The Wanderer; or, Female Difficulties (Volume 1 of 5)

by Fanny Burney

  CHAPTER XII

  Selina, regarding herself as a free agent, since Ireton professed arespect for Ellis that made him ashamed of his former doubts, flew, thenext morning, to the chamber of that young person, to talk over theplay, Lord Melbury, and Lady Aurora Granville: but found her _protegee_absorbed in deep thought, and neither able nor willing to converse.

  When the family assembled to breakfast, Mrs Maple declared that she hadnot closed her eyes the whole night, from the vexation of havingadmitted such an unknown Wanderer to sup at her table, and to mix withpeople of rank.

  Elinor was wholly silent.

  They were not yet separated, when Lady Aurora Granville and Mrs Howelcalled to renew their thanks for the entertainment of the precedingevening.

  'But Miss Ellis?' said Lady Aurora, looking around her, disappointed; 'Ihope she is not more indisposed?'

  'By no means. She is quite well again,' answered Mrs Maple, in haste todestroy a disposition to pity, which she thought conferred undue honourupon the stranger.

  'But shall we not have the pleasure to see her?'

  'She ... generally ... breakfasts in her own room,' answered Mrs Maple,with much hesitation.

  'May I, then,' said Lady Aurora, going to the bell, 'beg that somebodywill let her know how happy I should be to enquire after her health?'

  'Your Ladyship is too good,' cried Mrs Maple, in great confusion, andpreventing her from ringing; 'but Miss Ellis--I don't know why--is sofond of keeping her chamber, that there is no getting her out of it ...some how.--'

  'Perhaps, then, she will permit me to go up stairs to her?'

  'O no, not for the world! besides ... I believe she has walked out.'

  Lady Aurora now applied to Selina, who was scampering away upon acommission of search; when Mrs Maple, following her, privately insistedthat she should bring back intelligence that Miss Ellis was takensuddenly ill.

  Selina was forced to comply, and Lady Aurora with serious concern, toreturn to Brighthelmstone ungratified.

  Mrs Maple was so much disconcerted by this incident, and so nettled ather own perplexed situation, that nothing saved Ellis from an abruptdismission, but the representations of Mrs Fenn, that some fine work,which the young woman had just begun, would not look of a piece iffinished by another hand.

  The next morning, the breakfast party was scarcely assembled, when LordMelbury entered the parlour. He had ridden over, he said, to enquireafter the health of Miss Ellis, in the name of his sister, who would doherself the pleasure to call upon her, as soon as she should besufficiently recovered to receive a visit.

  Elinor was struck with the glow of satisfaction which illumined the faceof Harleigh, at this reiterated distinction. A glow of a far differentsort flushed that of Mrs Maple, who, after various ineffectual evasions,was constrained to say that she hoped Miss Ellis would be well enough toappear on the morrow. And, to complete her provocation, she was reduced,when Lord Melbury was gone, to propose, herself, that Selina should lendthe girl a gown, and what else she might require, for being seen, onceagain, without involving them all in shame.

  Ellis, informed by Selina of these particulars, shed a torrent ofgrateful tears at the interest which she had thus unexpectedly excited;then, reviving into a vivacity which seemed to renew all the pleasurethat she had experienced on the night of the play, she diligentlyemployed herself in appropriating the attire which Selina supplied forthe occasion.

  Mrs Maple, now, had no consolation but that the stay of Lady Aurora inthe neighbourhood would be short, as that young lady and her brotherwere only at Brighthelmstone upon a visit to the Honourable Mrs Howel;who, having a capital mansion upon the Steyne, resided there thegreatest part of the year.

  Mrs Howel accompanied her young guest to Lewes the following morning.Miss Ellis was enquired for without delay, and as Mrs Maple would sufferno one to view her chamber, she was summoned into the drawing-room.

