by Robert Reed
in the house, his eloquence, address and imposing beauty, were cal-
culated to produce an electric effect . Adrian also, notwithstanding
his recluse habits and theories, so adverse to the spirit of party, had
many friends, and they were easily induced to vote for a candidate
of his selection .
The Duke of——, and Mr . Ryland, Lord Raymond’s old antago-
nist, were the other candidates . The Duke was supported by all the
aristocrats of the republic, who considered him their proper repre-
sentative . Ryland was the popular candidate; when Lord Raymond
was first added to the list, his chance of success appeared small. We
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 908
retired from the debate which had followed on his nomination: we,
his nominators, mortified; he dispirited to excess. Perdita reproached
us bitterly . Her expectations had been strongly excited; she had
urged nothing against our project, on the contrary, she was evidently
pleased by it; but its evident ill success changed the current of her
ideas . She felt, that, once awakened, Raymond would never return
unrepining to Windsor . His habits were unhinged; his restless mind
roused from its sleep, ambition must now be his companion through
life; and if he did not succeed in his present attempt, she foresaw
that unhappiness and cureless discontent would follow . Perhaps her
own disappointment added a sting to her thoughts and words; she
did not spare us, and our own reflections added to our disquietude.
It was necessary to follow up our nomination, and to persuade
Raymond to present himself to the electors on the following eve-
ning . For a long time he was obstinate . He would embark in a bal-
loon; he would sail for a distant quarter of the world, where his name
and humiliation were unknown . But this was useless; his attempt
was registered; his purpose published to the world; his shame could
never be erased from the memories of men . It was as well to fail at
last after a struggle, as to fly now at the beginning of his enterprise.
From the moment that he adopted this idea, he was changed . His
depression and anxiety fled; he became all life and activity. The
smile of triumph shone on his countenance; determined to pursue
his object to the uttermost, his manner and expression seem omi-
nous of the accomplishment of his wishes . Not so Perdita . She was
frightened by his gaiety, for she dreaded a greater revulsion at the
end . If his appearance even inspired us with hope, it only rendered
the state of her mind more painful . She feared to lose sight of him;
yet she dreaded to remark any change in the temper of his mind .
She listened eagerly to him, yet tantalized herself by giving to his
words a meaning foreign to their true interpretation, and adverse to
her hopes . She dared not be present at the contest; yet she remained
at home a prey to double solicitude . She wept over her little girl; she
looked, she spoke, as if she dreaded the occurrence of some frightful
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 909
calamity . She was half mad from the effects of uncontrollable agita-
tion .Lord Raymond presented himself to the house with fearless
confidence and insinuating address. After the Duke of——and Mr.
Ryland had finished their speeches, he commenced. Assuredly he
had not conned his lesson; and at first he hesitated, pausing in his
ideas, and in the choice of his expressions . By degrees he warmed;
his words flowed with ease, his language was full of vigour, and
his voice of persuasion . He reverted to his past life, his successes
in Greece, his favour at home . Why should he lose this, now that
added years, prudence, and the pledge which his marriage gave to
his country, ought to encrease, rather than diminish his claims to
confidence? He spoke of the state of England; the necessary mea-
sures to be taken to ensure its security, and confirm its prosperity. He
drew a glowing picture of its present situation . As he spoke, every
sound was hushed, every thought suspended by intense attention .
His graceful elocution enchained the senses of his hearers . In some
degree also he was fitted to reconcile all parties. His birth pleased
the aristocracy; his being the candidate recommended by Adrian, a
man intimately allied to the popular party, caused a number, who
had no great reliance either on the Duke or Mr . Ryland, to range on
his side .
The contest was keen and doubtful . Neither Adrian nor myself
would have been so anxious, if our own success had depended on
our exertions; but we had egged our friend on to the enterprise, and
it became us to ensure his triumph . Idris, who entertained the high-
est opinion of his abilities, was warmly interested in the event: and
my poor sister, who dared not hope, and to whom fear was misery,
was plunged into a fever of disquietude .
Day after day passed while we discussed our projects for the eve-
ning, and each night was occupied by debates which offered no con-
clusion . At last the crisis came: the night when parliament, which
had so long delayed its choice, must decide: as the hour of twelve
passed, and the new day began, it was by virtue of the constitution
dissolved, its power extinct .
