low voice, ' Have you spoken
to the miller and his wife V
'Yes.'
' What did they say ?'
' Just what I expected. They're more than willing to sell
the mill, if they can get a good price for it. The miller, who
is not good for much in the way of work, m%\i& Xa
IL 14
160 PASTIME FOB A EAINT BAT.
to Tyrol, and settle in the neighborhood of Madeleine, now
that she has consented to marry black Seppel, and, what
is better than all, the Tyrolean himself approves of the plan,
and has promised me fifty florins if I can manage to nego-
tiate a fair price with yon.'
* And what does he consider a fair price 7' asked Nora.
' The house, with the buildings belonging to the mill, he
values at six thousand florins, the land round it, and the half
of the Trift alp, about as much more. He says the legal
Talnation is little less, and they can easily find a purchaser
any day, if they adTcrtise.'
Torp turned round to see the impression that this commu-
nication made upon Nora ; the movement seemed to remind
her of his presence, for she rose, took up long Seppel's man-
tle and hat from the counter, and paused before she said, ' I
am much obliged to you, Madame Cramer, for the trouble
yon have taken in this matter, and now only request a short
time to consider the proposal. On Tuesday, however, ' she
added, turning round at the door, ' on Tuesday morning you
shall have an answer, and in the afternoon of the same day I
shall go to the mill, and ask the people there to show it to
me.'
Torp followed her out of the shop, and proposed carrying
the mantle and hat with which she had, as he thought, so
unnecessarily burdened herself. She resigned them to his
care without demur or apology, graciously permitting him,
at the same time, to hold the wide-spread yellow umbrella
over her head while she walked to the inn in onusual and
profound silence ; but when there, she again took them from
him. Torp saw, or thought he saw, an expression of more
than amusement, a look of mirthful exultation, in her dark
eyes, that the demurely smiling mouth vainly endeavored to
neutralize. Without listening to her thanks, he passed on,
mounted the stairs, and on entering his room, came to the
hasty conclusion that she had mistaken his Vidting for hw ia
PA8TIUS rOR A BAINT DAT. 161
the shop for yalgar cariosity, and his civility afterwards, for
somethiug more than civility women were so prone to
fancy men in love with them I ' Now, thongh I do admire
her,' thought Torp, ' I cannot let her know that I hare lost
my heart, or mean to be more than commonly polite, and it
will be necessary for me to convince her without delay, that
nothing but idleness and bad weather made me follow her to
Florian's atelier to-day. Even if I go to St. Hubert's on
Monday, I shall take care to let her perceive that a meeting
with Waldemar, and not her society, is my inducement to
make the excursion.'
Among the letters that had arrived by that day's post, was
one from his sister Jane ; he took it up hastily, and read
' So glad you are enjoying yourself, and hare such good
sport remember Count Benndorff perfectly dark eyes^
Koman nose mazurke dancer. People said he was going
to be married to a Countess Somebody, the widow of a friend
or cousin of his. Harry Darwin is not yet with us. iSe
tciil not write about his sister, so I suppose she has turned
out a disagreeable person, and has been spoiled by her sudden
accession to fortune. In his last letter he said he considered
it scarcely generous my questioning him so often about the
Gilbert Nixons he did not know where they were now, but
when he left them in Munich they intended to pass through
Tyrol into Italy. Now, I do wish you could manage to meet
them somewhere or other : they will of course be delighted
to know you, and you can then write me a short description
of the woman who has been my rival for six long years. I
cannot remember ever having seen her in town, though Harry
thinks I hare : she has dark hair and eyes, and he says is
ladylike and accomplished.'
Torp put down the letter. 'Actually requested to become
acquainted with her I' he ejaculated. ' Oh, Jane I for your
sake I hope Harry may not often again see this rival of whom
yoa write so flippantly. '
14*
162 PASTIME FOB A RAINY DAT.
In the meantime Nora bad gone to her uncle Gilbert, and
the look of exultation that had so alarmed Torp's pride was
still on her countenance, as she explained her plans and ex-
patiated on the pleasure she felt in being able to purchase the
mountain mill, the place of all others that Rose! loved best
in the neighborhood. ' Of course,' she added, ' a clause shall
be inserted in the deed of gift, making it incumbent on every
future possessor of the mill to take care of and decorate dear
Arthur's grave. I believe I shall require something more
than a thousand pounds for the purchase, and let you know
in time, in case it should be necessary to write to England.'
Mr. Nixon opened his eyes very wide, made no attempt to
conceal his astonishment, remonstrated at some length, and
ended with the remark that he had never heard of anything
so absurd as allowing the expense of keeping a grave in order
so preposterously to exceed the price of the tombstone 1
, ' Such was Arthur's desire, ' said Nora.
*Now, my dear Nora, how can you know that?'
' He spoke to me several times on the subject'
' But he could not know that he would die here,' expostu-
lated Mr. Nixon.
' He thought it was probable he might die abroad, and,
when wishing for a simple tombstone, hoped that his grave
might not be remarkable for its neglected state, as was the
case with most English graves on the continent. To prevent
this is my care, to ensure the contrary my promise ; and I
think I have found the most effectual way of keeping it, if I
do not resolve to rebuild the castle on the hill, and live here
myself for the purpose.'
Mr. Nixon Uiought it better to attempt no further oppo*
tition.
THE VOW. 168
CHAPTER XII.
THE VOW.
It was a rainy Sanday morning. Mr. and Miss Nixon
had not yet gi?en any sign of wakefalness, thongh the neigh-
boring charch-bell had been for some time sammoning the
villagers to divine service, and noises of endless variety, and
of a nature most likely to dispel sleep, had long succeeded
each other, withoat interruption. The Nixons had, however,
become accustomed to the sound of rushing feet on uncar-
peted stairs, and the tramping of nailed shoes on the floors
of echoing corridors ; and even the rough opening and shut-
ting of the folding doors, or rather gates, into the granary
on the first floor of the house, and the frequent entrance and
unloading of carts full of corn, had ceased materially to affect
their slumbers ; though it was perhaps the Sunday cessation
of these last peculiarly disturbing sounds, with the accom-
panying stamping of horses' feet, and vociferous calls of the
laborers, that enabled them to enjoy so long a sleep on the
present occasion.
Torp was more wakeful. Stretched at fall length on half*
a-dozen chairs, he had so placed himself in the vicinity of an
open window, that he could command an extensive view of
the mountains that enclosed the village, and watch the dif-
ferent gronps of peasants as they hurried over the fields and
along the pathways, in all directions, towards the church.
Most of them had to pass the inn, and had Torp been so
disposed, he might have found subject for reflection in the
gradual and not pleasing approaches towards Parisian fash*
ions, evident in the dress of many of them. It has been
observed that these national costumes have at all times beta
164 THE VOAV.
modified bj the changes in dress so frequent iu the cities of
Europe ; but so slowly hare the alterations been adopted,
that an interval of thirty or forty years generally intervenes,
and the large, leg-of-mutton-shaped sleeves, and short petti*
coats, worn by the women, seem to confirm the supposition,
though their bodices and head-dresses are of much more an-
cient date, and do not appear likely to be put aside for some
years. The innovations attempted by the men are of a more
serious and modern description, and peculiarly disadvan-
tageous to both face and figure. A round black hat of any
form that has been in fashion during the lajst ten years, a
short-waisted coat with puckered sleeves, both manufactured
by the privileged hatter and tailor of the village, and added
to these, a pair of wide, ill-fitting trousers, that when but half
worn out^ present an unpleasant picture of shabby gentility
verging towards blackguardism.
Torp was too practical a man to waste either reflection or
re^et on the changes in the costume of peasants so little
likely to be seen by him during the remainder of his life ; he
merely thought the old men looked withered and weather-
beaten, the old women ugly and masculine. Waldemar was
not at his side to point out the more picturesque figures, and
before long he unconsciously began to mentally measure the
eolossal limbs and burly waists of all the passing women,
overseeing many a young and handsome face while coming to
the conclusion that the fair sex in and about Almenan were of
peculiarly clumsy proportions. As if to qualify in some de-
gree this judgment, the slender figure of the 'miller's Made-
leine ' became just then visible, as she tripped along the road
accompanied by her parents and Tyrolean Seppel, attired in
his brown national dress, broad belt, and high-crowned hat
They returned the salutations of their neighbors and friends
cordially, but spoke not a word to each other as they hast-
ened to pass the inn, followed at no great distance by the
forester, his family, and Nora.
THB VOW. 165
The latter party stopped beneath Torp's window for a few
minntes, and seemed to discuss some subject with unnsnal
earnestness. At length he heard Nora say, while she looked
at her watch, ' Plenty of time to reach the town before the
charch service there begins, and qaite needless yonr subject-
ing yourself to so much unnecessary pain. '
* I can bear it, Miss Norar,' said Franz, in reply ; ' and
that they shall see, especially the Tyrolean.'
'He's right,' said the forester; 'they must see or they
won't believe that we can get over our disappointment.'
The father and son walked on together, followed more
slowly by Rosel and her mother. Nora looked after them
thoughtfully, until they were out of sight, waited until the
last loiterers about the inn had gone to church, and then
turned into a by-path that led directly to a small gate open-
ing into the burial-ground. It was among the latest strag-
glers that she entered the crowded place of worship, and,
concealed from the greater part of the congregation by one
of the pillars supporting the organ-loft, heard the sermon
that was preached quietly and impressively by the worthy
priest, and in which peace and good-will were strongly re-
commended, and earnest warnings offered against that 'little
member,' the tongue. Nora was too well acquainted with
the frame of mind then predominant in the village not to
understand that much that was said was intended to coun-
teract or suppress the loud animadversions in which most
people indulged when speaking of the miller and his family,
and every meaning glance exchanged among the peasant
around, every moving arm that expressively nudged another,
conveyed its meaning to her likewise.
Profound was the silence when soon after the bans of mar-
riage were published between Joseph Mattner, possessor of
the upper mill, near X, in the Valley of the Inn, and Made-
% Uine, daughter of Jacob Erdman, mountain miller, of the
\ Tillage of Almenau, &c., tie., and a sort of subdued com*
166 THE vow.
motion in the congregation, accompanied bj an almost nni-
yersal stretching of necks, became evident. A few straj
glances sought the bent*down head of Madeleine, bnt most
eyes were fixed on the forester and his family. The old
man's furrowed features had assumed an air of defiance ; his
son's face and figure might have served for a model of stem
and rigid self-control, yet Nora' thought she detected a slight
distension of the nostrils and a scarcely perceptible ^witching
of tlie moustache, which latter, according to Sir Charles Bell,
is capable of expression during passionate excitement, in con-
sequence of the action of a muscle under the roots of the hair.
There were probably not many such nice observers in the
crowd, but Nora felt that her thoughts were giving utter-
ance, when a voice immediately behind her murmured in
English, 'Poor fellow 1 it is a hard trial; I am heartily
sorry for him.' These words were prononneed with so
much warmth and feeling that she could not leave them
unanswered.
' There was no help for it, if what the people say here be
true,' she whispered in reply, while leaving the chnrch by
the nearest door.
* What do they say f ' asked Torp, following her.
' That the miller is in the power of this Tyrolean, who is
supposed to have had something to do with the burning of
the old mill at a very critical juncture. '
' Was there no investigation at the time 1 '
' Of course, but no proof could be obtained ; the miller
was from home, the Tyrolean actually lost all his clothes in
the flames ; and his efforts to save the few valuables belong-
ing to the miller's wife and daughter told so much in bis
favor, that the suspicions would have died away had not his
imperious conduct at the mill kept them alive, and the break-
ing off of this marriage just now renewed them in every one's
mind. I remen^ber at Ammergan hearing some hints on ths ^^
subject that excited my curiosity. ' jjk
THE VOW. 167
\
ossible,' cried Torp, ' that eyen there yon began to
''.st ia these people ? '
i she rejoined. ' I heard thej were inhabitants
^e to which we were going. Perhaps their an-
^ iiad been, or they themselyes might hereafter be, laid
d grave next to the one confided to my charge ; that
alone caused an indefinite feeling of interest, and my first
Yisit to the chnrchyard made me feel as if I bad had a pre-
sentiment for you see the tombstone of the mountain miller
family is the one next to that of my consin Arthur ; and I
am not ashamed to confess that this circumstanoe has greatly
increased my desire to see Rosel in possession of the mill. '
' I shonld never have supposed you would attach import-
ance to anything of this kind,' said Torp ; 'it is, in fact, so
very immaterial where one is buried, or who is one's neighbor
when in the grave. '
'That is an English idea, but in Germany people think
differently,' replied Nora.
' Most families in England have their tombs, or, at least,
bnrying-places ' began Torp.
'You mean people of large fortune, and landed pro-
prietors,' said Nora, 'who have damp vaults under the
churches, which, only visited when the remains of a relation
are to be deposited in them, are regarded with horror by the
survivors. The greater number of people in England are,
however, buried in the churchyard nearest the place where
they die; and, even when monuments are erected by the
more wealthy, who ever thinks of visiting them, or caring
for them ? Qive me anything English but a grave I ' She
sat down on the low wall while adding, ' I hope I may yet
find a resting-place in the cheerful churchyard of some Ger-
man village here, perhaps, beside my cousin Arthur.'
' Well, I must say,' rejoined Torp, seating himself beside
her,, and stooping until be had obtained shelter under her
168 THE VOW.
ambrella, 'I muBt saj the cheerfaluess of this plaee b not
particularly remarkable to-day. *
'It is quite as cheerful as elsewhere/ persisted Nort.
' Tou will soon see it full of people, who, notwithstanding the
rain, will linger abont the gra?es. In the afternoon many of
them will return : the church itself is seldom without soioe
pious visitor, for its doors are open at all hours during the
week ; and, in fine weather, the sun shines here the liTe-long
day.'
Torp looked at her intently, and smiled. 'If,' he aid,
clasping his hands around his crossed knees, ' if it were only
possible to imagine, I will not say believe, that the people
beneath these mounds could enjoy the the sunshine and a
-the company '
'Not at all necessary,' answered Nora, rising, as the
congregation began to issue in crowds from the church.
' Thoughts such as mine abont churchyards are unconsciously
cheering, consoling to the living ; for few can ever mentallj
so completely divest themselves of their bodies as to be quite
indifferent to what may become of it after death. I have the
weakness to wish that mine may rest in sunshine ; that, as I
now stand by my cousin's grave, and think of him, relations
and fViends may stand by mine and ' She stopped suddenly,
the dreary thought that she had neither relations nor friends
who would ever think of her grave, however they might per*
chance regret her death, came over her mind like a dark
cloud ; tears started to her eyes, and she turned hastily awty
to meet the forester and long Seppel, for whom she had been
waiting.
'Downrightly and sincerely sentimental,' thought Torp;
* and, some way, she has infected me, too ; for, after all, I
rather like what she said about sunshine and aw going
to a fellow's grave and talking of him '
THX VOW. 169
Although Torp was qnite resolved to convince Nora that
his heart was still his own, and that she had no chance of
obtaining from him more attention than civility required^ he
might have been seen by her, and her tolerably numerous
escort, several times during the ascent to the chapel the next
morning, had they been tempted to look aroand or beneath
them. The fact was, Nora had observed his absence with
great satisfaction when Florian had joined them accompanied
only by two men who were engaged to carry the renovated
altar to St. Hubert's, and she had hurried forward, hoping
that Torp would be altogether deterred from making the
excursion when he ascertained that he had been left to find
his way alone to a place where there was but a slight chance
of meeting his friend on such a gloomy day. She was mis-
taken. Torp was resolved to keep what he chose to consider
an appointment with Waldemar, and we may suppose, as he
did pertinaciously, that ignorance of the path was his sole
inducement to follow so nndeviatingly the well-known grey
dress and wide-spreading hat.
Nora, as has been observed, did not look round her as was
her wont, for, although the weather had cleared during the
night, dark wreaths of cloud still hung on the mountains,
leaving only their bases and summits visible at intervals.
The long-continned rain and storm had apparently completely
weather-beaten the trees, the leaves clung to each other and
drooped downwards, while on the branches of the less-sensi*
tive pines and firs large globules of water rolled backwards
and forwards, ready to fall on the slightest provocation.
Though the dripping trees in the wood and the marshy
meadows beyond rather retarded and inconvenienced most
members of the party, they braved the discomforts of the way
exultingly, happy in the consciousness that they were taking
what is called ' advantage' of one of those ' short cuts' in
which most foresters delight, but which it would be better if
women avoided, at least during or after rain. Tti ^^^
IM THE VOW.
forester alone ventared to express the satisfaction he felt wbei
they got npon the well-beaten path leading directlj to tin
chapel and into Tyrol : he stamped his feet on the bird,
gravelly gronnd, and began to poinV oat a yariety of objeets
to Nora that he had been jadicions enough to avoid mentios*
ing while she had been laboring after him, over the slippery
roots of trees or through passages of coal-black mnd.
A right pleasant and romantic path it was on which thej
now walked quickly forward, and when a new peak broke
unexpectedly through the surrounding clouds they all hailed
it as a harbinger of better weather. While they were still
following the course of a small stream through a narrov
gorge in the mountains, the sharp cry of a hawk attracted
their attention. The forester stopped, unslung his rifle, and
peered eagerly round : long Seppel sprang to his side, and
pointed up the stream to where the bird, majestically soaring,
seemed about to pass over their heads. 'Try your hand,
Sepp,' cried the forester, magnanimously handing him tbe
rifle ; and the young man, springing on a fragment of rock,
aimed and fired with a rapidity that delighted the old man,
who, as the bird fell at no great distance, splashed through
the water to pick it up ; and, on seeing that it was quite
dead, and with scarcely a feather ruffled, he gave Seppel
such a slap on the shoulder, and a shove of approbation, that
he sent him reeling against Rosel, who stood the shock
.unshrinkingly, and, with sparkling eyes and smiling lips,
called him a * great awkward boy,' and bid him ' get out of
her way. '
Florian's two men, who had taken the opportunity of rest-
ing, now raised their packs on their shoulders and commeuoed
the ascent to the chapel, the white spire of which was visibie
far above them in the wood. Rosel and Nora followed,
leaving Seppel to assist the forester to bag the bifd, and r^
load his rifie. These loiterers Torp joined, and, after aboat
tbree-quarten ot au \iO^V% 5gc%A:Qai biat ateep, aaoent, tbej
THB VOW. 171
reftched the isolated building. Rosel and Nora had already
entered ; Seppel hurried after them ; Torp followed slowlj.
The chapel was small, rery massively built, with long narrow
windows at each side, and so surrounded by trees that it was
only on peculiarly bright days the sun's rays could enter and
light up its far-ftimed altars. Seppel and Rosel knelt before
the centre one, which was in a sort of semicircular protru-
berance in the building, and gorgeously gilt and painted ;
the others, at each side, were more within the church, one of
them already renovated, the other about to be restored to its
place that day by Florian. Leaning with her elbows on the
railing that enclosed the vacant space, usually occupied by
the latter, stood Nora, and Torp would have given much to
have obtained an undetected glance at her face, as it rested
on her clasped hands ; but, true to his resolution of taking
no notice of her that could be avoided, he waited patiently
until Seppel and Rosel stood up, and then advanced to the
altar they had left, bowing very slightly to Nora as he passed
her. Quick as the salutation was on both sides, Torp per-
ceived that her's was accompanied by a look of surprise
totally unmixed with pleasure, in fact, rather the contrary ;
and while he stood, to all appearance, absorbed in the con-
templation of the altar, he was considering, and deeply too,
what he could have done or said to make bis presence, just
then, disagreeable.
Outside the chapel Rosel and Seppel were taking leave of
each other. It was but for a week, yet they stood hand in
hand, and seemed with difficulty to repress their tears.
'Come, Seppel, we must be moving,' observed the fores*
ter, with an attempt at cheerfulness he was far from feeling,
for every day and hour made him more regret having yielded
to his choleric temper at a time when a little forbearance
would have ensured the happiness of his daughter. 'It's
only for a while, you know,' he continued, ' and to keep yoo
out of temptation, as it were. Miss Nora has promised to
JI. i5
Ita THE vow.
set all to rights again, and she wonldn't hare pledged bow
self if her papa had not allowed her. '
Nora smiled at the doubt so shrewdly expressed, bot gin
DO farther affirmation than a slight nod of encoaragement to
Seppcl, who, after vainly endeavoring to speak, held ootbii
hand to her, and then slang his green linen pouch over hit
shoulder in a resolute manner. ' Ood bless yon, Rosel ! ' be
said, with ill-concealed emotion ; ' on Saturday evening I
shall be down in the village for a fresh supply of flour and
butter, and to remain the Sunday. Take my greetiogs to
my mother, and tell my father and brother I bear no malice.'
' Where are you going, forester ? ' asked Torp, who wai
already at the door of the chapel.
'To the clearing above the miller's alp,' he answered;
'Seppel has offered to fell timber there, and must begin
work with the other man about nine o'clock, so we have do
time to lose. '
' How far is the alp from here T '
'Two hours' smart walking,' he replied. 'The chapel
was out of our way, but we can make up for lost time bj
cutting across the Rocky Horn.'
' I have a great mind to go with you,' said Torp, ' if yoo
can wait a few minutes until I have made some inquiries at
the sexton's.' Here he glanced towards Nora, and perceired
an expression of such uumistakeable satisfaction on ber
countenance, that he suddenly changed his mind, and,
prompted alike by curiosity and mortification, resolved to
remain and watch her. He looked up towards the skj,
however, before he added, 'After all, perhaps, I bad better
wait for finer weather ; but don't forget to let me know tbe
next time you go to the clearing above the miller's alp, as I
want to see how you manage these things in Bavaria. '
The forester and Seppel walked off at the steady quiet pace
of highlanders when on their mountains ; the latter looking
back occasionnWy, aa \oTk\^^\!^^ ii^t^ in si^hti flourisbini
I
THE VOW. ITS
his hat in the air, and at length uttering the long loud popu-
lar jodel of his native village. Nora, who had been examin-
ing the altar as Florian unpacked it, now turned round,
waved her handkerchief encournginglj above her head, look-
ing so animated and hopeful, that Rosel, with tears still in
her eyes, sprang forward, and gave the answering jodel ; the
altar-bearers shouted in the same strain ; and even Torp found
himself moved to raise his hat and utter a few of those long-
drawn Ohs I and Ahs I which, from their frequent recurrence
in the conversation of Englishmen, malicious Germans pre-
tend to consider a part of our language.
' Meister Florian, ' said Nora, turning once more to the in-
terrupted contemplation of the renovated altar-piece, ' I wish
you would carve me a copy of this alto-relievo, unpainted,
and with any improvements you think necessary in the figures.'
' If you can wait until next year,' answered Florian, 'and
let me have the long winter evenings to work at it, I should
have no objection to the undertaking ; although I have never
yet attempted anything on so large a scale.'
' I should rather prefer your reducing the figures one half,'
said Nora, ' as they are not to be viewed at a distance like
these ; but,' she added, on perceiving Torp approaching, 'we
can talk the matter over at your house to-morrow though,
stay, not to-morrow, as I have promised to go to the mill
on business the day after no the day after, if things turn
out, as I hope they will, I must go to the miller's alp, but
on Thursday I shall be quite at liberty. Let us say Thurs-
day, Meister Florian ; and now, if yon will come with me to
the sexton's house, you shall have a cup of his wife's best
coffee.'
Florian declined the invitation with evident regret. He
could not leave the chapel until his work in it was completed.
' Can other people get coffee at the sexton's as well as
you, Miss Nixon V asked Torp.
'Anybody, and everybody,' she answered cheerfully, be^ia*
25*
i
174 TUB vow.
ning^ the descent to the house, of which the chimnej and roof
were visible, at no great distance beneath them.
'Will jon have the kindness, Miss Nixon,' said Torp,
making a last effort to convince her of his indifference to her
society, ' will yon have the kindness to tell Waldemar that I
shall be with him directly V
* If I find him at the sexton's I shall give him yoar mes-
sage,' she answered, with such perfect unconcern, that Torp,
unconsciously rejoicing in the perception of her indifference
to his friend, stood looking after her even when the trees had
hid her from his sight, and then, having walked up and down
the uneven plateau on which the chapel was built, he sat
down in the wooden porch of the building, until he thought
that he might descend to the sexton's without betraying too
much empressemerit to join her.
Nora, seated before the house, at a small table that had
been brought out of one of the rooms, was, as he approached,
just dismissing a boy, who had been standing beside her,
with the words, * Tell your grandfather I must have a note
or letter from the gentleman for me, and then come back here
directly, for I shall want you to show me the way.'
Whatever doubts Torp might have hitherto entertained as
to the nature of his feelings towards Nora, they were re-
moved at that moment by a painful consciousness of sudden
and intense jealousy. Not that he was so irrational as to
suppose that she had planned or even consented to a direct
rendezvous with Waldemar, though he had now no doubt
she had both hoped and expected to meet him. Her desire
to see him might be partly caused by a wish to consult him
about the purchase of Waltenburg, or the mountain mill ;
but that -she had written to him was at least more than pro-
bable, otherwise she could not be so certain that she should
find a letter from him at St. Hubert's I And then ^to wh it
place was the boy to show her the way T
Now Torp's presence was anything but agreeable to Nora
\
THE VOW, IIB
at thftt moment ; so she lefl the table, and went to meet tho
exton, who was coming rram tlie field, where he had been
difrgiiig potatoes, and coatrired to join him, when Etill so
distant from the house, that their conversation could not be
overheard.
' J believe,' she said, making a sign to him to keep on his
hat, ' I believe yon have got a note for me from the gentle-
man who is lodging at jour son-in-law's honse, on the Tyro-
lean Eide of the frontiers ? '
' Oh, jon 're the lad; that's to call for the letter,' he an-
iwered, deliberately taking a pinch of Ennff; 'and I was
:hinkiQg of sending it lo the village by Florian this very
iftemoon 1 WastI,' he added, turning to his grandson, who
itood beside him, 'tell jonr grandmother to give you the
paper that's been lying so long on the dresser in the kitchen.*
'The gentleman,' he continncd, accosting Nora, 'the gen
leraan has bad bnt little sport, and very rough weather,
liss, and accordingly finds the time hang heavy; he came
7 here yesterday, and said he didn't know what to do with
Bself.'
'I think he bad better retarn to Almenaa with mc,' said
ra.
