The Wanderer; or, Female Difficulties (Volume 5 of 5) Read online

  CHAPTER LXXXIII

  Sir Jaspar arrived late the next morning, in wrath, he said, with hisvalet, who was not yet returned with the result of his enquiries fromthe inn; but before Juliet could express any uneasiness at the delay,the farmer and his wife, in evident confusion, though with professionsof great respect, humbly besought that his honour would excuse theirmentioning, that they expected a relation, to pass some days with them,who would want the spare apartment.

  The Baronet, however displeased, humourously answered that theirrelation was mightily welcome to pass his days with them, provided hewould be so kind as to go to the neighbouring public-house to take hisdreams: but Juliet, much hurt, though with an air of dignity that madeher hosts look more abashed than herself, desired that she might notincommode the family; and entreated Sir Jaspar to convey her to thenearest town.

  Sir Jaspar, rather to confound than to gratify the farmer, flung down aguinea, which the man vainly sought to decline; and then led the way tothe carriage; at the door of which, stopping, he said, with an archsmile, that he was not yet superannuated enough to take place of a fairfemale; and desired that Mrs Betty would get in first.

  Shocked as Juliet felt to find herself thus suspiciously situated, theaffront was soon absorbed in the dread of greater evil; in the affrightof pursuit, and the dismay of being exposed to improper pecuniaryobligations.

  Not knowing the country, and not heeding the way that she went, sheconcluded that they were driving to some neighbouring village, in searchof a new lodging; till she perceived that the carriage, which was drawnby four horses, was laboriously mounting a steep acclivity.

  Looking then around her, she found herself upon a vast plain; nor house,nor human being, nor tree, nor cattle within view.

  Surprised, 'Where are we?' she cried, 'Sir Jaspar? and whither are wegoing?'

  To a quick meeting with his valet, he answered, by a difficult road,rarely passed, because out of the common track.

  They then quietly proceeded; Juliet, wrapt up in her own fears andaffairs, making no comment upon the looks of enjoyment, and contentedtaciturnity of her companion; till the groom, riding up to the window,said that the horses could go no further.

  Sir Jaspar ordered them a feed; and enquired of Juliet whether she wouldchuse, while they took a little rest, to mount on foot to the summit ofthe ascent, and examine whether any horsemen were yet within sight.

  Glad to breathe a few minutes alone, she alighted and walked forward;though slowly, and with eyes bent upon the turf; till she was struck bythe appearance of a wide ditch between a circular double bank; andperceived that she was approaching the scattered remains of some ancientbuilding, vast, irregular, strange, and in ruins.

  Excited by sympathy in what seemed lonely and undone, rather than bycuriosity, she now went on more willingly, though not less sadly; tillshe arrived at a stupendous assemblage of enormous stones, of which themagnitude demanded ocular demonstration to be entitled to credibility.Yet, though each of them, taken separately, might seem, from itsastonishing height and breadth, there, like some rock, to have beenplaced from 'the beginning of things,' and though not even the rudestsculpture denoted any vestige of human art, still the whole was clearlyno phenomenon of nature. The form, that might still be traced, of anantique structure, was evidently circular and artificial; and here andthere, supported by gigantic posts, or pillars, immense slabs of flatstone were raised horizontally, that could only by manual art and labourhave been elevated to such a height. Many were fallen; many, with grimmenace, looked nodding; but many, still sustaining their uprightdirection, were so ponderous that they appeared to have resisted all thewars of the elements, in this high and bleak situation, for ages.

  Struck with solemn wonder, Juliet for some time wandered amidst thesemassy ruins, grand and awful, though terrific rather than attractive.Mounting, then, upon a fragment of the pile, she saw that the view allaround was in perfect local harmony with the wild edifice, or ratherremains of an edifice, into which she had pierced. She discerned, to avast extent, a boundless plain, that, like the ocean, seemed to have noterm but the horizon; but which, also like the ocean, looked as desertas it was unlimited. Here and there flew a bustard, or a wheat-ear; allelse seemed unpeopled air, and uncultivated waste.

  In a state of mind so utterly deplorable as that of Juliet, this grand,uncouth monument of ancient days had a certain sad, indefinableattraction, more congenial to her distress, than all the polish, taste,and delicacy of modern skill. The beauties of Wilton seemed appendagesof luxury, as well as of refinement; and appeared to require not onlysentiment, but happiness for their complete enjoyment: while the nearlysavage, however wonderful work of antiquity, in which she was nowrambling; placed in this abandoned spot, far from the intercourse, oreven view of mankind, with no prospect but of heath and sky; blunted,for the moment, her sensibility, by removing her wide from all theobjects with which it was in contact; and insensibly calmed her spirits;though not by dissipating her reverie. Here, on the contrary, was roomfor 'meditation even to madness;' nothing distracted the sight, nothingbroke in upon attention, nor varied the ideas. Thought, uninterruptedand uncontrouled, was master of the mind.

