The Knight Of Gwynne, Vol. 2 (of 2)

by Charles James Lever

  CHAPTER VI. AN UNLOOKED-FOR PROMOTION

  The same post that brought the Knight the tidings of his lost suitconveyed the intelligence of his son's departure for India; and althoughthe latter event was one over which, if in his power, he would haveexercised no control, yet was it by far the more saddening of the twoannouncements.

  Unable to apply any more consolatory counsels, his invariable reply toLady Eleanor was, "It was a point of duty; the boy could not havedone otherwise; I have too often expressed my opinion to him about the_devoirs_ of a soldier to permit of his hesitating here. And as for oursuit, Mr. Bicknell says the jury did not deliberate ten minutes on theirverdict; whatever right we might have on our side, it was pretty clearwe had no law. Poor Lionel is spared the pain of knowing this, atleast." He sighed heavily, and was silent. Lady Eleanor and Helen spokenot either; and except their long-drawn breathings nothing was heard inthe room.

  Lady Eleanor was the first to speak. "Might not Lionel's evidence havegiven a very different coloring to our cause if he had been there?"

  "It is hard to say. I am not aware whether we failed upon a point offact or law. Mr. Bicknell writes like a man who felt his words werecostly matters, and that he should not put his client to unnecessaryexpense. He limits himself to the simple announcement of the result, andthat the charge of the bench was very pointedly unfavorable. He sayssomething about a motion for a new trial, and regrets Daly's havingprevented his engaging Mr. O'Halloran, and refers us to the newspapersfor detail."

  "I never heard a question of this O'Halloran," said Lady Eleanor, "norof Mr. Daly's opposition to him before."

  "Nor did I, either; though, in all likelihood, if I had, I should havebeen of Bagenal's mind myself. Employing such men has always appearedto me on a par with the barbarism of engaging the services of savagenations in a war against civilized ones; and the practice is defendedby the very same arguments,--if they are not with you, they are againstyou."

  "You are right, my dear father," said Helen, while her countenanceglowed with unusual animation; "leave such allies to the enemy if hewill, no good cause shall be stained by the scalping-knife and thetomahawk."

  "Quite right, my dearest child," said he, fondly; "no defeat is so badas such a victory."

  "And where was Mr. Daly? He does not seem to have been at the trial?"

  "No; it would appear as if he were detained by some pressing necessityin Dublin. This letter is in his handwriting; let us see what he says."

  Before the Knight could execute his intention, old Tate appeared at thedoor, and announced the name of Mr. Dempsey.

  "You must present our compliments," said Darcy, hastily, "and say thata very particular engagement will prevent our having the pleasure ofreceiving his visit this evening."

  "This is really intolerable," said Lady Eleanor, who, never muchdisposed to look favorably on that gentleman, felt his presentappearance anything but agreeable.

  "You hear what your master says," said Helen to the old man, who, neverhaving in his whole life received a similar order, felt proportionatelyastonished and confused.

  "Tell Mr. Dempsey we are very sorry; but--"

  "For all that, he won't be denied," said Paul, himself finishing thesentence, while, passing unceremoniously in front of Tate, he walkedboldly into the middle of the room. His face was flushed, his foreheadcovered with perspiration, and his clothes, stained with dust, showedthat he had come off a very long and fast walk. He wiped his foreheadwith a flaring cotton handkerchief, and then, with a long-drawn puff,threw himself back into an arm-chair.

  There was something so actually comic in the cool assurance of thelittle man, that Darcy lost all sense of annoyance at the interruption,while he surveyed him and enjoyed the dignified coolness of LadyEleanor's reception.

  "That's the devil's own bit of a road," said Paul, as he fanned himselfwith a music-book, "between this and Coleraine. Whenever it 's not goingup a hill, it's down one. Do you ever walk that way, ma'am?"

  "Very seldom indeed, sir."

  "Faith, and I 'd wager, when you do, that it gives you a pain just herebelow the calf of the leg, and a stitch in the small of the back."

  Lady Eleanor took no notice of this remark, but addressed someobservation to Helen, at which the young girl smiled, and said, in awhisper,--

  "Oh, he will not stay long."