He 'g more likely to go farther into Tyrol and take hi)
ijiure, without haring to consult forester or assistant-
tier,' answered the sexton, taking another pinch of snnff.
lit then Wastl returned with a very slovenly-folded, soiled
Nora opened it, and read :
end the bay for me, and then come to a place called
Ken Bock. Shoald that tiresome fellow, Torp, he iu
)j, as usual, yon most manage to get off withoat his
ing yon, as he is tho last person I wish to meet just
yon time to go to this gentleman, who is lodging at
her'a T ' asked Nora, turning to Wastl.
1Y6 THE VOW.
Oh, yes, plenty of time.*
'And, when yon have told him that I am here, will yon
return and show me the way to the Riven Rock ? '
The boy nodded, and ran off; and Nora, not choosing
Torp to see her tear the note, and equally unwilling to pat
it, daubed with batter, and smelling of cheese, into her
pocket, crumpled it in her hand into a pellet, which she threw
^ away, and then sat down, and waited for her coffee, with what
Torp considered the perfection of self-possession. He, him*
self, relapsed into the cold, imperturbable manner that had
marked the commencement of their acquaintance, but which
was completely unobserved by Nora, as she politely offered
him coffee, and supplied him with fresh rolls from RosePs
basket. While tJiey talked of shrines and chapels in the
woods, and vows made and performed, he bent over and fed
a hideous dog, with cropped ears and tail, and was so inte-
rested in this occupation that he only looked up for a moment
when Wastl unexpectedly came back, and, running up to
Nora, informed her, in a panting and but too audible
whisper, Hhat he had met the gentleman from Tyrol coming
np to St. Hubert's, and that he was now waiting for her at
the Riven Rock.'
Nora seemed annoyed, but not embarrassed, as she left
the table. Rosel entered the house, and Torp, relaxing in
his attentions to the dog, the animal sniffed about under the
adjacent trees ^nntil he found the letter thrown there, in a form
that induced him first to snap it up, and, after a few capers,
to bound towards Torp, at whose feet he dropped it.
Torp kicked it away with some violence.
The dog had evidently been taaght to ' seek ; ' be rosbed
after, and soon returned with the half-open letter, laid it on
the gronnd, and commenced barking and springing at a little
distance, as if waiting for a continuation of the game.
Torp could now have read every wortl, bnt he did ool
THE VOW. ItT
eren glance at the handwriting as he ronghly crnmpled it ap
again, and, rising hastily, threw it as far away as possible.
'I won't believe this without stronger proof,' he thought.
'Indiscreet she maybe, and romantic she is, in her own
peculiar way, but nothing worse. Yet I could almost wish
that, after all, this rendezvous with Waldemar might prove
a vulgar fact, and be ascertained with my own eyes in the
course of the next half hour it would be the only certain
means of preventing me from wasting a thought, still less a
regret, on her for the rest of my life.'
He descended the mountain in the direction that had been
taken by her, and soon found himself among rocks of every
description, escepting such as the one he sought, and had
just resolved to go on into Tyrol, and make inquiries at the
frontier inn, when he encountered Wastl walking slowly home-
wards, his head bent over one of his hands, in which he held
a variety of small coins, that he counted over and over again
with childish delight.
' Did the gentleman from Tyrol give you all that money f '
asked Torp.
The boy looked up and nodded.
' Show me the way to the Riven Rock, and I will give yon
as much more. '
Wastl turned round, walked about fifty yards, and then
pointed downwards to a large grotesquely shaped rock, that
seemed to have burst asunder in some sii^den manner, and so
formed a narrow passage with accurately corresponding walls
at each side.
Torp gave the promised kreutzers.
' If you go straight through the rock, ' said Wastl, ' straight
through to the end, and cry boo-oo-oo, they'll get a jolly
fright!'
Torp half smiled, but did not profit by the advice ; on the
contrjiry, he made a considerable circuit, in order to approach
them from the other side ; and it was with a sort of grim
Its THE VOW.
satisfaction that he caught the first glimpse of the two figu
seated beneath the overhanging rock, and speaking too
eagerly to be aware of the approach of any one. The gentle-
man from Tyrol was playing rather cavalierly with the rib*
bons of Nora's hat ; bat thongh only seen in profile, there
was no mistaking Waldemar's nnty peasant dress, and Torp
was jast abont to advance and accost him, when he remem
bered that he had promised his friend never again to inter-
rupt a tite-d4iie with Nora. He therefore walked to some
distance below them, and sauntered slowly past, as if ancon-
scions of their presence, but fully resolved to go on to the
little inn on the frontiers, and there await Waldemar's return.
' Nora,' cried Jack, ' there he is, squipting up at us. I
knew he would come after you to find out where I was hiding.'
' He is not thinking of yon,' she answered, quietly. ' I am
quite sure he is going to the inn, to make inquiries about
that good-natured gentleman-like Count Waldemar, whom he
expected to meet at St. Hubert's to-day. '
' Then I must return to the inn at once, to prevent his
hearing more about me than is necessary.'
* He knows all about you already. Jack, and was as silent
as either of us could have desired. '
' Suppose, however, Seppel should happen to come up and
be seen by him '
* Not the slightest danger. Seppel has just gone with the
forester to the wood above the miller's alp.'
Jack started to his feet with a look of uneasiness, and
began to pace backwards and forwards, impatiently.
' Yon fear, perhaps, ' said Nora, ' that I am going to con-
tinue my jeremiade, as you call it, about Seppel, but you are
mistaken. I was going to add that I have discovered a way
of setting all to rights again.'
'I always said yon were a brick, Norry,' cried Jack, * and,
were you to talk for two hours, you could not make mo more
sorry than I am for this confounded occurrence I mean
THE VOW. It9
nusfortane. If I had not sworn to keep the secret, I ehonld
now return with yon, and acknowledge all to the judge.'
' For what purpose ? ' asked Nora. ' Seppel has been ac-
quitted, for want of evidence against him, and his brother is
now in actual possession of the Crags.'
* That's it,' cried Jack, * that's what vexes me. I thought
the worst that could come of it would be a couple of days'
arrest for the poor fellow, and never heard a word about the
Crags until you explained the matter to me just now. '
'Never heard a word about the Crags,' repeated
Nora, ' that is strange, if, as you tell me, you saw him yes-
terday evening, for at that time the cession of the property
was completed, and Seppel knew it. Could a feeling of gen-
erosity on his part '
*No, no,' cried Jack, interrupting her, 'you don't under-
stand me he feared that I that he in short, I cannot,
must not, dare not, explain. It has been a chapter of acci-
dents from beginning to end, and there is no use in talking
any more about it. I am sorry for what has happened, and
the next time I have fifty pounds to spare, I shall give it to
this poor fellow. '
Nora smiled. She knew that Jack was never likely to
have fifty pounds to spare.
'I will indeed, Nora. And now,' he continued, seating
himself again beside her, ' tell me how you intend to make
all straight.'
She related her plan, and he warmly approved, calling her
a dear, generous girl, and declaring, whatever other people
might think, he considered it a fortunate circumstance that
she had inherited their uncle's fortune instead of his brother
Sam.
* But as to my going back with you to. the village, Nora,
you cannot expect me to think of such a thing, now that the
weather is clearing up.'
180 THB VOW.
' Then promise roe, at least, not to disgrace yonnelf hj
turning poacher again.'
' I wish you would be civil, Nora, and remember that I
prefer the word wildschuetz,' he answered, laughing ; ' but,
in point of fact, I am an innocent wildschuetz, by accident,
as one may say, and only occasionally, when not quite cer-
tain of the exact boundaries between Austria and Bavaria.'
* What do you mean ?'
^ 'You see,' he replied, gravely, 'some peasants in Tyrol
rent part of the chase about the frontiers here perhaps they
get it because it was suspected they would hunt at all events,
perhaps not, that is no business of mine. For a trifling con-
sideration, they have given me leave to shoot on their ground
and let me tell you, Nora, that I now infinitely prefer go-
ing out with a party of these daring fellows, to any regular
hunt with your friend Waldemar that is, supposing him
encumbered by such companions as the gruff old forester,
and that cold-blooded curmudgeon Torp I'
*But,' observed Nora, thoughtfully, *but if you were hunt-
ing in Tyrol, what brought you to the Wild Alp, which is
completely on the Bavarian side of the mountains ?'
'How sharp you are I' cried Jack, with a laugh; 'you
see, dear, the two countries are not separated by either
paling or hedge, and there is a confusing similarity iu their
appearance hereabonts ; so it happens occasionally, quite by
accident of course, that one passes the frontiers, and all at
once finds oneself turned into a wildschuetz, and, what is in-
finitely worse, into a target for the first Bavarian forester
one chances to meet 1'
' I am glad,' observed Nora, ' that you have become aware
of the danger you incur on such occasions.'
' All right, ' said Jack.
' All wrong, ' cried Nora, impatiently, ' but fortunately,
Seppel is safe from further temptation.'
Jack's eyes twinkled very knowingly.
THB VOW. 181
' Yon mean that joa can go or send to him, ' she said, re-
proachfullj.
' Well, it would not be a very difficult matter, I should
think.'
'Then let me tell you,' she continued, gravely, 'that by
doing so you will frustrate all my plans for him that the
forester will never, after another offence of this kind, give
his consent to his daughter's marriage with him and that
Rosel, for whom I feel personally interested, will be made
mure unhappy and hopeless than ever I '
'I did not say I would do it,' he observed, deprecatingly.
* Ton have said enough to prevent my taking any further
steps about the purchase of the mill until after your return to
the village ; I shall neither go to inspect it to-morrow, nor to
visit the alp the day after, nor '
' Come, come, Nora, I thought you would understand me,
without an hour's explanation. I could send or go to the
alp, easily enough, and I will even confess that I have a use-
ful friend there; but surely you do not think me capable of
trying to persuade your prot^g^ to go out with us after all
that has happened ? I assure you he is safe as far as I am
concerned, and if it be any relief to your mind, I can add,
that I neither want him nor wish for him. Let me, however,
recommend you, in case there should be any talk of wild-
hunters in these parts again, to send some one np to the alp,
some one, who, if it were necessary, could bear witness in
Ms favor afterwards. I tell you what, Nora,' he added, with
a laugh, ' persuade Rosel to go and tell her to promise
bim, that at a certain hour of the night she will pop her
head out of the window of the hut, they call that " window-
ing," here, and, if report may be trusted, your long Seppel
has quite as decided a predilection for windowing as for
hunting.'
Nora could not help smiling at this suggestion, but she
held her cousin's hand fast when he attempted to leave her,
183 THE VOW.
and said, entreatinglj, ' Retarn with me to Almenaa, Jack,
and give op these wild excursions ; they are not repotable,
howerer plausibly yon may talk of them. Mr. Torp is, I
think, less repelling in his manner than at first, and I beliere
I might even venture to speak to him now about you, and
request permission '
'Request nothing for me,' cried Jack, petulantly, 'I de-
test that man, and would not accept a day's shooting if I
bad to thank him for it 1 You see, dear Nora, a woman
cannot understand things like a man. I know perfectly well
what I am about, and only regret not being able to assist
you in the purchase of this mill, but my father will, I dare
say, do all that is necessary, and aw I say, Norry, just
look here, will you don't you think I am getting a very
respectable moustache I wonder if I shall be obliged to
shave it off when I go home V
He stretched out his face towards her for inspection, in a
rather provocative manner, received a light slap on his
mouth from her glove, and then, fully persuaded that he had
convinced her of the superiority of his sex to hers in general,
and of his wisdom to hers in particular, he strode off towards
Tyrol, while Nora slowly returned to the sexton's.
Need it be related how Torp, with enduring patience,
awaited the return of his friend to the inn ? how he sprang
up to meet him, and encountered Jack Nixon ?
What he felt when he returned the scarcely perceptible
salute of his sullen and purposely uncourteous countryman,
may be imagined. Had any one been near him, they might
have heard him murmur, as if in answer to some self-made
reproach, ' How the deuce could I think of him, when every
one said he was in Innsbruck 1 '
WOODMSN AT WORK. 18S
CHAPTER XIII.
WOODMEN AT WORK.
ToRF was at the mill the next daj before Nora ; he was
fishing in the stream below the house, and, as it appeared,
with considerable success ; but instead of taming away and
pretending not to see her, as he would have done but a week
previoaslj, he looked up, accosted her cheerfully, packed up
his fishing-rod while speaking, and accompanied her to the
mill. Nora was neither pleased nor displeased at the meet-
ing ; the day before his presence had been a restraint and a
bore, at the mill it was neither. He knew her motives for
going there, and after having offered his services instead of
Waldemar, she could only attribute his appearance to a wish
to be useful, and felt in a manner constrained to receive what
she considered an effort of civility on his part with a good
grace.
Torp had seldom seen her to greater advantage than
during this mill inspection, when, preceded by the miller and
followed by Tyrolean Seppel, she visited every nook and
corner of the building, listening with unwearied patience and
evident intelligence to the long explanations of the machinery
and latest im]rovements given by the latter, in a deep
melancholy voice that well accorded with his sombre appear-
ance. Torp was perfectly inattentive ; he understood all at
a glance, considered the works of rather primitive construc-
tion, the fall of water the most valuable part of the property,
and by degprees completely concentrated his scrutiny and
thoughts on Nora, whose long curved eyelashes, more than
powdered with flour, seemed to possess a sort of fascination
for him. When well covered both .with flour and br&n, they
II. 16
184 WOODMXK AT WORK.
went to tbe saw-mill, and having there added a considerable
quantity of dost to their garments, they entered the house,
wliere Nora sat down with the miller, his wife, and black
Seppel at the table in the dwelling-room, and deliberately
looked over all the papers and documents offered her, taking
notes in a business-like manner that equally amused and
surprised Torp. He perceived she did not want him, yet he
lingered and listened to the long discussion that followed
about clear profits and probable losses, the number of cows
kept, the alpine pasture, and the forest rights ; his patience
was not even exhausted by proposals on her part to buy
most of the furniture of the house, as well as the farming
ntensils and part of tbe cattle ; and though he did not accom*
pany her through the rooms, he followed to the cow-house,
and advised her to see the cattle on the alp, and to consult
the forester before she decided on tbe purchase of live stock.
' You think me childishly impatient,' she said, walking to
the front of the house, 'and you are right. I know that my
evident desire to purchase will raise the price of everything
I have been shown during the last hour : but I cannot conceal
my wishes on this occasion, for it so happened that one of
my first walks with Rosel in this neighborhood was to tbe
Crags, and on our way we stopped for half an hour here, and
I remember then hearing her say, that the mill was dearer to
her than any place in the world, from its having been the
play* ground of her infancy and early jonih ; that it was here
the children from the Crags and the forest-house had met
after school hours ; and that she could imagine nothing more
delightful than sitting on the rocks below, or the timber
ranged in heaps around the sawmill, and listening to the
rushing and splashing of tbe water. She appeared almost
offended at my observing that tbe place was rather noisy I'
'It %8 noisy,' said Torp; 'but children like noise, and
youthful reminiscences are a source of great enjoyment Rosel
haa also, perhaps, some. pleasant recoUeetions of a later
WOODMXN AT WOBK. 186
period, when a certain long-legged cnirassier may hare taken
post on the timber here ?'
' Very likely,' said Nora, ' I beliere she did say something
to that purport ; at all events, that she lores the place is cer-
tain, and I trust she may live long and happily in it, and heap
up a fresh store of these pleasant recollections for her old
age.'
' She will hare erery reason to place your visit to Almenaa
among them,' observed Torp, 'and to be grateful in no com-
mon degree.'
' I exact no gratitude,.' said Nora ; ' we have entered into
an engagement, which, if kept by her and every future pos-
sessor of the mill, will make our obligations mutual' -
'Yon must have been very much attached to Arthur
Nixon,' he said, as they afterwards walked towards the village
together.
' He was one of my nearest relations,' she answered, eva-
sively.
' True, ' said Torp ; ' but as well as I can remember, he
associated wonderfully little with his near relations. '
' You knew him well V she said, half interrogatively.
' Oh, of course I knew him, for he latterly identified him-
self completely with his wife's family, and they are relations
of mine, you know.'
' I did not know it,' said Nora, qnietly.
'Ah,- true of course not how could you ? You do not
even know my name yet. Miss Nixon. '
Nora smiled, but without looking up, or appearing to con-
sider the subject worth a question.
Piqued at such unexpected indifference, and perceiving,
with infinite mortification, that his own person could not pro-
cure him the consideration he now began to desire from her,
Torp thought it advisable to take advantage of the present
occasion^ to at least partly make her acquainted with his
position in the world, the advantages of which he had been
16*
186 WOODMEN AT WOBK.
too long a yotiDger son not fullj to appreciate. He began
bj repeating his last assertion, added in explanation that
Waldemar had never been able to pronounce the English
' th,' and ended with the information that he was a Thorpe,
and Tery nearly related to the Med way family.
'In fact,' said Nora, perfectly unmoved, 'yon now choose
me to know that yon were the Honorable Charles Thorpe,
and are now Earl of Medway. I regret, ' she added, a little
ironically, ' I regret ^hat I cannot pretend the astonishment
yon perhaps expected, but I am an indifferent actress, and
have been too long aware of yonr real name to attach the im-
portance to yonr communication that it perhaps deserres. '
' So Waldemar betrayed me after all I' said Torp, biting
his lip, and slightly frowning.
'No,' she replied, 'he understood too well your wish to
remain unknown, in order to escape the probably expected
obtmsiveness of our family. My informant was a Prussian
lady, and her daughter, to whom you were introduced on the
Peissenberg.
' Ah ! so long ago 1' exclaimed Torp. * Then you knew
who I was when those not very flattering remarks about a
certain Charley Thorpe were made in the garden of the inn
not long ago. '
'Undoubtedly.'
' I have to thank you for your forbearance on that occa-
sion,' said Torp. 'Your family took advantage of my
incognito to say some very severe things of me, or rather
to me.'
' I must defend them from this accusation,' said Nora,
' by assuring you that they were, and are still, in utter igno-
rance of your true name. '
' Do you mean that yon never told them ? ' he asked,
unable to conceal his astonishment.
' Never ! ' she replied, laughing lightly, but with a zest
that annoyed him. ' I thought if you chose to ellipse your
WOODMXN AT WOBK. 18T
glory, and play at mystery, it would be angeoerons of me to
interfere with your plans, whatever they might be.'
Torp felt completely put out of countenance ; he thought
the eyes of his companion began to sparkle mischievously,
as if she rather enjoyed his discomfiture ; and a long pause
ensued.
'Perhaps,' at length he observed, with some pique, 'per-
haps. Miss Nixon, I shonld have found more favor in your
eyes, if, instead of having been Charles Thorpe, I had had
the luck to be a Tom or Dick Torp 1 '
' Perhaps you might, ' said Nora, ' but even as Mr. Torp,
you have contrived to make yourself particularly disagpreeable
to me to us all.'
' In what way ? ' he asked, eagerly. ' Surely the slight
avoidance on my part, that may. have been evident at the
commencement of our acquaintance, cannot have made so
unpleasant an impression on you ? '
' It has made none at all, ' she answered, ' for I did not
wish it otherwise. But your determination not to allow
Count Waldemar or the forester here to give our poor dear
Jack a few days' sport, has indeed made a more than un-
pleasant impression on me I It was scarcely to be expected,
that, 'at his age, he would remain a contented spectator of
successes such as yours, and the consequences have been of
a nature, that, I confess, I am not likely to forget easily.'
'I understand,' said Torp, hastily; 'I I am very sorry
-^ I shall speak to the forester about it directly, and '
' Too late,' said Nora, interrupting him ; ' I do not know
where, in Tyrol, John may now be.' She hesitated for a
moment, and then added, ' What is past can't be remedied
what may yet occur '
' Good heavens, Miss Nixon I surely yon will not lay to
my charge all that that wild boy may do I Perhaps he is
still near St. Hubert's; I will go there to-morrow this
evening, if you desire it and entreat him to return here.'
188 WOODMEN AT WORK.
' He will not do for joa what he refused me,' said Nora;
' but, ' she added, hastily, ' do not misunderstand me, or
suppose him in the company of wild-hunters. He goes out
with some Tyrolean peasants who rent the hunting-ground
on the frontiers.'
'And who pass them,' observed Torp, 'whenever thej
can do it with impunity.'
' Jack may do so in ignorance, ' said Nora ; ' that is what
I fear ; and so much, that I shall write to him, and mention
your proposal to speak to the forester. I can say you made
the offer roluntarily ; he forbad my speaking to you on the
subject. '
' Then you thought of asking me ? '
' More than once ; for, until yesterday, I feared he was
with very reckless companions. '
' I still suspect he is not with very steady ones,' said Torp.
'At all events,' rejoined Nora, 'I shall write, and most
probably the sexton at St. Hubert's will know where to
forward my letter; in the meantime, I must take care to
have his companion, long Seppel, strictly watched.'
They had reached the inn while speaking, and Nora per-
ceiving the judge in the garden, immediately joined him ;
and, having renewed her acquaintance, drew her notes from
her pocket, and began a conversation, which ended in her
knowing what she might offer, and what ultimately give, for
the mountain-mill and a resolution to go the next day to
the alp belonging to it.
Great was her surprise when she mentioned her intention,
in the course of the evening, to her uncle and Oeorgina, to
find that they were willing to accompany her. They had
heard that they could drive to the base of the mountain-^
that the path, chiefly through a forest, was less steep than
usual to such places, and particularly carefully made being
used for the transport of wood in winter. No day could
possibly suit them so well as the next ; ^nd, iu sLort^ they
WOODMEN AT WOBK. 189
bad made np their minds to see a real alp before tbej left
the highlands.
'The Falkners are to return to St. Benedict's to-morrow,'
said Georgina; 'so we cannot well go to the lake neither
do we wish to be in the village when they pass through it.'
'At^what honr can yoa start ? ' asked Nora.
'After breakfast, and post-time. '
' That is, ten o'clock, ' said Nora. 'A drire of half an
hour will take you to the mountain, my uncle will require
three hours to mount ; so that I may suppose that you will
be on the alp between one and two : I shall be there long
before noon, most probably.'
' Why will you not go with us ? '
'Because I am going first to St. Hubert's chapel.'
'What is to prevent us from visiting the chapel alsof '
asked Georgina. 'I remember your telling me something
about its antiquity and carved-wood altars, that rather excited
my curiosity. '
'Did I V said Nora, musingly. 'The way to the chapel
is easy ; but thence to the miller's alp would be too much for
my uncle, or you either, Georgy. There is no path, and I
shall require a guide who knows the country well, and can
help md to scramble across the mountain called the "Rocky
Horn.'"
' May I ask what induces you to go either to the chapel,
where you were so lately, or over this Rocky Horn, if it be
such a pathless wilderness ? '
Nora did not choose to tell her that her brother Jack was
roughing it in the mountains with Tyrolean peasants, instead
of being, as she supposed, at Innsbruck ; still less did she
feel disposed to enter into an explanation of Torp's recent
offer ; and her fears that a letter from her would not be suffi-
cient to induce her wilful cousin to return to the village,
though she had some reasonable hopes of the result of another
conference with him
190 WOODMXN AT WORK.
' I have long intended to make an ezcarsion over the Rocky
Horn/ she replied, after a pause. ' 8t. Hubert's is the plea-
santesty if not the nearest way to it. Then, as Bosel goes
with me, I wish to pass the place where the woodmen are
felling timber, that she may see a friend of hers who is at
work there ; and, all things considered, it will be mnch the
6ame thing to you, I should suppose, if you find me at the
alp when you arrive there. '
During the evening, Mr. Nixon talked a good deal of his
famous ascent of the 'Peissenberg mountain,' and seemed
ready to undertake the Rocky Horn itself, had he received
the slightest encouragement from Nora. The necessity of
getting up at daybreak for the purpose alone deterred him
from making at least the attempt ; and he professed himself
perfectly satisfied on hearing that the miller's alp was one of
the highest in the neighborhood, and peculiarly interesting,
from its being half Tyrolean, near an extensive clearance in
the forest, and surrounded by charcoal-burners.
Nora, Rosel, and their guide, left Almenan at a very early
hour the next morning, and reached St. Hubert'^ in good
time ; but neither the sexton nor his g^ndson were at home,
and the other members of the family could not tell her whether
or not the ' young gentleman ' was still at the inn '* on the
other side. ' So Nora decided at once on taking her com-
panions on, and breakfasting with them in Tyrol.
Her first question on reaching the inn was, ' Is the foreign
gentleman still here ? '
'Yes.'
' Is he up f '
' Yes ; he is drinking coffee and smoking a cigar in the
little parlor.'
'Bring us coffee there, too; and you, Rosel, go to the
kitchen and see what they have got for Michael's breakfast'
Greatly pleased at finding her plans so successful, Nora
moved lightly on to the little parlor, and, unceremomonsly open-
WOODMEN AT WORK. 191
ing the door, exclaimed, ' Here I am again, 700 tiresome,
good-for-nothing ' then she stopped, looked round the
room, and stammered an excuse to Torp, who stood before
her, apparently equally pleased and surprised, and coloring
in a manner very unusual to him.
' Yon need not explain. Miss Nixon,' he said, with his ac-
customed self-possession, ' I am perfectly aware who it was
you expected to meet. I hoped, by coming here yesterday
evening, to have had a better chance ; but, it seems, Mr. John
Nixon left this place the day after we were at St. Hubert's,
and the people here profess c6mplete ignorance of his present
place of abode, so that I have not been able to follow
him.'
^ ' You have been very kind, ' said Nora ; * and I am greatly
obliged to you, but what are we to do now ? '
' Write to him,' said Torp.
' Of what use, if they don't know where he is ? '
' I believe. Miss Nixon, that letters often reach their desti-
nation where there is no post, if a request to give the bearer
a florin be distinctly written beside the address.'
'But,' said Nora, 'to make it intelligible it must be
written in German, and Jack cannot read Qerman writing.'
' Then let us put an English translation underneath,' sug-
gested Torp.
* Stupid my not thinking of that,' she rejoined, laughing,
while she commenced a search for writing-materials.
In an old portfolio some paper was found Xheti the dried-
up ink hastily inundated with water, and, after some time, a pen
procured, that enabled her to write a short and urgent note,
to which Torp requested permission to add a couple of lines.