  She entered it with a blush of bright pleasure upon her cheeks; yet witheyes that were glistening, and a bosom that seemed struggling withsighs. Lady Aurora hastened to meet her, uttering such kind expressionsof concern for her indisposition, that Ellis, with charmed sensibility,involuntarily advanced to embrace her; but rapidly, and with timidshame, drew back, her eyes cast down, and her feelings repressed. LadyAurora, perceiving the design, and its check, instantly held out herhand, and smilingly saying, 'Would you cheat me of this kindness?' ledher to a seat next to her own upon a sofa.

  The eyes of the stranger were not now the only ones that glistened.Harleigh could not see her thus benignly treated, or rather, as heconceived, thus restored to the treatment to which she had beenaccustomed, and which he believed her to merit, without feeling tearsmoisten his own.

  With marked civility, though not with the youthful enthusiasm of LadyAurora, Mrs Howel, also, made her compliments to Miss Ellis. LordMelbury arrived soon afterwards, and, the first ceremonies over, devotedhis whole attention to the same person.

  O powerful prejudice! thought Harleigh; what is judgment, and where isperception in your hands? The ladies of this house, having first seenthis charming Incognita in tattered garments, forlorn, desolate, anddistressed; governed by the prepossession thus excited of herinferiority, even, to this moment, either neglect or treat her harshly;not moved by the varied excellencies that should create gentler ideas,nor open to the interesting attractions that might give them morepleasure than they could bestow! While these visitors, hearing that sheis a young lady of family, and meeting her upon terms of equality, find,at once, that she is endowed with talents and accomplishments for thehighest admiration, and with a sweetness of manners, and powers ofconversation, irresistibly fascinating.

  The visit lasted almost the whole morning, during which he observed,with extreme satisfaction, not only that the dejection of Ellis woreaway, but that a delight in the intercourse seemed reciprocating betweenherself and her young friends, that gave new beauty to her countenance,and new spirit to her existence.

  When the visitors rose to be gone, 'I cannot tell you, Miss Ellis,'said Lady Aurora, 'how happy I shall be to cultivate your acquaintance.Will you give me leave to call upon you for half an hour to morrow?'

  Ellis, with trembling pleasure, cast a fearful glance at Mrs Maple, whohastily turned her head another way. Ellis then gratefully acceded tothe proposal.

  'Miss Ellis, I hope,' said Mrs Howel, in taking leave, 'will permit me,also, to have some share of her society, when I have the honour toreceive her at Brighthelmstone.'

  Ellis, touched, enchanted, could attempt no reply beyond a courtesy, andstole, with a full heart, and eyes overflowing, to her chamber, theinstant that they left the house.

  Mrs Maple was now in a dilemma which she would have deemed terriblebeyond all comparison, but from what she experienced the followingminute, when the butler put upon the table a handful of cards, left bythe groom of Mrs Howel, amongst which Mrs Maple perceived the name ofMiss Ellis, mingled with her own, and that of the Miss Joddrels, in aninvitation to a small dancing-party on the ensuing Thursday.

  'This exceeds all!' she cried: 'If I don't get rid of this wretch, shewill bring me into universal disgrace! she shall not stay another day inmy house.'

  'Has she, Madam, for a single moment,' said Harleigh, with quickness,'given you cause to repent your kind assistance, or reason to harbourany suspicion that you have not bestowed it worthily?'

  'Why, you go beyond Elinor herself, now, Mr Harleigh! for even she, yousee, does not ask me to keep her any longer.'

  'Miss Joddrel,' answered Harleigh, turning with an air of gentleness tothe mute Elinor, 'is aware how little a single woman is allowed to actpublicly for herself, without risk of censure.'

  'Censure?' interrupted Elinor, disdainfully, 'you know I despise it!'