  Here, in deep and melancholy rumination, she remained, till she wasjoined by the Baronet; who toiled after his fair charge with an eagerwill, though with slack and discourteous feet.

  'Do you divine, my beauteous Wanderer,' he cried, 'what part of theglobe you now brighten? Have you developed my stratagem to surprize youby a view of what, perhaps, you thought impossible, something curious,and worthy of attention, though more antique than myself?'

  Juliet tried, but vainly, to make a civil speech; and Sir Jaspar, afterhaving vainly awaited it, went on.

  'You picture yourself, perhaps, in the original temple of Gog and Magog?for what less than giants could have heaved stones such as these? but'tis not so; and you, who are pious, must view this spot, with bendedknees and new ideas. Dart, then, around, the "liquid lustre of thoseeyes,--so brightly mutable, so sweetly wild!"[12]--and behold in eachstony spectre, now staring you in the face, a petrified old Druid! forlearn, fair fugitive, you ramble now within the holy precincts of thatrude wonder of other days, and disgrace of modern geometry, Stonehenge.'

  [Footnote 12: Mason's Lady Coventry.]

  In almost any other frame of mind, Juliet, from various descriptions,joined to the vicinity of Salisbury, would not have required anynomenclator to have told her where she was: but she could now make noreflections, save upon her own misery; and no combinations, that werenot relative to her own dangers.

  Sir Jaspar apologized that he had not more roughly handled the farmerand his wife, for their inhospitality; and frankly owned that it was notfrom the milkiness of his nature that he had been so docile, but from anardent eagerness to visit Stonehenge with so fair a companion.

  Juliet, alarmed, demanded whether he had not taken the route by whichthey were to meet his valet?

  'I have all my life,' continued he, 'fostered, as the wish next myheart, the idea of being the object of some marvellous adventure: butfortune, more deaf, if possible, than blind! has hitherto famished allmy elevated desires, by keeping me to the strict regimen of mere commonlife. Nevertheless, to die like a brute, without leaving behind me onestaring anecdote, to be recounted by my successors to my little nephewsand nieces;--no! I cannot resolve upon so hum-drum an exit. Late,therefore, last night, I counselled with my tiny friends; and the roguestold me that those whom adventures would not seek, must seek adventures.They then suggested to me, that to visit some romantic spot, far removedfrom all living ken, or a vast unfrequented plain; where no leering eye,with deriding scrutiny, no envious ear, with prepared impertinence,could peep, or overhear;--where not even a bird could find a twig forthe sole of his paw;--there to encounter a lovely nymph; to dally withher in dulcet discourse; to feast upon the sweet notes of her melodiousvoice;--while obedient fays, and sprightly elves, should accoutre somechosen fragment with offerings appropriate to the place and
theoccasion--'

  One of his grooms, here, demanded of him a private audience.

  He retired to some distance, and the heart-oppressed Juliet relieved herstruggling feelings by weeping without controul.

  While pondering upon her precarious destiny, she perceived, through anopening between two large stones, that Sir Jaspar had placed himselfupon an eminence, where, apparently, by his gestures, he was engaged inan animated discourse.

  She concluded that the valet de chambre was arrived from the inn; but,soon afterwards, she was struck with motions so extraordinary, and by anappearance of a vivacity so extravagant, that she almost feared theimagination of the Baronet had played him false, and was superseding hisreason. She arose, and softly approaching, endeavoured to discover withwhom he was conversing; but could discern no one, and was the morealarmed; though the nearer she advanced, the less he seemed to be anobject of pity; his countenance being as bright with glee, as his handsand arms were busy with action.

  After some time, she caught his eye; when, ceasing all gesticulation, hekissed his hand, with a motion that invited her approach; and, gallantlyresigning his seat, begged her permission to take one by her side.

  He was all smiling good humour; and his features, in defiance of hisage, expressed the most playful archness. 'It is not,' he cried, 'fornothing, permit me to assure you, that I have prowled over thisdruidical spot; for though the Druids have not been so debonnaire as tore-animate themselves to address me, they have suffered a flat surfaceof their petrifaction to be covered over with a whole army of my littlefrequenters; who have dragged thither a parcel, and the Lord knows whatbesides, that they have displayed, as you see, full before me; afterwhich, with their usual familiarity, up they have been mounting to myshoulders, my throat, my ears, and my wig; and lolling all about me, inmockery of my remonstrances; saying, Harkee, old Sir!--for they use verylittle ceremony with me;--didst thou really fancy we would suffer theloveliest lily of the valley to droop without any gentle shade, underthe blazing glare of this full light, while thy aukward clown of a valettrots to the inn for her bonnet? or let her wait his plodding return,for what other drapery her fair form may require? or permit her to befamished in the open air, whilst thou art hopping and hobbling, andhobbling and hopping, about these ruins, which thou art so fastossifying to resemble? No, old Sir! look what our wands have broughthither for her! look!--but touch nothing for thy life! her own lilyhands alone must develop our fairy gifts.'