Before signing his name, he looked up, and asked, ' Am I
Torp, or Med way. Miss Nixon V
* Torp, ' she replied. * You can choose your own time to
make yourself known to mj family. '
193 WOODMEN AT WOBK.
' The name is certainly not eaphoniouB/ he observed,
when writing it as signature.
' What's in a name 7' she cried, gailj. ' A rose bj anj
other name joa know '
' No, I do not know any such thing, Miss Nixon, for it
seems to me that there is a good deal in a name.'
'Especially in a titled one,' she answered, rather sarcas-
tically, while folding np their joint letter.
'I was not thinking of titles I I alluded to the melan-
choly fact of yon and yonr family having taken a dislike to
the name of Charles Thorpe ; of himself yon know too little
to form an opinion.' He paused, and then added, 'Yon do
not deny it ? '
Irl cannot,' said Nora.
' You deliberately confess that yon disliked without ever
having seen me ? '
'Yes,' she replied, with a gravity that rather surprised
him.
' Is this right J is this just. Miss Nixon V
'Perhaps not,' she said, rising; 'it is rather what you
call a "melancholy fact." I wonder,' she added, mus-
ingly, ' to whom in this honse I ought to confide our letter V
' To the eldest son of our host,' answered Torp ; ' I have
very little doubt that he will deliver it both safely and quickly.
One word more. Miss Nixon ; may I ask if a personal ac-
quaintance with Charles Thorpe has tended to remove this
unreasonable antipathy to his name t '
' You seem to have forgotten my having mentioned yester-
day that Mr. Torp had contrived to make himself rather dis-
agreeable on more occasions than one. '
' Hang Torp,' he cried, half laughing.
'I have no objection,' said Nora.
' And Charles Thorpe ?' he asked.
' Hang him, too, by all means,' she answered, walking off
WOODHXN AT WOBK. 193
With her letter, and leaving him in provoking oucertainty as
to the progress he had made in her good opinion.
Perhaps it was a wish to obtain some information onr this
subject that induced Torp to leave the inn at the same time
with Nora and her companions, and accompany them across
the mountains. He did not, however, choose her to suppose
so, and took the trouble to explain at some length that he
had long intended to make this excursion, in order to see
how the Bavarian foresters managed their fellings on the
mountains. Why he was afterwards half offended with her
for believing him implicitly, it would be hard to say, and he
actually looked little less than angry when she turned from
him to their gnide, and requested the latter to give them all
the information he had acquired concerning forest culture
and the habits and employments of the woodmen. She
knew that Michael* had often been employed as feller and
logman, and that he was still in the habit of sledging wood
in winter, and found, as she had expected, but little soHcita-
tion necessary pn her part to induce him to be loquacious on
% subject so familiar and interesting to him.
Pew people lead a more isolated, monotonous, obscure,
and laborious life than these Oerman woodmen, especially in
the mountain districts, where their work is frequently per-
formed with more danger than attends the enterprises of the
most dauntless chamois-hunters ; yet it is in such places that
the employment is eagerly sought, and that during the win-
ter months the young peasants leave their homes, when the
fields lie buried in snow, and no longer require their care, to
seek work for themselves, or their otherwise unemployed
horses and oxen. The money so obtained is pure gain,
which, with the possibility of returning occasionally to their
families, makes them brave their hardships cheerAilly. Many
even find a sort of fascination in the wild scenery, the socia*
bility of their comrades, and the pride of increased physical
itrength, so that they are induced ultimately, when the^ ^vi^
194 WOODMSN AT WOIIK.
no prospect of marriage, to become woodmen or charcoal*
bamers bj profession. These men acquire, in the coarse of
a few years, a peculiar robust and powerful appearance ;
their shoulders are broad ; strong muscles, like lines of whip*
cord, may be traced beneath the sun-burnt skin of their arms;
and no stretch of an English imagination can picture the
dimensions of their short, thick, Saturday-clipped beards.
The way from 8t. Hubert's to the miller's alp led Nora
past all the various contrivances for expediting the mountain
timber to the valleys ; and, while her guide beguiled the way
with explanations of the ice-channels, water-courses, sluices,
weirs, and sledging-paths, she followed him, unconscious of
fatigue, to the summit of the mountain where Seppel and his
companions were at work. They arrived just in time to see
the process of felling a pine of no common dimensions that
had grown on a sort of promontory on the skirta of the
wood, and, in consequence, found means to stretch its wide
flat branches outwards, their weight giving the tree an incli-
nation downwards that greatly added to its picturesque ap-
pearance. The woodmen scrambled up the crags ; two of
them laid the large sharp-toothed saw on the trunk, and the
bark chipped off around the scarcely perceptible wound;
more and more steadily it grated backwards and forwards,
and small splinters darted, and yellow dust began to fall at
each side ; other woodmen advanced with poles, which they
pressed against the trunk to direct the fall. The saw reached
the middle of the tree, the pith is severed, and a shudder, u
of agony, seemed to pass through the quivering branches u
they rose and fell with every motion of the saw. More men
pressed forward, and stemmed themselves resolutely against
the now tottering trunk ; a smashing and snapping of the
branches among the trees behind, intermingled with the
creaking of the trunk itself, warned the sawyers to take
flight ; the tree bent forward more and more ; the branches
waved frantically ; for a moment it seemed to raise itself by
WOODMEN AT WOBK. 195
a yiolent effort, the next fell prostratei the shouts of human
voices }ost in the crash that for a few seconds effectually
stunned the less inured spectators.
The echoes were hardly silisnt when the woodmen sprang
forward with saws and axes to commence the work of dis-
memberment. Seppel, who had been one of the sawyers,
now approached Bosel, and, after some whispering, the latter
asked Nora if she would not like to see the woodmen's shed,
and proposed their resting there until the men came to cook
their dinner.
Nora acquiesced willingly, but sent their guide to the
miller's alp, with directions to return for her in case her re-
lations should arrive sooner than she expected. It was not
until Seppel and Bosel walked on to show the way, and Nora
was in a manner left alone with Torp, that she became con-
scious of his more than usual thonghtfulness and taciturnity,
and began to feel some qualms of conscience for having so
completely forgotten his presence, and neglected him, after
the effort he had made to relieve her anxiety respecting her
cousin John. She therefore resolved to be polite and loqua-
cious for the next hour at least, and made the most laudable
efforts to appear so, but never had she during her ]ife been
less successful. It was in vain she racked her brain for ques-
tions or observations likely to interest him. He looked at
her intently, but answered so absently, that she at length de-
sisted, and left him to reflections of an aPPareoUF h^t, lu^u
agreeable -nature
II. n
10 quits!
CHAPTER XIY.
quits!
Thi woodmen's Bnmmer hnt was of yery primitiTe con-
strnction. Altogether of wood, and very carelessly roofed,
it contained bat one large room, famished with sleeping-
places for abont a dosen men a long stone hearth, that
served alike for fireplace and table, being provided with
rongh hewn benches at each side, and a rack against the
wall of planks, on which hang the sancepan and iron cooking
spoon of each workman, with the scrip that contained his
week's provision.
Seppel's was immediately opened for Nora's inspection,
and she fonnd in it the remains of a loaf of brown bread, a
small bag of white flonr, and a roand box made of maple
wood, containing ' schmalz,^ that is, batter melted to oil, and
then cooled, in which state it can be preserved 'for months
withont danger of its becoming rancid. This is, in fact,
their snbstitnte for meat ; bat only those who work hard, and
in the open air, conld ventnre to live so exclosively on food
so bntyraceoas. The mode of preparing this woodman's
ftire is simple in the extreme. A portion of flonr is mixed
with fresh cold water and a little salt, the pan then placed on
the fire, with a large slice of achmalz, which almost immedi-
ately assames the appearance of oil, in which the dongh or
paste is tamed nntil completely satarated with grease, and
the morsels slightly browned and crnsted.
When Seppel had explained all this, and began to replace
his provisions in the bag, Nora tamed to Torp, who was
standing at the door watching a charcoal-baraer, whose kiln
was visible in the open space below the hat
Qt7ITBl 19T
' These people,' she said, in a low Toice, ' lead a laborious
life, and suffer all sorts of privations.'
'Better than working in a coal-mine, ' he answered; 'at
least / should prefer it. '
' Even in winter t ' she asked.
' Yes. There is something inspiriting in warring against
storm and snow, in places soch as this-*- something pleasant
in work so completely manlj. The hardships and dangers
are not greater than those of onr sailors, and possess the
advantage of personal freedom of action and motion. Had
I been bom here, and a peasant, I should nndonbtedlj have
been either a forester or woodman; and who knows,' he
added, with a smile, glancing towards their companions,
' who knows but I might have found a Bosel, to bestow her
love and a pocket fall of cheese upon me.'
Nora looked round in time to catch a glimpse of the
cheese, just as it was being transferred to the wallet. Some
eggs followed, that mast have been most troublesome to
carrj ; and when these had been satisfactorily arranged in
the butter-box, Seppel took up a barrel, and said he must go
to the spring for water, as his comrades would expect to find
it, and a fire ready for them, when they left off work. Bosel
followed him oat of the hut, and Nora, not feeling disposed
for a Ute-d'tete with Torp, joined them, resolved to take the
rest of which she beg^n to feel so much in need at the spring.
They stopped on their way for a moment to speak to the
charcoal-burner, and as Nora then glanced upwards, she
perceived Torp, with folded arms, and head bent down,
striding backa*ard8 and forwards, on the small space before
the woodmen's hut, in a manner that rather excited her won-
der, bot made her suppose he had no intention of following
them.
The spring was celebrated for its ice-cold, clear, and spark-
ling water, and had therefore been covered with a rough
building resembling a grotto; some woodman, too, in an
}98 OuiTsl
idle hoar, had formed a spout for the water, so that it flowed
fresh, and without exposure to the air, oat of the rock into
the receptacle beneath, whence it trickled in various amall
channels down the side of the mountain. There were rustic
benches beneath the trees and moss-cushioned rocks beside
the fountain ; and it was on one of these that Nora seated
herself, threw her bat on the ground, and drew from her
pocket a leather drinking-cap.
'No need of that, miss,' said Seppel. 'We hare our
glass, and whoever breaks must replace it. As good luck
would hare it, the last time count Waldemar was out hunting
in these parts, with the English gentleman, they smashed it
some way or other between them, I suppose, for in the even*
ing we missed it, and the day after found two new glasses
here, thick and strong ones you see, and not likely to fall to
pieces for a chance knock against the rocks.'
While Nora examined the glasses, and tried to guess which
had been chosen by Waldemar, Seppel filled his keg with
water, and Rosel amused herself gathering some beech-leaves,
and fastening them ingeniously together with the needle-like
foliage of the nearest pine-tree, so as to form a chaplet of
such peculiarly classical appearance, that when she encircled
Nora's head with it, Torp, who was at the moment approach-
ing them, could hardly repress an exclamation of admiration.
Perfectly unconscious of the light decoration, Nora b6nt for-
ward and filled a glass with water, while Seppel shouldered
bis keg, and prepared to leave the spring ; perhaps Rosel
intended to accompany him, she murmured something about
helping to make a fire : but Nora, who had alfeady caught a
glimpse of Torp, requested her to wait a few minutes longer,
and pointed to a place on the rocks beside her.
* If Waldemar were here, Miss Nixon,' observed Torp, as
he drew near, ' he would say that you looked like the nymph
of the fountain.'
quits! in
. 'And yon/ answered Nora, 'would think that I looked
more like a wearied wayfarer resting at a shady spring.'
'Be a nymph for the nonce,' said Torp, smiling, 'and give
me a glass of this famous water.'
Nora lazily stretched ont her arm, let the water flow into
and OTer the glass for a few seconds, and then held it towards
him. He wonld ha?e given much at that moment could he
have detected the slightest shade of coqaetry in her manner ;
but with the most provoking unconsciousness of his glance of
unconcealed admiration, she shook the water from her drip-
ping hand, and then leaned back against the rocks, while
deliberately drying her fingers in her handkerchief.
Perhaps Torp wished to rouse her, perhaps he thought of
his sister Jane, perhaps he only thoaght of himself, when he
observed, with nuasual significance of tone and manner : ' I
received a letter from Harry Darwin yesterday. Miss Nixon ;
he is not yet aware of my having met you and yonr family
here, and addressed his letter to Herrenburg in Tyrol, sup-
posing me to be staying with the Benndorffs. '
The color that had overspread Nora's face at the com-
mencement of this speech faded away, when she perceived
that Torp was still ignorant of her being Harry's step-sister.
' I believe he is an old acquaintance a friend of yours,'
be continued.
' He scarcely deserves the name of friend,' she answered,'
composedly.
' Yet you knew him long and intimately,' persisted Torp,
' Long but not intimately,' she answered.
'Tou liked him of course? ' he said, half interrogatively.
* Not particularly.'
' Yet you received his attentions. '
' They were few enough,' said Nora, with a look of amuse-
ment, perfectly incomprehensible to Torp ; ' but however I
might have valued them at one time of my life, they becam^
SOI QTJITBl
in later years perfectly worthless, and at last equally disagree*
able and troablesome.'
'And/ half soliloquized Torp, while he diligently drew
lines in the gravel with the iron point of his mountain staff,
'and Harry fancied supposed no matter what 1 '
' No matter, indeed,' she rejoined ; 'he never did anything
that could lead to a supposition that he really cared for me,
and scrupulously avoided all professions of a regard which he
would have been half ashamed to confess for any one bearing
the hated name of Nixon I His indifference caused me,
however, no unhappiness ; for experience has taught me not
to waste a thought, still less a particle of affection, on any
one, until they have said in the most unequivocal manner,
"Hike," or ''I love you."'
' Then pray waste, or rather bestow, a thought on me now,
Miss Nixon,' said Torp, * for, from my soul I love you.'
* You I ' cried Nora, sitting upright^ in unfeigned astonish-
ment, and roused as much as he could possibly have expected.
' You ? surely you are jesting 1 '
'By no means. I wish to tell you, as unequivocally as yoa
can desire, that I love you.'
Nora was silent: she shaded her eyes with one of her
hands, to hide the surprise that at first overpowered every
other feeling. Then came a confused recollection of her
long-cherished resentment towards the man who now stood
beside her, and of her ardent longing for an opportunity of
making him suffer mortification, such as he had caused her
ten years previously ; but, instead of seizing the offered op
portunity for rerenge with the eagerness that she had expected,
she perceived that a more Christian-like feeling had replaced
her previous animosity, and before long she found herself
considering how she could best explain, that though she no
longer^^tsliked, she had not yet learned to like him. She
looked up at last, and perceived him leaning against the side
of the cprotto, awaiting her answer with an air of soch cool
quits! SOI
lelf-command, snch calm confidence in the result of her medi-
tations, that her pride instantly took alarm. He had so
evidently misunderstood the cause of her silence, that she
vas provoked with herself for having felt anxious to spare
his feelings, and consequently made no effort to conceal her
mirth, when he observed, 'You are even more astonished
than I expected, Miss Nixon; but I hope for an answer
nevertheless.'
'An answer to what?' she asked, with admirable eom*
posnre.
' I did not think you could be so malicious, ' said Torp,
good-hnmoredly ' What I have said can hardly be misun-
derstood ; but if you require time to consider, or wish to con*
suit your family, say so ; I can wait. '
'I have no doubt of that,' replied Nora, smiling archly.
'You are a perfect personification of patience at this
moment.'
Torp knew too much of women to aug^r well from such
complete self-possession on her part ; he bit his lip and
colored, as the conviction flashed across his mind that if she
accepted him it would be for his coronet and fortune, and not
at all for himself.
' I require no time to consider,' she continued, nor is it
necessary for me to consult my family. Let me rather re-
commend you to forget what yon have just said, while
reminding yon, that, like your brother ten years ago, you
are proposing to " make an egregious fool of yourself." '
Perhaps so,' answered Torp, * but I love you 1 '
' Have you forgotten all your resolutions to avoid ''these
people," as you called us?' continued Nora. ' 'Have you
considered the "odious connexion ?"'
' Yes, ' he answered, without hesitation, 'but I love you I '
' Has the possibility,' said Nora, 'just the mere possibility,
never occurred to you, that your love might not be returned ? '
'I have thought of that too Miss Nixon, and as Mr.
90% quits!
Torp or even Charles Thorpe, I shonld hardi/ haye yei^
tared to iadalge a hope of a favorable hearing. When I
spoke, mj reliance was placed quite as much, and now, I
regret to say, rests altogether, on what I have to offer with
myself, rather than on myself personally.'
'I understand yon, Lord Medway; bat yonr rank will
have quite as little influence on me, as my fortune on yon.'
* Had fortune been an object to me,' said Torp, somewhat
loftily, ' I should have reserved, if. not my hearty certainly
the offer of my hand, for the sister of my friend and relation,
Harry Darwin.'
' You have nnconscionsly done what you hare just said^ '
she r^oined, quietly, ' for I am Harry's sister Leonora.'
Torp's start, and but half-suppressed exclamation of sur-
prise, attracted the attention of Rosel, whose presence had
been less heeded than that of a child by either of them. They
knew that the girl, with all her intelligence, was to all intents
and purposes made deaf and dumb when listening to a lan-
guage unknown to her ; and so low and calm had been the
voices of the speakers, so unruffled the manner of both, that
she had, until that moment, supposed them to be discussing
some topic devoid of all personal interest. She looked up
just as Torp was saying, 'So you are Leonora half a
Thorpe and my cousin in spite of yourself. If I bad not
been impenetrably stupid, I might have guessed it the first
day we met I And your dislike to me,' he added, seating
himself at the opposite side of the fountain 'your dislike
to me originated in my interferenee with Medway 's plans ten
years ago of course.'
'His plans were unknown tome,' replied Nora; 'but
you may remember that at your instigation I was expelled
your mother's house, in a manner that was neither kind nor
considerate. Without being consulted, or given the friendly
advice to write to my nearer relations, I was forced npoa
them sent to an ancle pr^udiced against me, not only by
017IT8I 208
my evident wish to ignore him, bnt still more by a letter from
yoQ, representing mj at wojrst thoughtless conduct, in a man*
ner that threw npon me all the opprobrium of a detected
intriguante.'
' Mj mother ^my sisters ' began Torp, and then stopped,
evidently nnwilling to excuse himself at their expense.
* I ean now understand their anxiety and fears,' she con*
tinned, ' and forgive them and you for wishing to get rid of
me. It is the recollection of the way in which I waa dis*
missed, and the discovery of your traducing letter, which,
even after a lapse of ten years, forced tears of indignation
from my eyes, that still has power to mortify and pain me. '
* Yon probably found this letter among your uncle 's papers ?'
observed Torp, without looking up.
Yes.'
'And have preserved it as an antidote to any kind feelings
you might erer be disposed to entertain for me ? '
Nora did not answer ; he had made a good guess.
' I had altogether forgotten having written a letter of such
offensive purport,' he observed, after a pause. 'My only
consolation is, that by it, or through me, you have become
one of the richest heiresses in England. I have, in fact, been
the means of procuring you a brilliant lot in life, and greatly
promoting your happiness. '
' How can you tell ? ' said Nora, in a low, and rather
melancholy voice ; ' wealth brings with it duties, unknown
to, unthougbt of, by the poor. The responsibility is great,
for to whom much is given, from them will much be re-
quired : a few thousand pounds would perhaps have made
me happier. '
'My thoughts were less Christian-like,' said Torp, dryly;
'I alluded to your almost unlimited choice in marriage.'
' I do not idtend to marry. '
He looked up, and smiled incredulously.
'Do not misunderstand me,' she continued, quietly; 'I
804 quits!
bare mad^ no rash tows, bnt I cannot forget that daring the
beat yewts of mj life, among those who lored, or fancied
they loved me, not one had resolution, or devotion enough,
to overcome the obstacles to a onion with me not one had
the courage to pronounce the word marriage to a penniless
orphan. Shat it is otherwise now, can be attributed to bat
one motive and that is not flattering to mj self-love.*
' Far be it from me to undertake a defence of the motives
of those who maj hereafter aspire to the heart and hand joa
have just refused me,' said Torp ; 'but if ever a man loved
disinterestedlj, and was made, bj downright earnest de-
votion, to overlook all obstacles and conquer all his strongest
prejudices, I am ^I mean I toas ^that man, Leonora, when,
believing you to be the daughter of Gilbert Nixon, I pro-
posed to 'he paused, embarrassed by a- deep blush that
seemed to pass like a shadow over Nora's face.
' The effort was great, no doubt,' she said, calmly, 'and
it was unpardonable my not feeling as much flattered as sur-
prised on this occasion. '
'You are severe,' said Torp, 'but I have no hesitation in
confessing that my struggles between passion and prudence
have been great. Had I known who yon really were sooner,
I should have been spared, if not the pain, certainly the
mortification, that I now feel, for nothing would ever have
induced me to confess to Leonora the heiress that I loved
her.'
' Of that I am quite convinced, ' said Nora, ' for my bro-
ther informed me before he left Mnnich, that you had already,
in a gentlemanly manner, objected to my paternal connexions,
and declined my ^fortune. '
' So you have heard that too ! ' cried Torp ; 'then, indeed,
I have nothing more to hope the letter might have been
forgiven ^but this offence is, I know, unpardonable.'
' You are mistaken,' said Nora ; ' tteagh I had the weak-
ness to feel angry for a few minutes, at having been so care*
quits! 906
lestlf effiared, aud cavaliertj rejected, I sood perceiTed, that,
under the ci renin Btanees, you eonld bcitcoIj have spoken
otherwise. I bare also not the slightest donbt that had yon
known me to be Han7's sister, yon woold not onlf not have
acknowledged liking me, but Tonld oren have disliked m
as cordiallf as '
'As jOQ do me,* sud Torp,
' No, ' she answered ; ' I believe I can now say that I have
ceased to dislike 70a, and must confess that m; ten jeara*
reseDtment was wrong and nnchristian-like. And now, Lord
Med war '
' Don't call me Lord Medwaj.'
' Mr. Torp.'
' Nor Mr. Torp, for yon, I am henoeforwani neither.'
' Do 70D not wisja to preserTe jroar incognito ? '
' To others yes but when we are alone I expect 700 to
remember our relationship.'
'I have had time Bo forget it,' she r!Joined, with some
bitterness.
' Too have had the same time to forget the offences of
Charles Thorpe. Gome, Leonora, be indeed a Christian,
and tell me 70a forgive my having prevented yon from taking
the name of Medway tni 7esr8 ago.'
'That,' said Nora, ' I can easily forgive, for I neverfomrad
any plan of the kind. '
' I believe yoa, bnt my mother,' said Torp, mnsiogly, and
as if speaking his thonghts, ' my mother said and says still
that had yon remained with her, Medway woold have mar-
ried yon,'
'It is not improbable,' rejoined Nora, 'for I will not at-
tempt to deny that rank and fortune might, at that time,
have tempted me in a manner they cannot do now. It was
fortnnate that she foresaw, and 70a prevented, so odiou
connexion so terrible a ntitailiance I '
'Ton do not understand me,' explained Torp, witb
206 quits!
heightened color; 'no girl of sixteen conld have been a
proper match for Medwaj, who was so notoriously nnsteadj
that oor anxietj about him only ended with his life.'
'Ah, yon took that into consideration,' said Nora, with
pitiless irony ; ' perhaps also my foreign education, on which
you enlarged so eloquently in your letter to my uncle ? I
now perceive plainly, that all I heard of your intellect and
discrimination during my short stay at The Willows was true,
and if then so profoundly calculating and discreet, what
most you be now ? '
'A patient target for the arrows of your sarcasm,' answered
Torp, hiding his intense mortification under an appearance of
humility. ' But I do not wish you to spare me, or be merci-
ful ; on the contrary, the best service yon can now render me,
is to scoff and laugh at me to your heart's content I will
eren give yon fresh subject for mirth, by confessing that poor
Medway himself could not have fallen more desperately and
irretrievably in love, or become more extravagantly infatuated
than I have been ever since that unlucky evening at the fisher-
man's cottage! You see in me, Leonora, a contemptible
spoony, whose chief employment of late has been to prowl
about by day, in order to catch an occasional glimpse of your
grey silk dress, and to wander before the forest-house by night,
for the still rarer, and less satisfactory vision, of a shadow
passing occasionally across the muslin curtain of a dimly- *
lighted window ! '
What effect this speech produced on Nora, Torp had not
time to ascertain, for at that moment he heard his name loudly
called.
'Waldemar!' he exclaimed, rising from his lowly seat, *
' what has brought him here to-day f '
Waldemar, already close to them, was quite prepared to
answer this question. He had been out hunting since day- i
break, and breakfasted at St. Hubert's, heard there, by chance,
of the party about to assemble at the miller's alp, and had
N
quits! 207
crossed the Rocky Horn, in order to rctam to the village in
the exhilarating society of his friend and Mees Nora, if she
would permit it I
He sat down deliberately in the place previously occupied
by Torp, and while filling a. glass with water, and informing
the latter that St. Benedict's would soon be the scene of fes-
tivities, such as had never been dreamed of within its monastic
precincts, his eyes were fixed on Nora, with the thoughtful,
studious, keea, yet by no means offensive, artistic stare, that
had in a manner become habitual to him. She did not move
until the well-known sketch-book was drawn from his pocket,
and he entreated, ' For the sake of all the nymphs that ever
guarded fountains, rest on that rock for ten minutes longer,
Mees Nora ; I would give anything for your head, with that
green chaplet^ and such wondrous light as we have here at
this moment I'
' I cannot sit for my picture just now, ' she replied, rising,
' for by this time my guests are probably waiting for me at
the hut.' Then throwing the much-admired chaplet on tho
ground, and taking her hat from Rosel, she placed the latter
carelessly on her head, and began a descent to the alp.
Waldemar sprang after her, and Torp was left alone, be-
side the fountain. He looked after them as long as they were
within sight, then resumed his seat, raised Nora's chaplet
from the ground, and, while holding it in his hand, fell into
a reverie of the most absorbing description. More than half
an hour elapsed before he roused himself, as if from a deep
sleep, and perceived that he had unconsciously encircled his
wrists with the beech-leaf chain, as if he had intended to try
its strength. He smiled somewhat grimly, as the fragile
fetter yielded to the first slight movement of his hands ; but
the force he afterwards employed to fling it far away among
the moss-covered rocks above the spring, must have received
an impetus from some peculiarly iiritating thought, for it was
sufficient to have hurled to a much greater distance a stone
i)f no common weight or dimensions.
