A Simple Story

by Mrs. Inchbald

  CHAPTER IX.

  At half after eleven, Miss Milner's chair, and another with MissWoodley, took them from Lord Elmwood's, to call upon the party(wood-nymphs and huntresses) who were to accompany them, and make up thesuit of Diana.

  They had not left the house two minutes, when a thundering rap came atthe door--it was Lord Elmwood in a post chaise. Upon some occasion thenext day's hunt was deferred: he had been made acquainted with it, andcame from Windsor at that late hour. After he had informed Mrs. Hortonand Mr. Sandford, who were sitting together, of the cause of his suddenreturn, and had supper ordered for him, he enquired, "What company hadjust left the house?"

  "We have been alone the whole evening, my Lord," replied Mrs. Horton.

  "Nay," returned he, "I saw two chairs, with several servants, come outof the door as I drove up, but what livery I could not discern."

  "We have had no creature here," repeated Mrs. Horton.

  "Nor has Miss Milner had visitors?" asked he.

  This brought Mrs. Horton to her recollection, and she cried, "Oh! now Iknow;"----and then checked herself, as if she knew too much.

  "What do you know, Madam?" said he, sharply.

  "Nothing," said Mrs. Horton, "I know nothing--" and she lifted up herhands and shook her head.

  "So all people say, who know a great deal," cried Sandford, "and Isuspect that is at present your case."

  "Then I know more than I wish, I am sure, Mr. Sandford," returned she,shrugging up her shoulders.

  Lord Elmwood was all impatience.

  "Explain, Madam, explain."

  "Dear my Lord," said she, "if your Lordship will recollect, you may justhave the same knowledge that I have."

  "Recollect what?" said he sternly.

  "The quarrel you and your ward had about the masquerade."

  "What of that? she is not gone there?" he cried.

  "I am not sure she is," returned Mrs. Horton; "but if your Lordship sawtwo sedan chairs going out of this house, I cannot but suspect it mustbe Miss Milner and my niece going to the masquerade."

  He made no answer, but rang the bell violently. A servant entered. "SendMiss Milner's maid hither," said he, "immediately." The man withdrew.

  "Nay, my Lord," cried Mrs. Horton, "any of the other servants could tellyou just as well, whether Miss Milner is at home, or gone out."

  "Perhaps not," replied he.

  The maid entered.

  "Where is your mistress?" said Lord Elmwood.

  The woman had received no orders to conceal where the ladies were gone,and yet a secret influence which governs the thoughts of allwaiting-women and chambermaids, whispered to her that she ought not totell the truth.

  "Where is your mistress?" repeated he, in a louder voice than before.

  "Gone out, my Lord," she replied.

  "Where?"

  "My Lady did not tell me."

  "And don't you know?"

  "No, my Lord:" she answered, and without blushing.

  "Is this the night of the masquerade?" said he.

  "I don't know, my Lord, upon my word; but, I believe, my Lord, it isnot."

  Sandford, as soon as Lord Elmwood had asked the last question, ranhastily to the table, at the other side of the room, took something fromit, and returned to his place again--and when the maid said, "It was notthe night of the masquerade," he exclaimed, "But it is, my Lord, itis--yes, it is," and shewing a newspaper in his hand, pointed to theparagraph which contained the information.

  "Leave the room," said Lord Elmwood to the woman, "I have done withyou." She withdrew.

  "Yes, yes, here it is," repeated Sandford, with the paper in hishand.----He then read the paragraph: "'_The masquerade at the honorableMrs. G----'s this evening_'--This evening, my Lord, you find--'_it isexpected will be the most brilliant, of any thing of the kind for thesemany years past._'"

  "They should not put such things in the papers," said Mrs. Horton, "totempt young women to their ruin." The word ruin grated upon LordElmwood's ear, and he said to the servant who came to wait on him, whilehe supped, "Take the supper away." He had not attempted either to eat,or even to sit down; and he now walked backwards and forwards in theroom, lost in thought and care.

  A little time after, one of Miss Milner's footmen came in upon someoccasion, and Mr. Sandford said to him, "Pray did you attend your ladyto the masquerade?"

  "Yes, Sir," replied the man.

  Lord Elmwood stopped himself short in his walk, and said to the servant,"You did?"

  "Yes, my Lord," replied he.

  He walked again.

  "I should like to know what she was dressed in," said Mrs. Horton: andturning to the servant, "Do you know what your lady had on?"

  "Yes, Madam," replied the man, "she was in men's clothes."

  "How!" cried Lord Elmwood.

  "You tell a story, to be sure," said Mrs. Horton to the servant.

  "No," cried Sandford, "I am sure he does not; for he is an honest goodyoung man, and would not tell a lie upon any account--would you, George?"