  Juliet, who, already, had observed, upon the nearest flat stone, a largeband-box, and a square new trunk, placed as supporters to an elegantJapan basket, in which were arranged various refreshments; could not,however disconcerted by attentions that she knew not how to acknowledge,prevail upon herself to damp the exaltation of his spirits, by resistinghis entreaty that she would herself lift up the lid of the trunk andopen the band-box.

  The first of these machines presented to her sight a complete smallassortment of the finest linen; the second contained a white chip bonnetof the most beautiful texture.

  This last excited a transient feeling of pleasure, in offering someshade for her face, now exposed to every eye. She looked at it,wistfully, a few minutes, anticipating its umbrageous succour; yetirresolute, and fearing to give encouragement to the too evidentadmiration of the Baronet. Her deliberation, nevertheless, seconded byher wishes, was in his favour. She passed over, in her mind, that heknew her origin, and high natural, however disputed expectations; andthat, with all his gallantry, he was not only aged and sickly, but agentleman in manners and sentiments, as much as in birth and rank oflife. He could not mean her dishonour; and to shew, since thus cast intohis hands, and loaded with obligations of long standing, as well asrecent, a voluntary confidence in his character and intentions, might,happily, from mingling a sense of honour with a sense of shame, turnaside what was wrong in his regard, and give pride and pleasure to anobler attachment, that might fix him her solid and disinterested friendfor life.

  Decided by this view of things, she thankfully consented to receive hisofferings, upon condition that he would permit her to consider him asthe banker of Lord Melbury and of Lady Aurora Granville.

  Enchanted by her acceptance, and enraptured by its manner, the firstsensation of the melted Baronet was to cast himself at her feet: but themovement was checked by certain aches and pains; while the necessity ofpicking up one of his crutches, which, in his transport, had fallen fromhis hands, mournfully called him back from his gallantry to hisinfirmities.

  At this moment, an 'Ah ha! here's the Demoiselle!--Here she is, faith!'suddenly presented before them Riley, mounted upon a fragment of thepile, to take a view around him.

  Starting, and in dread of some new horrour, Juliet looked at him aghast;while, clapping his hands, and turbently approaching her, he exclaimed,'Yes! here she is, _in propria persona_! I was afraid that she hadslipped through our fingers again! Monsieur _le cher Epoux_ will have apretty tight job of it to get her into conjugal trammels! he will,faith!'

  To the other, and yet more horrible sensations of Juliet, this speechadded a depth of shame nearly overwhelming, from the implied obloquyhanging upon the character of a wife eloping from her husband.

  Presently, however, all within was changed; re-invigourated, new strung!and joy, irresistibly, beamed from her eyes, and hope glowed upon hercheeks, as Riley related that, before he had left the inn upon the road,he had himself seen the new Mounseer, with poor Surly, who had beenseized as an accomplice, packed off together for the sea-coast, whencethey were both, with all speed, to be embarked for their own dearcountry.

  The Baronet waved his hand, in act of congratulation to Juliet, butforbore speaking; and Riley went on.

  'They made confounded wry faces, and grimaces, both of them. I never sawa grimmer couple! They amused me mightily; they did, faith! But I can'tcompliment you, Demoiselle, upon your choice of a loving partner. He hasas hang-dog a physiognomy as a Bow Street prowler might wish to lightupon on a summer's day. A most fiend-like aspect, I confess. I don'twell make out what you took to him for, Demoiselle? His Cupid's arrowsmust have been handsomely tipt with gold, to blind you to all that brassof his brow and his port.'

  Sir Jaspar, distressed for Juliet, and much annoyed by thisinterruption, however happy in the intelligence to which it was thevehicle, enquired what chance had brought Mr Riley to Stonehenge?

  The chance, he answered, that generally ruled his actions, namely, hisown will and pleasure. He had found out, in his prowls about Salisbury,that Sir Jaspar was to be followed to Stonehenge by a dainty repast;and, deeming his news well worth a bumper to the loving sea-voyagers, hehad borrowed a horse of one of Master Baronet's grooms, to take hisshare in the feast.