  "I am afraid, Mr. Dempsey," said the Knight, "that. I must beuncourteous enough to say that we are unprepared for a visitor thisevening. Some letters of importance have just arrived; and as they willdemand all our attention, you will, I am sure, excuse the frankness ofmy telling you that we desire to be alone."

  "So you shall in a few minutes more," said Paul, coolly. "Let me havea glass of sherry and water, or, if wine is not convenient, ditto ofbrandy, and I 'm off. I did n't come to stop. It was a letter that youforgot at the post-office, marked 'with speed,' on the outside, thatbrought me here; for I was spending a few days at Coleraine with oldHewson."

  The kindness of this thoughtful act at once eradicated every memory ofthe vulgarity that accompanied it; and as the Knight took the letterfrom his hands, he hastened to apologize for what he said by adding histhanks for the service.

  "I offered a fellow a shilling to bring it, but being harvest-time hewouldn't come," said Dempsey. "Phew! what a state the roads are in! dustup to your ankles!"

  "Come now, pray help yourself to some wine and water," said the Knight;"and while you do so, I 'll ask permission to open my letter."

  "There 's a short cut down by Port-na-happle mill, they tell me, ma'am,"said Dempsey, who now found a much more complaisant listener than atfirst; "but, to tell you the truth, I don't think it would suit youor me; there are stone walls to climb over and ditches to cross. MissHelen, there, might get over them, she has a kind of a thoroughbredstride of her own, but fencing destroys me outright."

  "It was a very great politeness to think of bringing us the letter, andI trust your fatigues will not be injurious to you," said Lady Eleanor,smiling faintly.

  "Worse than the damage to a pair of very old shoes, ma'am, I don'tanticipate; I begin to suspect they've taken their last walk thisevening."

  While Mr. Dempsey contemplated the coverings of his feet with a very sadexpression, the Knight continued to read the letter he held in his handwith an air of extreme intentness.

  "Eleanor, my dear," said he, as he retired into the deep recess of awindow, "come here for a moment."

  "I guessed there would be something of consequence in that," saidDempsey, with a sly glance from Helen to the two figures beside thewindow. "The envelope was a thin one, and I read 'War Office' in thecorner of the inside cover."

  Not heeding the delicacy of this announcement, but only thinking of thefact, which she at once connected with Lionel's fortunes, Helen turnedan anxious and searching glance towards the window; but the Knightand Lady Eleanor had entered a small room adjoining, and were alreadyconcealed from view.

  "Was he ever in the militia, miss?" asked Dempsey, with a gesture of histhumb to indicate of whom he spoke.

  "I believe not," said Helen, smiling at the pertinacity of hiscuriosity.

  "Well, well," resumed Dempsey, with a sigh, "I would not wish him ahotter march than I had this day, and little notion I had of the sametramp only ten minutes before. I was reading the 'Saunders' of Tuesdaylast, with an account of that business done at Mayo between O'Halloranand the young officer-you know what I mean?"

  "No, I have not heard it; pray tell me," said she, with an eagernessvery different from her former manner.

  "It was a horsewhipping, miss, that a young fellow in the Guards gaveO'Halloran, just as he was coming out of court; something the Counsellorsaid about somebody in the trial,--names never stay in my head, butI remember it was a great trial at the Westport assizes, and thatO'Halloran came down special, and faith, so did the young captain too;and if the lawyer laid it on very heavily within the court, the red-coatmade up for it outside. But I believe I have the paper in my pocket,and, if
you like, I'll read it out for you."

  "Pray do," said Helen, whose anxiety was now intense.

  "Well, here goes," said Mr. Dempsey; "but with your permission I 'lljust wet my lips again. That 's elegant sherry!"