  Lord Elmwood ordered Miss Milner's woman to be again sent up. She came.

  "In what dress did your lady go to the masquerade?" asked he, and with alook so extremely morose, it seemed to command the answer in a singleword, and that word to be truth.

  A mind, with a spark of sensibility more than this woman possessed,could not have equivocated with such an interrogator, but her reply was,"She went in her own dress, my Lord."

  "Was it a man's or a woman's?" asked he, with a look of the samecommand.

  "Ha, ha, my Lord," (half laughing and half crying) "a woman's dress, tobe sure, my Lord."

  On which Sandford cried----

  "Call the footman up, and let him confront her."

  He was called; but Lord Elmwood, now disgusted at the scene, withdrew tothe further end of the room, and left Sandford to question them.

  With all the authority and consequence of a country magistrate,Sandford--his back to the fire, and the witnesses before him, began withthe footman.

  "In what dress do you say, that you saw your lady, when you attended,and went along with her, to the masquerade?"

  "In men's clothes," replied the man, boldly and firmly as before.

  "Bless my soul, George, how can you say such a thing?" cried the woman.

  "What dress do _you_ say she went in?" cried Sandford to her.

  "In women's clothes, indeed, Sir."

  "This is very odd!" said Mrs. Horton.

  "Had she on, or had she not on, a coat?" asked Sandford.

  "Yes, Sir, a petticoat," replied the woman.

  "Do _you_ say she had on a petticoat?" said Sandford to the man.

  "I can't answer exactly for that," replied he, "but I know she had bootson."

  "They were not boots," replied the maid with vehemence--"indeed, Sir,(turning to Sandford) they were only half boots."

  "My girl," said Sandford kindly to her, "your own evidence convicts yourmistress--What has a woman to do with _any_ boots?"

  Impatient at this mummery, Lord Elmwood rose, ordered the servants outof the room, and then, looking at his watch, found it was near one. "Atwhat hour am I to expect her home?" said he.

  "Perhaps not till three in the morning," answered Mrs. Horton.

  "Three! more likely six," cried Sandford.

  "I can't wait with patience till that time," answered Lord Elmwood, witha most anxious sigh.

  "You had better go to bed, my Lord," said Mrs. Horton; "and, bysleeping, the time will pass away unperceived."

  "If I _could_ sleep, Madam."

  "Will you play a game of cards, my Lord?" said Sandford, "for I will notleave you till she comes home; and though I am not used to sit up allnight----"

  "All night!" repeated Lord Elmwood; "she dares not stay all night."

  "And yet, after going," said Sandford, "in defiance to your commands, Ishould suppose she dared."

  "She is in good company, at least, my Lord," said Mrs. Horton.

  "She does n
ot know herself what company she is in," replied he.

  "How should she," cried Sandford, "where every one hides his face?"

  Till five o'clock in the morning, in conversation such as this, thehours passed away. Mrs. Horton, indeed, retired to her chamber at two,and left the gentlemen to a more serious discourse; but a discoursestill less advantageous to poor Miss Milner.

  She, during this time, was at the scene of pleasure she had painted toherself, and all the pleasure it gave her was, that she was sure sheshould never desire to go to a masquerade again. Its crowd and bustlefatigued her--its freedom offended her delicacy--and though she perceivedthat she was the first object of admiration in the place, yet there wasone person still wanting to admire; and the remorse at havingtransgressed his injunctions for so trivial an entertainment, weighedupon her spirits, and added to its weariness. She would have come awaysooner than she did, but she could not, with any degree of good manners,leave the company with whom she went; and not till half after four, werethey prevailed on to return.

  Daylight just peeped through the shutters of the room in which LordElmwood and Sandford were sitting, when the sound of her carriage, andthe sudden stop it made at the door, caused Lord Elmwood to start fromhis chair. He trembled extremely, and looked pale. Sandford was ashamedto seem to notice it, yet he could not help asking him, "To take a glassof wine." He took it--and for once, evinced he was reduced so low, as tobe _glad_ of such a resource.

  What passion thus agitated Lord Elmwood at this crisis, it is hard todefine--perhaps it was indignation at Miss Milner's imprudence, andexultation at being on the point of revenge--perhaps it was emotionarising from joy, to find that she was safe--perhaps it was perturbationat the regret he felt that he must upbraid her--perhaps it was not onealone of these sensations, but all of them combined.

  She, wearied out with the tedious night's dissipation, and far lessjoyous than melancholy, had fallen asleep as she rode home, and camehalf asleep out of her carriage. "Light me to my bed-chamber instantly,"said she to her maid, who waited in the hall to receive her. But one ofLord Elmwood's valets went up to her, and answered, "Madam, my Lorddesires to see you before you retire."