  He affected not to hear her, and continued, 'Miss Joddrel leaves,therefore, Madam, to your established situation in life, the protectionof a young person whom circumstances have touchingly cast upon yourcompassion, and who seems as innocent as sh
e is indigent, and as formed,nay elegant in her manners, as she is obscure and secret in her name andhistory. I make not any doubt but Miss Joddrel would be foremost tosustain her from the dangers of lonely penury, to which she seemsexposed if deserted, were my brother already--' He approached Elinor,lowering his voice; she rose to quit the room, with a look of deepresentment; but could not first escape hearing him finish his speechwith 'as happy as I hope soon to see him!'

  'Ah, Mr Harleigh,' said Mrs Maple, 'when shall we bring that to bear?'

  'She never pronounces a positive rejection,' answered Harleigh, 'yet Imake no progress in my peace-offerings.'

  He would then have entered more fully upon that subject, in the hope ofescaping from the other: Mrs Maple, however, never forgot her anger butfor her interest; and Selina was forced to be the messenger ofdismission.

  She found Ellis so revived, that to destroy her rising tranquillitywould have been a task nearly impossible, had Selina possessed as muchconsideration as good humour. But she was one amongst the many in whomreflection never precedes speech, and therefore, though sincerely sorry,she denounced, without hesitating, the sentence of Mrs Maple.

  Ellis was struck with the deepest dismay, to be robbed thus of allrefuge, at the very moment when she flattered herself that new friends,perhaps a new asylum, were opening to her. Whither could she now wander?and how hope that others, to whom she was still less known, would escapethe blasting contagion, and believe that distress might be guiltlessthough mysterious? A few shillings were all that she possessed; and shesaw no prospect of any recruit. Elinor had not once spoken to her sincethe play; and the childish character, even more than the extreme youthof Selina, made it seem improper, in so discarded a state, to accept anysuccour from her clandestinely. Nevertheless, the awaited letter was notyet arrived; the expected friend had not yet appeared. How, then, quitthe neighbourhood of Brighthelmstone, where alone any hope of receivingeither still lingered? The only idea that occurred to her, was that ofthrowing herself upon the compassion of her new acquaintances,faithfully detailing to them her real situation at Mrs Maple's, andappealing to their generosity to forbear, for the present, all enquiryinto its original cause.

  This determined, she anxiously desired, before her departure, torestore, if she could discover their owner, the anonymous bank-notes,which she was resolute not to use; and, hearing the step of Harleighpassing her door in descending the stairs, she hastened after him, withthe little packet in her hand.

  Turning round as he reached the hall, and observing, with pleasedsurprise, her intention to speak to him, he stopt.

  'You have been so good to me, Sir,' she said, 'so humane and soconsiderate, by every possible occasion, that I think I may venture tobeg yet one more favour of you, before I leave Lewes.'

  Her dejected tone extremely affected him, and he waited her explanationwith looks that were powerfully expressive of his interest in herwelfare.

  'Some one, with great, but mistaken kindness,' she continued, 'hasimagined my necessities stronger than my ...' She stopt, as if at a lossfor a word, and then, with a smile, added, 'my pride, others, perhaps,will say; but to me it appears only a sense of right. If, however, mylengthened suspense forces me to require more assistance of this sortthan I already owe to the Miss Joddrels, and to the benevolent Admiral,I shall have recourse to the most laborious personal exertions, ratherthan spread any further the list of my pecuniary creditors.'

  Harleigh did not, or seemed not to understand her, yet would not resisttaking the little packet, which she put into his hands, saying, 'I havesome fear that this comes from Mr Ireton; I shall hold myselfinexpressibly obliged to you, Sir, if you will have the goodness toclear up that doubt for me; and, should it prove a fact, to return it tohim with my thanks, but the most positive assurance that its acceptanceis totally impossible.'

  Harleigh looked disturbed, yet promised to obey.

  'And if,' cried she, 'you should not find Mr Ireton to be my creditor,you may possibly discover him in a person to whom I owe far otherservices, and unmingled esteem. And should that be the case, say to him,I beg, Sir, that even from him I must decline an obligation of thissort, though my debts to him of every other, are nearly as innumerableas their remembrance will be indelible.'