  Having sipped and tasted often enough to try the young lady's patienceto its last limit, he unfolded the paper, and read aloud,--

  "'When Counsellor O'Halloran had concluded his eloquent speech in thetrial of Darcy v. Hickman,--for a full report of which see our earlycolumns,--a young gentleman, pushing his way through the circle ofcongratulating friends, accosted him with the most insulting andopprobrious epithets, and failing to elicit from the learned gentlemana reciprocity,'-that means, miss, that O'Halloran did n't showfight,--'struck him repeatedly across the shoulders, and even the face,with a horsewhip. He was immediately committed under a bench warrant,but was liberated almost at once. Perhaps our readers may understandthese proceedings more clearly when we inform them that CaptainForester, the aggressor in this case, is a near relative of our IrishSecretary, Lord Castlereagh.' That 's very neatly put, miss, isn't it?"said Mr. Dempsey, with a sly twinkle of the eye; "it's as much as to saythat the Castle chaps may do what they please. But it won't end there,depend upon it; the Counsellor will see it out."

  Helen paid little attention to the observation, for, having taken up thepaper as Mr. Dempsey laid it down, she was deeply engaged in the reportof the trial and O'Halloran's speech.

  "Wasn't that a touching-up the old Knight of Gwynne got?" said Dempsey,as, with his glass to his eye, he peered over her shoulder at thenewspaper. "Faith, O'Halloran flayed him alive! He 's the boy can do it!"

  Helen scarce seemed to breathe, as, with a heart almost bursting withindignant anger, she read the lines before her.

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  "Strike him!" cried she, at length, unable longer to control the passionthat worked within her; "had he trampled him beneath his feet, it hadnot been too much?"

  The little man started, and stared with amazement at the young girl,as, with flashing eyes and flushed cheek, she arose from her seat, and,tearing the paper into fragments, stamped upon them with her foot.

  "Blood alive, miss, don't destroy the paper! I only got a loan of itfrom Mrs. Kennedy, of the Post-office; she slipped it out of the cover,though it was addressed to Lord O'Neil. Oh dear! oh dear! it's a nicearticle now!"

  These words were uttered in the very depth of despair, as, kneelingdown on the carpet, Mr. Dempsey attempted to collect and arrange thescattered fragments.

  "It's no use in life! Here's the Widow Wallace's pills in the middle ofthe Counsellor's speech! and the last day's drawing of the lottery mixedup with that elegant account of old Darcy's--"

  A hand which, if of the gentlest mould, now made a gesture to enforcesilence, arrested Mr. Dempsey's words, and at the same moment the Knightentered with Lady Eleanor. Darcy started as he gazed on the excitedlooks and the air of defiance of his daughter, and for a second a deepflush suffused his features, as with an angry frown he asked of Dempsey,"What does this mean, sir?"

  "D-n me if I know what it means!" exclaimed Paul, in utter despair atthe confusion of his own faculties. "My brain is in a whirl."

  "It was a little political dispute between Mr. Dempsey and myself, sir,"said Helen, with a faint smile. "He was reading for me an articlefrom the newspaper, whose views were so very opposite to mine, and hisadvocacy of them so very animated, that--in short, we both became warm."

  "Yes, that's it," cried Dempsey, glad to accept any explanationof a case in which he had no precise idea wherein lay thedifficulty,--"that's it; I 'll take my oath it was."

  "He is a fierce Unionist," said Helen, speaking rapidly to cover herincreasing confusion, "and has all the conventional cant by heart,'old-fashioned opinions,' 'musty prejudices,' and so on."

  "I did not suspect you were so eager a politician, my dear Helen," saidthe Knight, as, half chidingly, he threw his eyes towards the scatteredfragments of the torn newspaper.

  The young girl blushed till her neck became crimson: shame, at theimputation of having so far given way to passion; sorrow, at thereproof, whose injustice she did not dare to expose; and regret, at thenecessity of dissimulation, all overwhelming her at the same moment.

  "I am not angry, my sweet girl," said the Knight, as he drew his armaround her, and spoke in a low, fond accent. "I may be sorry--sincerelysorry--at the social condition that has suffered political feeling toapproach our homes and our firesides, and thus agitate hearts as gentleas yours by these rude themes. For your sentiments on these subjects Ican scarcely be a severe critic, for I believe they are all my own."

