CHAPTER III.
"The Earl was a wrathful man to see." _Lay of the Last Minstrel._
A few doors from the Ravensworths lived a gentleman named Lennox. As hisname argued, he was descended from a good stock, but his family hadgradually sunk in the scale of life till he was glad to accept asituation in His Majesty's Revenue Office at Edinburgh. Mr. Lennox wascertainly gifted in his personal appearance, but this was in a way muchlessened by his intolerable conceit. It is not often that we find bigmen consequential, but Mr. Lennox was the "_exceptio regulam probat_."He was conceited of himself, and his height, and looks. He was conceitedof his name, being distantly connected with the Duke of Richmond. He wasconceited of his family, which consisted of several rather dashinggirls, the rear brought up by an infant "son and heir," as he ratherostentatiously informed the world through the papers. He walked as ifthe ground was not good enough for him, he spoke as if his word must belaw: and, like all his class, though dogmatical in the extreme, was notoften right,--when he did happen to be so, one never heard the end ofit. Still with all his foibles he was gentlemanly, and had long been afriend of the Ravensworths; he liked, too, to have an occasional_tete-a-tete_ with the fair Ellen, whom he fancied as much pleased byhis assiduous court, as he was by her lightest smile. Mr. Lennox was agreat man in his county, being a Justice of the Peace, and remarkablefor his rigorous sentences; for, being strictly moral himself, he had nopity on the erring. He was a great man in his village, the author andfinisher of all improvements, the chairman of every public meeting; hewas also a great man in his church, being copartner in thechurchwardenship with Mr. Ravensworth, who allowed him almost entirelyto manage things his own way. This office afforded him an excuse toguide his feet oftener towards Seaview than he could otherwise havedone. On the Sunday following the events narrated in our last chapter,Mr. Lennox, Mr. Ravensworth, and near them Johnny, might have been seenstanding on the steps of the Episcopal church. The two former conversedtogether on some real or fancied improvement Mr. Lennox wanted tointroduce in the stove department of the church. Afternoon service hadbeen over some time; Ellen, Maude, and their guest had already gonehome, leaving Johnny to follow with his father. The clerk stood, key inhand, respectfully waiting Mr. Lennox's pleasure. Having brought Mr.Ravensworth at last to his own way of thinking, Mr. Lennox ordered theclerk to lock the gates, and himself pompously bestowed the key in hispocket, and the three were proceeding homewards, when they heard theroll of wheels, and looking round, saw a dashing-looking young man, ofabout four-and-twenty, drive up to the church in a drag drawn by a pairof fiery bays. As he drew up the impetuous horses, the groom behindleaped down and attempted to open the gates, which were, however, as ourreaders know, locked. Mr. Lennox, seeing the young man's dilemma,hastened back, followed by Mr. Ravensworth and Johnny.
"Could you oblige me," said the stranger, "by telling me where thechurchwarden lives?"
"You could not have applied to a better person than to me, as I myselfhappen to be that officer," replied Mr. Lennox, drawing himself up tohis full height, and laying peculiar stress on the word "officer." "Ihave the keys," he continued, "and can at once accommodate you withseats, if that was your object."
"I merely wished your name and address, sir," replied the young man; "Iam hurried now, and have no time to waste, but if you could let me knowwhere to find you to-morrow, and would wait for me between twelve andone o'clock, I would then look over the seats."
"I am sorry that official duties will prevent me from having thatpleasure, but my friend and copartner in office here, Mr. Ravensworth,will I am sure. You do not go to town on Monday I think, Ravensworth?"
"I do not,--and I shall have much pleasure in waiting for you," said Mr.Ravensworth, at the same time handing his card.
"Ha! thanks; I shall be punctual,--remember, between twelve and one.Good day, gentlemen." Taking off his hat, and gathering the reinstogether, he whipped up his impatient horses, and was gone,--the groomswinging himself up, as the drag sprang away, with great nimbleness,much to Johnny's admiration, leaving them all in wonder as to who hecould be.
"Mark my words, sir," said Mr. Lennox, "that young man is no commonperson."
"Indeed! do you think so? Well, I fancy he is merely some young man offortune, who can drive a dashing trap,--probably one of the 7th, now atJock's Lodge; I hear they are a very crack regiment."