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 910
We assembled at Raymond’s house, we and our partizans . At half
past five o’clock we proceeded to the House. Idris endeavoured to
calm Perdita; but the poor girl’s agitation deprived her of all power
of self-command . She walked up and down the room,—gazed wildly
when any one entered, fancying that they might be the announcers
of her doom . I must do justice to my sweet sister: it was not for her-
self that she was thus agonized . She alone knew the weight which
Raymond attached to his success . Even to us he assumed gaiety and
hope, and assumed them so well, that we did not divine the secret
workings of his mind . Sometimes a nervous trembling, a sharp dis-
sonance of voice, and momentary fits of absence revealed to Perdita
the violence he did himself; but we, intent on our plans, observed
only his ready laugh, his joke intruded on all occasions, the flow of
his spirits which seemed incapable of ebb . Besides, Perdita was with
him in his retirement; she saw the moodiness that succeeded to this
forced hilarity; she marked his disturbed sleep, his painful irritabil-
ity—once she had seen his tears—hers had scarce ceased to flow,
since she had beheld the big drops which disappointed pride had
caused to gather in his eye, but which pride was unable to dispel .
What wonder then, that her feelings were wrought to this pitch! I
thus accounted to myself for her agitation; but this was not all, and
the sequel revealed another excuse .
One moment we seized before our departure, to take leave of
our beloved girls . I had small hope of success, and entreated Idris
to watch over my sister . As I approached the latter, she seized my
hand, and drew me into another apartment; she threw herself into
my arms, and wept
and sobbed bitterly and long . I tried to soothe
her; I bade her hope; I asked what tremendous consequences would
ensue even on our failure . “My brother,” she cried, “protector of my
childhood, dear, most dear Lionel, my fate hangs by a thread . I have
you all about me now—you, the companion of my infancy; Adrian,
as dear to me as if bound by the ties of blood; Idris, the sister of my
heart, and her lovely offspring . This, O this may be the last time that
you will surround me thus!”
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 911
Abruptly she stopped, and then cried: “What have I said?—fool-
ish false girl that I am!” She looked wildly on me, and then suddenly
calming herself, apologized for what she called her unmeaning
words, saying that she must indeed be insane, for, while Raymond
lived, she must be happy; and then, though she still wept, she suf-
fered me tranquilly to depart . Raymond only took her hand when
he went, and looked on her expressively; she answered by a look of
intelligence and assent .
Poor girl! what she then suffered! I could never entirely forgive
Raymond for the trials he imposed on her, occasioned as they were
by a selfish feeling on his part. He had schemed, if he failed in his
present attempt, without taking leave of any of us, to embark for
Greece, and never again to revisit England . Perdita acceded to his
wishes; for his contentment was the chief object of her life, the
crown of her enjoyment; but to leave us all, her companions, the
beloved partners of her happiest years, and in the interim to conceal
this frightful determination, was a task that almost conquered her
strength of mind . She had been employed in arranging for their de-
parture; she had promised Raymond during this decisive evening, to
take advantage of our absence, to go one stage of the journey, and
he, after his defeat was ascertained, would slip away from us, and
join her .
Although, when I was informed of this scheme, I was bitterly
offended by the small attention which Raymond paid to my sister’s
feelings, I was led by reflection to consider, that he acted under the
force of such strong excitement, as to take from him the conscious-
ness, and, consequently, the guilt of a fault . If he had permitted us
to witness his agitation, he would have been more under the guid-
ance of reason; but his struggles for the shew of composure, acted
with such violence on his nerves, as to destroy his power of self-
command . I am convinced that, at the worst, he would have returned
from the seashore to take leave of us, and to make us the partners of
his council . But the task imposed on Perdita was not the less pain-
ful . He had extorted from her a vow of secrecy; and her part of the
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 912
drama, since it was to be performed alone, was the most agonizing
that could be devised . But to return to my narrative .
The debates had hitherto been long and loud; they had often been
protracted merely for the sake of delay . But now each seemed fear-
ful lest the fatal moment should pass, while the choice was yet unde-
cided . Unwonted silence reigned in the house, the members spoke in
whispers, and the ordinary business was transacted with celerity and
quietness. During the first stage of the election, the Duke of——had
been thrown out; the question therefore lay between Lord Raymond
and Mr . Ryland . The latter had felt secure of victory, until the ap-
pearance of Raymond; and, since his name had been inserted as a
candidate, he had canvassed with eagerness . He had appeared each
evening, impatience and anger marked in his looks, scowling on us
from the opposite side of St . Stephen’s, as if his mere frown would
cast eclipse on our hopes .
