CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
Such was my brother too, So went he suited to his watery tomb: If spirits can assume both form and suit You come to fright us. "TWELFTH NIGHT."
Soon after the frigate which had taken me off from New Providence hadparted company with the American prize that I was sent on board of, thecrew of the former, it appeared had been boasting among the Americanprisoners of the prize-money they should receive.
"Not you," said the Yankees; "you will never see your prize any more,nor any one that went in her."
These words were repeated to the captain of the frigate, when hequestioned the mate and the crew, and the whole nefarious transactioncame out. They said the ship was sinking when they left her, and thatwas the reason they had hurried into the boat. The mate said it wasimpossible to get at the leaks, which were in the fore peak, and underthe cabin deck in the run; that he wondered Captain Green had not madeit known, but he supposed he must have been drunk: "The ship," continuedthe mate, "must have gone down in twelve hours after we left her."
This was reported to the Admiralty by my captain, and my poor father wasformally acquainted with the fatal story. Five months had elapsed sinceI was last heard of, and all hopes of my safety had vanished: this wasthe reason that when I knocked at the door, I found the servant inmourning: he was one who had been hired since my departure, and did notknow me. Of course he expressed no surprise at seeing me.
"Good heavens!" said I, "who is dead?"
"My master's only son, sir," said the man, "Mr Frank --- drowned atsea."
"Oh! is that all?" said I, "I am glad it's no worse."
The man concluded that I was an unfeeling brute, and stared stupidly atme as I brushed by him and ran upstairs to the drawing-room. I ought tohave been more guarded; but, as usual, I followed the impulse of myfeelings. I opened the door, when I saw my sister sitting at a table indeep mourning, with another young lady whose back was turned towards me.My sister screamed as soon as she saw me. The other lady turned round,and I beheld my Emily, my dear, dear Emily she too was in deep mourning.My sister, after screaming, fell on the floor in a swoon. Emilyinstantly followed her example, and there they both lay, like twopetrified queens in Westminster Abbey. It was a beautiful sight,"pretty, though a plague."
I was confoundedly frightened myself, and thought I had done a veryfoolish thing; but as I had no time to lose, I rang the bell furiously,and seeing some jars with fresh flowers in them, I caught them up andpoured plentiful libations over the faces and necks of the young ladies;but Emily came in for much the largest share, which proves that I hadneither lost my presence of mind nor my love for her.
My sister's maid, Higgins, was the first to answer the drawing-roombell, which, from its violent ringing, announced some serious event.She came bouncing into the room like a ricochet shot. She was an oldacquaintance of mine; I had often kissed her when a boy, and she hadjust as often boxed my ears. I used to give her a ribbon to tie up herjaw with, telling her at the same time that she had too much of it.This Abigail, like a true lady's maid, seeing me, whom she thought aghost, standing bolt upright, and the two ladies stretched out, as shesupposed, dead, gave a loud and most interesting scream, ran out of theroom for her life, nearly knocking down the footman, whom she met comingin.
This fellow, who was a country lout, the son of one of my father'stenants, only popped his head into the door, and saw the ladies lying onthe carpet; he had probably formed no very good opinion of me from themanner in which I had received the news of my own demise, and seemedvery much inclined to act the part of a mandarin, that is, nod his head,and stand still.
"Desire some of the women to come here immediately," said I; "some onethat can be of use; tell them to bring salts, eau de cologne--anything.Fly, blockhead! goose! what do you stand staring at?"
The fellow looked at me, and then at the supposed corpses, which he musthave thought I had murdered; and, either thunderstruck, or doubtingwhether he had any right to obey me, kept his head inside the door andhis body outside, as he had been in the pillory. I saw that he requiredsome explanation, and cried out, "I am Mr Frank; will you obey me, orshall I throw this jar at your head?" brandishing one of the chinavases.
Had I been inclined to have thrown it I should have missed him, for thefellow was off like a wounded porpoise. Down he ran to my father in thelibrary: "Oh, sir--good news! bad news--good news!"
"What news fool?" said my father, rising hastily from his chair.
"Oh, sir, I don't know sir; but I believe, sir, Mr Frank is aliveagain, and both the ladies _is_ dead."