"Think so? I am sure of it; his appearance, his equipage, his commandingway of speaking,--all argued birth; he is not unlike my cousin, LordGeorge Lennox."
"Every good-looking man is like that cousin of yours," said Mr.Ravensworth, laughing; "but here we are at my house; I will let you knowto-morrow who he is,--your swans generally turn out geese."
"Let him laugh that wins," said Mr. Lennox, as he walked on. "I wouldstake ten to one he is none of your parvenus."
Next morning the conversation at the Ravensworth breakfast-table ran agood deal on this unknown stranger. As it was the first Monday in themonth, and consequently a holiday, Johnny repaired to the backdrawing-room, whence he had an extended view of the road each way.Though he went there professedly to read, in reality he went there as awatchman for the expected carriage. It was then only a little after ten,and the earliest time he had named was not till twelve; yet Johnny castmany a wistful glance along the road. L'Estrange had an engagement atQueensferry, and had driven off already. Mr. Ravensworth went to hisstudy, and Maude a walk in the country with some schoolfellows, so thatJohnny and Ellen had the room all to themselves. Slowly the clock on thestairs struck the passing hours,--at length twelve struck.
"Now," said Johnny, "he may be here at any minute, Ellen. Here he is, Ihear wheels."
But Johnny was doomed to disappointment, it was only the London coach.Many other carriages raised his hopes falsely, while the long hourdragged its slow length through: one struck,--Johnny's face fell. "Ibelieve, after all, he won't come,--stay, here he comes atlast,--really, Nelly,--look what a fine drag he is driving, and quitedifferent horses, too,--what beauties! I will run and tell papa."
Ellen, without rising from the sofa, glanced to see the wonderfulstranger, for it was on _him_ rather than the horses he drove, that shenaturally looked. The drag stopped at the door, and the same nimbleservant lightly stepped down and rang the bell. Meantime Johnny hadflown to his father's study with the news: "Come, papa, quick, he'swaiting!"
"Gently, my boy, gently! I have not even been apprised of his presenceyet--he will perhaps step in; what is all this excitement about?"
"May I come to the church?"
"We will see, perhaps the gentleman may not wish it."
At this moment Mr. Ravensworth's page, with open eyes, came in bringinga card in his hand, and saying the gentleman would not come in. Mr.Ravensworth gave a perceptible start when he saw the name; and, hastilyputting on his hat and gloves, advanced to the carriage.
"I must apologise for keeping you waiting, my Lord, so long."
"Not at all, Mr. Ravensworth, not at all, I have not been a minute. Stepin and I will drive you to the church. Is that your son?" pointing toJohnny, who had crept after his father.
"My son, Johnny."
"Jump in, my boy, you will like a ride too," continued the stranger.
Johnny jumped in, hardly knowing where he was; the talismanic word "myLord" had not escaped his ears, and he did not know how to thank hisLordship, so he thought silence was his best policy. He felt not alittle proud also as he swept by and past several schoolfellows at theturning of the road. They in their turn stared at him not a little.While they are driving we must return to Ellen, who had been muchsurprised to see them drive off; she stole down stairs to see if shecould find out who he was. On the hall table lay a card--could shebelieve her eyes?--there it was neatly engraved "Earl of Wentworth." Itis like an intervention of Providence, thought the romantic girl, as sheran with the card upstairs to her own room, and in the giddiness of herfirst excitement actually pressed it to her lips. He had touched it! Shehad
seen him too, as he turned round to welcome her father andbrother,--she had seen the noble countenance, the stately form,--he wasthe embodying of her airy thoughts, the reality of all her day-dreams.One glance was all she took, but that glance, momentary as the lightningflash, yet terrific in its effects as the bolt of heaven, seemed to havescorched her very heart. That moment had done the work of years, and shefelt that eternity was itself too short "to efface the blight andblackening which it left behind."
By this time our party had entered the church, and the Earl had at onceset his fancies on a large square pew, curiously enough facing the oneMr. Ravensworth occupied. Of course he knew nothing of this, thoughgreat events sprang from that chance. Lord Wentworth said he should senda carpenter to do it up a little, and he then drove them back toSeaview, and dropped them with a "Good-bye, Mr. Ravensworth--good-bye,Johnny, my boy! I will call then next Saturday, same hour, and see how Ilike the improvements."
"How provoked Lennox will be at missing this," thought Mr. Ravensworthas he entered his house; "we shall never hear the end of his chanceprediction."
