CHAPTER XVI.
"Here is friendship,--mirth is here, Woodland music,--woodland cheer, And, with hope and blended fear, Here is love's delightful folly. Summer gilds the smiling day, Summer clothes the tufted spray, Earth is green and heaven is gay, Wherefore should we not be jolly?"--_Heber._
The morning of the wished-for picnic day broke with a brilliance farexceeding the most sanguine expectation. On the previous evening angryclouds had attended the sun to his couch of rest; the distantthunder-boom had made many a bosom quail for the next day, and many ananxious eye had peeped forth in the early dawning half expecting to seethe rain falling fast; they were agreeably surprised to find not a cloudobscured the sky, and a mist that hung o'er hill, woodland, and riverbetokened a fine, hot, if not sultry day was beginning. From an earlyhour all was bustle and excitement at the Towers; the Earl presided overthe busy servants packing hampers of good things, and wines of thechoicest flavour, and himself superintended everything, being here,there, and everywhere, and seeming to have a hundred pair of hands. Whenhe gave a pleasure, he always liked to do it in style, and wasdetermined nothing should be wanting to render the amusement of the dayperfect. Many of the visitors assisted the Earl in his tasks, and Johnnyhurraed loud when he saw the carts start for the festive scene, groaningunder plenty of good cheer. About eleven o'clock the courtyard was fullof carriages, coachmen held the reins, and grooms led many horses readysaddled for those who preferred riding. Many fair girls in light summerattire and hats, and many gentlemen, some equipped for driving, andothers booted and spurred, filled the yard; laughter and jest made theold turreted towers ring again with glee. Carriage after carriage wasfilled, and drove off for the Peel; last of all the Earl's own coronetedbarouche and four left for the gay scene; the carriage was an open one,but able to shut in case of rain, of which there appeared littlelikelihood. The Earl himself drove the four iron grays, adorned withblue ribbons on the nets which protected them from the flies. By theEarl sat Johnny in high feather, and inside were the Marquis andMarchioness, Lady Florence, and Ellen Ravensworth. Several equestriansrode by the carriage, chatting and laughing with the fair occupants, andnow and then spurring on to catch up some other vehicle. Conspicuousamong the horsemen were the Captain and Edward L'Estrange,--the formerwore the same garb he had appeared in amongst the haymakers; the latter,instead of a white kerchief, wore a scarf of the finest Indian texturefor a turban, and the crimson silk, figured with gold, showed off hisdark countenance to perfection; they were both mounted on splendidanimals, which they managed with all the grace and ease of finishedhorsemen.
"Let us take a short cut over the park; I know a by-road to the spot,"said the Captain, turning his horse and putting him to the woodenwattling which he cleared with scarcely an effort, and quickened hispace into a gallop, followed closely by L'Estrange over the smoothgrass. A ten minutes' freshener brought them to the by-path, and herethey checked their panting coursers to a trot, and finally a walk, asthey entered the road upon which they guided their horses whose bloodwas now up, and who impatiently paced along, snorting, tossing theirheads, and champing the bits.
"So ho! gently, Terror, old boy, gently," said the Captain, patting thelithe arching neck of his beautiful black hunter, who snuffed the airthrough his thin transparent nostrils, and struck the ground as ifburning for the chase, while his eye dilated and seemed to flash fire.As if he understood his master, the noble Arab stepped out more calmly,and the Captain said, "Archy Forbes is a smart fellow, a very knowingfellow, by my soul, and will prove a great help. I have engaged him formy own particular servant, and sent my old man about his business."
"Do you not think we have too many in the plot?" remarked L'Estrange.
"No, I cannot say I do. There is Musgrave, as safe as wax, no fear ofhis betraying us. Old Forbes, my foster-father, would sooner hang thanbreathe a word, he is a dog that will not open cry falsely. There'sStacy, a gallows bird that will not tempt the light! Archy is as unaptto give out a secret as the rock is to unlock its waters. The only one Ifear is Antonia, or Juana if you like; a woman's tongue is the unsafestkeep going."
"I fear not Juana," replied L'Estrange; "a whisper from her would cuther own throat."