My poor father, whose health and constitution had not recovered theshock of my supposed death, tremblingly leaned over his table, on whichhe rested his two hands, and desired the man to repeat what he had said.This the fellow did, half crying, and my father, easily comprehendingthe state of things, came upstairs. I would have flown into his arms,but mine were occupied in supporting my sweet Emily, while my poorsister lay senseless on the other side of me; for Clara's lover was notat hand, and she still lay in abeyance.
By this time "the hands were turned up," everybody was on the alert, andevery living creature in the house, not excepting the dog, had assembledin the drawing-room. The maids that had known me cried and sobbed mostpiteously, and the newcomer kept them company from sympathy. Thecoachman, and footman, and groom, all blubbered and stared; and onebrought water, and one a basin, and the booby of a footman somethingelse, which I must not name; but in his hurry he had snatched up thefirst utensil that he thought might be of use; I approved of his zeal,but nodded to him to retire. Unluckily for him, the housemaid perceivedthe mistake which his absence of thought had led him into; and,snatching the mysterious vessel with her left hand, she hid it under herapron, while with her right hand, she gave the poor fellow such a slapon the cheek as to bring to my mind the tail of the whale descending onthe boat at Bermuda.
"You great fool!" said she, "nobody wants that."
"There is matrimony in that slap!" said I and the event proved I wasright--they were _asked_ in church the Sunday following.
The industrious application of salts, cold water, and burnt rags,together with chafing of temples, opening of collars, and loosening thestay-laces of the young ladies, produced the happiest effects. Everyhand, and every tongue, was in motion; and with all these remedies theeyes of the enchanting Emily opened, and beamed upon me, spreading joyand gladness over the face of creation, like the sun rising out of thebosom of the Atlantic, to cheer the inhabitants of the Antilles after afrightful hurricane. In half an hour, all was right "the guns weresecured--we beat the retreat;" the servants retired. I became thecentre of the picture. Emily held my right, my father my left; dearClara hung round my neck. Questions were put and answered as fast assobs and tears would permit of their being heard. The interlude wasfilled up with the sweetest kisses from the rosiest of lips and I was inthis half hour rewarded for all I had suffered since I had sailed fromEngland in that diabolical brig for Barbadoes.
It was, I own, exceedingly wrong to have taken the house, as it were, bystorm, when I knew they were in mourning for me but I forgot that otherpeople did not require the same stimulus as myself. I begged pardon;was kissed again and again, and forgiven. Oh, it was worth while tooffend to be forgiven by such lips, and eyes, and dimples. But I amafraid this thought is borrowed from some prose or poetry; if so, thereader must forgive me, and so must the author, who may have it againnow I have done with it, for I shall never use it any more.
My narrative was given with as much modesty and brevity as time andcircumstances would admit. The coachman was despatched on one of thebest carriage-horses express to Mr Somerville, and the mail-coach wasloaded with letters to all the friends and connexions of the family.
This ended, each retired to dress for dinner. What a change had onehour wrought in this house of mourning, now suddenly turned into a houseof joy! Alas, how often is the picture reversed in human life! Theladies soon reappeared in
spotless white, emblems of their pure minds.My father had put off his sables, and the servants came in their usualliveries, which were very splendid.
Dinner being announced, my father handed off Emily; I followed with mysister. Emily, looking over her shoulder, said, "Don't be jealous,Frank."
My father laughed, and I vowed revenge for this little satirical hit.
"You know the forfeit," said I, "and you shall pay it."
"I am happy to say that I am both able and willing," said she, and wesat down to dinner, but not before my father had given thanks in amanner more than usually solemn and emphatic. This essential act ofdevotion, so often neglected, brought tears into the eyes of all. Emilysank into her chair, covered her face with her pocket handkerchief, andrelieved herself with tears. Clara did the same. My father shook me bythe hand, and said, "Frank, this is a very different kind of repast towhat we had yesterday. How little did we know of the happiness that wasin store for us!"
The young ladies dried their eyes, but had lost their appetites: in vaindid Emily endeavour to manage the tail of a small smelt. I filled aglass of wine to each. "Come," said I, "in sea phrase, spirits arealways more easily stowed away than dry provisions; let us drink eachother's health, and then we shall get on better."
They took my advice, and it answered the purpose. Our repast wascheerful, but tempered and corrected by a feeling of past sorrow, and adeep sense of great mercies from Heaven.
"If Heaven were every day like this, Then 'twere indeed a Heaven of bliss."