  "Let us forget it all," said Helen, eagerly; for she saw-that Mr.Dempsey, having collected once more the torn scraps, was busy inarranging them into something like order. In fact, his senses weregradually recovering from the mystification into which they had beenthrown, and he was anxious to vindicate himself before the party. "Allthe magnanimity, however, must not be mine," continued she; "and untilthat odious paper is consumed, I 'll sign no treaty of peace." Sosaying, and before Dempsey could interfere to prevent it, she snatchedup the fragments, and threw them into the fire. "Now, Mr. Dempsey, weare friends again," said she, laughing.

  "The Lord grant it!" ejaculated Paul, who really felt no ambition forso energetic an enemy. "I 'll never tell a bit of news in your companyagain, so long as my name is Paul Dempsey. Every officer of the Guardsmay horsewhip the Irish bar--I was forgetting--not a syllable more."

  The Knight, fortunately, did not hear the last few words, for he wasbusily engaged in reading the letter he still held in his hands; atlength he said,--

  "Mr. Dempsey has conferred one great favor on us by bringing us thisletter; and as its contents are of a nature not to admit of any delay--"

  "He will increase the obligation by taking his leave," added Paul,rising, and, for once in his life, really well pleased at an opportunityof retiring.

  "I did not say that," said Darcy, smiling.

  "No, no, Mr. Dempsey," added Lady Eleanor, with more than her wontedcordiality; "you will, I hope, remain for tea."

  "No, ma'am, I thank you; I have a little engagement,--I made a promise.If I get safe out of the house without some infernal blunder or other,it 's only the mercy of Providence." And with this burst of honestfeeling, Paul snatched up his hat, and without waiting for the ceremonyof leave-taking, rushed out of the room, and was soon seen crossing thewide common at a brisk pace.

  "Our little friend has lost his reason," said the Knight, laughing."What have you been doing to him, Helen?"

  A gesture to express innocence of all interference was the only reply,and the party became suddenly silent.

  "Has Helen seen that letter?" said Lady Eleanor, faintly, and Darcyhanded the epistle to his daughter. "Read it aloud, my dear," continuedLady Eleanor; "for, up to this, my impressions are so confused, I knownot which is reality, which mere apprehension."

  Helen's eyes glanced to the top of the letter, and saw the words "WarOffice;" she then proceeded to read:--

  "'Sir,--In reply to the application made to the Commander-in-Chiefof the forces in your behalf, expressing your desire for an activeemployment, I have the honor to inform you that his Royal Highness,having graciously taken into consideration the eminent services renderedby you in former years, and the distinguished character of that corpswhich, raised by your exertions, still bears your name, has desired meto convey his approval of your claim, and his desire, should a favorableopportunity present itself, of complying with your wish. I have thehonor to remain, your most humble and obedient servant,

  "'Harry Greville,

  "_Private Secretary_."

  On an enclosed slip of paper was the single line in pencil:--

  "H. G. begs to intimate to Colonel Darcy the propriety of attending thenext levee of H. R. H., which will take place on the 14th."

  "Now, you, who read riddles, my dearest Helen, explain this one to us.I made no application of the kind alluded to, nor am I aw
are of any onehaving ever done so for me. The thought never once occurred to me, thathis Majesty or his Royal Highness would accept the services of an oldand shattered hulk, while many a glorious three-decker lies ready to belaunched from the stocks. I could not have presumed to ask such a favor,nor do I well know how to acknowledge it."

  "But is there anything so very strange," said Helen, proudly, "thatthose highly placed by station should be as highly gifted by nature,and that his Royal Highness, having heard of your unmerited calumnies,should have seen that this was the fitting moment to remember theservices you have rendered the Crown? I have heard that there areseveral posts of high trust and honor conferred on those who, likeyourself, have won distinction in the service."

  "Helen is right," said Lady Eleanor, drawing a long breath, and as ifreleased of a weighty load of doubt and uncertainty; "this is the realexplanation; the phrases of official life may give it another coloringto our eyes, but such, I feel assured, is the true solution."

  "I should like to think it so," said Darcy, feelingly; "it would be agreat source of pride to me at this moment, when my fortunes are lowerthan ever they were,--lower than ever I anticipated they might be,--toknow that my benefactor was the Monarch. In any case I must lose no timein acknowledging this mark of favor. It is now the 4th of the month; tobe in London by the 14th, I should leave this to-morrow."