"It might, indeed, were she rash enough to inculpate me," said theCaptain, with a cruel laugh. "We must push on, Ned, or some of thesecarriages will overhaul us before I have seen old Stacy."
So saying he spurred his horse, nothing loth, into a hand gallop, andthe two intriguers rode side by side up the rising road, on either bankof which rose dark pines, which had scattered their sprays on thepathway, and made a soft yet firm footing for the horses. It was goingon for noon, but the sun could not pierce the dense fir woods, save hereand there where his ray formed a bright line across the road. The airwas still sultry in the extreme, and not a breath of wind was stirring.Squirrels and rabbits, scared by the approaching riders, from time totime crossed the road, and the wood pigeons, alarmed by the clatter,flew off, flapping their wings loudly. As the two officers rode side byside--dressed almost alike as they were--the resemblance found out bytheir fellow-comrades in arms was all the more striking. The samemilitary seat and air--the same bronzed complexions and archednoses--the same dark hair and moustache; there was yet a distinctivedifference: L'Estrange was still more sunburnt and swarthy in look,probably from his having served in India, as well as his early lifespent in the tropics, yet there was a softer expression, a milder airabout his face than was to be found in the Captain's, whose eyes, moredark and unrelenting, stood avenged against his friend's, rather softthan fiery.
But if in feature they resembled each other, in character they were asdifferent as light from darkness. Captain de Vere was a bold, fearlessman, whose boast was he neither feared God nor regarded hisfellow-creatures; in his affections light, in his passions headstrong,he loved no one but himself, nor cared how he hurt another's feelingsprovided he pleasured his own. If he took offence he was a terriblefoe--implacable, vindictive, and unforgiving. L'Estrange was brave,without being the same fearless, dare-devil man the Captain was;naturally inclined to be devotional and benevolent, it was hismisfortune, rather than his fault, to see and approve the better, whilehe followed the worse; by nature also full of affection, he more deeplyfelt rejected love, and yet was generally able to have full masteryover his passions, and hold them under his control. He was neitherselfish nor unforgiving in character, and it was an evil day that helinked himself with the Captain, who, being of a far stronger character,naturally led L'Estrange, more weak and vacillating, into all sorts ofevil he would never have fallen into if left to himself. Some men arewicked by nature, such was the Captain--others are wicked by evilexample and misfortune, such was L'Estrange.
Half an hour's gallop brought the friends to their journey's end.Cessford's Peel, or Castle, was an old watch tower, once stronglyfortified, and still in excellent repair. Built at the bottom of a darkglen, through which foamed a mountain burn, its gray crest just peepedabove the woods; the keep was covered with ivy, amid which numbers ofjackdaws had built their nests. The Peel was built close to the march ofthe Earl's estates; a cross-road led from its doorway to the high-road,which ran along the top of the dell. The tower had an ill reputation,having been the scene of some terrible murder in olden times, and thepopular belief was it was haunted by the spirit of the sufferer. Infront was a large open lawn, surrounded by woods on all sides, andsloping down to the torrent. Beneath the shadow of the trees to theright was a huge stone, perhaps ten feet in diameter, and round asArthur's table; its top was as level as the nether millstone, and wascovered with moss. On this verdant table it was proposed to spread thebanquet. Indeed, if it had been created on purpose, a better place for apicnic could hardly be found: the turreted castle, with its woods andhills around, formed a landscape on which the eye delighted torest,--the level stone for a table,--the green grass for adancing-board,--the burn for a well to cool the wines;--while the humof bees, the carol of wood warblers, and di
stant murmur of fallingwaters made music to the ear.
On a broken-down dyke sat an old man in seaman's dress, smoking his pipein the sunshine, and apparently little caring for the prospect around.The young officers, when they reached this delightful spot, dismounted,and taking off the saddles and bridles from their horses tethered themto a stone beneath the shadow of the trees, and left them to pasturethere at their pleasure. Having seen their steeds well cared for, theirnext action was to cross the meadow and address the old man.
"What fool's errand is this? The foul fiend take your merry makings."