Reader, I know you have long thought me a vain man--a profligate,unprincipled Don Juan, ready to pray when in danger, and to sin when outof it; but as I have always told you the truth, even when my honour andcharacter were at stake, I expect you will believe me now, when I say aword in my own favour. That I felt gratitude to God for my deliveranceand safe return, I do most solemnly aver; my heart was ready to burstwith the escape of this feeling, which I suppressed from a false senseof shame, though I never was given much to the melting mood; moreover, Iwas too proud to show what I thought a weakness, before the greathe-fellows of footmen. Had we been in private, I could have fallen downon my knees before that God whom I had so often offended; who hadrescued me twice from the jaws of the shark; who had lifted me from thedepth of the sea when darkness covered me; who had saved me from thepoison and the wreck, and guided me clear of the rock at Trinidad; andwho had sent the dog to save me from a horrible death.
These were only a small part of the mercies I had received; but theywere the most recent, and consequently had left the deepest impressionon my memory. I would have given one of Emily's approving smiles, muchas I valued them, to have been relieved from my oppressed feelings by ahearty flood of tears, and by a solemn act of devotion and thanksgiving;but I felt all this, and that feeling, I hope, was accounted to me forrighteousness. For the first time in my life, the love of God was mixedup with a pure and earthly love for Emily, and affection for my family.
The ladies sat with us some time after the cloth was removed, unable todrag themselves away while I related my "hair-breadth escapes." When Ispoke of the incident of trying to save the poor man who fell overboardfrom the brig--of my holding him by the collar, and being dragged downwith him until the sea became dark over my head, Emily could bear it nolonger; she jumped up, and falling on her knees, hid her lovely face inmy sister's lap, passionately exclaiming, "Oh, do not, do not, my dearFrank, tell me any more--I cannot bear it--indeed, I cannot bear it."
We all gathered round her, and supported her to the drawing-room, wherewe diverted ourselves with lighter and gayer anecdotes. Emily tried atune on the pianoforte, and attempted a song; but it would not do: shecould not sing a gay one, and a melancholy one overpowered her. Attwelve o'clock we all retired to our apartments, and before I slept Ispent some minutes in devotion, with vows of amendment which I fullyintended to keep.
The next morning Mr Somerville joined us at breakfast. This wasanother trial of feeling for poor Emily, who threw herself into herfather's arms, and sobbed aloud. Mr Somerville shook me most cordiallyby the hand with both of his, and eagerly demanded the history of myextraordinary adventures, of which I gave him a small abridgment. I hadtaken the opportunity of an hour's _tete-a-tete_ with Emily, which Clarahad considerately given us before breakfast, to speak of our anticipatedunion and finding there were no other obstacles than those which areusually raised by "maiden pride and bashful coyness," so natural, sobecoming, and so lovely in the sex, I determined to speak to thegreybeards on the subject.
To this Emily at last consented, on my reminding her of my late narrowescapes. As soon, therefore, as the ladies had retired from thedinner-table, I asked my father to fill a bumper to their health; and,having swallowed mine in all the fervency of the most unbounded love, Ipopped the question to them both. Mr Somerville and my father lookedat each other, when the former said,--"You seem to be in a great hurry,Frank."
"Not greater, sir," said I, "than the object deserves." He bowed and myfather began--
"I cannot say," observed the good old gentleman, "that I much approve ofmatrimony before you are a commander. At least, till then, you are notyour own master."
"Oh, if I am to wait for that, sir," said I, "I may wait long enough; noman is ever his own master in our service, or in England. The captainis commanded by the admiral, the admiral by the Admiralty, the Admiraltyby the Privy Council, the Privy Council by the Parliament, theParliament by the people, and the people by printers and their devils."
"I admire your logical chain of causes and effects," said my father;"but we must, after all, go to the _lace manufactory_ at Charing-cross,to see if we cannot have your shoulders fitted with a pair ofepaulettes. When we can see you command your own sloop of war, I shallbe most happy, as I am sure my good friend Somerville will be also, tosee you command his daughter, the finest and the best girl in the countyof ---."
No arguments could induce the two old gentlemen to bate one inch fromthis _sine qua non_. It was agreed that application should be made tothe Admiralty forthwith for my promotion; and when that desirable stepwas obtained, that then Emily should have the disposal of me for thehoneymoon.