( JI. IS
208 PASTORAL PLXASURXS.
CHAPTER XV.
PASTORAL PLEASURES.
Meantime Nora met Michael coming towards the sprinj^,
to inform her that * the old gentleman and the young lady
were at the alp, and that the miller's daughter was with
them, and was making coffee for them.' She hurried for-
ward, and found her uncle, a good deal over-heated and
tired, sitting on the bench outside the hut, while the flounces
of Georgina's dress completely filled up the adjacent door*
way, which formed a very rustic frame to so fashionable a
figure.
* Nora,' began Mr. Nixon, * the gravel-walk thus talked
of was not what we expected. Georgy stuck in the mud,
and stumbled on the rocks '
' Oh, never mind Georgy,' said Nora ; * I was only afraid
the excursion would be too much for you. Don't you think
you had better sit inside the hut for a little while, that yoa
may not catch cold f '
'The kitchen smokes/ said Mr. Nixon, 'and the draught
inside is more likely to give a cold than preserve one from it.
This is no doubt a very picturesque and pleasant sort of
place for people of a poetical turn of mind, Nora ; bat give
me English gravel-walks, and English shrubberies, and,
above all, an English dairy 1 The girl there without stock-
ings brought me a roll of butter, weighing at least six pounds,
and a loaf of bread as black as my boots, to stay my stomach
nntil the coffee was made. '
*I am glad you came here of your own accord,' said Nora,
as she began to unpack Michael's bag of provisions, and
FABTOEAL PLZAStlBIS. S09
placed ita contents on the bench beside him. ' The enjoy-
ment of excnrsions rf this description fs onlj to be acquired
by degrees ; and I am afraid yon feel the discomforts, wfth-
OQt having become conscions of the beanties of scenery that
recompense most people for the toil of mailing their way to
each a place as this. '
Well, BB to the beauties yon talk of,' said Mr. Nixon,
testily, ' I think the higher we got, the less we saw of them.
At first we passed some whitewashed eottflges, that looked
astonighingly clean and comfortable, and with apple and dam-
son trees in the orchards, about tUem, so overloaded with
frait that the branches were propped np in all directions^
rery credititable trees indeed I was sarprised to see them.
Then we got npon a path covered with large stones I tell
yon, Nora each as big as a man's fist, and so round, that
there was no such thing as walking on them without assist-
ance. I took the arm of the fellow yon engaged to guide ns,
and Oeorgy was right glad to cling to the miller's daaghter
^ao uncommon handsome girl, that Madeleine Miller, or
Miller Madeleine, as they call her, and fall of fun, too had
her jokes all the way up the monntain with our man I
conld'nt understand a word she said, nor Georgy either
stupid of Oeorgy, after all the lessons she has had fhim the
captain. '
'Very stupid,' acquiesced Nora, not in the least knowing
what he had said, and thinking only of the knives and forks,
that she had just discovered had been forgotten. Waldemar
instantly perceived her embarrassment, and suddenly appeared
BO interested in Mr. Kixon's recital, that the latter turned
completely to him, and continoed
' Well, sir, this path brought ns along one of yonr moun-
tain streams rocks, sir nothing but rocks, and pools of
remarkably green water-they say that trout are to be found
in tbcm, to the weight of half a pound or more, but I hadn t
my rod. that is. the capUin's_so we only stopped occa-
208 PASTORAL PLXASURXS.
CHAPTER XV.
PASTORAL PLEASURES.
Meantime Nora met Michael coming towards the spring,
to inform her that ' the old gentleman and the young lady
were at the alp, and that the miller's daughter was with
them, and was making coffee for them.' She hurried for-
ward, and found her uncle, a good deal over-heated and
tired, sitting on the bench outside the hut, while the flounces
of Georgina's dress completely filled up the adjacent door*
way, which formed a very rustic frame to so fashionable a
figure.
'Nora,' began Mr. Nixon, 'the gravel-walk thus talked
of was not what we expected. Georgy stuck in the mud,
and stumbled on the rocks '
' Oh, never mind Georgy, ' said Nora ; * I was only afraid
the excursion would be too much for you. Don't you think
you had better sit inside the hut for a little while, that yoa
may not catch cold f '
' The kitchen smokes, ' said Mr. Nixon, ' and the draught
inside is more likely to give a cold than preserve one from it.
This is no doubt a very picturesque and pleasant sort of
place for people of a poetical turn of mind, Nora ; but gire
me English gravel-walks, and English shrubberies, and,
above all, an English dairy I The girl there without stock-
ings brought me a roll of butter, weighing at least six pounds,
and a loaf of bread as black as my boots, to stay my stomach
until the coffee was made. '
* I am glad you came here of your own accord,' said Nora,
as she began to unpack Michael's bag of provisious, and
PASTOBAL PLKABUKES. 809
placed its contentB on the bench beside him. ' The enjoy-
-tnent of excDrsions of this description is only to be acquired
by degrees ; uid I sm afraid yoa feel the discomforts, vith-
oat having become conacions of the beauties of Ecenerj that
recompeme most people for the toil of making their way to
such a place as this. '
'Well, as to the beauties yon talk of,' said Sfr. Nixoo,
testily, ' I think the higher we got, the less we saw of them.
At first we passed some whitewashed cottngcs, that looked
aatonishingly clean and comfortable, and with apple aod dam-
son trees in the orchards, about them, so overloaded with
fniit that the branches were propped np in all directions
very credititable trees indeed I was surprised to see them.
Then we got upon a path covered with large stones I tell
yon, Nora each as big as a man's fist, and so round, that
there was no sach thing as walking on them withont assist-
ance. I took the arm of the fellow you engaged to gnide us,
and Georgy was right glad te cling to the miller's daughter
an DDCommon handsome girl, that Madeleine Miller, or
Miller Madeleine, as they call her, and full of fan, too had
her jokes all the way up the mountain with onr man I
conld'ot understand a word she said, nor Geo^y either
stupid of Georgy, alter all the lessons she has had from the
captain. '
'Tery stupid,' acquiesced ^ora, not in the least knowing
what he had said, aud thinking only of the knives and forks,
that she had just discovered had been forgotten. Waldemar
instantly perceived her embarrassment, and suddenly appeared
so interested in Mr. Nison's recital, that the latter tamed
completely to him, and continued
' Well, sir, this path brought as along one of yoor moan-
tain streams rocks, sir nothing but rocks, and pools of
remarkably green water they say that trout are to be fonnd
in them, to the weight of half a pound or more, but I hadn't
my rod, that is, the captain's so we only stopped occa-
18*
208 PABTOBAL PLXA8UBXS.
CHAPTER XV.
PASTOBAL PLEA8UBES.
Meantime Nora met Michael coming towards the spring,
to inform her that ' the old gentleman and the young lady
were at the alp, and that the miller's daughter was with
them, and was making coffee for them.* She hnrried for-
ward, and fonnd her uncle, a good deal over-heated and
tired, sitting on the bench ontside the hut, while the flounces
of Georgina's dress completely filled np the adjacent door*
way, which formed a very rustic frame to so fashionable a
figure.
* Nora/ began Mr. Nixon, * the grayel-walk thus talked
of was not what we expected. Georgy stuck in the mud,
and stumbled on the rocks '
' Oh, never mind Georgy, ' said Nora ; ' I was only afraid
the excursion would be too much for you. Don't you think
you had better sit inside the hut for a little while, that yoa
may not catch cold f '
' The kitchen smokes,' said Mr. Nixon, * and the draught
inside is more likely to give a cold than preserve one from it
This is no doubt a very picturesque and pleasant sort of
place for people of a poetical turn of mind, Nora ; but gire
me English gravel-walks, and English shrubberies, and,
above all, an English dairy I The girl there without stock-
ings brought me a roll of butter, weighing at least six pounds,
and a loaf of bread as black as my boots, to stay my stomach
until the coffee was made. '
* I am glad you came here of your own accord,' said Nora,
aa she began to unpack Michael's bag of provisious, and
FABTOBAL FLXABUBIB. 809
placed its contents od the bencb beside bim. ' The enjoy-
-ment of escnnionB of thia description is only to be acquired
bj degrees ; nd I am afraid joa feel the discomforts, with-
out haling become conscions of the beaatiea of Ecenery that
recompense most people for the toil of mailing their waj to
EQch a place as this.'
'Well, as to the beauties you talk of,' said Mr. Nixon,
testily, ' I think the higher we got, the less we saw of them.
At first we passed some whitewashed cottages, that looked
astODishinglf clean and comfortable, and with apple and dam*
son trees in the orchards, about them, so overloaded with
fraitth&t the branches were propped up in all directions
Tery credititabic trees indeed I was snrprised to see them.
Then we got upon a path covered with lai^e stones I tell
yOD, Nora each as big as a man's fist, and so round, that
there was no such thing as walking on them witbont assist-
ance. I took the arm of the fellow you engaged to guide ns,
and Oeorgy was right glad to cling to the miller's danghter
-an uncommon handsome girl, that Madeleine Miller, or
Miller Madeleine, as they call her, and full of fun, too had
ber jokes all the way np the mountain with our man I
conld'ut understand a word she said, nor Oeorgy either
stDpid of Oeorgy, after all the lessons she has had from the
captain. '
' Yery stupid,' acquiesced Nora, not in the least knowing
what he had said, and thinking only of the kniTes and forks,
tiiat she had just discorered had been forgotten. Waldemar
instantly perceived her embarrassment, and suddenly appeared
so interested in Mr. Nixon's recital, that the latter tnmed
completely to him, and continued
' Well, sir, thin path brought us along one of your moun-
tain streams rocks, sir nothing but rocks, and pools of
remarkably green water they say tliat trout are to be foond
in them, to the weight of half a pound or more, bnt I hadn't
my rod, that is, the captain's bo we only stopped occs-
18*
208 PASTORAL PLEA8UBXS.
CHAPTBE XV.
PASTORAL PLEASURES.
Meantime Nora met Michael coming towards the spriniif,
to Inform her that ' the old gentleman and the young ladj
were at the alp, and that the miller's daughter was with
them, and was making coffee for them.' She harried for-
ward, and fonnd her nncle, a good deal over-heated and
tired, sitting on the bench outside the hut, while the flounces
of Georgina's dress completely filled up the adjacent door-
way, which formed a very rustic frame to so fashionable a
figure.
'Nora,' began Mr. Nixon, 'the grarel-walk thus talked
of was not what we expected. Georgy stuck in the mud,
and stumbled on the rocks '
' Oh, never mind Georgy, ' said Nora ; ' I was only afraid
the excursion would be too much for you. Don't you think
you had better sit inside the hut for a little while, that yoo
may not catch cold V
' The kitchen smokes,' said Mr. Nixon, 'and the draught
inside is more likely to give a cold than preserve one from it
This is no doubt a very picturesque and pleasant sort of
place for people of a poetical turn of mind, Nora ; but giro
me English gravel-walks, and English shrubberies, and,
above all, an English dairy I The girl there without stock-
ings brought me a roll of butter, weighing at least six pounds,
and a loaf of bread as black as my boots, to stay my stomach
until the coffee was made. '
'I am glad you came here of your own accord,' said Nora,
as she began to unpack Michael's bag of provisions, and
7ABT0BAL PLtABUaxs. SOU
placed its contents on tbe bench beside him. ' The enjoy-
-ment of excorsions of this description is only to be acquired
by degrees ; and I am afraid yon feel tbe discomforts, with-
ODt having become conscioQS of tbe beauties of scenery that
recompense most people for the toil of making their way to
Each a place as this.'
'Well, as to the beauties yon talk of,' said Mr. Nixon,
testily, ' 1 think the higher we got, the less we saw of them.
At Grst we passed some whitewashed cottnges, that looked
astonishingly clean and comfortable, and with apple and dam-
son trees in the orchards, about them, so overloaded with
fruit that the branches were propped up in all directions
very credititable trees indeed I was surprised to see them.
Then we got upon a path coTcred with large stones I tell
yon, Nora each as big as a man's Est, and so round, that
there was no such thing as walking on them witbont assist-
ance. I took the arm of the fellow yon engaged to gnide na,
and Georgy was right glad to cliug to the miller's danghter
_an nncommon handsome girl, that Madeleine Miller, or
Miller Madeleine, as they call ber, and full of fun, too had
ber jokes all the way np the mountain with oar man I
coDld'ot understand a word she said, nor Qeorgy either
stnpid of Oeorgy, after all the lessons she has had from tbe
captain. '
' Very stnpid, ' acquiesced Nora, not in the least knowing
what he had said, and thinking only of the knires and forks,
that she had just discoTcred had been forgotten. Waldemar
instantly perceived her embarrassment, and suddenly appeared
BO interested in Mr. Nixon's recital, that the latter turned
completely to him, and continacd
' Well, sir, this path brought as along one of your moun-
tain streams rocks, sir nothing but rocks, and pools of
remarkably green water they say that trout are to be foaud
in them, to the weight of half a pound or more, but I hadn't
my rod, that is, the captain's so we only stopped occ&-
18*
208 PASTORAL PLEA8UBXS.
CHAPTBE XV.
PASTORAL PLEABXTBE8.
Meantime Nora met Michael coming towards the sprinpf,
to inform her that ' the old gentleman and the jonng ladj
were at the alp, and that the miller's daughter was with
them, and was making coffee for them.* She harried for-
ward, and fonnd her uncle, a good deal over-heated and
tired, sitting on the bench ontside the hut, while the flounces
of Georgina's dress completely filled up the adjacent door
waj, which formed a very rustic frame to so fashionable a
figure.
'Nora,' began Mr. Nixon, 'the grarel-walk thus talked
of was not what we expected. Georgy stuck in the mud,
and stumbled on the rocks '
' Oh, never mind Georgy, ' said Nora ; * I was only afraid
the excursion would be too much for you. Don't you think
yon bad better sit inside the hut for a little while, that yoa
may not catch cold V
* The kitchen smokes,' said Mr. Nixon, ' and the draught
inside is more likely to give a cold than preserve one from it
This is no doubt a very picturesque and pleasant sort of
place for people of a poetical turn of mind, Nora ; but give
me English gravel-walks, and English shrubberies, and,
above all, an English dairy I The girl there without stock-
ings brought me a roll of butter, weighing at least six pounds,
and a loaf of bread as black as my boots, to stay my stomach
until the coffee was made. '
*I am glad you came here of your own accord,' said Nora*
as she began to unpack Michael's bag of provisions, and
PASTORAL PLXA8UBX8. 809
placed its contents on the bench beside him. ' The enjoy-
ment of excursions of this description is only to be acquired
by degrees ; and I am afraid yon feel the discomforts, with-
out haying become conscious of the beauties of scenery that
recompense most people for the toil of making their way to
snch a place as this.'
'Welly as to the beauties yon talk of,' said Mr. Nixon,
testily, ' I think the higher we got, the less we saw of them.
At first we passed some whitewashed cottages, that looked
astonishingly clean and comfortable, and with apple and dam-
son trees in the orchards, about them, so overloaded with
fmit that the branches were propped up in all directions -
very credititable trees indeed I was surprised to see them.
Then we got upon a path covered with large stones I tell
yon, Nora each as big as a man's fist, and so round, that
there was no such thing as walking on them withont assist-
ance. I took the arm of the fellow yon engaged to guide us,
and Georgy was right glad te cling to the miller's daughter
an uncommon handsome girl, that Madeleine Miller, or
Miller Madeleine, as they call her, and full of fun, too had
her jokes all the way up the mountain with our man I
could'nt understand a word she said, nor Oeorgy either -
stupid of Oeorgy, after all the lessons she has had from the
captain. '
' Yery stupid, ' acquiesced Nora, not in the least knowing
what he had said, and thinking only of the knives and forks,
that she had just discovered had been forgotten. Waldemar
instantly perceived her embarrassment, and suddenly appeared
BO interested in Mr. Nixon's recital, that the latter turned
completely to him, and continued
' Well, sir, this path brought us along one of your moun-
tain streams rocks, sir nothing but rocks, and pools of
remarkably green water they say that trout are to be found
in them, to the weight of half a pound or more, but I hadn't
my rod, that is, the captain's so we only stopped occa-
18*
BIO PASTORAL PLEASURES.
sionallj to rest. It was an exceedingly wild, ancultiyated
place, altogether, nothing bat stone, and water, and woods,*
without end ; I could not help thinking it would be better if
the land about here were more cnltiyated but I don't ven-
ture to give an opinion, as I understand too little of such
matters. We manage these things differently in England,
however, and I only wish you could hear one of our agricul-
turists talk !'
' I am sure I should be very happy to do so,' answered
Waldemar.
'Everything seems to me on so small a scale here,' con-
tinued Mr. Nixon, waving his hand ; ' for instance, this daiiy
here what's a couple of firkins of butter, and thirty or forty
cheese V
'Yery true,' said Waldemar, 'but it is enough for the
miller's family and workmen, and I have even heard that they
sell cheese and butter occasionally.'
' Now, our farmers ' began Mr. Nixon.
* Excuse me, said Waldemar ; ' the miller is not a farmer,
he is a proprietor, and so are all the peasants about here.
They have had the right of pasturage, and been in possession
of their land, for upwards of three hundred years. '
' Bless me I ' cried Mr. Nixon, suddenly struck with respect
for the peasant proprietors, ' quite what we call old families
in England I '
'Quite respectable,' said Waldemar, laughing, 'that is
the English word for it, I believe ; but they are not what yon
call rich, quite the contrary ; in fact, having only just enough
to live upon, and supplying themselves with clothes, and a
few luxuries, by the sale of overplus cattle, butter, or cheese,
and in the mountain districts by charcoal-burning and forest
work. '
'But aw,' said Mr. Nixon, 'in England we shonld
have roads through our forests, and here, what they call a
wood-path is sometimes like a flight of steps in the rocks, or
PASTORAL PLSAStlRJSS. 211
a mere clearance of trees, where one sinks ankle-deep in mud,
or stumbles over projecting roots, or, worse than all, when
a road is formed by the trunks of trees laid side by side.'
* That is only when there are springs,' observed Waldemar.
* That's the reason they were so slippery,' cried Mr. Nix-
on, ' and either covered with green and brown slimy plants,
or else the bark had peeled off, so that it was almost im-
possible to walk on them. I am convinced that no horse *
*No horse ever trod them,' said Waldemar; 'they are
only used for sledging in winter.'
Nora left them just as he began an explanation which she
foresaw would give him some trouble, as there were no
English words for many of the commonest expressions of the
foresters. His endeavors to make himself intelligible would
have amused her at any other time, but she was not at all
disposed to be amused just then, she wished to be alone^
and feared that hours must elapse before she could hope for
undisturbed solitude. In the kitchen she found Madeleine
jesting and laughing with the two guides, and, less charitably
disposed than usual, she condemned her as a heartless co-
quette, not worthy the commiseration she had felt for her, or
the regard of such a man as the forester's son.
Nora was unusually severe in her judgment on this occa*
fiion. She was not quite satisfied with herself, consequently,
more than usually disposed to find fault with others. The
momentary triumph she had felt in showing Torp her indif-
ference to himself, his rank, fortune, and family, had passed
away, and given place to the conviction that she never had
been, and never would be so devotedly and disinterestedly
loved as by him, and that she had thrown away the only and
very singular chance that was now ever likely to present
itself, of being chosen for herseff alone. She had little doubt
that she might have refused his proposal, and at the same
time have secured him as a friend, and regretted the few
213 PASTORAL PLEASUBES.
bitter ironical words that had perhaps made him her enemy
for life.
As soon as Georgina had perceived Waldemar advancing
towards the hut with Nora, she had retreated to the senne-
rin's little slecping-room, in order to arrange her hair and
dress, for she was one of those, women whose anxiety to
please, and desire for the admiration of men, is insatiable.
Never for one moment did she forget herself, or her appear-
ance, or cease to watch the impression she made on those
around her, qnite unconscious of the sacrifice of time, thought,
and comfort she was making for most thankless observers,
and the actnal loss of pleasure and perhaps profit, incurred
by not bestowing her attention on others. She called Nora,
and saw with wonder that her dress was looped up by an
India-rubber girdle, so as to display, without reserve, a pair
of thick-soled leather boots, made by the village shoemaker ;
while her straw hat, anything but improved in form by the
various rents made in it, and the branches of trees with which
it had lately come in contact, was pressed down on her fore-
head in a manner that proved how little her personal appear-
ance occupied her mind.
' Well, Nora I ' she exclaimed, * I never saw such a figure
as you ha-ve made yourself 1 I declare if you had not got
such a lovely color from your walk, you would not be fit to
be looked at. For my part, I'm so excessively tired and
heated, and, as you see, so dreadfully flushed, that I cannot
think of showfng myself to Count Waldemar I It is incom-
prehensible to me what pleasure you can find in trudging
through mud, and stumbling over stones to* places such as
this ! '
* A few years hence you will think and speak differently,'
said Nora.
'Oh, never I I have no objection to these mountains
rather like them, in fact, for scenery but they should be
viewed from their bases or at a distance.'
PASTORAL PLEABUBSS. 213
' Wait antil joa have resided some time at St. 'Benedict's/
said Nora, ' and when I come to see you here you will be as
proud of joor alps and mountains as I could desire, and will
force eTcrj one to visit them who visits you. '
Georgina shook her head, and began to toss about the
clothes of the sennerin, which were placed on a shelf behind
the door.
'Why are you crumpling the poor girl's Sunday dress ?'
asked Nora.
' I am looking for a a oh, here it is I ' and she pulled
forth a few inches square of looking-glass, backed and framed
with paper, that appeared to have already been in service on
the walls of a room, and having placed it against the window,
began to arrange her hair.
' You iiave completely spoiled the folds of the apron,' said
Nora, vainly endeavoring to set to rights the humble habili-
ments.
'No great matter,' said Georgina, 'if it belong to that
creature who looks like a man in petticoats. The bodice
lying there beneath the apron would fit a heavy dragoon.
Such a waist as that girl's, and such feet, I never beheld : it
is worth your while to go to the cow-house to look at her, as
a matter of curiosity.'
'I am going there at all events,' said Nora, 'as I intend
to purchase some of the cows. '
'I perceive,' continued Georgina, 'that Captain Falkner
was jesting when he talked of the pleasures of an alpine party.'
' Not at all, ' said Nora, ' I am sure he was serious. '
'He tried to look so, at all events,' rejoined Georgina,
' and made me suppose I should see a miniature Swiss chalet,
where I have found a smoky cabin and find a picturesque,
ideal-looking girl in a smart costume, ready to offer glasses
of thick cream and pats of fresh butter to everybody ^instead
of which a female grenadier came to welcome us, and after-
wards stalked about with her bare legs, and but very slightly
214 PASTORAL PLEABUBBB.
prolonged kilt, carrying a calf as if it were a baby, and slap-
ping and fondling her cows and bulls as if they were children !
And then, Nora, this Bam des Vaches this yoddal or yoodel,
or whatever they call it is something very trying to the
nerves something between a yell and a screech I think
and perfectly stunning. '
' Captain Falkner will not like to hear yon talk in this
way, * said Nora, smiling ; ' remember his father is a Bavarian
Highlander, and his mother a Tyrolean. '
' I can't admire this yoodel,' replied Georgina, ' and must
say the whooping and hallooing of our guide and the miller's
daughter, as we came up the mountain, was perfectly deafen-
ing, though they evidently thought they were making them^
selves particularly agreeable to us.'
'I have no doubt of it,' said Nora, 'especially if there
were an echo. '
' They were frequently answered,' said Oeorgina, ' and quite
distinctly, by people at a great distance, whom we could not
see. '
'And you found nothing pleasant nothing exhilarating
in that ? '
' Not particularly ^the distant shouts were less disagreeable,
certainly, and to the echoes I should not have objected, if the
piercing sounds that roused them had not their origin so close
to my ears. '
Nora opened the door into the kitchen, and they saw the
guides sitting on the side of the hearth, eating brown bread
and milk from a yellow earthen pan placed between them.
As they looked up and exhibited their moustaches, deeply
fringed with cream, Nora gravely, in the Oerman fashion,
wished them a 'good appetite,' and was ceremoniously
thanked by them in return, before she entered the cow-house,
the door into which was open to admit of a conversation
being carried on between the miller's daughter and the sen-
nerin
PASTORAL PLEA8TTBB8. 215
The cattle had retarned to the hat for shade dnring the
heat at noon, and were now lying on the groand rnminating,
while a coople of goats trotted about restlessly, and with the
familiarity for which they are remarkable, immediately ap-
proached Nora, and commenced nibbling the flowers and
grasses she had collected with some tronble daring her pas-
sage over the Rocky Horn She was unconscioas of their
depredations, anobserrant of the occapation of the sennerin,
nnheedful of the load dialogue carried on so close to her,
although she stood between the speakers; for she was in
thought once more at the spring, and Torp was again telling
her how he had wandered about the inn and forest-honse, by
day and night, and how, in spite of all she could say, he loved
her. And she wished that Walderoar had not interrupted
them, and that she had had time to remove the unpleasant
impression which her last speech must have made on him.
The audacity of the goats at length attracted her attention,
for one of them had mounted on some wood piled up near
her, and was, with unparalleled impudence, tearing the floral
decorations from her hat, so that, in order to put it, and her-
self, out of reach, she walked through the cowhouse to the
entrance used by the cattle, and, having opened the door,
began to meditate a visit to one of the other huts. That
which belonged to a Tyrolean was separated from the miller's
by a sort of gap or chasm in the mountain, apparently more
wide than deep, for in it the roof of a third ch&let was
visible. The huts were, however, unusually far apart ; and
had not Nora had a remarkably good sight, she would not
have been able to recognise Torp, as he stood at the door of
the most distant one, with the sennerin, and moved his arms
as if asking the names of the mountains around them so, at
least, she at first supposed ; but she soon after came to the
conclusion that he had been trying to find out a way to the
village which would not oblige him to pass the hut then
occupied by her and her relations, for he advanced a short .
216 PASTORAL PLEA8UBS8.
^i^y stopped seemed to speak to the woman, who, shadiDg
her eyes from the sun with one arm, pointed with the other to
the ravine, and a moment after Nora saw him spring down
the rocks and disappear.