True to his word, Mr. Lennox looked in upon them that evening, and atonce inquired who the stranger was.
"You were right, Lennox; who do you think it was?"
"I am sure I cannot tell; one of the Duke's sons?"
"No, guess again."
"Bother guessing, tell me who it was."
"The Earl of Wentworth," said Ellen, blushing crimson.
"The Earl of Wentworth!--never tell me again I am not a judge ofcharacter! The Earl of Wentworth! I knew he was somebody, I am no fool;I can tell rank even in beggars' garb," said the proud man. "And whatsort of man is he?" he continued; "from my penetration of character Ishould say an easy-going, nice fellow."
"Right," burst in Johnny, "he is such a jolly chap!"
"Young man," answered his mentor, "never let me hear you call a beltedEarl a 'jolly chap' again; it is disrespectful; 'honour to whom honouris due,' remember that."
Mr. Lennox stayed for tea, and during all the evening nothing else wasspoken of but Lord Wentworth, and Mr. Lennox's judgment of faces, atopic he was never tired of introducing. Ellen made Johnny recount overand over the very conversations of the Earl, and took no pains toconceal from L'Estrange that his star had set; so it was well for him heleft early next day for a week's shooting across the river. Mr. Lennoxduring the whole week daily inspected the refitting of the Earl's pew,and gave many suggestions, and proposed little alterations he felt surewould very much please his lordship. We shall see by-and-by in whatspirit they were received. The week, to Ellen, wore very slowly away; atlast the long-wished-for day dawned when she was again to gratify herfatal wishes, and see him once more. A short time before the hour LordWentworth was expected Mr. Lennox made his appearance at Seaview, inorder, as he said, to ask Mr. Ravensworth's opinion on a will, butreally in hopes he might be asked by the Earl to accompany him in hiscarriage; and he thought with pride how he would be complimented on histaste, and even told Mr. Ravensworth so as he perused the law-papers,not even crediting his real motive. Johnny took his seat at the window;and no watchman ever looked out more attentively for the enemy than hedid to catch the first glimpse of the carriage. Ellen was reading a bookin an abstracted way, and her eye often wandered from its pages to theroad; too often not to show her heart was not with her book.
He came at last; but to Johnny's surprise, and not a little to hischagrin, not in the drag, but seated on a fine horse, while a short waybehind rode his favourite servant on a horse almost equally magnificent.Ellen was, however, charmed at the manner he managed his fiery steed,which showed his fine figure off to perfection. "L'Estrange was right,"she thought, "he is handsome--he is!" Johnny had in the meantimeacquainted his father with the Earl's arrival.
"Did he drive here, Johnny?"
"No," Johnny replied, discontentedly, "he is only riding to-day."
"Confound it!" slipped out of Mr. Lennox's lips, before he could arrestthe words, as he thus saw his hoped-for drive vanish, "however," hesaid, "if his lordship is riding, I shall have the pleasure ofaccompanying you both, Mr. Ravensworth."
By this time Lord Wentworth had pulled up, and throwing his reins toPhilip, himself dismounted and rang the bell. He had not long to wait;almost instantly the door was opened by the officious Mr. Lennox, whomade his profoundest bow, and asked after his lordship's health.
Refusing an invitation to luncheon, to Ellen's extreme vexation, heproposed instantly walking to the church.
"Philip, lead my horse along,--unless, youngster," (addressing Johnny),"you like a ride--up with you, don't be afraid."
Johnny, however, declined the honour with thanks, not much relishing theidea of mounting a thoroughbred horse, as its fiery eye and thintransparent nostril betokened, as it champed its bit impatiently.
"No, thank you!" repeated the Earl, in wonder; "now when I was a boy Ishould have jumped at the proposal,--but times are changed since then.Philip, lead him."
Johnny felt he had gone down a peg in Lord Wentworth's estimation, andten in the groom's. Young Nimrod, such was the horse's name, requiredindeed a high hand to rule him, and gave Philip not a little trouble,rearing, kicking, and plunging all the way in a manner which made Johnnyfeel glad he was not exposed to. Little was said on their way to thechurch;--when they reached it Mr. Lennox, as usual, led the way to thepew, round which stood Mr. Taylor, the upholsterer, and several workmenadmiring their handy-work. Indeed, the pew certainly shone out not alittle above its compeers, with its crimson curtains--velvetcushions--and the table in the centre covered with a rich cloth, fringedwith gold; a sandal-wood door, and gorgeous oil-cloth, completed thefurnishings.