All this was a very pretty story for them on the score of prudence, butit did not suit the views of an ardent lover of one-and-twenty; forthough I knew my father's influence was very great at the Admiralty, Ialso knew that an excellent regulation had recently been promulgated,which prevented any lieutenant being promoted to the rank of commander,until he had served two years at sea from the date of his firstcommission; nor could any commander, in like manner, be promoted beforehe had served one year in that capacity. All this was no doubt verygood for the service, but I had not yet attained sufficient _amorpatriae_ to prefer the public to myself: and I fairly wished theregulation and the makers of it in the cavern at New Providence justabout the time of high-water.
I put it to the ladies whether this was not a case of real distress,after all my hardships and my constancy, to be put off with such anexcuse? The answer from the Admiralty was so far favourable, that I wasassured I should be promoted as soon as my time was served, of which Ithen wanted two months. I was appointed to a ship fitting at Woolwich,and before she could be ready for sea my time would be completed, and Iwas to have my commission as a commander. This was not the way toensure her speedy equipment, as far as I was concerned; but there was nohelp for it; and as the ship was at Woolwich, and the residence of myfair one at no great distance, I endeavoured to pass my time, during theinterval, between the duties of love and war; between obedience to mycaptain, and obedience to my mistress; and by great good fortune Icontrived to please both, for my captain gave himself no trouble aboutthe ship or her equipment.
Before I proceeded to join, I made one more effort to break through theinflexibility of my father. I said I had undergone the labours ofHercules; and that if I went again on foreign service, I might meet withsome young lady who would send me out of the world with a cup of poison
,or by some fatal spell break the magical chain which now bound me toEmily. This poetical imagery had no more effect on him than my prosecomposition. I then appealed to Emily herself. "Surely," said I, "yourheart is not as hard as those of our inflexible parents: surely you willbe my advocate on this occasion. Bend but one look of disapprobation onmy father with those heavenly blue eyes of yours, and, on my life, hewill strike his flag."
But the gipsy replied, with a smile (instigated, no doubt, fromhead-quarters), that she did not like the idea of her name appearing inthe _Morning Post_ as the bride of a lieutenant. "What's a lieutenantnowadays?" said she--"nobody. I remember when I was on a visit atFareham, I used to go to Portsmouth to see the dockyard and the ships,and there was your great friend the tall admiral, Sir Hurricane Humbug,I think you call him, driving the poor lieutenants about like so manysheep before a dog; there was always one at his heels, like a runningfootman; and there was another that appeared to me to be chained, like amastiff, to the door of the admiral's office, except when the admiraland family walked out, and then he brought up the rear with thegoverness. No, Frank, I shall not surrender at discretion, with all mycharms, to anything less than a captain, with a pair of goldepaulettes."
"Very well," replied I, looking into the pier-glass, with tolerableself-complacency; "if you choose to pin your happiness on the promisesof a first lord of the Admiralty and a pair of epaulettes, I can say nomore. There is no accounting for female taste; some ladies prefer goldlace and wrinkles, to youth and beauty--I am sorry for them all, that'sall."
"Frank," said Emily, "you must acknowledge that you are vain enough tobe an admiral at least."
"The admirals are much obliged to you for the compliment," said I. "Itrust I should not disgrace the flag, come when it will; but to tell youthe truth, my dear Emily, I cannot say I look forward to that elevationwith any degree of satisfaction. Three stars on each shoulder, andthree rows of gold lace round the cuff, are no compensation, in my eyes,for grey hairs, thin legs, a broken back, a church-yard cough, and to belaughed at or pitied by all the pretty girls in the country into thebargain."
"I am sorry for you, my hero," said the young lady: "but you mustsubmit."
"Well, then, if I must, I must," said I; "but give me a kiss in themeantime."
I asked for one, and took a hundred, and should have taken a hundredmore, but the confounded butler came in, and brought me a letter onservice, which was neither more nor less than an order to join my shipforthwith: _sic transit_, etcetera.
Pocketing my disappointment with as much _sang froid_ as I could muster,I continued to beguile the time and to solace myself for my pastsufferings, by as much enjoyment as could be compressed into the smallspace of leisure time allotted to me. Fortunately, the first lieutenantof the frigate was what we used to call a "hard officer:" he never wenton shore, because he had few friends and less money. He drew for hispay on the day it became due, and it lasted till the next day ofpayment; and as I found he doated on a Spanish cigar, and a _correct_glass of cognac grog--for he never drank to excess--I presented him witha box of the former, and a dozen of the latter, to enable him to bear mynightly absence with Christian composure.