' He is offended deeply offended,' she thought, ' and not
altogether withont reason. Tet I do believe I shonld have
had more forbearance, or, at least, been less Tindictive, had
he not provoked me beyond endurance, by looking so proudly
confident. After all, I was not so much to blame, and there
is no use in thinking any more about the matter. '
But she did think of it, and of him, so incessantly, that
her recollections of what afterwards occurred that day on the
alp were never very clear. She remembered that Captain
Falkner had joined them, that Qeorgina's discontent had
vanished with marvellous celerity, so that she had laughed
and enjoyed everything, especially her father's dismay, when
he had been obliged to drink his coffee out of something re-
sembling a slop-basin. She also recollected that her uncle
had monopolized Waldemar, and, with what he considered
British frankness, had informed him that in England people
considered most of the German nobility little better than
tinkers and tailors, notwithstanding their stunning genea-
logies, and that, for his part, withont boasting, he believed
he could say there were few counts or barons that he could
not buy * out-and-out. '
' Provided they chose to sell,' had been Waldemar 's reply,
and his forbearance had only increased Nora's annoyance.
In short, the erents of the day had made an unpleasant
impression on her, that remained even after she returned to
the village, and induced her to refuse to take any part in the
introductions and visitings which immediately commenced
between the Falkner and Nixon family.
It was on this evening that the long-expected tombstone
arrived from Munich, and was placed in the churchyard to
^be ready for erection the ensuing day. Mr. Nixon and Geor-
PABTOBAL PLXA8UBE8. 21)
gioa had neither time nor inclination to inspect it, they
were snre it was * all right,' were very glad of its arrival,
as they wonld noW be at liberty to leave or stay at the village
as they pleased, they hoped Nora wonld accept the invita-
tion to dine at St. Benedict's the next day she snrely did
not intend to spend the whole of it in the churchyard 1
Yes; such was Nora's intention, and so absorbing the in-
terest she felt on the occasion, that she did not even turn
round, the ensuing day, when the carriage containing Walde
mar's family passed, at no great distance, on the road to St.
Benedict's. There was also a second carriage, in which she
might have seen the friend of her childhood, the Countess
Schaumberg ; bnt Nora had no thoughts just then beyond
the marble monument, beside which she had taken her post.
Even late in the afternoon, after the workmen had left the
churchyard, she lingered at the gate, waiting for the wreath
of dahlias and the festoons of ivy that Bosel was to bring
her, and with which she intended to decorate the tombstone,
for the first time, with her own hands.
And Rosel came, and the wreath was carefully deposited
on some sculptured ornaments that seemed to have been made
for the purpose, as Arthur had himself observed ; the festoons
were afterwards arranged, and then they withdrew to a little
distance to judge of the effect.
' The tombstone is handsome, but very simple, ' said Nora,
musingly. * Had he not chosen it himself I should hardly
have been satisfied with it, although a more ornamented one
wonld perhaps be misplaced in a village churchyard like this.'
' That's true,' said Eosel, eagerly ; ' it is the handsomest
here, and with the fresh wreath that shall never fail, it will
attract everybody's attention, and will show that Aewas
honored who lies beneath the sod, and that his grave is cared
for, as the graves of those we have loved in life should be.'
The workmen had trampled the grass away, and scattered
stones and gravel round the tombstone.
218 TBEAtB OF DIEFERENT
'We mnst get fresh earth, Bosel,' said Nora, 'and some
plants that will look well on All Saints' Daj. I beliere I
should like a border of those dark-colored . pens^es that yoa
have in yoar garden and some violets I think I am sure
he most hare liked violets. '
CHAPTER XVI.
TREATS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE.
Nora waited at the inn to see her uncle and Gteorgina, on
their return from St. Benedict's. 'Well, Nora,' exclaimed
the latter, ' who do you suppose Mr. Torp turns out to be f
No less a person than Lord Medway I What do you think
of that V V
' Nothing,' answered Nora: 'he told me so himself, the day
before yesterday.'
'And this tombstone, of course, made you forget all about
it I Did he condescend to acknowledge your relationship f '
'After a manner yes,' replied Nora.
' To us he was grandly polite, but had evidently not for-
gotten our remarks in the garden. He made no inquiries
about you, though people spoke both of you and your tomb-
stone, at dinner, as the cause, they called it the fortunate
cause, of our coming to, and remaining in the village.'
' I suppose you were introduced to the Countess Schanm*
berg V said Nora.
' Yes ; she came just before dinner, but found time to make
a most elaborate toilet. His lordship seemed rather on flirt-
ing terms with her, but Captain Falkner told me they are old
Yienna acquaintances, and that she is, in fact, attached to
Count Waldemar, to whom her husband was related, and who
is guardian to her little daughter.'
KINDS OF LOVB. 219
' Did yon not think her very beautifal f ' asked Nora.
' Not exactly, bat she is handsome, and graceful, and
dresses well, and is decidedly a very fashionable personage
Captain Falkner told me she is the best shot at a target, and
the keenest sportswoman he ever saw, and I beard her myself
talking of duck-shooting to Lord Medway and Count Wal-
demar. ' '
'And her child V asked Nora.
'A little fair-haired doll, that speaks better French than
Qerman, and shows her affection for Count Waldemar in the
most open manner. But I thought, Nora, you would be
more anxious to hear of my future relatives than these people.'
' Of course I expect to hear all about them too,' said Nora.
* The general you have seen,' continued Georgina, ' he is
charming. I like him almost as well as Ernst that is Cap-
tain Falkner, you know.' ^
* No, I did not know it,' said Nora, laughing, ' but go on.'
' Madame de Falkner is rather proud, I suspect ; she is
related to the Benndorffs, and through them to the Sohaum-
bergs : they are all second or third cousins to each other.'
* I consider that scarcely a relationship, ' observed Nora.
' They think otherwise, ' said Georgina ; * and it was pleas-
ant to see them so intimate and friendly with each other,
though it made papa and me feel rather isolated.'
'My uncle must have felt so, at all events,' said Nora.
' How did he contrive to make himself understood by people
who probably only spoke French or German ?'
' Some of them spoke a little English, and Ernst was very
attentive, and acted as interpreter between him and the gene-
ral for more than an hour. If Lord Medway had only been
a little more civil, or rather a little less hanghty, we should
have got on famously.'
' Yon surely did not want any notice from him at St. Bene-
dict's I ' said Nora.
' Yes, dear, we should have liked it, and he knew it too,
IT. 19
220 TBXAT8 OF DIVrXESNT
for papa spoke to him across the dinner-table, to show al
least that he knew something of him and his connexions, and
even mentioned that Arthur, whose grave was in the Tillage
chnrchjard, had married into the Med way familj. Bat what
was the nse of all that, nobody understood what papa was
saying, while they all saw the air of cold civility with which
Lord Medway bowed his answers, for he seldom deigned to
speak. Yon know what I mean, Nora 7'
'Perfectly.. It would have been better if my uncle had
taken no notice of him whatever. '
' Perhaps so,' said Georgina ; * but he is evidently a friend
of the Benndorffs, and it seems the Falkners have taken an
immense fancy to him. I heard Ernst's quiet little sister,
Charlotte, calling him *Ce charmant milord ;' and, oh I Nora,
if you had only seen him beside the Countess Schanmberg,
looking so very distingui and handsome, and evidently liked
by every one but ourselves, you would have regretted, as we
did, having neglected the opportunity of making his acquaint-
ance when he was supposed to be only a Mr. Torp.'
*I don't think I should,' said Nora, 'nor need you. He
showeo us too plainly that he did not want to know us ; his
manners remain the same, and the chahge is only in you and
my uncle.'
'Perhaps you are right,' said Oeorgina, thoughtfully.
' Count Waldemar was such a contrast I '
' He always has been,' rejoined Nora.
' I wish he was not likely to be married to that Countess
Schanmberg.'
' Why so ? '
' Because I think he has rather a fancy for yon. The
description he gave of your appearance, as you sat beside
some spring, near the miller's alp, was quite romantic, and
attracted the attention of the conntess, though Lord Medway
was speaking to her, and looking at her in a way, of which
KIN28 OF LOVB. 2^1
your acquaintance with him cannot enable yon to form the
slightest idea. '
'And a I dare say he was .not particalarly pleased at the
interraption,' observed Nora, wishing to hear more, bat un-
willing to ask in direct terms.
' I shoald have thought him downrightly angry he grew
so suddenly red, and afterwards so pale,' she answered; ' but
I must have been mistaken, for when Count Waldemar ap-
pealed to him for corroboration of what he had said, he
declared you were charming at all times, and in all places
at a spring or on an alp, in a wood or on a cart, but most
of all when dressed as a peasant, after having been exposed
for hours to any quantity of hail or rain that could be
imagined ! The countess understood him better than I did,
and said she had heard of all that from Waldemar. I think
someway she supposes you my sister, and Lord Medway did
not take the trouble, or did not choose to explain probably
fearing the necessity of acknowledging a connexion with our
family. I wonder what he will do when you appear with us
to-morrow at St. Benedict's ? '
*I don't mean to go.'
* You must, for my betrothal is to take place, and we are
to see Mademoiselle de Falkner'a trousseau, and there is to
be a ball in the evening, to which all the people in the neigh-
borhood have been invited a week ago.'
* These gaieties, ' observed Nora, * will scarcely give you
time to become acquainted with your future sister-in-law.'
' Time and opportunity enough when we have joined our
regiment,' answered Georgina, laughing. ' The most im-
portant thing to be considered now is onr dress : she has
asked me to be bridesmaid, and I intend to wear white with
blue flowers and ribbons ; white and blue are the Bavarian
colors, yon know so I shall be quite national. But that is
for the wedding, which is to take place the day after to-mor-
row ; at the ball, I think I shall appear in rose colon it
19*
222 TREATS OF DirFXBSNT
becomes me, and looks well at night. I hope yoa intead to
lay aside jonr eternal half-mournings on this occasion. '
'Ask Mrs. Nesbitt what she has got for me,' answered
Nora ; * when I call here on my way into the town to-
morrow morning, yon can let me know the result of your
consultation.' ,
' And what on earth takes you into the town to-morrow
to tire and heat yourself, when yon have a dinner and ball in
prospect ? '
' I wish to complete the purchase of the mill, and have a
deed of gift drawn up, so that I can bestow it on Rosel when-
ever you and my uncle wish to leave the village. I have no
excuse for detaining you here any longer. '
* We shall now have to request you to remain here on our
acQount, ' said Georgina ; * but only until Captain Falkner's
leave expires. He goes with us to Vienna, thence to his
regiment, in order to give me time to collect one of these ex-
tensive German trousseaus, and then '
'And then,' said Nora, 'you will ask me to be bridesmaid.'
'I suppose so,' answered Georgina, smiling; 'and yoa
will be the only one, if that tend to increase the honor and
glory. Had Captain Falkner had time to come to England,
we could have been married in good style, with bridesmaids
and breakfast, whereas, now '
' Now,' said Nora, 'you will be married in a quiet, unos-
tentatious sort of way, that I should think infinitely prefer-
able. '
' There are some people at home I should have liked to
have invited,' said Georgina, pensively ; ' and a tour on the
continent would have been pleasanter than joining a regiment
in country quarters, where one's new dresses are superfluous.'
'Ah I I had forgotten to take the dresses into consideration,'
said Nora.
'I have taken everything into consideration,' continued
KINDS or Lovs. 223
Oeorgina; 'and shall even avoid all nnnecessary delay at
Vienna for the purpose of Can you gaess ? '
-No.'
For the purpose of being married before yonr brother.'
' Georgina I Is it possible that anger or pique has in any
way influenced '
Oh, not at all,' said Georgina, interrupting her; 'but I
confess that I wish to be married before he is ; and rejoice to
think we shall not meet for years if ever. '
' You must have had an odd kind of regard for him, ' ob-
served Nora, musingly.
' Rather say a very common kind,' rejoined Georgina. 'It
was made up of personal admiration, vanity, ambition, and
interest ; and would have borne test as well as that of Lady
Jane's, which is probably of the same nature, with this differ-
ence that I was more grateful for his notice, and more
flattered by his preference, than she can possibly be.'
'It seems to me,' said Nora, 'as if, even ten years age.
Lady Medway intended to make him her son-in-law in the
course of time. He was evidently considered one of the
family,--:- his picture hung up with those of her own children ;
and, even at The Willows, there was Harry's room, and
Harry's cab, and Harry's wherry ! They made me for some
time suppose him a very important person. '
'He has been so to me for many years,' said Georgina;
' but yoD need not tell him so, Nora, there is no necessity
for making him vainer than he is, he would be capable of
supposing I married Captain Falkner in a fit of despair ;
whereas, I am merely glad that he will read of my marriage
in the newspaper before his own takes place he said Christ-
mas to you, did he not ? '
' I believe so, ' said Nora, putting on her hat, as she per-
ceived, from the window, that the forester and his son were
standing at the garden-gate, waiting to accompany her to
224 TBSAT8 OF DIFFEBXNT
the forest-bouse. ' I belieye so ; bat I shoald think it matters
little to you now who or when he marries. '
As Nora stood with Rosel on the balcony of the forest-
house that nighty she was anosually silent, and looked so
intently upwards towards the stars, that the latter, for some
time, supposed her to be praying, and forbore to interrapt
her. It was not nntil the glistening, dark eyes began to
wander along the stream, and towards the road, that Rosel
approached, and said, timidly, ' Miss Nora, Lhave a request
to make a great favor to ask of you. '
* What is it, Rosel ? You are not likely to ask anything
that I ought to refuse. '
' It is hard, very hard, to explain. T am afraid yon will
think me presumptuous, I I cannot dare not say it.'
' Then I have made you fear, more than like me. '
' No, no, I do not fear you I only fear you will think
it unseemly in me, taking it quite for granted that you will
put me in possession of the mountain mill.'
' By no means, Rosel. I am to see the judge, by appoint-
ment, to-morrow, and shall only, as yon requested me, delay
the gift until you have performed your vow in the chapel of
St. Hubert's. If you wish to be in possession sooner, you
hare but to say so.'
'On no account, dear Miss Nora on no account,' cried
Rosel, eagerly ; ' nothing was further from my thoughts than
that -^ I meant quite the contrary.'
You must speak more intelligibly, Rosel, if you expect
me to understand you. '
' I will I will tell you everything. Miss Nora : my father
said yesterday, that the the wild hunters had been cot
again.'
'When? where?' cried Nora, anxiously.
* On the frontiers not far from the miller's alp.'
'And your father ? ' said Nora.
' Was out last night. Miss Nora ; but they had gone back
KiNi8 ojr liOvi. S26
into Tyrol. He came home by the alp to see if Seppel were
there.*
'And found him at work, I hope 7'
' Yes, bat he said, if it had been a Saturday, and Sep-
pel free, he would not easily have been persuaded that he
had not been out for an hour or so. Now, Miss Nora, the
wild hunters may cross the frontiers of a Saturday or Sun-
day night, and Seppel may be again suspected.'
'That is,' said Nora, 'yon cannot quite trust him, and
think he may be led into temptation where he now is. '
' Not so,' cried Bosel ; ' he was not on the wild alp that
unlucky morning.'
Nora drummed a little on the balustrade of the balcony.
' He was no, ' persisted Rosel, ' he swore he was not, and
I believe him ; neither will he join them now. But we have
seen the consequences of his being suspected and not being
able to clear himself; and that may happen again while he is
going to or coming from the forest. I heard my father say,
that if I were once in possession of the mill, and Seppel got
into trouble again, he'd refuse his consent to our marriage;
and he'd do it. Miss Nora, so great is his hatred of a wild-
Bchuetz he'd do it, if he were on his death-bed, and refuse
his blessing, too, if I did not promise to give up Seppel for
ever and what would the mill be to me without him f Oh,
Miss Nora,' she added, passionately, ' give the mill to Sep-
pel put him in possession, and yon will indeed secure our
happiness.'
I understand you,' said Nora; 'you think your father
less likely to entertain suspicions of Seppel the miller, than
Seppel the wood-cleaver, and perhaps you are right it is
the way of the world ; but it is not worldly-wise of yon,
Bosel, to resign everything to a man who is, as yet, nothing
to you.'
' Nothing to me 1 ' exclaimed Rosel, ' he is everything to
me, and will not all that is his be mine f '
826 TEXAT8 OF DfYFXBBNT
' It ought to be,' said Nora, ' especially every bit of bia
heart. '
'Has been mine tiine oat of mind,' cried Rosel, confi-
dently. ' Dear Miss Nora, I see you understand me, and
will grant my request.'
'Of course,' answered Nora, 'I shall do what you tell
me wUl best secure your happiness. '
'And,' continued Rosel, 'all this may as well remain a
secret between us, until we have been to the chapel at St
Hubert's.'
'As you please.'
' My father might be angry with me, if he knew ' began
Bosel.
'Very possibly,' said Nora, ' but he cannot dictate to me,
and I shall do what you wish. '
'Thank you, oh, thank you, cried Rosel. 'Be assured
that I shall never cease to pray for you, night and morning,
as long as I live I '
'Do so,' said Nora, eztehdiug her hand, 'and begin at
once. Good night I '
How implicitly she trusts him how thoroughly she iden-
tifies her welfare with his, thought Nora. This is love,
genuine love, and not a compound of admiration, vanity,
and interest, such as Georgina described. I wish I were
quite convinced that this Seppel were worthy of her ; but,
after all, if she think him so, and continue as blind to his
failings as hitherto, it is pretty much the same thing as far
as she is concerned. I am not even quite sure that she does
not like his very faults ; she does not love him less for having
been a wild fellow, and a wild hunter.
Nora entered her room, lit a candle, sat down beside the
deal table on which she had placed it, and, drawing from
her pocket the green leather note-book already mentioned,
took from it Charles Thorpe's letter to her nncle^ and wai
KINDS OF LOYB. 92)
BOon completely absorbed in its perosal, and the thoagbts
which it suggested.
And Torp fortunately we are not obliged to follow the
conrse of his thooghts, after he left the spring. He loved like
an Englishman, that is, earnestly and passionately; bot being
a strong-minded man, and proad withal, he had probably
resolved to conqner an attachment so apparently hopeless.
To judge by his actions, he considered stalking up and down
his room the greater part of the night as the most efficacious
mode of putting his intentions into practice. Waldemar had
slept too soundly, after his long walk across the mountains^
to observe his friend's intranquillity the first night of his re-
turn to the village, but on the second this was no longer the
case ; he had lounged about St. Benedict's during the morn-
ing, had joined the family dinner-party, rowed the Countess
Schaumberg on the lake afterwards, and smoked a cigar by
moonlight with Torp. 'All occupations,' as he observed to
his restless companion, when throwing open the door of com-
munication between their rooms, * by no means calculated to
make a man sleepy; therefore, if not disposed to rest, we
may as well enjoy each other's society;' and then, with ex-
aggerated politeness, he requested him to prolong his walk
to the length of both rooms.
Torp complied, but his steady step shook the room, and
incommoded Waldemar, who, having turned over the leaves
of his long-neglected port-folio, seemed now disposed, by the
light of all the candles he could find, to add a new sketch to
his collection. He looked up imploringly, then impatiently,
and at last exclaimed, ' I wish you 'd be quiet, Torp, and sit
down beside me, as you used to do. Look here, I 've been
sketching something that, after what you said to-day at dinner,
yon will like to see, or I 'm much mistaken.'
He was mistaken. The sketch was Nora at the fountain,
and Torp did not at all like to see it. 'Now,' he added,
after a long pause, ' when I have washed in a little color to-
S28 TBEATB OF 2IFFSBXNT
-
morrow morning, I shonld like to know what 70a, would gire
for this V
'Nothing,' said Torp. 'I would not accept it if you of-
fered it to me.'
'You don't think it like?' cried Waldemar, throwing
down his pencil, and iiolding the drawing at arm's length ;
' but wait until morning, and you will see it will be as good
as any of the other sketches I hare made of her, and they are
not a few. '
'It is already a good likeness,' said Torp, 'but I should
prefer one of your landscapes, if you are disposed to be
generous.'
'No,' replied Waldemar ; ' I still hope to be able to sell
them to Mees Nora for a cup of coffee, though you must per-
ceive I am rather avoiding her, according to your advice.'
'I have not perceived any avoidance on your part,' said
Torp.
' What else do you call my leaving the village as I did,
three weeks ago V
' I call it going home when you were expected to do so, in
order to meet a person to whom you have been all but engaged
for nearly two years. '
' Yes, but, my dear fellow, there is a great difference be-
tween all bnt, and actually engaged. I consider myself, to a
certain extent, still free. '
'I don't think you do, Waldemar.'
' Quite as much as yoar consin Darwin, who, at the end of
six years, deserted this charming Mees Nora, in order to
marry your, no doubt equally charming sister. Lady Jane. '
' Stay,' cried Torp ; ' I must now inform you that my sup-
positions about this Miss Nixon were erroneous. It was the
other one, Georgina I believe is her name, who was Harry's
flame.'
' I don't believe that,' said Waldemar, laughing : ' Darwin
has better taste.'
KINDS OF I.OVE. 829
You will belieye it, when I tell you that Nora, or, as we
call her in our family, Leonora, is Harry's step-sister you
know bis mother married again.'
' Not 1 1 I know nothing about these Nlxons but what
you have been pleased to tell me,' said Waldemar, taming to
Torp with a look of inquiry ; and the latter then explained
at some length, ending with the information that Nora had
inherited an unusually large fortune from an uncle about a
year previously.
' May I ask when and where you first discovered your rela-
tionship to this young lady V asked Waldemar, fixing his
keen eyes on the face of his companion.
'Then, and there,' answered Torp, placing his hand on
the drawing that lay on the table between them.
' Upright as usaal, Torp, ' said Waldemar, leaning back
in his chair, and smiling. ' I did you injnstice for half a
minute, and thought you had deceived me purposely on this
occasion (all for my good, of coarse), bat if you had I should
nerer have forgiven you I Perhaps I ought also to confess,
that when at home, it more than once flashed across my mind
that you had wished to get rid of me, in order to have leisure
to carry on a quiet flirtation with Mees Nora yourself ( Now
don't grow red, or be angry : the thought was natural enough,
when I considered you were not the sort of man to pass
nearly a month alone in a village of this kind, without some
especial interest or occupation, and to my certain knowledge
you had, during the whole time, only once been on the moun-
tain with your rifle, and had had but little sport with your
angle. '
' Waldemar,' said Torp, rising, ' you wronged me by such
a thought, for I advised you to avoid this temptation from
pure friendship, and wish most sincerely I had gone with
yon, as you proposed, to Herrenburg. I remained here in
the most perfect state of imaginary security at first, then had
to struggle hard with what I considered a mere passing fancy
230 TBEATB OF DirrSBXNT
for this wayward girl, and finally yielded to a pawion that
more resembled infatuation than anything else. In short, I
have been guilty of every imaginable absurdity.'
*, Am I to understand, that supposing her the daughter
of this Gilbert, you ' Waldemar's open eyes and mouth
finished the question.
Understand that I have done everything that is rash and
inconsistent. '
'And is it possible, that^ knowing who you were, she
actually ? '
' Actually refused and laughed at me,' said Torp, 'and I
am glad she laughed, for otherwise I might have been tempted
to try and make her like me ; whereas now, I shall just remain
here long enough to convince her that I can live without her,
and then she may bestow herself and her fortune on whomso-
ever she pleases. '
' Oh, that's the way of it is it?' said Waldemar, first
glancing at the flushed countenance of his friend, and then
bending over his drawing.
Torp strode up and down the room with folded arms, until
a succession of odd sounds made him suddenly stop before
his companion. Waldemar was convulsed with suppressed
laughter.
' It's a capital joke, isn't it ? ' said Torp, grimly.
* My dear fellow, ' cried Waldemar, vainly endeavoring to
regain his composure ; ' I beg your pardon a thousand times,
but really the idea of your falling into love in this way is so
irresistibly comical, that I cannot behave as I ought on the
occasion. You have so long been an oracle to me to all
of us poor soft-hearted mortals that I could as easily have
imagined a priestess of Apollo, fresh from her tripod, dancing
a polka or mazurka, as you '
' Pshaw ! ' cried Torp, striding indignantly to the door of
hifl room.
\
KINDS OF LOVB. 881
'I say, Torp don't be angpry apon my life Pm sorry
yoa've come to grief in this way.'
'/am sorry I told you aDything aboot it,' said Torp. ' It
was an unnecessary anxiety to convince yon of my probity,
and a wish to show yon the danger yon had escaped, that
induced me to make so humiliating a confession.'
'I see,' replied Waldemar, ' I onght to have thanked yon
for the good advice yon gave me, and wisely drawn the con-
clusion, that where yon had become a fool, I should have
proved a madman; where you were laughed at, I should
have been whatever is worse on an occasion of this kind. '
' There is nothing worse,' muttered Torp.
' Then let me tell yon, Torp, that I should 7iot be laughed
at by Mees Nora. She knows perfectly well how much I
like and admire her, for I never attempted any concealment,
and she would believe me serious, and answer me seriously,
if I told her so to-morrow. Now, you commenced by treat
ing her and her relations with hauteur, ^then, I can imagine
yon absolutely odious during what you call your state of per-
fect security how you got on when struggling, you know
best ; you are a strong man, Torp, and I should think yonr
kicks and cufs may have hurt more than you suppose ; finally,
by your own account, you became infatuated, and I am sure
you must have been when, under such circumstances, yon ex-
pected your fair countrywoman to be anything but astonished
or amused at hearing you talk of love. '
'I was aware of mil this,' said Torp, 'and therefore told
her tiiat I relied more on what I had to offer with myself^
than '
* Soh I ' cried Waldemar, interrupting him, * you were ex-
plicit and rational, too I She must be very good-tempered
to have laughed instead of being angry. I think I see you,
Torp, grandly informing her, that notwithstanding her con-
nexions and so forth, you condescended to like her- and
would marry her ; that thongh yon bad not taken any tronble
II. -20
S88 A HUNT&ES8 WITH
to gaiff^^ber affections, yon had no doabt she would accept
you, because you were a " 2onf," and so forth. Now these
things may be understood, but ought never to be expressed;
or even hinted and I am sure^ quite sure, your looks were
still more arrogant than your words. Oh, Charley, Charley,
if you cannot learn to be humble for a while, at least, you
must give up all thoughts of the adorable Nora I '
'I have already done so,' said Torp; 'neither she nor
yon shall ever have cause to laugh at me again and now
good-night.'