Every thing in the English constitution had been regulated for the
better preservation of peace . On the last day, two candidates only
were allowed to remain; and to obviate, if possible, the last struggle
between these, a bribe was offered to him who should voluntarily
resign his pretensions; a place of great emolument and honour was
given him, and his success facilitated at a future election . Strange
to say however, no instance had yet occurred, where either candi-
date had had recourse to this expedient; in consequence the law
had become obsolete, nor had been referred to by any of us in our
discussions . To our extreme surprise, when it was moved that we
should resolve ourselves into a committee for the election of the
Lord Protector, the member who had nominated Ryland, rose and
informed us that this candidate had resigned his pretensions . His
information was at first received with silence; a confused murmur
succeeded; and, when the chairman declared Lord Raymond duly
chosen, it amounted to a shout of applause and victory . It seemed as
if, far from any dread of defeat even if Mr . Ryland had not resigned,
every voice would have been united in favour of our candidate . In
fact, now that the idea of contest was dismissed, all hearts returned
to their former respect and admiration of our accomplished friend .
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 913
Each felt, that England had never seen a Protector so capable of
fulfilling the arduous duties of that high office. One voice made of
many voices, resounded through the chamber; it syllabled the name
of Raymond .
He entered . I was on one of the highest seats, and saw him walk
up the passage to the table of the speaker . The native modesty of
his disposition conquered the joy of his triumph . He looked round
timidly; a mist seemed before his eyes . Adrian, who was beside me,
hastened to him, and jumping down the benches, was at his side in
a moment . His appearance re-animated our friend; and, when he
came to speak and act, his hesitation vanished, and he shone out
supreme in majesty and victory . The former Protector tendered him
the oaths, and presented him with the insignia of office, performing
the ceremonies of installation . The house then dissolved . The chief
members of the state crowded round the new magistrate, and con-
ducted him to the palace of government . Adrian suddenly vanished;
and, by the time that Raymond’s supporters were reduced to our
intimate friends merely, returned leading Idris to congratulate her
friend on his success .
But where was Perdita? In securing solicitously an unobserved
retreat in case of failure, Raymond had forgotten to arrange the
mode by which she was to hear of his success; and she had been too
much agitated to revert to this circumstance . When Idris entered,
so far had Raymond forgotten himself, that he asked for my sister;
one word, which told of her mysterious disappearance, recalled him .
Adrian it is true had already gone to seek the fugitive, imagining
that her tameless anxiety had led her to the purlieus of the House,
and that some sinister event detained her . But Raymond, without
explaining himself, suddenly quitted us, and in another moment we
; heard him gallop down the street, in spite of the wind and rain that
scattered tempest over the earth . We did not know how far he had
to go, and soon separated, supposing that in a short time he would
return to the palace with Perdita, and that they would not be sorry to
find themselves alone.
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 914
Perdita had arrived with her child at Dartford, weeping and incon-
solable . She directed everything to be prepared for the continuance
of their journey, and placing her lovely sleeping charge on a bed,
passed several hours in acute suffering . Sometimes she observed
the war of elements, thinking that they also declared against her,
and listened to the pattering of the rain in gloomy despair . Some-
times she hung over her child, tracing her resemblance to the father,
and fearful lest in after life she should display the same passions
and uncontrollable impulses, that rendered him unhappy . Again,
with a gush of pride and delight, she marked in the features of her
little girl, the same smile of beauty that often irradiated Raymond’s
countenance . The sight of it soothed her . She thought of the treasure
she possessed in the affections of her lord; of his accomplishments,
surpassing those of his contemporaries, his genius, his devotion to
her .—Soon she thought, that all she possessed in the world, except
him, might well be spared, nay, given with delight, a propitiatory
offering, to secure the supreme good she retained in him . Soon she
imagined, that fate demanded this sacrifice from her, as a mark she
was devoted to Raymond, and that it must be made with cheerful-
ness. She figured to herself their life in the Greek isle he had selected
for their retreat; her task of soothing him; her cares for the beaute-
ous Clara, her rides in his company, her dedication of herself to his
consolation . The picture then presented itself to her in such glowing
colours, that she feared the reverse, and a life of magnificence and
power in London; where Raymond would no longer be hers only,
nor she the sole source of happiness to him . So far as she merely
was concerned, she began to hope for defeat; and it was only on his
account that her feelings vacillated, as she heard him gallop into the
court-yard of the inn . That he should come to her alone, wetted by