Volume I Part 15 (1/2)
As Ellen did not resist, the Earl pressed his lips to the fair girl's brow, and ere she could at all recover from the giddy state of joy he left her in, was gone; and the first thing that aroused her from her loving reverie was the sound of his horse's hoofs clattering along the dry road to the Towers, and with a fluttering heart she sat down to re-enact the whole scene, with memory's aid. He had called her his dearest Ellen; had pledged his love with a sacred kiss; had invited her to his home,--what more did she want? The last shadow of doubt was dispelled,--she was his love, he was her choice, her own! From this delightful occupation she was disturbed, as once on a former occasion, by another visitor, who now stood before her. He had entered the apartment, and advanced almost to where she was sitting, ere she perceived him. She started up with a faint exclamation, when she recognised his features, and the words, ”Miss Ravensworth!”--”Captain L'Estrange!” broke from the two old allies who met thus in so singular and unseasonable a way. It was the meeting of two cold waves,--it was the chafing of two chill rivers! Ellen blushed crimson as she beheld her old admirer, and thought how often he had stood in that selfsame room in how different a guise. L'Estrange turned ashy pale as he thought how often and how differently that young girl had received him in this identical place. For some moments they both seemed fixed to the spot, and not a word could either speak. They both felt the constraint of the situation, and for a while were unable to overcome the _gene_ that existed between them. At last Ellen broke the ice of ceremony, and said--
”I suppose, Captain L'Estrange, I must be the first to break silence, and ask you to be seated.”
As she spoke, she herself resumed her former place on the sofa.
L'Estrange drew a chair opposite her, and sat down too. He thought to speak, but the words choked in his throat, and again silence reigned.
Each seemed to avoid the other's eye; and when, by chance, their eyes did meet,--
”The point of foeman's lance Had given a milder pang.”
”May I ask the reason of this interview, which seems so painful to you, Captain L'Estrange?”
”And can you ask, can you not guess, Ellen,--I mean Miss Ravensworth, for such is the name I suppose by which I should now address you? But you will pardon me if the old familiar name occasionally escapes me. Can you not guess the reason? It is as a peacemaker I come then. Oh, Miss Ravensworth, you cannot think how long it took me to summon resolution for this meeting! Oh! I pray Heaven it may not be in vain. I cannot bear to live at enmity with any one, least of all with one I once loved--still love--so well; and who once avowed her love to me; let us be friends; let us once more love each other.”
”I have no quarrel with you, Captain L'Estrange. I hope I have always behaved in a friendly manner. I hope always to be your friend,” said Ellen, in a cold voice.
”My friend! and nothing more? Can our relations.h.i.+p extend no further?”
For some moments Ellen was silent, and hesitated as to her reply, then in a calm collected voice she said:
”I am deeply grieved if I vex you, Captain L'Estrange. I will be your friend, but ask no more; my acquaintance with you ends with friends.h.i.+p.”
”Oh, Ellen, this from you!” exclaimed the unhappy young man. ”Have you then forgotten all? Have you forgotten what you once were to me? are all your promises forgotten? have you no more than this to say to him who was once your lover, who is so still? Oh, my lost heart!” And unable to control his feelings he hid his face in his hands.
”I have not forgotten,” replied Ellen, in a voice tremulous with emotion, for she deeply felt for the disappointed lover. ”I have not forgotten anything, nor have I forgotten how Edward L'Estrange was the first to quarrel, and when Ellen Ravensworth withdraws her love, she does so never to give it back again.”
”Have pity on me. Oh! be as you have been in happier, better days. I acknowledge my fault--deeply I repent it. Oh, Ellen, Ellen! forgive, and forget.”
”I forgive you, and from my heart. I cannot so soon forget. Besides, you ask an impossibility; my heart is no longer mine to give, even if I wished. I am no longer free even though I desired. I will be explicit, I will hide nothing. Edward L'Estrange, I love another. I love you not. I will be your friend, more I cannot, I will not be.”
”Ellen, may you never feel the pangs that now wring my heart; may you never know what it is to be deserted as I am now: yet methinks you know not him with whom you have trusted your heart; you may repent your choice yet.”
”I understand you not, Captain L'Estrange.”
”Then I will be more concise. Perhaps you are not aware it is said you are not the only lady who holds a place in Lord Wentworth's heart?
Perhaps you do not know it is whispered a fairer lady engrosses a larger share of the Earl's love than you do?”
”Captain L'Estrange, I believe it not: I deem the Earl too n.o.ble. I think too highly of his love to entertain such base thoughts of him.”
”You believe it not? What would you then say did I tell you, proud maiden, I have seen this lady? I know her, have heard her speak of him; I trust you may never have cause to feel bitterly the truth of what I tell you.”
”And what proof have I of the ingenuous nature of your story? May I not think it a lure to work on my jealousy, and gain you back the love of which I judged you unworthy?”
”Miss Ravensworth, you are severe: to prove this is not an idle fiction, but stern truth--sad reality, I will show you the young lady's portrait, the acknowledged mistress of the Earl; and it is said she only became so on a promise of marriage, should there be any liability of its becoming known.”
As he spoke Captain L'Estrange handed an exquisitely painted miniature likeness of Juana to Ellen's hands. She glanced on it with an apathetic look, as if doubtful whether to believe it, or no.
”And what proof have I this lady is Lord Wentworth's choice beyond your prejudiced word? Do not think me rude, or uncourteous in questioning your veracity; but I am a lawyer's daughter, and have been accustomed to require proofs for everything.”
”And there then they lie,” said L'Estrange, handing her a number of letters. ”Behold my proofs: I am a better lawyer than you took me for: these are letters from the Earl to Juana Ferraras; read them and then judge for yourself.”