CHAPTER XVII.
A HUNTBS88 WITH TWO STBINGB TO HSR BOW.
iNTiBfATX as Nora had been with Irene Schaumberg
ten years previously, she was too well aware of the changes
which a separation of such length, at their ages, was likely
to produce in the feelings and the alterations which time
must naturally have made in her own person to expect
either a joyfol or instantaneous recognition, on the part of
her friend. To claim acquaintance, and afterwards have to
enter into explanations in the presence of Torp and Walde-
mar, would not be agreeable ; therefore, she had deemed it
expedient to write, and prepare the companion of her child-
hood for the meeting which was to take place that day, before
dinner, at St. Benedict's.
Oeorgina was particularly anxious to see what effect Nora's
appearance would have on Torp. She supposed he would
feel himself compelled, at least, in her favor, to relax some-
what in his dignity. Great was, therefore, her indignation,
whan she perceived, that after a cold, formal bow, ho seemed
TWO 8TBIN08 TO HBB BOW.
to lose all coDscioasness of their presence, .apparently as de
termined to decline relationship as acquaintance with any of
t^ein.
The presentations to the FaJkners and Benndorffs had
scarcely been gone through by Nora, when the sound of rust
lingjsilk became audible, and through the open door of an
adjoining room a fair-haired, graceful woman, magnificently
dressed, came forward, and advancing directly towards her,
encircled her with the whitest and most profnsely braceleted
arms imaginable, while lightly kissing her on each cheek, she
murmured, ' Clih-e Nora quel plaisir.^
'Noral' cried a young officer, who was present; four
Nora?' .
Nora extended her hand to him with a smile, as she said,
' I am very glad to see you, though I have not the least
idea whether you are Otto, who used to torment 'me, or
Adolph who quarrelled, or Ferdinand who learned to dance
with me.'
' I am happy to say that I am the last named, and hope
this evening to prove' that I have not forgotten the instruc-
tion we received together so many years ago. '
' I have almost forgotten how to dance^' said Nora, ' for I
have not been at a ball these ten years. '
' Ah, ' said Irene, ' that is the reason you look so well and
so young, Nora. Nothing is so injurious to the appearance
as heated ball-rooms and late hours. '
This little scene, and the explanations which it caused,
gave animation to the conversation until they went to dinner.
Waldemar had not yet made bis appearance, but some ma*
noeuvring on the part of the elders of the family, kept a place
beside Irene vacant for him, and Nora thought she perceived
a slight degree of annoyance, or unwillingness on his part,
as he some time afterward took possession of it.
'Yon see, Waldemar,' said Irene, with a gay smile, 'you
see the consequences of want of punctuality. Your father
* 20*
234 A HI7NTXE8B WITH
has eondenmed joa to sit beside me for the next honr, as a
pnnisbment; bnt after all,' she added, as he drew his chair
to the table, ' it is better than being pat in the comer, joa
know.'
Waldetnar mannared something abont its being a vast deal
better, hoped all his misdemeanors might be punished in the
same way, and then leaned back to give directions to a ser-
vant about some soap.
' Waldemar, yoa shall have some venison presently, ' cried
his father, eagerly; 'a fair hand killed it for yon.'
* If yoa mean my hand,' said Irene, 'I am afraid I most
Cfonfess I never thonght less of your son than on the day of
our last hunt at Herrenburg. By-the-by, I forget why yoa
were not with us, ' she added, taming to Waldemar ; ' som^
thing about a wildschuetz, was it not V
'No,' he replied ; 'the wildschuetz affair was ages ago. I
went to St. Hubert's that day, hoping to meet Torp, and
followed him to the miller's alp.'
' Miller alp ? Is not that the place where General Falkner
promised me a hunt ?'
' More likely in the neighborhood of the Wild Alp,' answered
Waldemar. ' I dare say our good old forester, or his son,
has something in store for us, if that long-legged fellow, who
took Torp prisoner, does not get the start of us. '
' Yoa mean the famous wildschuetz V
* Yes. '
' I hear he has been out again,' observed (General Falkner.
Nora's conversation with Count Ferdinand suddenly ceased,
and she looked up eagerly.
' He was out on the frontiers,' contmued the general, ' and
the forester went to look after him, not in the best temper
imaginable, as you may suppose. He could not, however,
find a trace either of him or his companions, though he
visited all his charcoal-burners and woodmen, suspecting one
of them of conniving, if not of being a party concerned,'
TWO STBiiras to hbb bow. 235
'Bat he found nothing to confirm his suspicions?' inter*
posed Nora.
'Nothing; nor in the alp huts either, though that ifi
scarcely to be wondered at, as the sennerins seldom betray a
wildschuetz. As soon as our festivities are over,' he added,
turning to the countess, ' you shall hare the promised hunt ;
in the mean time, I can offer you some duck-shooting at the
marsh beyond the lake. A couple of men were sent up there
to-day, and they hare erected a fir-tree shed for you. '
'And Waldemar, ' said old Count Benndorff, ' I hare pro-
mised the genera] that you will take t&e place of his son
while we remain here. Ernst cannot leave his fair fiano6, so
the duty and pleasure of accompanying Irene falls to your
lot, and very much flattered you ought to be, if she accept
you for her companion.'
'Of course I feel immensely flattered,' said Waldemar,
bending over his plate.
' You look more bored than flattered,' said Irene, laugh-
ing ; * but the fact is, if the general has taken the trouble to
make arrangements for me, I feel bound to go out duck-
shooting, and this very evening too. It is, however, the last
time I shall put your patience to the proof, so you need not
look so disconsolate.'
Waldemar had just begun to protest and explain, when a
remarkably pretty little girl, of about seven years old, came
bounding into the room ; she seemed alarmed at seeing so
many strangers, and pushed herself shyly between him and
Irene, placing her hand on the arm of the latter.
'What does this mean V asked her mother, pushing back
the profusion of blonde ringlets that concealed the face of the
child ; ' have you nothing to say to Waldemar, now that he
is beside you, though you never cease talking of him when he
is absent.'
The little girl held out her hand to Waldemar, but did not
speak.
886 A HUKT&XBB WITH
We are only modeet before company,' he said^ drawing
her towards him ; ' no one knows that we have been playing
at hide and seek in the cloisters instead of dressing for dinner.'
'Ah, soh 1 ' ejaculated the old count, with eTident satisfac-
tion.
'And pray, mademoiselle, who gare yon leare to make
yonr appearance so early V asked her mother.
' Waldemar told me I might come whenerer I liked,' she
replied in French, which, like all children in her rank of life
in Germany, she spoke infinitely better than German.
And immediately erery one present began to speak in the
same language, excepting Mr. Nixon and Madame de Falk-
ner, the latter haying undertaken to speak English with him.
It was a curious conversation that they carried on together;
both spoke, but without being able to make themselTca intel-
ligible to each other ; however, they laughed a good deal,
and Mr. Nixon evidently thought that anything was better
than nothing, for, even after they had entered the adjoining
room to drink coffee he followed her, and Nora heard him
vainly endeavoring to explain how odd it appeared to him
dining so early, seven or eight o'clock in the evening being
the usual hour in England.
' Tees, ' replied Madame de Falkner, ^ we shall dance oa
see ball at that time. '
Irene tapped Nora on the shoulder. ' Ton must come to
my room for a couple of hours,' she said, caressingly, I
want to have a talk of old times with you.'
Nora followed her through a long suite of large and lofty
rooms to the one she had so much admired on her first visit
to the monastery. Several persons, in felt shoes, were polish-
ing the floor, already so slippery that it was more adapted
for dancing than walking. The gardener was decorating
the marble fountain at the end with all the treasures of his
not very extensive green-house, but they were tastefully
arranged and already spread a delicious perfume around.
TWO BTBINaS TO HXB BOW. S8i
' Perhaps 70a would like to look at Charlotte's trousseau,'
said Irene, opening the door of an adjoining apartment,
where they were soon joined by almost the whole dinner
party, and where Mr. Nixon, at first innocently supposing
himself at a sort of small fancy fair, got up for . some chari-
table purpose, looked round him in dismay at the heaps of
linen and dozens of articles of dress which were arranged
with taste on tables placed against the wall, seeking in Tain
those useless little nothings for which elderly gentlemen are
expected to give their sovereigns.
Georgina relieved his mind by an explanation, but alarmed
him again by the information that she must have a trousseau
of precisely the same description.
' Bless my soul, Georgy,' he exclaimed, ' you don't expect
me to give yon table-cloths, and pillow-cases, when you are
marrying into such a family as this, and Captain Falkner
the eldest son, too.'
Georgina said .she believed it was expected that she should
provide house-linen for the rest of her life. Some one had
told her that quite old people went on using the things they
had received for their trousseau, and surely if Madame de
Falkner thought it necessary to give all these things to her
daughter, who was going to marry a Count Benndorff, he
coald not do less for her, and she had already asked for a
list of everything in the room.'
' I tell you what, Georgy,' cried Mr. Nixon, 'I don't un-
derstand these things, so I'll give you a silver tea service
and a reasonable sum of money, and if you choose to buy
linen instead of lace, that's your affair, not mine. '
' Oh, Nora, did you ever hear anything so shabby J ' said
Georgina.
' Never mind,' answered Nora, ' we shall have a German
trousseau all the same, it is a very good rational old cus-
tom, well worthy of imitation, even to the tying up of the
parcels with colored ribbon, and the putting labels on them
888 A HUNTKS88 WITH
to prevent conftision. Look here, ' Table-cloth for twelTe
napkins to match ^TarUe-dove pattern I '
'Come, Nora,' said Irene, 'examine these handkerchiefii,
and then let as ^o. Do yon remember assisting me to hem
some of mine, ten years ago, when I was a fianc6, and mj
solemnly promising to do the same for yon when yon should
be in the same predicament ? '
They had reached the door, beside which Torp was stand-
ing an amnsed spectator of the scene before him, and
especially enjoying the pranks of Waldemar, who had
paraded the room with two or three parasols, tried on the
shawls, caps, and bonnets, and was now standing as if trans*
fixed in admiration of the bridal wreath, which he held
daintily oh the outspread fingers of both hands.
' By-the-by, Nora,' continued Irene, ' for all I know you
may be a fiance now in fact I am sure you must be, for
how else could Ernst Falkner have chosen your cousin in-
stead of you I There is some mystery here, don't you think
80, Monsieur Torp, je veux dire Milor Medvie t '
' The mystery is easily explained,' he answered ; 'Falkner
had daily opportunities of seeing one Miss Nixon, while the
other found occupation elsewhere.'
'Ah, true, Nora made excursions on the mountains, and
into Tyrol, I remember seeing you together in very becom-
ing masquerade dresses.'
' Count Waldemar can tell you,' said Nora, quickly, ' that
mere accident brought us together on that occasion, and it
was a matter of necessity our wearing the dresses of which
you speak.'
' Oh, Waldemar I ' cried Irene, looking up and laughing,
and as Nora followed the direction of her eyes she perceived
that he had raised his little ward sufficiently high to admit
of her dropping the wreath of orange flowers and myrtle
upon Torp's broad forehead, where it lay without a more-
nent on his part to remove it
TWO STBINaS TO HXB BOW. 289
Nora walked on ^Irene soon followed, observing, as they
moanted the stairs together, ' If the characters of those two
men were mixed, we should have something rery near per-
fection. There are times when I scarcely know which I like
best.'
Pleasant were the reminiscences of their youth endless
Nora's inquiries about their mntual acquaintances. It was
when speaking of them that she slowly and unwillingly began
to discoTer the changes which time, prosperity, and constant
intercourse with the world of fashion, had made in the mind
and manners of her friend. The innocent, warm-hearted,
unaffected girl, had become what she herself called a 'grande
dame.^ She spoke without the slightest reserve, and with
hardly-concealed exultation, of her brilliant position in the
world ; and so great was her egotism, so desirous was she to
expatiate on the delights of Yienna and its society, that she
scarcely listened to the short account which Nora gave of
her quiet life in London. That she considered herself a
person of immense importance, was evident ; and Nora
doubted not that this was the case in the t;ircle in which she
moved, for she possessed in no comipon degree all the advan-
tages there most highly valued rank, riches, and personal
beauty.
Yet, charmed by her graceful manners and fluent conversa-
tion, it was long before Nora admitted the perfect worldli-
ness and selfishness of her companion, and, flattered by her
unreserved confidence, still longer before she obtained a com-
plete consciousness of her overweening self-esteem and vanity.
The whole afternoon passed away in gay descriptions of her
success in society during her husband's lifetime of the man-
ner in which she had punished people who had dared to brave
her despotism and of the heart-aches she had caused!
Evenlug was drawing near when she began to speak of the
more interesting period of her widowhood, and it was then
that her communications first inspired Nora with profound
S40 A HI^KfTBSSS WITH
interest, for Torp and Waldemar assumed prominent places
in the narrative. She had known and liked them for many
years. Old Connt Benndorff had been her husband's uncle
ahd guardian Waldemar, his cousin, had frequently spent
the winter with them at Vienna. ' In fact, so intimate were
we,'^he said, with a light laugh, 'that I really could not
at first quite comprehend why he might not continue to
come to my house and stay there, as he had previously done,
and was very angry at the reports which were so soon circu-
lated of our mutual attachment and probable engagement
In the course of time, however, they were not altogether
without foundation. Widdemar, you must know, is an unex-
ceptional parti, and, had I wished it, there is no doubt we
should soon have been affianced, for his heart is always on his
lips and ip his eyes : but but Nora, if I go on, you must
promise never to betray me. '
'I don't suppose I shall ever have an opportunity,' said
Kora.
' Probably not still you must promise.'
' I think you had better not tell me I believe I should
rather not hear ' begaq Nora.
' It would be a great relief to speak to some one,' rejoined
Irene, 'and yon could ^ive me information which I much
want. '
' Go on, then,' said Nora, ' I promise to keep jour secret'
' Fancy, my dear girl, my discovering that I loved some
one else in the most absurd and unaccountable manner: and
who do you think was this person t '
Nora paused for a moment before she answered : ' From
all you have said just now, I must suppose yon refer to Lord
Medway.'
'Eaactlyl but, my dear creature, he was not Lord
Medvie then he was Monsieur Torp what you call younger
son cadet defamille poor, everything that was exception-
able, and the contrary to Waldemar so I I resolved to
overcome the fooUs\i ftsncy.'
TWO 8TBINOS TO HXB BOW. 241
'And he J ' asked Nora.
' He knew nothing about the matter. I was aware that he
admired and liked me, for he said so anreserTedly, and often
enough. We hare always been the best friends imaginable,
bat nothing more as yet.'
So ' said Nora, with some surprise, 'he he did not '
' No, perhaps nerer thought of me, yet, strange to say, I
liked him all Uie better for his stoicism. It would have been
a glorious conquest, and I longed to put his cool head and
imperturbable serenity to the test but I refrained.'
' Ton were right,' said Nora ; ' I suppose you declined his
Tisits, and avoided him as much as possible ? '
'Not exactly. I mentioned to him and Waldemar, in the
course of conversation, that no widow ought to think of mar-
riage for at least two years after her husband's death, and
then we got on quite pleasantly together until be was removed
to Italy, and Waldemar went with him there, and afterwards
to England. More than two years have elapsed since that
time,' continued Irene; 'the marriage of Waldemar 's brother
to Charlotte Falkner afforded me a good excuse for going to
the Benndorffs. Monsieur Torp has become milord Medvie,
and my prudent scruples are at an end. I expected to meet
him at Herrenburg, and had resolved, for his sake, to give
up hunting or even shooting at a target, having by chance
heard that he has a horror of what he calls masculine women.
' And Count Waldemar ? ' asked Nora.^
' Oh I he does not mind rather likes that sort of thing,
I believe. His intercourse with Lord Medvie, or his visit to
England, has greatly improved him ; he has grown much more
steady and quiet, and seems as little in a harry as myself to
come to an explanation : nevertheless, I don't intend tg give
him an opportunity if I can help it ; so I have requested my
brother Ferdinand to go with me this evening to the marsh ;
as with a Hungarian chasseuTi who can speak but little Gkr-
242 A HITNT&SBS WITH
man and no French, oar tite-d^Ute woald be as complete as
if we were alone.'
'Ton natarallj wish to avoid paining him by a refasal,'
observed Nora, gravely.
I want to gain time,' replied Irene, laughing, 'because I
* don't feel quite so sure of ce grand Charles as I could
wish; but I suppose he can be cigoled, like other men.
They are all vain, more or less, Nora very nearly as vain
as we are, and only a liUle wiser. '
'I suppose,' said Nora, with some hesitation, 'yon have
considered the a possibility of Lord Med way's having
already disposed of his heart or at least not being suffi-
ciently fancy free to '
* To be sure of course I have thought of all that,' inter-
posed Irene, 'and questioned Waldemar directly after he
came to Herrenburg. He assured me that milord is not en-
gaged, nor likely to be, as he has become more fastidious than
ever, and so full of fancies about what the future milady is to
be, that Waldemar is prepared to fall down in adoration of
her perfections whenever^ she is made known to the world 1'
'And this fastidiousness has not alarmed you?' asked
Nora.
' Not at all ; love is blind, or rather blinded by a bandage,
which is sometimes drawn over his ears, so that he is made
deaf too. Now, without being either blind or deaf, a man
might take a fancy to me, Nora ; and I am greatly mistaken
if milord has not lived long enough abroad to have got over
all absurd prejudices in favor of his stiff, cold countrywomen I'
She bent over the table to look at her watch, and then rang
the bell. 'I believe it is time to change my dress,' she
added ; ' but you must not leave me. I want to ask you t
hundred questions about England, the carnival is rery g^j
there, is it not ? '
' There is no carnival. '
' Well, the season or whatever you call it ? '
TWO 8TKINQ8 TO HER BOW. 248
' It maj be gay, ' said Nora, ' bat I know nothing about it'
'Ah, true 70a were living with an old uncle, whose wife
was dead, and 70a had no one to go out with; bat the
conntry-hoases, fall of goests, mast be delightful. ^
' I don't know.'
' I suppose, at least, I shall be in the best society 7 '
The entrance of her maid prevented her from observing
Nora's silence, or look of astonishment ; and she was, for
some time afterwards, completely occupied in disembarrassing
herself of the thousand details of her elaborate demi-toilette.
Nora went to a window and made some observation about
the beauty of the sunset, the lake, and wooded mountains.
' I perceive your taste in scenery has net changed,' replied
Irene ; ' indeed yon are quite what you used to be, if it were
not for the English reserve not to say coldness of manner
that you have acquired.' .
' Reserve 1' repeated Nora. 'I never heard that I was
reserved !'
' You were not, but you are now. Here have I forgotten
our ten years' separation, and talked to you as if we had
never been apart ; while you have listened and looked at me
as if I were some strange being, whose character you were
trying to understand. '
Nora made no attempt to deprecate. She had been
studying h^r friend ; and now, while standing at the window,
modified her previous rigorous judgment of her by the recol-
lection thal^ ten years previously, they had greatly resembled
each other in disposition ; and that, perhaps, or rather most
probably, had she been subjected to the allurements and
temptations of the world like Irene, her thoughts and actions
would have become similar. She no longer regretted the
years spent in tranquil retirement with her uncle in Russell-
sqaare and believed the old house there had been to her a
sanctuary.
When she looked round, Irene was already dressed in a
II. 21
244 A HUNTBESB WITH
pair of loose trodsers, and what appeared a very short green
riding-habit ; on her head she placed a remarkably pretty and
picturesqne hat, also green , with black-cock's feathers,, and
chamois beard; and, if Nora thought this himtiog*attire
somewhat fantastical, she felt obliged to acknowledge that it
was very becoming to a fignre so symmetrical as that of
Irene.
'I like the dress, too,' said the latter; 'and Waldemar
says I only want a falcon on my wrist to make it perfect,
bat the the other does not like it, I snspect ; so, if you hare
no objection, we will go down the back staircase, and take
refnge in the boat-hoase. '
To the boat-hoase they went, and there foond the chasseuri
with fowling-piece and dogs. Irene sent him to summons her
brother and Coant Waldemar ; bat scarcely had he left them,
when Torp approached, and annonnced himself as substitute
for the latter, who had been detained by business.
* Where V she asked, abruptly.
' In the town, or the Tillage. He went to speak to Baron
Waltenburg about the sale of the ruins of the castle. '
' Gould he not have spoken to him at the ball to-night 1
I am sure he is invited.'
* Most probably ^but they are going to examine the ruins
with an architect; and Waldemar thought, for once in a
way, you would be satisfied with me as substitute. I fear he
was mistaken.'
' Not at all,' cried Irene, hastily and she blushed beauti-
fully, while she added, ' I am only sorry you have seen me
in this dress, or, rather, going out in this way ; for I know
you dislike and disapprove of everything unfeminine. I am
beginning, myself, to think these amusements very unlady-
like, and seriously meditate giving them up altogether.'
* Your dress,' said Torp, stooping to caress one of the
dogs, ' is exceedingly becoming ; and I am well acquainted
with it from Waldemar's sketch-book. As to what is lady-
TWO 0TBIROB TO HBB BOW. Z4&
like or not, my ideas have greatly changed of late,--o much
depends on the waj in which ^ings are done, and the person
whor-'
Nora heard no more; nnobseryed, as she thought, by
either of the speakers, she had turned to the monastery, and
was, soon after, on her way to the Tillage.
The neighboring town fhmished musicians and guests for
the ball; the latter were numerous-^ and among them so
many good dancers, that Nora scarcely had time to rest dur-
ing the evening. As this constitutes happiness to women of
Oerman education, she might have been supposed to have
enjoyed herself in an unusual degree, that she appeared to
do so perhaps, even wished to make others think so is
certain ; but the reader must be informed that a foolish de-
sire, on her part, to watch the progress of her friend's designs
on Torp completely destroyed her pleasure. The interest
that she began to feel about him was singular enough still
more so, that she was perfectly conscious of it ; she even
saw through his design of convincing her that his disap-
pointment could be easily borne, and would be soon forgotten ;
and she was quite aware that, circumstanced as he was just
then, the evident predilection of such a . woman as Irene
Schaumberg must be very flattering, and particularly agree-
able, ^hen shown in her presence. They were seated to-
gether at a window, neither danced nor looked at the
dancers, and hour after hour passed over in conversation
that never seemed to flag.
Waldemar, at first, appeared exceedingly amused at this
flirtation, and devoted himself to Nora ; but, later in the
evening, she heard his brother remonstrating with him, and
pointing out the absurdity of his position.
' It may be absurd, ' said Waldemar ; ' but I see no remedy
for I have no right to interfere. Ton can signify your
displeasure to Charlotte Falkner, to whom you are going to
be married to-morrow ; or, seeing that rnst placed a ring
21*
246 HUNTRESS VlTH TWO 8TBINOB, BTO.
of betrothal on Miss Nixon's finger after dinner to-day, be
may show anger or jealousy, should she dance again with
Waltenburg ; bat what wonld Irene say were I to orde( her
not to talk any more to Torp, whom she has known as long,
and almost as intimately, as she knows me ? '
' Yon have neglected her of late, Waldemar, ' said his
brother ; ' shirked the duck-shooting this evening on some
frivolous pretence, and have not asked her to dance though
you know there is nothing she resents so much. '
At this moment Waldemar's mother came towards him,
and, perhaps, said something to the same purport, for he
shrugged his shoulders and walked off in the direction of the
window.
Nora watched the scene that followed with intense interest
Waldemar spoke, but seemed scarcely to be heard by Irene ;
he persisted, and she shook her head and raised her hand,
as if to waive him off; he seated himself on a chair near
hers, and she turned from him with a very significant gesture
of annoyance ; then his eyes flashed, and he said something
that seemed to provoke an angry reply. Torp rose, laughed,
and left them. A few more words were^ spoken, and then
Irene stood up haughtily, and walked across the room to-
wards Nora, whispering, as she passed her, * The die is cast;
I have quarrelled with Waldemar for presuming to suppose
he had a right to be jealous, and can now only hope that
all may go ^n smoothly with the other. I trust these men
will not have any disagreement on my account. '
They had none ; but both perambulated their respective
rooms for more than an hour after their return to tlie inn ;
the door between them, however, remained closed.
ON GUABB. 24T
CHAPTER XVIII.
ON OtJASD.
About noon the next daj a well-arranged procession
moTed from one of the reception-rooms at Saint Benedict's
down the tastefully decorated stone staircase that led to the
church of the monastery. The programme had deprived
General Falkner of at least an hour's sleep during the night ;
but he was more than indemnified when he perceived the
accuracy with which it was followed, and glanced at the
brilliant appearance of his guests, who, to gratify him, and
do honor to the family, were all magnificently dressed ; most
of the gentlemen in glittering uniforms, and the ladies no less
splendid in brocaded silk and moire antique.'
There was no weeping. The fair bride seemed to have
exhausted her store of tears during the morning, if one might
Judge by her still red eyelids, and very crimson lips, and
now appeared becomingly serene. Her father carefully con-
cealed any regret he felt at parting with his only daughter,
and tlvugh her mother occasionally raised her transparent
handkerchief to her eyes, it was difficult to discover any
cause for the movement, excepting, perhaps, that the sun-
beams were not sufficiently moderated by the colored glass
through which they shone. Oeorg^na was exceedingly atten-
tive to the ceremony. Mr. Nixon gaaed round him, and
made reflections on the difference between the vast place of
worship in which he stood, with its statues, pictures, and
numerous altars, and the chapel that he was in the habit of
frequenting in London, and came to the conclusion that the
latter was infinitely-^ more comfortable 1
The marriage ceremony was succeeded by a dinner, which
848 ON GUARD.
Nora thought as tedious as it was samptaoas ; for when she
was following the bridal party out of the church, Rosel had
left the crowd of spectators to whisper that her father had
again heard of the wildschnetz, and had suddenly left home
with her brother. Instantly, and greatly alarmed on John's
account, Nora had yielded without hesitation to Rosel's
urgent entreaties to spend the night on the miller's alp, in
order, if necessary, to be able to bear witness in faTor of
Seppel, and had only stipulated that they were to be accom*
panied by her mother. In consequence of this arrangement
every moment became of importance to Nora, as tending to
increase her chance of having to wander in the woods after
sunset; therefore, the moment she found herself at liberty,
after attempting a hurried sort of explanation to her uncle
and cousin, not one word of which they understood, she set
off on foot to the forest-house, changed her dress with the
rapidity of a Cinderella, and might soon after have been seen
with her iron-shod staff, climbing the mountain behind the
mill ; not stopping to look around her, or talking to her com-
panions as was her custom, but hastening onward, silent and
abstracted.