"How now, old drudge--dare you blaspheme?" said the Captain;"nevertheless, I hate your picnics, and you may be sure had no hand inthis."
"Could you not have steered elsewhere? is there not sea-room enoughwithout tacking here with your mummeries?"
"What the devil had I to do with it? However, you will see laughing, anddancing, and merriment enough to make the fiends howl. Is Antonia to dowhat I asked?"
"Yees," answered Bill Stacy, for he it was; "but devil take it, if thereain't one of their confounded craft come already, and I must sheer off."
"Like fun; be earthed, you old fox!"
With an angry growl the old man disappeared over the wall, and cursingthe folly that compelled him to do so--for naturally Bill's heartanything but revived, at the sight of the waggons--stowed himself awayin one of the deep dungeons, while our friends stepped forward to meetthe newly-arrived guests, who proved to be Mr. Lennox and his daughter,rather a dashing, spirited girl of seventeen. They were accompanied bySir Richard and young Scroop.
"Who was that remarkable looking individual you were addressing?" askedMr. Lennox of the Captain.
"God only knows; some old tramp, I suppose, whom I sent about hisbusiness," replied the Captain, inwardly cursing Mr. Lennox for a pryingfool, and meddler in what did not concern him.
"He looked so mysterious, and vanished so remarkably, I really fanciedyou knew more about him."
"What in the devil's name could I know about the old villain--amiscreant I never before saw in my life?" scornfully answered theCaptain, and then in a side voice whispered to Sir Richard--"I wish toGod the conceited coxcomb had not seen us--these inquisitorialblockheads never know when to hold their tongue."
Meanwhile all the party had arrived, and whilst old Andrew and a dozenmen laid out a magnificent cold repast on the natural table, which theycovered with several damask cloths, the guests, in parties of two andthree, commenced exploring the dell and woods, till a blast blown byWilton summoned the stragglers together. It was about two when all wasprepared, and a merry party of nearly thirty sat down to their feast;some on stones which were scattered around the monster table, and someon shawls and plaids. All the usual accompaniments of a picnic werepresent--the clatter of knives and forks, the popping of champagnebottle corks, the laughter, wit, and prompt repartee, the thousandpretty compliments to the fair sex, and now and then the cry of somegirl as a wasp or bee disputed possession of her platter. All went offwith the greatest glee and good-temper. At the head of the rocky tablepresided the Earl, with his sister the Marchioness and Ellen on eitherside. Johnny, seated next to Lady Florence, kept up perpetual merrimentwith her, and Mr. Lennox had insinuated himself between two dukes, oneof whom was his cousin, as he informed every one, and felt in theseventh heaven of pride and happiness. All the others sat around, whilston the top of the Duke of Buccleuch's drag might be seen the Captain,Lord Arranmore, Scroop, Sir Richard Musgrave, L'Estrange, and a fewothers who preferred their own company, and drank champagne fromtumblers. When the assemblage had broken up and the greater part of thecompany disappeared in the woods, these worthies might still be seen _enhaut_ in high glee.
"You look very comfortable up there," said Lady Florence, who passedbelow with one of the Ladies Scott and another young lady. "I think someof you might have the gallantry to chaperone us over the haunted tower,we do not dare to go alone."
"D--t--n!" cried the Captain, aside to L'Estrange, "who the deuce wouldhave thought of that? This grows worse and worse."
"I can go, and avoid the dungeons."
"No, I will; it will be easy to frighten these simpletons so much theywill not tempt the lower regions," said the Captain, in a low voice, andthen aloud, "I am your man; I will come and guard you against theghosts, Floss, and the murdered old dame: Musgrave and L'Estrange, comealong, there's a beau apiece for you."
"Dear me, wonders will never cease!" said Lady Florence, laughing, "whenyou shelter young ladies, John."