  "It is better to do so," said Lady Eleanor, with an utterance from whicha great effort had banished all agitation; "Helen and I are safe andwell here, and as happy as we can be when away from you and Lionel."

  "Poor Lionel!" said the Knight, tenderly; "what good news for him itwould be were they to give me some staff appointment,--I might have himnear us. Come, Eleanor," added he, with more gayety of manner, "I feel akind of presentiment of good tidings. But we are forgetting BagenalDaly all this time; perhaps this letter of his may throw some light onthe matter."

  Darcy now broke the seal of Daly's note, which, even for him, was oneof the briefest. This was so far fortunate, since his writing was inhis very worst style, blotted and half erased in many places, scarcelylegible anywhere. It was only by assembling a "committee of the wholehouse" that the Darcys were enabled to decipher even a portion of thisunhappy document. As well as it could be rendered, it ran somewhatthus:--

  "The verdict is against us; old Bretson never forgave you carrying awaythe medal from him in Trinity some fifty years back; he charged deadagainst you; I always said he would. _Summum jus, summa injuria_--TheChief Justice--the greatest wrong! and the jury the fellows who livedunder you, in your own town, and their fathers and grandfathers! atleast, as many of the rascals as had such.--Never mind, Bicknell hasmoved for a new trial; they have gained the 'Habere' this time, and sohas O'Halloran--you heard of the thrashing--"

  Here two tremendous patches of ink left some words that followed quiteunreadable.

  "What can this mean?" said Darcy, repeating the passage over threeor four times, while Helen made no effort to enlighten him in thedifficulty. Battled in all his attempts, he read on: "'I saw him in hisway through Dublin last night,' Who can he possibly mean?" said Darcy,laying down the letter, and pondering for several minutes.

  "O'Halloran, perhaps," said Lady Eleanor, in vain seeking a betterelucidation.

  "Oh, not him, of course!" cried Darcy; "he goes on to say, that 'he isa devilish high-spirited young fellow, and for an Englishman awarm-blooded animal.' Really this is too provoking; at such a time asthis he might have taken pains to be a little clearer," exclaimed Darcy.

  The letter concluded with some mysterious hints about intelligence thata few days might disclose, but from what quarter or on what subjectnothing was said, and it was actually with a sense of relief Darcy readthe words, "Yours ever, Bagenal Daly," at the foot of the letter, andthus spared himself the torment of further doubts and guesses.

  Helen was restrained from at once conveying the solution of the mysteryby recollecting the energy she had displayed in her scene with Mr.Dempsey, and of which the shame still lingered on her flushed cheek.

  "He adds something here about writing by the next post," said LadyEleanor.

  "But before that arrives I shall be away," said the Knight; and thetrain of thought thus evoked soon erased all memory of other matters.And now the little group gathered together to discuss the comingjourney, and talk over all the plans by which anxiety was to be beguiledand hope cherished till they met again.

  "Miss Daly will not be a very importunate visitor," said Lady Eleanor,dryly, "judging at least from the past; she has made one call here sincewe came, and then only to leave her card."

  "And if Helen does not cultivate a more conciliating manner, I scarcethink that Mr. Dempsey will venture on coming either," said the Knight,laughing.

  "I can readily forgive all the neglect," said Helen, haughtily, "incompensation for the tranquillity."

  "And yet, my dear Helen," said Darcy, "there is a danger in that samecompact. We should watch carefully to see whether, in the isolation ofa life apart from others, we are not really indulging the most refinedselfishness, and dignifying with the name of philosophy a solitude welove for the indulgence of our own egotism. If we are to have our heartsstirred and our sympathies strongly moved, let the themes be great ones,but above all things let us avoid magnifying the petty incidentsof daily occurrence into much consequence: this is what the life ofmonasteries and convents teaches, and a worse lesson there need not be."

  Darcy spoke with more than usual seriousness, for he had observed sometime past how Helen had imbibed much of Lady Eleanor's distance towardsher humble neighbors, and was disposed to retain a stronger memory oftheir failings in manner than of their better and heartier traits ofcharacter.

  The young girl felt the remark less as a reproof than a warning, andsaid,--

  "I will not forget it."