When recollections of all she had heard and seen during
the last two days took possession of her thoughts for a few
minutes, they were chased by anxiety about her cousin John.
She feared, and not without reason, a rencounter between
him and his companions on the one side and the forester and
Franz on the other ; and at one time her fears so far got the
better of her prudence that, had Rosel been able to tell her
in what direction her father had gone, she would have fol-
lowed, and confessed all to him I
The sun was already below the horizon as they left the
steep path in the forest, and began the ascent of the more
gentle slope on which the huts were situated. The summit
of the mountains beyond were still glowing in purple light,
but all beneath had fallen into shade, and the cool evening
ON OUA&D. 249
breeze swept lightly over the already damp grass. T^e
tinkling of bells became aadible in all directions, showing the
coarse taken by each herd, as it wandered forth for the night,
BO that the rocks, the skirts of the wood, and even far np ou
the sides of the mountains, seemed suddenly full of life and
animation. The sennerins stood at the door of their huts
and jodeled loudly and cheerfully, occasionally pausing to
hear the echo or the ansvrering jodel from the woodmen, as
they left off work ; but there was one who stood there mute
and melancholy, listening to the familiar sounds, and gazing,
perhaps for the last time, on the well-known landscape. It
was Madeleine, the miller's daughter, who, however, no
sooner perceived Nora than she hastened down the hill,
seeming to think it necessary to apologise for her presence,
'I know,' she added, 'that my father sold the alp with the
mill yesterday, and that you have taken the cattle at a
valuation ; but I felt a longing to see the old place once
more, and my mother said I ought to look after our cheese
and butter, that we might know what we had to take with os
into Tyrol. The sennerin has heard that I am only a guest,
as it were, now and '
'Not so,' said Nora; ' the alp is yours as long as you re-
main at the mill.'.
' That will only be until next week,' observed Madeleine,
with a sigh.
' And by that time, ' continued Nora, ' the cattle will at all
events be driven down for the winter, so you see we expect
you to supply us with milk and butter both now and to-mor-
row morning.'
'Everything but a bed,' said Madeleine. 'I am afraid
you will hardly be able to sleep On the straw mattress of the
sennerin.'
' We don't want beds,' said Nora ; ' we have no intention
of sleeping to-night have we, Rosel ?'
'No/ she answered, smiling, 'and there's another who
850 ON eUARD.
mnBu't tleep either, and we're going for him as soon as the
moon gets over the Bocky Horn. '
' Long Seppel ? ' suggested Madeleine, with a faint smile.
'Ton're guessed it,' said Bosel's mother. 'The wild
hunters are on this side of the frontiers they say, and Miss
Nora thinks if so be suspicion should again fall on Seppel,
we can stand up for him, and say he was with ns the live-long
night I '
'Has the forester gone in search of the wildschnetz?'
asked Madeleine.
' Tes, and Franz too, he would not let his fother go alone,
because this wildschuetz is seldom without companions.'
' Oood heavend 1 ' exclaimed Madeleine, ' if they should
happen to meet at the Totive tablet, where your eldest brother
was shot there may be bloodshed.'
'Are they on the Wild Alp f ' asked Rosel, with a look of
alarm. ' My father seemed very fierce, but would not say
where he was going. There is but little escape for any wild-
schuetz he may meet on that mountain.'
'But,' said Nora, looking up suddenly, 'who told Made-
leine that the wild hunters were there ?'
Madeleine blushed deeply, and answered that a Tyrolean,
who had been at the mill that morning, had seen them, and
said they were a large party, and had dogs with them, to
drive the deer across the frontiers.
' And Franz and his father have not taken any one with
them,' exclaimed Bosel's mother uneasily.
' Oh, I hope I trust they may not meet I ' cried Made-
leine, evidently sharing her anxiety. ' The forester will per-
haps go on to the huts, and then the others intend to keep
along the frontier line, and may not be very far from this
about day-break.'
'Your informant was so accurate,' observed Nora, 'that
I suspect he must be one of the party. '
'Perhaps so,' she answered, with a look of intelligence^
ON OUABD. 251
'bat/ she added, in a whisper, 'I don't mind telling 70a all
I know, as jon are not likely to hare me questioned by the
judge, seeing that I might be made to say more than would
be agreeable to you and yours.'
Nora looked at her inquiringly.
' Some people,' she continued, in the same significant
manner, ' some people talk of a tall wildschuetz, and others
of a small one, and lately they're been mostly seen together.'
' Are they to be together in this neighborhood to-night 1 '
asked Nora, quickly.
' Somewhere between this and the wild alp,' she answered.
' We nlnst secure Seppel at once, and if possible bring him
here,' cried Nora, turning to Rosel and her mother.
To this arrangement neither objected, though the latter
was evidently both heated and tired, and they were soon on
their way to the woodman's shed.
On arriving there, they found that most of the workmen
had retired for the night, the others were smoking, but Sep-
pel was neither among the sleepers nor smokers, he had
gone down to the charcoal-burners, they said, to take charge
of the kiln for the nighty as the man was ill and had been
obliged to go home. To the charcoal-kiln, Nora and her
companions immediately went, and as the moon rose bright
and clear, above the jagged summit of the Rocky Horn, the
black pile, and waving smoke above it, the wooden shed, and
surrounding trees, were covered with a flood of light ; bat
no human being was to be seen. It was in vain that Nora
walked round the kiln, and the others examined the shed,
which was almost completely filled with charcoal ; no Seppel
could be found, and after a close inspection of every rock and
heap of wood around them, Nora put her hand on Rosel 's
arm, and asked gravely, * What do you expect me to think
now ?'
' Think 1 ' she repeated, * think that he has gone to the
fountain he is not liicely to drink the water here, when there
is fresher and better to be had within a stone's throw.'
85S ON GUARD.
Nora and the forester's wife seated themselves on the roogh
bench, beneath the overhanging gable roof of the shed. * I
fear,' she said, digestedly, *I fear he is not so near as you
imagine, bat I am quite willing to wait here until yon have
convinced yoarself that he is not at the fountain.'
* Surely, Miss Nora, you cannot suppose that he would
undertake the charge of a charcoal-kiln on the borders of the
forest, and leave it for any length of time by night or by day f '
' Perhaps he ought not,' said Nora, ' and you can scarcely
be more unwilling than I am to believe that Seppel is still a
wildschuetz ; but from first to last, appearances and circum-
stances have been strongly against him, more so, Bosel,
than you suppose, or than I am at liberty to tell you.'
That may be,' she answered, ' but I cannot and will not
believe that he has deceived me. Let me only step down to
the spring, and convince yon that he is within call.'
' Do so,' said Nora: ' I am more than willing to be con-
vinced, and hope with all my heart that he may answer you.'
Five minutes, ten minutes, passed over before Nora's not
particularly pleasant reflections were interrupted by the sound
of Rosel's loud clear call, the same peculiar succession of
tones she had used when on her way to the Crags, for the
first time with Nora, soon after the arrival of the latter at the
village. A faint echo repeated the notes in a confused, un-
certain manner, and as it died away, Nora thought she heard
the sound of something near her moving. She stood up and
looked around again Rosel's voice, more loud than ever,
was heard beneath, but scarcely had the last note been uttered
before the wooden walls of the shed were shaken in a remark-
able manner- and Nora and the forester's wife, fearing that
the roof was about to fall on their heads, sprang from beneath
it, and gazed upwards in some alarm. Then it was that they
perceived for the first time, Just the gable, beneath a sort of
framework of boards, that by a great stretch of the imugina-
ON GUARD. 868
tion might have been called a balcony, and in this narrow
place, Seppel seemed to have made his bed, for he was raising
himself from a recumbent posture, and staring round him like
a man wakened from heavy slumber. A moment afterwards
his long legs were dangling over the side, until they reachea
a ladder at some distance beneath, whence, flourishing his
arms in the air, he shouted rociferously ; afterwards, to Nora's
infinite amusement, he sprang to the ground, and approaching
her deferentially, he raised his hand to his temple, in military
salute.
'I am very glad to see you, Seppel,' she said, smiling,
' for I was afraid that the bright moonlight had tempted you
once more to go out with that reckless '
' Miss Nora,' he said, interrupting her eagerly, ' I was not
out last month, nor can any weather tempt me to break the
TOW I made at Saint Hubert's. Rosel,' he added, reproach-
fully, as he turned to the panting girl, who then joined them,
* did you too mistrust me ? '
' No, no not for a moment I thought to find you at the
spring.'
' Can yon tell me where my cousin is just now f ' asked
Nora, a little impatiently.
' You mean the young gentleman,' said Seppel, with a per-
plexed air.
' Yes. I want to see him, or send him a letter without
delay.'
' Gire it to the Tyrolean sennerin, Miss Nora ; she saw
him last Sunday, when she went down to the valley. She '11
deliver it safely, and bring you an answer, too, if you require
one.'
Nora perceived he was determined not to commit himself
in any way, and that she must apply to the sennerin in the
morning for information. ' What are we to do now 1 ' she
said, turning to Rosel. 'If Seppel cannot leave his charcoal,
who is to watch him ? ' ^
S54 ON GUARD.
Bpsel, of coarse, did not know.
' Could not one of the other woodmen take his placer for
to-night,' suggested Rosel's mo^er, 'and then he would be
at liberty to return with as to the alp. '
'There's not a charcoal-burner among them,' said Seppel;
' but if yoa cannot make up your mind to trust me, maybe
it would be as well to leave Rosel here on guard as it were,
at least until after nightfall, and again about daybreak she
might go the rounds these are the hours of strong tempta-
tion for a wildschuetz, which, however, with yoar leave, I
beg to say I am not and hav'n't been for many a year. '
' What is to be done now ? ' asked Nora, taming to the
forester's wife, who had again seated herself on the bench,
and was yawning unrestrainedly.
At that moment they were startled by the report of distant
fire-arms.
* Where 's that J ' cried Rosel.
'Between this and St. Habert's, I should think,' answered
Seppel ; ' perhaps the forester has brought down a buck.'
' Not likely, ' said Rosel, ' for he has lately been watching
one in that direction for the lady from Vienna, who is going
out next week with Count Waldemar. I 'm afraid it must be
the wild hunters.'
' Well, I shouldn't wonder if it were,' said Seppel, 'and
precious bunglers they must be to require so much lead for a
single buck, on such a night as this, when one can aim as at
a target. '
'Anything,' rejoined Rosel, 'is better than a meeting with
my father and Franz. I hope they have shot the buck, and
made good their escape into Tyrol, though my fietther will be
as mad as a March hare, for a week to come. '
'I think. Miss Nora,' said the forester's wife, 'we may
now leave Seppel to attend to his charcoal. If he r.hould be
Asleep when we return here, instead of awakening him, Bosel
ON OUABD. %
most momit the ladder, and make his face as black as
chimney-sweeper's. '
Thej retamed to the alp,^and, after a frugal snpper, No
crossed the. ravine with Madeleine, and questioned the Tyi
lean sennerin about her cousin John. The girl, howev
could give no information concerning him, excepting that
was weU, and not likely to return to Almenau for some tin
She accompanied Nora back to the miller's hut, and remain
there until Kosel and her mother retired to the sleeping-roo
where they shared a paillasse on the floor with Madeleii
Nora, who professed to be neither tired nor drowsy, th
seated herself outside the open door of the hut, and look
at the moon and stars, the trees and distant mountaii
listening to the sound of the cattle-bells, while thinking
Seppel and Rosel, Jacl^ and the wildschuetz, the forester ai
his son, Torp and Irene, Waldemar, St. Benedict's, and tl
ball there. It was strange she felt so little fatigued, aft
haying danced so much, and slept but a few hours the pi
ious night she supposed her anxiety about Jack kept h
awake. She would go to the Tyrolean sennerin, at the oth
aide of the ravine, in the morning. Very odd that t
moon seemed to dance no, it was only the reflection in t
water of the spring, retained in the hollowed trunk of a tn
for the use of the cattle and now the wood seemed to sli
backwards and forwards^ Macbeth wood of Dunsinane-
Austrian troops on the march, with green branches in th
helmets national customs singular effects of -moon
lights.
Nora sleepa.
II. 29
256 jack's last exploit.
CHAPTER XIX.
jack's last exploit.
Nora slept, and so soundly, that hours passed over as if
they had been so many minutes. She was awakened by the
murmuring of Toices not far distant from her, and, on open*
ing her eyes, she perceired two men at the fountain, below
the hut. One sat at the end of the water-trough, in a
desponding attitude, the other stood leaning lightly against
the upright stem that serred as conductor to the water which
flowed incessantly, and in a profusion only common in wooded
mountainous districts. As soon as Nora discovered them to
be the forester and his son, she rose and approached them ;
the former raised his hat for a moment, and then, replacing it
on his head, drew it over his eyebrows with a vehement jerk ;
the latter held his in his hand, while expressing his surprise
at finding her at the Alp. ~
' I heard of your having gone out, and became so uneasy
about Seppel, and a in short, I made Kosel and her mother
come up here with me, and we went directly to see Seppel,
who has taken charge of the charcoal-kiln for the night. '
'It was there he blackened his face,' muttered the forester,
with closed teeth.
' We found him sleeping as quietly as we could have de-
sired,' continued Nora, 'and intend to go again to the kiln
before midnight.'
' Then you must wait four-and-twenty hours. Miss Nora,
for midnight is long past. '
' Nora looked at her watch, and found he was right. ' I
am afraid,' she began, hesitatingly, 'they have shot the roe-
buck you were keeping for the General.'
jack's last exploit. 25?
' The back's safe,' replied the forester, grimlv, ' and so is
Franz, though they aimed well, considering the distance;'
while speaking, he snatched the hat from his son's hand, and
pat his fingers through two holes in it, as if to show the
direction taken bj the ballet.
'Good heavens I yon have had a conflict with the wild-
schaetz, after all 1'
'Yes,' said the forester, sternly; 'the long Schaetz fired
at Franz, and and then 1 shot him dead, I believe, or
woonded him mortally. They were six to two, and he need
not have fired; 'tis trae, I shot their dog but it was not
his dog Seppel has no dog '
'It was not Seppel it certainly was not Seppel,' cried
Nora, eagerly, ' we were ^ith him when the shots were fired,
and heard them distinctly, notwithstanding the distance.'
' Not Seppel,' cried the forester, springing up ; ' I'd give
you all I'm worth to be sure of that I If I had not been
made frantic, by seeing him aim deliberately at Franz, while
the others were shouting to me, and if the bullet had not so
nearly done its work, I'd not have fired. Six to two was
fearful odds, and we had to fly for our lives aftei*wards. '
' Come at once to the charcoal-kiln,' said Nora, ' and con-
vince yourself that Seppel is alive and well. '
In expectation, perhaps, of another visit from Rosel and
Nora, Seppel had not returned to his balcony, bat lay
stretched at full length on the bench beneath, his hands
clasped under his head by way of pillow, and sleeping as
soundly as hard work and exposure to the air could make
him. The forester signed that he should not be wakened,
and then leaned on his staff and contemplated the man, whose
DU])poscd death had caused him such deep regret during the
last few hours, notwithstanding all his efforts to convince
himself that a wildscbuetz was no loss, and that his daughter
could not have married him.
268 jack's last exploit.
M)aawkile, Nora had drawn Franz aside, and asked for
some clear account of what had happened.
* It is easily giveo,' he said, gravely ; 'we heard tiiat the
long wildsohuetz bad been seen again in the neighborhood
of the wild alp, but my father rightly Judged that it was
probable he was hunting the buck we have b^ea preserving
for the general and his guests, at St. Benedict's, ao we went
at once to a well-known grazing place among the rocks,
between this and St. Hubert's, and, sure enough, hardly had
we got within rifle shot of the frontier, before we saw oi^ of
the dogs of these fellows hunting our game across the bound*
ary for them. My father shot the dog, and had but just
time to load again, before the Tyroleans, who must have
heard the report of the rifle, came in sight I think they
supposed us stronger than we were, for there were rocks
enough to have concealed a dozen men behind us, and that
made them keep at a distance, and commence a dispute;
they said they were on Tyrolean ground, we knew we were
on Bavarian ; in the heat of argument the rifles were raised
my father says, the long schuetz aimed at me, at all events
he fired the first shot, and bis bullet went through my hat
You know what followed.'
*Dp you think they were all Tyroleans?' asked Nora,
anxiously.
' No ; the man that we took for Seppel, and another fel-
low, had grey Bavarian Jackets, and wore hats like mine.'
' I suppose,' said Nora, ' that no one else was wounded, as
you did not fire. '
' Yes I did, but without aiming, and suspect I must have
hit one of them, for they fired a few random shots after us
during our retreat. As they were all more or less disguised
with false beards, kerchiefs, charcoal, or brick-dust, I think
they would soon have pursued us, had their leader been less
dangerously wounded. If he had any life in him, they most
jack's last exploit. 259
probably carried him across the frontiers to the nearest
surgeon. '
' A horrible business altogether,' said Nora ; ' jonr father
seems to feel it greatly. '
' As long as he thought it was Seppel, whom he has known
from a child, who was my murdered brother's playmate, and
my sister's future husband, he took it to heart greatly, and
was several times so orercome, that we were twice as long as
need be on our way here ; but I am much mistaken if he will
not now go home and inform the forstmeister and judge,
without any feeling of compunction, that he has shot a noto-
rious wildschuetz, and is ready to stand his trial. '
' And what will happen then ? ' asked Nora.
' He will plead self-defence and my defence ; I can swear
that the wildschuetz fired the first shot, and then he will
be acquitted.'
' Come, Franz, ' said the forester, in a low voice, as he
joined them, ' our way is now down hill, and without delay. '
'Father,' observed Franz, glancing towards the sleeper,
' I now see that I accused Seppel unjustly, and that the judge
was right when he said there was no convincing evidence
against him. It was the wildschuetz we saw to-night, who
was on the Wild Alp ; he would have murdered me there
had he dared, and only failed in this last attempt, I do
believe, by a special interposition of Providence. I wonder
how I have made myself such a bitter enemy, for I have not
been long enough assistant-forester to become implacably
hated by these men as yet 1 '
'It was odd enough,' said the forester, musingly, 'odd
enough that you were aimed at, when I was standing by
but there was no mistake, Franz that fellow wanted yonr
life-blood.'
Day was beginning to dawn as they approached the alp
again. The forester carried his hat in his hand, to let the
260 jack's LAfiT XXFLOIT.
cold moroing air blow on bis floebed ajid haggard face ; hia
son had become silent, and Nora wished thej wonld both
leave her, as she wanted to restrain the Tyrolean seanerin
about Jack, and the woman was now walking ronnd h^ hat,
and shouting her ranz dea vaches in all directions. The
cattle began to assemble ; they issaed from the wood, woand
round the rocks, or ascended from the depths of the vallej
below.
' Franz,' said the forester, harrying forward, ' I shall retorn
to the village by the shortest way ; ' and he tamed to the
path that Nora had once seen Torp take with eqoal im*
petuosity.
' I shall accompany Miss Nora to the mUler'a hat, father,
and then follow yoa,' he HiDfiwered, walking on gravely before
Nora, and stopping to assist her more frequently than was
necessary.
They passed the Tyrolean sepnerin, who nodded her morn-
ing greeting, and continued to shout her ranz des vachez,
even while she turned after Nora, and mysteriously drawing
a piece of paper from beneath the folds of her neck-kerchief,
made signs to her to ask no questions in the presence of her
companion.
Nora glanced at the address, which wm written with a
pencil. It was Jack's handwriting, and, relieved of much
of her anxiety, she dropped the paper into her pocket, and
then followed Franz, who was waiting to assist her down the
side of the ravine that separated them from the miller's hut
Her entreatie&that he would not give himself so much trouble,
were vain ; he mounted the other side and accompanied her
to the hut. As they approached it, Nora saw him start and
hesitate, and on looking up perceived a man seated on the
bench outside ; he was leaning against the wood piled there,
and seemed to have considered it too early to expect admit-
tance, for the door was Btill closed, and while waiting for
daylight he had apparently fallen asleep.
jack's last bxploit. 261
'Who is H?' asked Nora.
' Black Seppel, from the mill, ' he answered, gloomflj ; ' he
has come to visit Madeleine.'
' Who, it seems, is not jet np,' said Nora.
* SIbe it ; I saw her at the other side of the honse as we
ante up the rocks.'
Nora now nnderstood why he had persisted in his attentions
to her, and was not a little surprised when Madeleine came
to meet them, and invited Franz to enter the hnt through the
eow-bonse. He stopped at the door, however, and observed
obmptlj, ' Black Seppel is waiting for admittance at the hnt
door.'
' I know it, he has been there this long time. He told
me he wonld come here abont daybreak.'
'And, knowing this,' said Franz, sternly, 'yon sent me
word I should find yon on the alp,, and that yon hoped I
woold not pass the hnt without speaking to yon ? Oh Made-
leine, Madeleine, have yon not caused calamities enough, without
adding a meelittg jnst now between Seppel and me, whea yon
know how fhll of jealousy and anger we are, and how mortally
wo hate each other. '
* Don't speak so harshly, Franz ; I did not know he was
coming here when I srat the sennerin to you. My mother
never leaves me for a moment, and he and my father are
always watching me, so that I have never been able to see
you since the day I was obliged to say that I must give yon
up for ever.'
'And what else have yon to say now?' asked Franz,
coldly.
' That I have loved yon, and will ever love yon better than
any one in the world,' she replied, bursting into tears. .
' Tet the people in the village, those who know yon better
than I do, Madeleine, assert that this is not the case, and say
there is scarcely a young man in the parish, who has not had
hopes of being chosen by yon, at one time or other.'
262 jack's last exploit.
* I never loved any one but you,* sobbed Madeleine.
* There was Anderl of the Crags,' said Franz.
* The churl I I never thought of him. '
'And Florianf
' I laughed at him and you laughed with me, Franz.'
' But I did not laugh at Black Seppel, the Tyrolean,' said
Franz, * and people tell me now you said often and publicly,
that he was a man of the right sort, of whom every one was
afraid but yourself, but that yon could lead him as if he were
a child ; and yon even exhibited your power over him on
several occasions in a very remarkable manner. I hope it
may last, Madeleine I wish you every happiness, and now,
farewell.'
' Stay, oh stay,' she cried, beseechingly. What you have
said is true, quite true, but I was forced to act as I did ; he'd
have worried my father's life out, if I had not kept fair with
him. Yon know lie stood by us in our poverty, and we could
not compel him to leave us afterwards.'
'This may be the case,' said Franz, evidently moved at
her distress, and flattered by her professions of affection.
' Still still you might have broken off with me to satisfy
your father, without having yourself betrothed to the Tyro-
lean the very next day I That was what showed me what
you were, Madeleine ; ' he continued, working himself into
anger at the recollection, ' and the people are right after all,
who say you never cared for me, and only sought a plausible
pretext to give me up for the now rich Seppel the miller
from the valley of the Inn I '
' Franz, Franz ! ' she cried, passionately, ' if ever I acted
well in my life, it was on that occasion ; and if I have been
fooljsh and vain, my punishment will be hard and long. Only
say that you forgive me, and that you believe that I love you,
and I will bear without murmuring all the trials that I know
are before me.'
jack's labt exploit. 8M
Meantiaie Nora kad entered the hat, and bj the grey light
that found its vaj as jet bat sparingly through the small
wiadows, jrith dilBcnltj decjphered her coosIb John's note.
'DSAREST NORBT,
' Tell the goFernor anything yon can invent for me
in a hurry, for I cannot retarn to the village for some days.
We hare had hot work with those blackguards the foresters obliga-
tion that I cannot repay, and for which you will receive my
thanks with haughty composure. Oh Jack, Jack ^you have
put my regard for you to a severe test I No one will ever
know what I have suffered during the last quarter of an hour I'
fl% THX BBXAK VP.
CHAPTER XX.
THB BBSAK UP.
Thb promised letter arrired in the coarse of tfae evening;
it was withoat formal commencement, and withont signature;
gave a perfectly satisfactory accoant of Jack and his wonnded
arm, but said that, after mature consideration, they had re-
solved to go to Innsbrack to consult a surgeon, and also to
be oat of the way, in case a strict inyestigation of the wild-
Bchuets affiftir shoald be undertaken by the judge.
The forester related circumstantially all that had occurred,
and what he said was corroborated by his son in a manner to
foroe couTiction of the truth of their statements. Not one
of the Tyroleans concerned in the transaction could be dis-
covered ; even the dog that might have led to their detection
had been removed, and nothing was fonnd where the conflict
had taken place but the long pistol already mentioned. The
miller was of course questioned; but, relying on Nora's
silence, his evidence was not calculated to throw much light
on the subject. ' Seppel had been chief workman at the mill
for six years, as every one in the village knew ; was a clever,
industrious man, went often to see his family in Tyrol, es-
pecially lately, since his father had resigned his mill to him ;
might have been a wildschnetz for all he knew, supposed he
was, as he had been found in such company.' The judge
smiled significantly, said the miller could tell more if he chose^
bat that it was not necessary, there was evidence enough to
prove that the man had been a notorious wildschnetz for
nearly as many years as he had been in the village, that his
figure, his name, and especially his conduct to the assistant
THS BBBAK VP. 5^8
!r on the Wild Alp left no donbt of his haying been the
r of the gang who had there behared in such an an-
rotable manner, his having aimed at Franz instead of
kther on the last occasion made it eqnallj evident that
res of personal hatred and jealousy wonld have tempted
;o commit mnrder, had an occasion presented itself; the
ter and his son had unquestionably fired in self-defence^
if no one from Tyrol appeared to witness against thtm,
were to be acquitted.
one appeared not even at the funeral. The wild*
$tz' friends feared they might be suspected of having
his companions in his mountain wanderings, and wisely
ined at home. His father was bedridden, his mother
le to leave him, so the miller appeared as chief mourner
tie occasion, and it was generally understood that he
ned not at all.
le departure of the miller and his family a few days
wards for Munich created more sensation. There was
I leave-taking, some weeping, and innumerable invita-
given to the October fte, and the lodging which their
in in Munich had taken for them. Franz disappeared
ome days, and it was more than hinted that he too had
to Munich. Qood-natured people said it was to make
elf useful to the miller, who was a child in business, and
Qot know what to do with the heaps of money he had
hm the English lady for the mill ; others, disposed to
: less kindly, were heard to surmise that he had gone to
are a fresh offer of marriage from Madeleine, before she
time to attract the attention of the young burghers of
ich. It concerns us not He returned home within the
, looking as quiet, cheerful, and self-possessed as he had
.mmergau, and apparently exclusively interested in the
r of his sister, whose approaching marriage now formed
irincipal topic of coBversation in the village.