  She then hastened away, leaving Harleigh impressed with such palpableconcern, that she could no longer doubt that the packet was alreadydeposited with its right owner.

  He passed into the garden, and she was going back, when, at the entranceof the breakfast-parlour, she perceived Elinor, who seemed sternlyoccupied in observing them.

  Ellis courtsied, and stood still. Elinor moved not, and was gloomilysilent.

  Struck with her mien, her stillness, and her manner, Ellis, in a fearfulvoice, enquired after her health; but received a look so indignant, yetwild, that, affrighted and astonished, she retreated to her chamber.

  As she turned round upon entering it, to shut herself in, immediatelybefore her stood Elinor.

  She looked yet paler, and seemed in a sort of stupor. Ellis respectfullyheld open the door, but she did not advance: the fury, however, of heraspect was abated, and Ellis, in a voice condolingly soft, asked whethershe might hope that Miss Joddrel would, once more, condescend to sitwith her before her departure.

  At these words Elinor seemed to shake herself, and presently, though ina hollow tone, pronounced, 'Are you then going?'

  Ellis plaintively answered Yes!

  'And ... with whom?' cried Elinor, raising her eyes with a glance offire.

  'With no one, Madam. I go alone.'

  This answer was uttered with a firmness that annulled all suspicion ofdeceit.

  Elinor appeared again to breathe.

  'And whither?' she demanded, 'whither is it you go?'

  'I know not, alas!--but I mean to make an attempt at Howel Place.'

  The countenance of Elinor now lost its rigidity, and with a cry almostof extacy, she exclaimed, 'Upon Lord Melbury?--your new admirer? O go tohim!--hasten to him!--dear, charming Ellis, away to him at once!--'

  Ellis, half smiling, answered, 'No, Madam; I go to Lady AuroraGranville.'

  Elinor, without replying, left the room; but, quick in action as inidea, returned, almost instantly, loaded with a packet of clothes.

  'Here, most beautiful Ophelia!' she cried, 'look over this trumpery. Youknow how skilfully you can arrange it. You must not appear todisadvantage before dear little Lord Melbury.'

  Ellis now, nearly offended, drew back.

  'O, I know I ought to be excommunicated for giving such a hint,' criedElinor, whose spirits were rather exalted than recovered; 'though everybody sees how the poor boy is bewitched with you: but you delicatesentimentalists are never yourselves to suspect any danger, till the menare so crazy 'twould be murder to resist them; and then, you know,acceptance is an act of mere charity.'

  Ellis laughed at her raillery, yet declined her wardrobe, saying thatshe had resolved upon frankly stating to Lady Aurora, all that she wasable to make known of her situation.

  'Well, that's more romantic,' returned Elinor, 'and so 'twill be moretouching; especially to the little peer; for as you won't say who youare, he can do no less than, like Selina, conclude you to be a princessin disguise; and that, as you know, will bring the match so properlyforward, that parents, and uncles, and guardians, and all thosesupernumeraries of the creation, will learn the business only just intime to drown themselves.'

  Ellis heard this with a calmness that shewed her superior to offeringany vindication of her conduct; and Elinor more gently added, 'Now don'tconstrue all this into either a sneer or a reprimand. If you imagine mean enemy to what the old court call unequal connexions, you do meegregious injustice. I detest all aristocracy: I care for nothing uponearth but nature; and I hold no one thing in the world worth living forbut liberty! and liberty, you know, has but two occupations,--pluckingup and pulling down. To me, therefore, 'tis equally diverting, to see abeggar swell into a duchess, or a duchess dwindle into a beggar.'
/>   Ellis tried to smile, but felt shocked many ways; and Elinor, gay, now,as a lark, left her to get ready for Howel Place.

  While thus employed, a soft tap called her to the door, where sheperceived Harleigh.