  "Your Lord!" she cried, "Is he not out of town?"

  "No, Madam, my Lord has been at home ever since you went out; and hasbeen sitting up with Mr. Sandford, waiting for you."

  She was wide awake immediately. The heaviness was removed from her eyes,but fear, grief, and shame, seized upon her heart. She leaned againsther maid, as if unable to support herself under those feelings, and saidto Miss Woodley,

  "Make my excuse--I cannot see him to-night--I am unfit--indeed I cannot."

  Miss Woodley was alarmed at the idea of going to him by herself, andthus, perhaps, irritating him still more: she, therefore, said, "He hassent for _you_; for heaven's sake, do not disobey him a second time."

  "No, dear Madam, don't," cried her woman, "for he is like a lion--he hasbeen scolding me."

  "Good God!" (exclaimed Miss Milner, and in a tone that seemed prophetic)"Then he is not to be my husband, after all."

  "Yes," cried Miss Woodley, "if you will only be humble, and appearsorry. You know your power over him, and all may yet be well."

  She turned her speaking eyes upon her friend, the tears starting fromthem, her lips trembling--"Do I not appear sorry?" she cried.

  The bell at that moment rang furiously, and they hastened their steps tothe door of the apartment where Lord Elmwood was.

  "No, this shuddering is only fright," replied Miss Woodley--"Say to himyou are sorry, and beg his pardon."

  "I cannot," said she, "if Mr. Sandford is with him."

  The servant opened the door, and she and Miss Woodley went in. LordElmwood, by this time, was composed, and received her with a slightinclination of his head--she bowed to him in return, and said, with somemarks of humility,

  "I suppose, my Lord, I have done wrong."

  "You have indeed, Miss Milner," answered he; "but do not suppose, that Imean to upbraid you: I am, on the contrary, going to release you fromany such apprehension _for the future._"

  Those last three words he delivered with a countenance so serious and sodetermined, with an accent so firm and so decided, they pierced throughher heart. Yet she did not weep, or even sigh; but her friend, knowingwhat she felt, exclaimed, "Oh?" as if for her.

  She herself strove with her anguish, and replied, (but with a falteringvoice) "I expected as much, my Lord."

  "Then, Madam, you perhaps expect _all_ that I intend?"

  "In regard to myself," she replied, "I suppose I do."

  "Then," said he, "you may expect that in a few days we shall part."

  "I am prepared for it, my Lord," she answered, and, while she said so,sunk upon a chair.

  "My Lord, what you have to say farther," said Miss Woodley, in tears,"defer till the morning--Miss Milner, you see, is not able to bear itnow."

  "I have nothing to _say_ further," replied he coolly--"I have now only toact."

  "Lord Elmwood," cried Miss Milner, divided between grief and anger, "youthink to terrify me by your menaces--but I can part with you--heaven knowsI can--your late behaviour has reconciled me to a separation."

  On this he was going out of the room--but Miss Woodley, catching hold ofhim, cried, "Oh! my Lord, do not leave her in this sorrow--pity herweakness, and forgive it." She was proceeding; and he seemed as ifinclined to listen, when Sandford called out in a tone of voice soharsh,

  "Miss Woodley, what do you mean?"--She gave a start, and desisted.

  Lord Elmwood then turned to Sandford, and said, "Nay, Mr. Sandford, youneed entertain no doubts of me--I have judged, and have deter----"

  He was going to say _determined_; but Miss Milner, who dreaded the word,interrupted the period, and exclaimed, "Oh! could my poor father knowthe days of sorrow I have experienced since his death, how would herepent his fatal choice of a protector!"

  This sentence, in which his friend's memory was recalled, with anadditional allusion to her long and secret love for him, affected LordElmwood much--he was moved, but ashamed of being so, and as soon aspossible conquered the propensity to forgive. Yet, for a short interval,he did not know whether to go out of the room, or to remain in it;whether to speak, or to be silent. At length he turned towards her, andsaid,

  "Appeal to your father in some other form--in that (pointing at herdress) he will not know you. Reflect upon him, too, in your moments ofdissipation, and let his idea controul your indiscretions--not merely inan hour of contradiction call peevishly upon his name, only to wound thedearest friend you have."

  There was a degree of truth, and a degree of passionate feeling, in theconclusion of this speech, that alarmed Sandford--he caught up one of thecandles, and, laying hold of his friend's elbow, drew him out of theroom, crying, "Come, my Lord, come to your bed-chamber--it is verylate--it is morning--it is time to rise." And by a continual repetition ofthese words, in a very loud voice, drowned whatever Lord Elmwood, or anyother person might have wished either to have said or to have heard.

  In this manner, Lord Elmwood was forced out of the apartment, and theevening's entertainment concluded.