As soon as the day's work was ended, the good-natured lieutenant used tosay, "Come, Mr Mildmay, I know what it is to be in love; I was once inlove myself, though it is a good many years ago, and I am sure I shallget into the good graces of your Polly (for so he called Emily), if Isend you to her arms. There is the jolly for you: send the boat off assoon as you have landed, and be with us at nine to-morrow morning, tomeet the midshipman and the working party in the dockyard."
All this was perfectly agreeable to me. I generally got to MrSomerville's temporary residence on Blackheath by the time thedressing-bell rang, and never failed to meet a pleasant party at dinner.My father and dear Clara were guests in the house as well as myself.By Mr Somerville's kind permission, I introduced Talbot, who, being aperfect gentleman in his manners, a man of sound sense, good education,and high aristocratic connections, I was proud to call my friend. Ipresented him particularly to my sister, and took an opportunity ofwhispering in Emily's ear, where I knew it would not long remain, thathe possessed the indispensable qualification of two epaulettes."Therefore," said I, "pray do not trust yourself too near him, for fearyou should be taken by surprise, like the _True-blooded Yankee_."
Talbot, knowing that Emily was bespoken, paid her no more than thecommon attentions which courtesy demands; but to Clara his demeanour wasvery different: and her natural attractions were much enhanced in hiseyes by the friendship which we had entertained for each other eversince the memorable affair of swimming away from the ship at Spithead;from that time he used jocularly to call me "Leander."
But before I proceed any further with this part of my history, I mustbeg leave to detain the reader one minute only, while I attempt to makea sketch of my dear little sister Clara. She was rather fair, with afine, small, oval, face, sparkling black and speaking eyes, good teeth,pretty red lips, very dark hair, and plenty of it, hanging over her faceand neck in curls of every size; her arms and bust were such as Phidiasand Praxiteles might have copied; her waist was slender; her hands andfeet small and beautiful. I used often to think it was a great pitythat such a love as she was should not be matched with some equally goodspecimen of our sex; and I had long fixed on my friend Talbot as theperson best adapted to command this pretty little tight fast-sailingwell-rigged smack.
Unluckily Clara, with all her charms, had one fault, and that in my eyeswas a very serious one. Clara did not love a sailor. The soldiers shedoated on. But Clara's predilections were not easily overcome, and thatwhich had once taken root grew up and flourished. She fancied sailorswere not well-bred; that they thought too much of themselves or theirships; and, in short, that they were as rough and unpolished as theywere conceited.
With such obstinate and long-rooted prejudices against all of ourprofession it proved no small share of merit in Talbot to overcome them.But as Clara's love for the army was more general than particular,Talbot had a vacant theatre to fight in. He began by handing her todinner, and with modest assurance seated himself by her side. But sowell was he aware of her failing, that he never once alluded to ourunfortunate element; on the contrary, he led her away with every varietyof topic which he found best suited to her taste so that she was at lastcompelled to acknowledge that he might be one exception to her rule, andI took the liberty of hoping that I might be another.
One day at dinner Talbot called me "Leander," which instantly attractedthe notice of the ladies, and an explanation was demanded; but for atime it was evaded, and the subject changed. Emily, however, joiningtogether certain imperfect reports which had reached her ears, throughthe kindness of "some friends of the family," began to suspect a rival,and the next morning examined me so closely on the subject that, fearinga disclosure from other quarters, I was compelled to make a confession.
I told her the whole history of my acquaintance with Eugenia, of my lastinterview, and of her mysterious departure. I did not even omit thecircumstance of her offering me money; but I concealed the probabilityof her being a mother. I assured her that it was full four years and ahalf since we had met; and that, as she knew of my engagement, it wasunlikely we should ever meet again. "At any rate," I said, "I shallnever seek her; and if accident should throw me in her way, I trust Ishall behave like a man of honour."
I did not think it necessary to inform her of the musket-shots fired atme by order of Talbot, as that might have injured him in the estimationof both Emily and Clara. When I had concluded my narrative, Emilysighed and looked very grave. I asked her if she had forgiven me.
"Conditionally," said she, "as you said to the mutineers."
Frank Mildmay; Or, the Naval Officer Page 22