Part 1 (2/2)
As Marston walked along the pa.s.sages which led from this room, he encountered Mrs. Marston and his daughter.
”Well,” said he, ”you have read Wynston's letter?”
”Yes,” she replied, returning it to him; ”and what answer, Richard, do you purpose giving him?”
She was about to hazard a conjecture, but checked herself, remembering that even so faint an evidence of a disposition to advise might possibly be resented by her cold and imperious lord.
”I have considered it, and decided to receive him,” he replied.
”Ah! I am afraid--that is, I hope--he may find our housekeeping such as he can enjoy,” she said, with an involuntary expression of surprise; for she had scarcely had a doubt that her husband would have preferred evading the visit of his fine friend, under his gloomy circ.u.mstances.
”If our modest fare does not suit him,” said Marston, with sullen bitterness, ”he can depart as easily as he came. We, poor gentlemen, can but do our best. I have thought it over, and made up my mind.”
”And how soon, my dear Richard, do you intend fixing his arrival?” she inquired, with the natural uneasiness of one upon whom, in an establishment whose pretensions considerably exceeded its resources, the perplexing cares of housekeeping devolved.
”Why, as soon as he pleases,” replied he, ”I suppose you can easily have his room prepared by tomorrow or next day. I shall write by this mail, and tell him to come down at once.”
Having said this in a cold, decisive way, he turned and left her, as it seemed, not caring to be teased with further questions. He took his solitary way to a distant part of his wild park, where, far from the likelihood of disturbance or intrusion, he was often wont to amuse himself for the live-long day, in the sedentary sport of shooting rabbits. And there we leave him for the present, signifying to the distant inmates of his house the industrious pursuit of his unsocial occupation, by the dropping fire that sullenly, from hour to hour, echoed from the remote woods.
Mrs. Marston issued her orders; and having set on foot all the necessary preparations for so unwonted an event as a stranger's visit of some duration, she betook herself to her little boudoir--the scene of many an hour of patient but bitter suffering, unseen by human eye, and unknown, except to the just Searcher of hearts, to whom belongs mercy--and vengeance.
Mrs. Marston had but two friends to whom she had ever spoken upon the subject nearest her heart--the estrangement of her husband, a sorrow to which even time had failed to reconcile her. From her children this grief was carefully concealed. To them she never uttered the semblance of a complaint. Anything that could by possibility have reflected blame or dishonor upon their father, she would have perished rather than have allowed them so much as to suspect. The two friends who did understand her feelings, though in different degrees, were, one, a good and venerable clergyman, the Rev. Doctor Danvers, a frequent visitor and occasional guest at Gray Forest, where his simple manners and unaffected benignity and tenderness of heart had won the love of all, with the exception of its master, and commanded even his respect. The second was no other than the young French governess, Mademoiselle de Barras, in whose ready sympathy and consolatory counsels she found no small happiness. The society of this young lady had indeed become, next to that of her daughter, her greatest comfort and pleasure.
Mademoiselle de Barras was of a n.o.ble though ruined French family, and a certain nameless elegance and dignity attested, spite of her fallen condition, the purity of her descent. She was accomplished--possessed of that fine perception and sensitiveness, and that ready power of self-adaptation to the peculiarities and moods of others, which we term tact--and was, moreover, gifted with a certain natural grace, and manners the most winning imaginable. In short, she was a fascinating companion; and when the melancholy circ.u.mstances of her own situation, and the sad history of her once rich and n.o.ble family, were taken into account, with her striking attractions of person and air, the combination of all these a.s.sociations and impressions rendered her one of the most interesting persons that could well be imagined. The circ.u.mstances of Mademoiselle de Barras's history and descent seemed to warrant, on Mrs. Marston's part, a closer intimacy and confidence than usually subsists between parties mutually occupying such a relation.
Mrs. Marston had hardly established herself in this little apartment, when a light foot approached, a gentle tap was given at the door, and Mademoiselle de Barras entered.
”Ah, mademoiselle, so kind--such pretty flowers. Pray sit down,” said the lady, with a sweet and grateful smile, as she took from the tapered fingers of the foreigner the little bouquet, which she had been at the pains to gather.
Mademoiselle sat down, and gently took the lady's hand and kissed it. A small matter will overflow a heart charged with sorrow--a chance word, a look, some little office of kindness--and so it was with mademoiselle's bouquet and gentle kiss. Mrs. Marston's heart was touched; her eyes filled with bright tears; she smiled gratefully upon her fair and humble companion, and as she smiled, her tears overflowed, and she wept in silence for some minutes.
”My poor mademoiselle,” she said, at last, ”you are so very, very kind.”
Mademoiselle said nothing; she lowered her eyes, and pressed the poor lady's hand.
Apparently to interrupt an embarra.s.sing silence, and to give a more cheerful tone to their little interview, the governess, in a gay tone, on a sudden said--
”And so, madame, we are to have a visitor, Miss Rhoda tells me--a baronet, is he not?”
”Yes, indeed, mademoiselle--Sir Wynston Berkley, a gay London gentleman, and a cousin of Mr. Marston's,” she replied.
”Ha--a cousin!” exclaimed the young lady, with a little more surprise in her tone than seemed altogether called for--”a cousin? oh, then, that is the reason of his visit. Do, pray, madame, tell me all about him; I am so much afraid of strangers, and what you call men of the world. Oh, dear Mrs. Marston, I am not worthy to be here, and he will see all that in a moment; indeed, indeed, I am afraid. Pray tell me all about him.”
She said this with a simplicity which made the elder lady smile, and while mademoiselle re-adjusted the tiny flowers which formed the bouquet she had just presented to her, Mrs. Marston good-naturedly recounted to her all she knew of Sir Wynston Berkley, which, in substance, amounted to no more than we have already stated. When she concluded, the young Frenchwoman continued for some time silent, still busy with her flowers. But, suddenly, she heaved a deep sigh, and shook her head.
”You seem disquieted, mademoiselle,” said Mrs. Marston, in a tone of kindness.
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