Leading the way, the Captain strode towards the doorway, whilstL'Estrange and Musgrave filled the girls' heads with nonsense, andexaggerated tales of horror, mystery, and deeds of blood done in thedark dungeons. The Peel was an old, antiquated-looking square tower, andthe rooms were lofty, with thin cross-shaped windows, which let in theleast possible light; the walls were hung with tapestry, behind whichwere many secret doors. Ascending the irregular stone staircase, theparty, increased by several new members, began a close scrutiny of allthe chambers, and rummaged everywhere,--looking into every dark passage,but getting more and more alarmed, to the Captain's great delight, whomagnified every sound made by the rats, which frequented the tower inswarms, into the footsteps of bogles and goblins, and so worked on theterrors of the ladies, that none had the hardihood to descend to thedungeons, in one of which was hidden old Stacy. This being given up, byuniversal consent they left the tower, and once more emerged on thegreen grass. They found all the servants busily engaged devouring theremains of the feast, like "filthy jackalls," as the Captain remarked,"devouring the relics of the lions' repast." They then all commencedroaming the woods, and the Captain and L'Estrange soon managed to givethem the slip, leaving Musgrave to take care of the ladies.
Whilst this party was busy searching the tower, the rest of the companyhad proceeded, in parties of two and three, to the cool retreats of thewoods. The Earl, accompanied by his sister the Marchioness, and Ellen,began rambling up the burn, along a rough footpath, in order to showEllen a waterfall at the top of the wood. Before they had proceeded farthey were met by the Marquis, with whom Lady Edith walked another way,leaving the lovers alone. Taking Ellen's hand, the Earl helped her toclimb the path, rough with the roots of fir trees protruding from thesoil, and exceedingly steep. As they got still higher the acclivitybecame more and more perpendicular, and the stones they loosened fromthe hill side went thundering down below, crashing among the trees, tillthey at last plunged into the brown waters. It was hot work as well asarduous, and often they paused to rest on the fallen trees that now andthen lay across the pathway. Their footsteps on the withered firbranches that strewed the ground, often started the denizens of thewood,--the weasel, the rabbit, and the timid hare, that fled past themlike a shadow, stopped a moment, with ears erect, and then started offagain; and the wild pigeons, or cushats, as they are called in Scotland,flew off their nests with a loud noise, as if one clapped his handstogether. As they neared the summit of the wood, the fall of the waterbecame more and more distinct, and soon they emerged from the dark treesinto sunshine and open air, and beheld the cascade they had so longheard. The top of the wood opened on a rushy dell, surrounded on eitherside by a half circle of high banks, on which blossomed the whin andflowering broom. In front rose high rocks, over which raved and foamedthe black moss waters, lashed into foam by their descent; the troubledwaves then found a way through the centre of the dell, and were almosthidden by reeds and bracken,--or, as the English call it, fern. Beneaththe cascade, on either side, grew several nut trees, and as the sunshone brightly, their light green stood out boldly relieved against theblack rocks behind; through these trees were caught glimpses of theflashing waters as they heaped themselves into a dark lynn that eddiedbelow. Countless insects,--dragon flies, azure wings, fritillaries, andother butterflies sported in the sunshine over the rushes, and from themthe dell took its name of "Butterfly Dell." Half hid by the waterfall inthe sides of the rock, a large dark hollow was just visible,
over whichdanced the iris painted by the sunshine on the silvery spray,--now faintand dimly distinguishable, now radiant and bright as the bow in the dayof rain. A few steps, rudely cut in the naked rock, led to the cavern,towards which the lovers directed their steps. The Earl guided his faircompanion's footsteps up the rough stairs, assisting her with his arm,and in another moment they were both inside the cool retreat. The air ofthis grot was extremely pleasant after their hot climb; and, when theireyes became accustomed to the dim light, they perceived a rootwork seatplaced against the further end of the cave which extended but a shortway into the rocks. From the roof of this cell dripped some finestalactites; and through the circular entrance they had a view of thedell bathed in sunshine. The burn looked like a streak of silver threadwinding its way among the green rushes, and the trees rose dark behind;now and then a light wind blew the vapoury mist of the fall past thecave's entrance, and for a moment everything was lightly obscured. TheEarl and his fair partner sat down on the seat, and for some minutesenjoyed the sweet scene in silence. We must, however, reserve theirconversation for another chapter, as this has already exceeded itsbounds.
The Weird of the Wentworths: A Tale of George IV's Time, Vol. 1 Page 16