3T4 THB BREAK UP.
I
After the erents related had completely cleared Seppel
from being a wildschnetz, Nora conferred the mill, and all
belonging to it, on him, in the least ostentations manner pos-
sible, the first time he returned from his work in the forest ;
BO that, as he said himself at the forest-house in the eyening,
' He had come down the mountain a homeless laborer, and
should go to bed a rich miller I'
'A miller who has to learn his trade,' obserred the forester,
laughing. ' Now I could have given jou a certificate, Sep-
pel, that, had Miss Nora made 70U assistant forester instead
of miller, you'd have taken to the work as naturally as a
chamois to the rocks I'
' It won't require a conjuror to make a miller of me,' re-
joined Seppel; 'and as all the people at the mill remain
there, and the'' water and the wheels work on as heretofore, I
suppose the business will go on much as usual. If Rosel
were with me, of course things would get on still better ; for
without her the house will soon be in disorder ; and what I'm
to do when the cows come from the Alp, I 'm sure I don't
know!'
' Listen to the rich peasant talking of his people and cows 1'
cried the forester, laughing ; and they all laughed, and were
very happy, and Bosel repeated every word they said to
Nora, and made her promise to spend the afternoon of the
ensuing day at the mill.
Seppel seemed to think a white cap and a certain quantity
of flour on his garments and face necessary to the represen-
tation of a miller. His moustaches, too, were amply pow-
dered, and he appeared to have an immense quantity of work
to do when Nora and Rosel came to visit him ; the latter
laughed with childish delight as she saw him rush up and
down the ladders, carry sacks from one place to another, and
make believe to have scarcely time to speak to her ! Nora,
too, was amused, but enjoyed much more Rosel 'u quieter
T'HX BRXAK UP. tn
iafcisCwtloB, s sbe explained the little aHerations she intended
to make in the honae arrangements, and milked the cows, and
prepared the snpper for the miller and his men. Leaving
iier fo emplojedf Nora seated herself on the planks near the
saw-mill, and had not been long there when a carriage stop-
ped on the road (that, as the reader may remember, formed
a sort of sfa^f npon the opposite monntain), and, a man
Bpringing from it, ran down the g^een slope to the mill ; and,
bounding over the bridge and across the stream, boisterously
embraced her, with the assurance that he would never play at
wildschuetz again as long as he lived.
^ And your arm. Jack V
'Almost quite well. Medway% a famous fellow, Norry, and
yon most like him now, if only for my sake, he has no sort
of dislike to you, that's clear I And didn't I tell him what
a darling you were, and how uncle Stephen did not want to
have you at first, and couldn't live without you afterwards,
and how jm kept his house, and took care of him when he
was ill, and managed his affairs for him latterly I I told him
your coming into such a fortune hadn't changed you a bit,
and that you were always ready to help a fellow out of a
flcrape.' Hre he looked up, and made a sign that the car-
riage should drive on.
'We're the best friends possible,' he continued, seating
Umself astride on the planks, ' quite intimate, latterly, and
yon can't imagine how jolly he can be when he chooses. I
now believe all the stories they tell of him, for I am sure he
is up to anything, for all his quiet looks. He gave me a
capital account of the ball at St. Benedict's, and said you
looked lovely in an evening dress, which he had not ex-
pected.'
' Why should I not look well in an evening dress ?' asked
Nora.
' Oh I I'm sure I don't know, perhaps he thought it un-
276 TEX BEEAK UP.
likely because he had only seen yon tramping about in hob^
nailed boots, and that odious straw hat I He knew moie
about us than I supposed, and when I spoke of Sam, asked
me if he was the man that people said you intended to
marry V
* People never said any such thing,' cried Nora.
' Well, I told him I was surprised he knew anything aboi^
that matter, for Sam could keep a secret as well as most
people, especially if it concerned himself. '
'And you allowed him to suppose-' began Nora, in-
dignantly.
' Not at all,' cried Jack, interrupting her, ' I told him yoa
put an extinguisher on Sam at once, but that you were un-
commonly fond of me, and that if I were ten years older
you'd marry nie to-morrow I'
'It seems you, were very communicatire,' said Nora,
laughing.
' We were more than a week together, and must talk of
something or other, you know.'
'And what did he tell you in return ?'
' Why, nothing particular, excepting that he regretted not
haying become better acquainted with us all, and was parti-
cularly sorry that you had taken such a dislike to him ; so I
have promised to make you friends the first time you meet,
and told him you often said there were few things you would
not do for me, because I was the first person who loved you
after you came among us.' '
' I am glad you said that, Jack ; and it is quite true, I do
like you, though you are as wild, idle, and troublesome an
animal as it is possible to imagine. And now let us return
to the village ; you will probably have to go this evening to
Saint Benedict's, to make the acquaintance of your future
relations. '
'And you'll be civil to Torp I mean Medway, for my
THE BRSAK UP. 2t7
Ake, Nora, and not let bim suppose that I boasted of in-
fluence that I don't possess. He is really anxious to make
up to us now, and has promised that I shall have a hunt with
Waldemar and a countess somebody to-morrow. But the
queerest thing of all, Nora, is that he told me we should
in all probability hunt the very roebuck below the wild alp,
that cost the wildschnetz his life, and has given me a mark on
my arm that I shall carry to my grave.'
As they drew near the inn, John looked round for his new
friend, and soon discovered him sitting at a table covered
with letters, that had accumulated during his absence. 'Lord
Medway,'he cried, eagerly, 'here's Nora been telling me
not to make foolish speeches about friendship, for that she
has no sort of dislike to you it's all a mistake, she says.'
' I am very glad to hear it,' said Torp, advancing towards
them.
'John John,' cried Mr. Nixon and Georgina, firom one
of the windows of the inn.
'At ail events,' said John, 'as you see I cannot wait for
explanations, first shake hands and show that you are
fHends ; you may fight it out I mean talk the matter over
as much as you like afterwards. '
Torp and Nora extended their hands at the same moment
Jack laughed and ran into the house.
'Let us be friends, Leonora,' said Torp, cordially; 'it
will be a more natural state of things, and pleasanter for us
both. Destroy the letters I wrote ten years ago to your
uncle I can assure you that any annoyance or mortification
it may have caused you, was repaid with interest at the wood-
man's fountain, and we may now begin our acquaintance
again, as cousinsor fHends or anything you please.'
Nora drew her note-book firom her pocket, and silently
look from it the letter of which he had spoken, and on which
the marks of age, perhaps also of frequent perusal, were
evident
2{|d TfiB BR^SAK UP.
' Thauk yon,' said Torp, 'I pen^Fe I might hftTe stoka
the odious scrawl six weeks ago, when I fonnd your note-
book in the forester's parlor. I had very little idea thea
of the importance of the contents to me.'
Jnst then, a: servant came to tell her. that her nnde was
waiting dinnen
'Before I go,' she said, turning to Torp, 'let me thaok
yon for the care yon have taken of that: wild cousin of mine.'
' Quite uuneeessary,' he answered ; ' I felt myself partly to
blame for what had happened,, and was glad of an oppor^
tnnity to repair the mischief I had caused.'
In the evening they met again at St. Benedict's, where
plans and arrangements were made for the breaking up of
the whole party. Captain Falkner had but one day more to
spend at home, and wished Mr. Nixon aad his family to
travel to Vienna at the same time with him, and to this no
objecUoQ could be made, as Nora' had now condnded, in a
satisfactory manner, the business that hadt bronght them to
Almenan.
' Give me but to-morrow to go once more to. Saint Hubert's,'
she said to her uncle, with a smile, ' and I am ready to start for
Vienna at any hour the ensuing day. '
'And give me,' cried John, ' give me also to-morrow, for
the hunt Lord Med way has got the General to offer me.'
* Who hunts to-morrow 7 ' asked Irene.
'Mr. John Nixon will join us, if you, have nookgeetion,?
answered Torp.
'Oh, none whatever,' she said^ 'I shall not be of the
party, as I intend to confine myaelf to target-sbooting in
future.'
Torp expressed some surprise, bat noaeof theapprobatioii
she had perhaps expected.
* And you f ' she said ' aare you to* rgoing to Vleasa with
the others ? '
THE BKEAK UP. S79
' No ; as nobody is going to marry me, I donH know
what I shoald do there at this time of year. '
' Yon had better pay yonr promised risit to the Benndorifs,'
she observed, lightly, 'and don't be too much flattered if I
say I hope you will, as I have promised to return with them
to Herrenburg.'
' That I expected, ' said Torp, laughing ; ' Waldemar will
be pardoned, and the last act of the comedy played on the
terrace overlooking the river Inn.'
'Yon are mistaken,' she said, seriously. 'During the ten
days you have been absent, he has been trying his utmost to
make me jealous, by paying attention to Nora Nixon, and
instead of piquing me, as he expected, he has convinced me
that I never really cared for him at all.'
^Indeed I ^ said Torp, so earnestly, and with such evident
interest, that she was induced to be even more explicit, and
added
' There never was any actual engagement between us, you
know. He is free, and I am free, without any further expla-
nation being' necessary.'
'And and Leonora ? ' asked Torp.
'Leonora,' she repeated. 'Are yon so intimate that you
can call her Leonora 7 '
' Oh not at all intimate, but we are second cousins, and that
gives a right, if one choose to use it.'
'She never mentioned this relationship,' observed Irene,
musingly. /
'Perhaps you did not chance to speak of me,' suggested
Torp.
On the contrary, you were frequently the subject of con-
versation.'
Torp colored violently, he feared that Nora might have
been as little reserved with her friend as he had been with
IL 24
880
THX BREAK UP.
hit. 'Then fihe told jon of her dislike to me ' he began,
after a paose.
'She told me nothing absolatelj nothing/ said Irene.
' I could not even find ont whether or not ahe liked Wald^
mar.'
Torp regained his composure, bnt his inattention to what
she afterwards said was so remarkable, that he was obliged
to apologize repeatedly, and, in the end, supposing him ia
terested in the rontes to Vienna, which were being discussed
at the tea-table, she proposed his giving an opinion on a
subject with which he was so perfectly well acquainted.
He left her, bnt it was to watch Nora and Waldemar, as
they studied a map of Tyrol together, evidently intent on
cheating Mr. Nixon into a tour through the railey of the Inn,
before they allowed him to find the road that would bring
their journey to a speedy conclusion.
WEO WINS TBI WAQKB? 181
CHAPTER XXI.
WHO WIN8 THS WAGER?
It was on a bright mild morning in autumn, that Nora
commenced her last walk through scenes that had become
alike familiar and interesting to her. The change of season
had as yet made so little alteration in the aspect of the conn*
try, that it had been almost unthonght of, and quite unper*
eeived. There were no long tracts of stubble, to remind
them of the approach of winter, for in these highlands but a
few days after the reapers have left the corn-fields, fresh grass
springs up luxuriantly, to give the* ground once more its rich
green covering ; and not unfrequently a second harvest of the
beautiful and delicate plants that belong to alpine regions.
The few white clouds that variegated the deep-blue sky, served
but to cast light and fleeting shadows on the mountains,
meadows, and woods, making the succeeding sunbeams appear
still brighter by contrast, and a light breeze gently waved the
shining gossamer thread, that hung on weed, bnsh, and
bramble, or bore it aloft, to float in wavy, endless lengths in
the air. The fed, yellow, and purple tinted leaves of the
maple and beech, contrasted well with the fresh green of the
pine and fir, and amongst the branches of the scarlet-berried
mountain ash, or the clustering fruit of the berberis, the
cheerful chirp of a bird might be heard, as if in exultation
ftt the continuance of warmth and sunshine.
They reached St. Hubert's at a later hour than on a former
occasion ; this time, however, Seppel had no prolongation in
24*
28S "WHO WINS THX WAOER?
his walk, no separation from Bosel in prospect. His happi-
ness had been made evident on the way by a succession of
whoops and shonts, and long-prolonged jodels; but, as he
approached the chapel, he became tranquil and thoughtful ;
and, on entering the little building, he knelt as reverently,
and seemed quite as fervid in prayer and thanksgiving, as
Bosel herself.
Nora turned towards the side-altar that had been renovated
by Florian, and had scarcely had time to examine the repairs
of St. Hubert's plumed hat, and the stag with the golden
cross between his antlers, when she heard some one enter the
chapel, and then, as if fearing to disturb its occupants, quickly
retire again. On looking round, she perceived Torp stand-
ing at the dpor, and instantly the idea took possession of her
mind, that some accident had occurred, and that he was come
to break it to her.
' What has happened 7' she asked anxiously, when scarcely
outside the chapel.
'Nothing nothing, I assure yon,' answered Torp, fol-
lowing her to the low wall that enclosed one side of the
ground round the building.
* Then, why are you here ?' she asked, her face still pale
with alarm.
' For the purpose of seeing and speaking to you, if yta
have no objection.'
*0h!' said Nora, recovering her color immediately. 'I
thought of nothing but that tiresome Jack when I saw yon ;
knowing he had gone ont at daybreak this morning with
you and the others, and seeing you here now, alone, led
to the hasty conclusion that something unpleasant had
occurred. '
'I am not alone,' said Torp. Walderoar is with me-^
that is, he is now at the sexton's. We agreed to leave your
cousin and Count Ferdinand the honor and glory of bringmg
WHO WINS THX WAGSB? 283
down this mach-talked-of roebuck ; so thej have gone off
with the forester and his son beyond the wild alp, and
here we are, with every intention of accompanying yon homt
whenever it is your pleasure to leave 8t. Hubert's.'
' I have only just arrived,' safd Nora ; ' but there is no*
thing to prevent our going to the sexton's if you prefer it to
remaining here. Bosel will be at no loss to know where to
find me.'
'Let us remain here,' sajd Torp, seating himself beside
her on the wall, stretching oat his feet, and folding his arms
in a very resolute manner. 'Will yoo,' he added, after a
pause, 'will you consider that I presume too much on our
relationship, or friendship, if I ask what are your plans for
the winter ?'
' By no means,' answered Nora ; 'bnt I can scarcely know
them myself yet. I believe I should like to travel if I could
find an eligible companion ; for I have no ties, no one thing,
or person, to make one place more desirable to me than an
other. Yoid return to England, of course 7'
'I don't know,' he replied, musingly; 'my movements
depend on yours, for some time at least.'
Nora felt rather curious to knOw in what way, but did iiot
deem it advisable to ask.
'If you remain abroad,' he continued, 'I shall return
home, -^ if you go to England ^^ I shall remain in Germany,
or spend the winter in Italy.* '
'An odd way of commencing our projected friendship,'
observed Nora, without looking up.
'My feelings towards you,' said Torp, earnestly, 'have
not yet subsided into friendship, and until they have, we are
better apart.' He paused, and then added, ' Yon will, pro-
bably, be induced to reside with Jane and Harry Darwin
after their marriage 7'
' Certainly not,' leplied Nora. ' I do not choose to spend
281 WHO WINfi THE WAOERf
the rest of my life in London and Paris, with sammer-excor-
sions in a yacht, as I know they intend to do. The world
of 'fashion has ever been a sonrce of danger and temptation
to the Nixon family, and I have resolved to avoid it alto*
gether.'
'There is,' said Torp, after a long pause, 'there is one
thing more which circumstances oblige me to say, some-
thing that I ought to recommend, and know not how. '
' It is difficult to imagine what it can be,' said Nora ; 'ex-
cepting, perhaps, that you know of some house to be let, or
sold ; or of some respectable widow willing to be the com-
panion of a wayward heiress. '
' I was about to speak of a respectable man who wishes
for the situation you have mentioned,' replied Torp.
Nora felt her heart beat violently, bnt the agitation sub-
sided as he continued.
' I need scarcely say that I allude to Waldemar. He has
only been a week or ten days free fhm a sort of tacit engage-
ment that has existed for a long time between him and the
Countess Schanmberg, and now fears that the reserve which
he was obh'ged to observe at the commencement of his ac-
quaintance with yon, may have prejudiced you against him.
In short, to speak plainly, he thinks that appearances may
lead you to suppose that he avoided a declaration of his
regard, until he had ascertained the amount of your fortune.'
' Are you making a proposal of marriage for your ftiend 7'
asked Nora, with forced composure.
' No,' answered Torp ; 'he is ignorant of my intentions to
speak to you about him, but I think it necessary to do so as
a sort of expiation for the injudicious advice that I gave
him some time ago. Supposing you the daughter of Gilbert
Nixon, I not only told him that your fortune would not be
sufficient to make his father overlook your want of rank, but
tried to pr^udico him against your relations, and even your-
WHO WINS THE WAaiB? S85
fdf, completing my absurd interference bj using all mv in-
fluence to indace bim to return to bis family, witb wbom I
kneir tbe Countess Scbaumberg was then staying. I bope, ^
he added, with heightened color, 'I hope you understand
the motives that have induced me to enter into this explana-
tion, and make a confession, which I am quite aware, will
not increase your regard for me.'
'It will not lessen it,' replied Nora, 'for chance has
thready made me aware of almost all you have told me.'
' Then you were not prejudiced against bim ?'
Not in the least. '
' Yet he complains of increasing reserveron your part during
the last ten days ^that is, precisely since hfi has been at liberty
to let you perceive his intentions : your preference for bim
has, however, on all occasions, been so evident, that I think
he must be mistaken. '
' He was not mistaken/ said ^ora.
Torp looked at her eagerly, inquiringly, but to bis infinite
chagrin, perceived her eyes fixed on Seppel and Rosel, as she
just then descended from the chapel.
' Have you prayed for me as yon promised, Rosel 1 ' she
asked, advancing to meet her.
' That I have 1 ' answered Bosel. ' I prayed that you
might be as happy as yon deserve to be. '
'Choose another form of prayer next time, dear girl,'
rejoined Nora, ' for I have been happy beyond my deserts
all my life.'
' Miss Nora,' interposed Seppel, a little shyly, but witb a
beaming countenance, ' I prayed for you too, and with all
my hearty that you might be as happy as you have made us.'
' Thank you,' said Nora, with a cordial smile, 'to judge
by your face at this moment, my portion of happiness would
in that case be no common one.'
286 WHO WINS THE WAOXB?
* Are yoa going, Leonora ? ' asked Torp, perceiring ber
begin to walk away with tbem.
' Are yen coming ? ' she aaked^ in retnrn, waiting nntil be
bad joined her at the gate of the enclosure.
Torp stopped there, and said resolotely, 'We were
speaking of Waldemar, Leonora, and I feel bound to tell
you what a good-hearted, excellent sort of fellow he is.'
Nora would have been annoyed, perhaps e?en irritated, at
his cool, business-like manner, had she not felt confinced
that he considered himself to be fulfilling a solemn act of
expiation. The absurdity of their mutual position struck
her, however, so forcibly, that she had some difficulty in
keeping her countenance as she replied : ' That she had nerer
doubted Count Waldemar's excellent qualities.'
' You are also aware of his present position and splendid
prospects ? '
'Perfectly.'
' Then may I ask the cause of the reserve, of which he
speaks so despondingly ?'
* Ton may not,' she answered, abruptly.
Torp opened the gate he looked very grate, almost
offended, and unwilling that they should part in anger, she
observed, as they walked towards the sexton's, 'that having
heard from the forester of Count Waldemar's engagement to
Irene Schaumberg, she had never thought of him otherwise
than as the future husband of her former friend.'
. ' Ah ! ' said Torp, ' I iindentand--'it was the constraint of
a new position.'
' There was no constraint^' said Nora, and then they walked
on in silenoe to the house, where they found. Waldemar m*
tablished, with his drawing materials before him on the rou|^
planks that formed a table.
Perhaps it was the desire to prove the absence of the sup*
posed restraint, that induced her to sit down near WaldMnar,
WHO WINfl THE WAQKB? 287
and examine a drawing that he had jnst made of the Riren
Rock. He took from his poach the portfolio she had ex-
amined at the forest-hoase, and so moch wished to possess,
and, with playful ostentation, began to place the Tarions
sketches and drawings before her.
' Will joa bay them 7 ' he asked, gaily.
' Most willingly. Name your price. '
'Answered like a rich- Englishwoman,' said Waldemar;
'but they are not to be had for gold. I believe,' he added,
while he leaned his chin on the top of his pencil, ' I believe I
once before mentioned that they were to be had for a cup of
coffee. '
' Seriously spoken 7 ' asked Nora.
' Most seriously, - but this coffee must be made by your
fair hands, and brought to me by yourself; nay, to make the
enjoyment complete, I must also request you to sit by me
while I drink it ! '
'What an odd idea ! ' exclaimed Nora. 'You had better
take into consideration, that coffee made by me will scarcely
be particularly good.'
'That is of no consequence whatever,' said Waldemar,
quickly. ' You have taken a fancy to my sketches, and I
have taken a fancy to drink coffee made by an Englishwoman.'
' If you had said tea ' began Nora.
' Perhaps I should if I had been an Englishman, and my
drawings of people and places in England ; but, for German,
and for alpine sketches, you must yourself allow that coffee
is more appropriate. '
' A cup of coffee seems to me so altogether inappropriate,'
said Nora, ' that I cannot help thinking that more is meant
than meets the ear.'
'. You cannot imagine the supreme pleasnre which a cup
of coffee, made by you, would give me ! '
' Not in the least Yon most have some hidden motive^
MS WHO WINS THE WAQSaf
or*' At this moment she turned towards Torp. He was
endcaroring to look indifferent with all his might ; bat his
face was nnnsaallj flushed as he bent over the sketches in
qaestion. Nora hesitated for a moment, looked from one to
the other, and then added, slowly, ' There is something here
that I do not understand, under such circumstances I
decline making the coffee.'
' Torp,' cried Waldemar, half laughing, 'your jealous face
has spoiled all I '
' Jealous ! ' repeated Torp ; * not at all. Not at alL
Time euough for that when you hare got the coffee. '
' Just take yourself off, will you, and let me try my powers
of persuasion alone.'
Torp made a lazy moTemeat, as if about to obey this com-
mand.
' Stay,' cried Nora. ' I now insist on knowing what yoB
both mean.'
Torp stayed, but remained silent. Waldemar closed his
drawing-book. ' My sketches, it seems, are not considered
worth even a cup of bad coffee,' be said, beginning to re*
place them in the portfolio ; ' however, I can patiently bear
the mortification for the contemplation of them will, I
hope, often afford me pleasure when drinking a cup of
good ! '
'Then,' said Nora, frankly, 'then you have not, as I
began to suppose, made me the subject of a wager. '
It was now Waldemar's turn to blush. Nora looked in
Tain to Torp for explanation, he was apparently absorbed
in the contents of the portfolio. The silence of both naturally
confirmed her suspicions and she turned, with an air of dis-
pleasure, to Waldemar, while she said, ' Most willingly would
I have tried to make coffee for you, had it been merely to
gratify an eccentric wish ; but to find myself the subject of a
wager, is so far from agreeable, that I shall certainly not as*
sist you to win it Ton have lost whaterer it may be.'
WHO WINS THS WAOSSf
'I bavf lost more than mj wager, if I eaimot pennade
yon io gratifj tbie wish of mine/ said Waldemar, graTely.
' When I now repeat my request^ it is not to gain a wager,
which I cannot deny having made with Torp the day after I
first saw yon. I desire your compliance now as a special
mark of your faror, or rather as a sign that yon like me
better than your cousin and countryman here 1 The draw-
ings are yours, at all erents ; for, if you refuse my reqnest,
after what I have just said, they will hereafter be a source
of more pain than pleasure to me. '
' This is absurd,' cried Nora, rising, and greatly annoyed
at the increasing seriousness of both her companions.
'Surely,' she added, appealing to Torp, 'surely you do not
mean to embarrass me, by attaching importance to what I
may do on this occasion J '
Now, Torp was, at the moment, looking at Waldemar'a
sketch of Nora, as she sat at the woodman's fountain ; he
BOTed it^ so that she must recognize her portrait ; and he
was conTinced she did so instantly ^for she grew very pale ;
and, as if to change the current of his thoughts, covered it
hastily with the beautifully-finished drawing of the Kerbsteia
lake and fisher-house, that she happened, at the moment, to
have in her hand. Her confusion was, however, boundless
when she perceived that Torp understood her as if she had
spoken, and said more much more ^than she had ventured
to think at the moment ; for he leaned forward, and, looking
up, said, with a significance that was not to be mistaken,
* Make the coffee for him, Nora, and you will confer a favor
on me, too I'
' Confound you, ' cried Waldemar, springing up with un-
disguised annoyance; 'this is what may be called turning
the tables with a vengeance. Coffee made at his command,
Mees Nizone, would be so little what I hoped to receive
from you, that I prefer, this time, some of that which the
sexton's wife has, probably, made for us all.'
%w
WHO WINS THE WAOIB?
He walked towards the house as she spoke, bat stopped,
when sofficiently within it, to enable him to look back nnper*
ceiled. He saw Torp stretch his hand across the table to
Nora saw hers extended in retom ; there was no perceptible
movement of Torp's lips ; his face, however, was eloquent
enough, though seen but for a moment before he bent his
head over the hand he held fast in both of his. Not one
word had been spoken.
For, it is with feelings as with waters
The shallow mnrmar, but the deep are dumb.'
' So,' muttered Waldemar, to whom this pantomime bad
been painfully intelligible, ' so I have lost her as well as my
wager. She does not know how much I love her nor Torp
either, and they never shall know. It will be very odd if I
cannot dissemble for the four-and-twenty hoars we shall still
be together.' And he returned to them, soon afterwaids,
apparently as gay as ever ; and, daring their return to the
Tillage, might have been supposed the happiest of the party.