  'I will detain you,' he said, 'but a moment. I can find no owner foryour little packet; you must suffer it, therefore, still to encumberyou; and should any accident, or any transient convenience, make itscontents even momentarily useful to you, do not let any idea of itshaving ever belonged to Mr Ireton impede its employment: I have examinedthat point thoroughly, and I can positively assure you, that he has notthe least knowledge even of its existence.'

  As she held back from taking it, he put it upon a step before the door,and descended the stairs without giving her time to answer.

  She did not dare either to follow or to call him, lest Elinor shouldagain appear; but she felt convinced that the bank-notes were his own,and became less uneasy at a short delay, though equally determined uponrestitution.

  She was depositing them in her work-bag, when Selina came jumping intothe room. 'O Ellis,' she cried, 'I have the best news in the world foryou! Aunt Maple fell into the greatest passion you ever saw, at hearingyou were going to Howel Place. "What!" says she, "shall I let herdisgrace me for ever, by making known what a poor Wanderer I have takeninto my house, and permitted to eat at my table? It would be a thing toruin me in the opinion of the whole world." So then, after the greatestfuss that ever you knew in your life, she said you should not be turnedaway till Lady Aurora was gone.'

  Ellis, however, hurt by this recital, rejoiced in the reprieve.

  The difficulties, nevertheless, of Mrs Maple did not end here; the nextmorning she received a note from Mrs Howel, with intelligence that LadyAurora Granville was prevented from making her intended excursion, by avery violent cold; and to entreat that Mrs Maple would use her interestwith Miss Ellis, to soften Her Ladyship's disappointment, by spendingthe day at Howel Place; for which purpose Mrs Howel begged leave to sendher carriage, at an early hour, to Lewes.

  Mrs Maple read this with a choler indescribable. She would have sentword that Ellis was ill, but she foresaw an endless embarrassment frominquiring visits; and, after the most fretful, but fruitlesslamentations, passionately declared that she would have nothing more todo with the business, and retired to her room; telling Elinor that shemight answer Mrs Howel as she pleased, only charging her to take uponherself all responsibility of consequences.

  Elinor, enchanted, fixed upon two o'clock for the arrival of thecarriage; and Ellis, who heard the tidings with even exquisite joy,spent the intermediate time in preparations, for which she no longerdeclined the assisting offers of Elinor, who, wild with renovatedspirits, exhorted her, now in raillery, now in earnest, but always withagitated vehemence, to make no scruple of going off with Lord Melbury toGretna Green.

  When the chaise arrived, Mrs Maple restless and curious, suddenlydescended; but was filled with double envy and malevolence, at sight ofthe look of pleasure which Ellis wore; but which gave to Harleigh asatisfaction that counter-balanced his regret at her quitting the house.

  'I have only one thing to mention to you, Mrs Ellis,' said Mrs Maple,with a gloomy scowl; 'I insist upon it that you don't say one syllableto Mrs Howel, nor to Lady Aurora, about your meanness, and lowcondition, and that ragged state that we found you in, patched, andblacked, and made up for an object to excite pity. Mind that! for if yougo to Howel Place only to make out that I have been telling a parcel ofstories, I shall be sure to discover it, and you shall repent it as longas you live.'

  Ellis seemed tempted to leave the room without condescending to make anyreply; but she checked herself, and desired to understand more clearlywhat Mrs Maple demanded.

  'That there may be only one tale told between us, and that you will besteady to stand to what I have said, of your being a young lady of goodfamily, who came over with me from France.'

  Ellis, without hesitation, consented; and Harleigh handed her to thechaise, Mrs Maple herself not knowing how to object to that civility, asthe servants of Mrs Howel were waiting to attend their lady's guest.'How happy, how relieved,' cried he, in conducting her out, 'will youfeel in obtaining at last, a little reprieve from the narrow prejudicewhich urges this cruel treatment!'

  'You must not encourage me to resentment,' cried she, smiling, 'butrather bid me, as I bid myself, when I feel it rising, subdue it byrecollecting my strange--indefinable situation in this family!'