  The Baronet, at this hint, instantly, and with scrupulous politeness,did the honours of his stores; though he was ready to gnash his teethwith ire, at so mundane an appropriation of his fairy purposes.

  'What a rare hand you are, Demoiselle,' cried Riley, 'at hocus pocuswork! Who the deuce, with that Hebe face of yours, could have thought ofyour being a married woman! Why, when I saw you at the old Bang'em'sconcert, at Brighthelmstone, I should have taken you for aboarding-school Miss. But you metamorphose yourself about so, one doesnot know which way to look for you. Ovid was a mere fool to you. Hisnymphs, turned into trees, and rivers, and flowers, and beasts, andfishes, make such a staring chaos of lies, that one reads them without aray of reference to truth; like the tales of the Genii, or of oldMother Goose. He makes such a comical hodge podge of animal, vegetable,and mineral choppings and changes, that we should shout over them, asour brats do at a puppet-shew, when old Nick teaches punchinello thedevil's dance down to hell; or pummels his wife to a mummy; if it werenot for the sly rogue's tickling one's ears so cajolingly with thejingle of metre. But Demoiselle, here, scorns all that namby pambywork.'

  Sir Jaspar tried vainly to call him to order; the embarrassment ofJuliet operated but as a stimulus to his caustic humour.

  'I have met with nothing like her,
Master Baronet,' he continued, 'allthe globe over. Neither juggler nor conjuror is a match for her. She canmake herself as ugly as a witch, and as handsome as an angel. She'llanswer what one only murmurs in a whisper; and she won't hear a word,when one bawls as loud as a speaking-trumpet. Now she turns herself intoa vagrant, not worth sixpence; and now, into a fine player and singerthat ravishes all ears, and might make, if it suited her fancy, athousand pounds at her benefit: and now, again, as you see, you can'ttell whether she's a house-maid, or a country girl! yet a devilish finecreature, faith! as fine a creature as ever I beheld,--when she's inthat humour! Look but what a beautiful head of hair she's displaying tous now! It becomes her mightily. But I won't swear that she does notchange it, in a minute or two, for a skull-cap! She's a droll girl,faith! I like her prodigiously!'

  Utterly disconcerted, Juliet, expressively bowing to the Baronet, liftedup the lid of the band-box, and, encircling her head in his bonnet,begged his permission to re-seat herself in the chaise.

  Charmed with the prospect of another tete a tete, Sir Jaspar, withalacrity, accompanied her to the carriage; leaving Riley to enjoy, athis leisure, the cynical satisfaction, of having worried a timid deerfrom the field.

  Still, however, Juliet, while uncertain whether the embarkation mightnot be eluded, desired to adhere to her plan of privacy and obscurity;and the Baronet would not struggle against a resolution from which hehoped to reap the fruit of lengthened intercourse. Pleased andwillingly, therefore, he told his postilion to drive across the plainto ----, whence they proceeded post to Blandford.

  Great was the relief afforded to the feelings of Juliet, by a removal soexpeditious from the immediate vicinity of the scene of her sufferings;but she considered it, at the same time, to be a circumstance to obviateall necessity, and, consequently, all propriety of further attendancefrom the Baronet: here, therefore, to his utter dismay, with firmness,though with the gentlest acknowledgements, she begged that they mightseparate.

  Cruelly disappointed, Sir Jaspar warmly remonstrated against the dangerof her being left alone; but the possible hazards which might be annexedto acting right, could not deter her from the certain evil of actingwrong. Her greatest repugnance was that of being again forced to acceptpecuniary aid; yet that, which, however disagreeable, might be refunded,was at least preferable to the increase and continuance of obligations,which, besides their perilous tendency, could never be repaid. Already,upon opening the band-box, she had seen a well furnished purse; andthough her first movement had prompted its rejection, the decision ofnecessity was that of acceptance.

  When Sir Jaspar found it utterly impossible to prevail with his faircompanion still to bear that title, he expostulated against leaving her,at least, in a public town; and she was not sorry to accept his offer ofconveying her to some neighbouring village.

  It was still day-light, when they arrived within the picturesque view ofa villa, which Juliet, upon enquiry, heard was Milton-abbey. She soondiscovered, that the scheme of the Baronet, to lengthen their sojournwith each other, was to carry her to see the house: but this sheabsolutely refused; and her seriousness compelled him to drive to aneighbouring cottage; where she had the good fortune to meet with aclean elderly woman, who was able to accommodate her with a smallchamber.

  Here, not without sincere concern, she saw the reluctance, even tosadness, with which her old admirer felt himself forced to leave his toolovely young friend: and what she owed to him was so important, somomentous, that she parted from him, herself, with real regret, and withexpressions of the most lively esteem and regard.