"I think, my Lord, this is highly elegant, and distingue," said Mr.Lennox; "I myself superintended everything."
"I am sorry you took so much trouble," remarked Lord Wentworth,regarding the whole with a gloomy expression. Then turning sharply roundon Mr. Taylor, and muttering to himself, "elegant!" "distingue!" hesaid: "I thought I ordered a plain mahogany door, and how comes thereone of sandal-wood?"
"I thought,--my Lord----"
"What business had _you_ to think, sir?--your duty was to _obey_. Myorders were implicit, and how dared you disobey them? take the trashaway!" and suiting the action to the word, with one kick his lordshipliterally smashed the frail door to pieces. The light thus admittedrevealed for the first time the showy oil-cloth, which excited his irenot a little.
"And what the devil is this?--I ordered a carpet, and not thisgin-palace snobbery!" shouted the enraged peer, forgetting in hispassion whose house he was in.
Mr. Lennox here interposed, and said it was not Mr. Taylor's fault buthis own, as he had thought it would look better.
"Then, another time, Mr. Lennox, I will thank you to mind your ownbusiness and let me mind mine--I am not accustomed to have my orderscountermanded. Rip the accursed thing up. I will not move till it isgone."
Some workmen standing near executed this order with the utmost despatch,much fearing a more palpable display of wrath.
"And take off that gilt fringe, and let all be plain and quiet. Mr.Taylor, you have strangely mistaken my meaning: I wished a comfortablepew, not a vulgar display for every one to stare at. Let all this bedone by to-morrow, and by heaven! let me catch you disobeying my ordersagain, and I will find some one else to execute them."
Mr. Taylor in mute fear only bowed acquiescence, and the Earl thenturned on his heel, and as ill luck would have it nearly upset Johnny,who, half-amused, half-terrified, and laughing in his sleeve at Mr.Lennox's discomfiture, stood in stupid astonishment, till he was rousedby an angry "Out of the way, boy--what are you blocking up the passagefor?" and saw his lordship brush past to the door, where he mounted hisfretting steed, coldly bowed to the bewildered throng--and, plunginghis spurs into young Nimrod, left them to talk over their rebuff.
Bad temper is proverbially infectious, and as soon as he was gone ascene of mutual recrimination ensued. Mr. Ravensworth blamed
Mr. Lennoxfor his officiousness; Mr. Lennox blamed Johnny, as the cause of all byrefusing the offer of a ride. Mr. Taylor was much annoyed at hisweakness in departing from orders, and even Johnny could not helpmuttering something about Mr. Lennox's _good taste_, which he did notfail to hear, and which added to his wrath and chagrin not a little.When Ellen heard the story she was more vexed than any of them,--vexedat this cloud which seemed to banish all her hopes risen on her heavenof blue. Her temper was not bettered by the arrival of CaptainL'Estrange, who, however, treated the matter as a joke, and was vastlyamused by Johnny's description of the scene, and the door, which he saidwas stove in as if it had been a band-box.
"I know the Earl," said L'Estrange, "his passions are as short-lived asthey are violent; had it been the Captain, by Jove! you would not havegot off so well: I think he would have floored the whole of you, andthrashed you, Johnny, with his horsewhip had you got in his way. Ishould have liked to have seen Lennox's face though."
Lord Wentworth rode to the Towers at a fiery speed, his temper decidedlynot bettered by a drenching rain which overtook him on his way. When,however, he reached home and found his brother, the Captain, and theMarquis of Arranmore just arrived, all traces of his anger immediatelyvanished. That evening much had to be talked on over their wine, andafter the young ladies had retired the gentlemen adjourned to thesmoking-room, where they laughed well over the incidents of the day,till the clock striking twelve warned them Sunday had commenced.
The Captain, however, was little troubled by religious scruples, andcontinued over his punch more than an hour after all the rest had soughtthe charms of Morpheus, a feat the Captain alone was capable of, as aman must be very far gone who can sit down and enjoy his toddy quitealone as he did.
The Weird of the Wentworths: A Tale of George IV's Time, Vol. 1 Page 3