Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 404, June, 1849. VariousЧитать онлайн книгу.
as women usually are, of mere wealth and rank – but ambitious as noble men are, of power and fame. A woman can only indulge such ambition by investing it in another. It was not wealth, it was not rank, that attracted me to Albert Trevanion; it was the nature that dispenses with the wealth, and commands the rank. Nay," continued Lady Ellinor, in a voice that slightly trembled, "I may have seen in my youth, before I knew Trevanion, one (she paused a moment, and went on hurriedly) – one who wanted but ambition to have realised my ideal. Perhaps, even when I married – and it was said for love – I loved less with my whole heart than with my whole mind. I may say this now, for now every beat of this pulse is wholly and only true to him with whom I have schemed, and toiled, and aspired; with whom I have grown as one; with whom I have shared the struggle, and now partake the triumph – realising the visions of my youth."
Again the light broke from the dark eyes of this grand daughter of the world, who was so superb a type of that moral contradiction —an ambitious woman.
"I cannot tell you," resumed Lady Ellinor, softening, "how pleased I was when you came to live with us. Your father has perhaps spoken to you of me, and of our first acquaintance?" —
Lady Ellinor paused abruptly, and surveyed me as she paused. I was silent.
"Perhaps, too, he has blamed me?" she resumed, with a heightened colour.
"He never blamed you, Lady Ellinor!"
"He had a right to do so – though I doubt if he would have blamed me on the true ground. Yet, no; he never could have done me the wrong that your uncle did, when, long years ago, Mr de Caxton in a letter – the very bitterness of which disarmed all anger – accused me of having trifled with Austin – nay, with himself! And he, at least, had no right to reproach me," continued Lady Ellinor warmly, and with a curve of her haughty lip, "for if I felt interest in his wild thirst for some romantic glory, it was but in the hope that, what made the one brother so restless, might at least wake the other to the ambition that would have become his intellect, and aroused his energies. But these are old tales of follies and delusions now no more: only this will I say, that I have ever felt in thinking of your father, and even of your sterner uncle, as if my conscience reminded me of a debt which I longed to discharge – if not to them, to their children. So when we knew you, believe me that your interests, your career, instantly became to me an object. But, mistaking you – when I saw your ardent industry bent on serious objects, and accompanied by a mind so fresh and buoyant; and, absorbed as I was in schemes or projects far beyond a woman's ordinary province of hearth and home – I never dreamed, while you were our guest – never dreamed of danger to you or Fanny. I wound you, pardon me; but I must vindicate myself. I repeat that, if we had a son to inherit our name, to bear the burthen which the world lays upon those who are born to influence the world's destinies, there is no one to whom Trevanion and myself would sooner have intrusted the happiness of a daughter. But my daughter is the sole representative of the mother's line, of the father's name: it is not her happiness alone that I have to consult, it is her duty – duty to her birthright, to the career of the noblest of England's patriots – duty, I may say, without exaggeration, to the country for the sake of which that career is run!"
"Say no more, Lady Ellinor; say no more. I understand you. I have no hope – I never had hope – it was a madness – it is over. It is but as a friend that I ask again, if I may see Miss Trevanion in your presence, before – before I go alone into this long exile. Ay, look in my face – you cannot fear my resolution, my honour, my truth. But once, Lady Ellinor, but once more! Do I ask in vain?"
Lady Ellinor was evidently much moved. I bent down almost in the attitude of kneeling; and, brushing away her tears with one hand, she laid the other on my head tenderly, and said in a very low voice —
"I entreat you not to ask me; I entreat you not to see my daughter. You have shown that you are not selfish – conquer yourself still. What if such an interview, however guarded you might be, were but to agitate, unnerve my child, unsettle her peace, prey upon" —
"Oh, do not speak thus – she did not share my feelings!"
"Could her mother own it if she did? Come, come, remember how young you both are. When you return, all these dreams will be forgotten; then we can meet as before – then I will be your second mother, and again your career shall be my care; for do not think that we shall leave you so long in this exile as you seem to forbode. No, no; it is but an absence – an excursion – not a search after fortune. Your fortune – confide that to us when you return!"
"And I am to see her no more?" I murmured, as I rose, and went silently towards the window to conceal my face. The great struggles in life are limited to moments. In the drooping of the head upon the bosom – in the pressure of the hand upon the brow – we may scarcely consume a second in our threescore years and ten; but what revolutions of our whole being may pass within us, while that single sand drops noiseless down to the bottom of the hour-glass.
I came back with a firm step to Lady Ellinor, and said calmly, "My reason tells me that you are right, and I submit. Forgive me! and do not think me ungrateful, and over proud, if I add, that you must leave me still the object in life that consoles and encourages me through all."
"What object is that?" asked Lady Ellinor, hesitatingly.
"Independence for myself, and ease to those for whom life is still sweet. This is my twofold object; and the means to effect it must be my own heart and my own hands. And now convey all my thanks to your noble husband, and accept my warm prayers for yourself and her– whom I will not name. Farewell, Lady Ellinor."
"No, do not leave me so hastily; I have many things to discuss with you – at least to ask of you. Tell me how your father bears his reverse? – tell me, at least, if there is aught he will suffer us to do for him? There are many appointments in Trevanion's range of influence that would suit even the wilful indolence of a man of letters. Come, be frank with me!"
I could not resist so much kindness; so I sat down, and, as collectedly as I could, replied to Lady Ellinor's questions, and sought to convince her that my father only felt his losses so far as they affected me, and that nothing in Trevanion's power was likely to tempt him from his retreat, or calculated to compensate for a change in his habits. Turning at last from my parents, Lady Ellinor inquired for Roland, and, on learning that he was with me in town, expressed a strong desire to see him. I told her I would communicate her wish, and she then said thoughtfully —
"He has a son, I think, and I have heard that there is some unhappy dissension between them."
"Who could have told you that?" I asked in surprise, knowing how closely Roland had kept the secret of his family afflictions.
"Oh, I heard so from some one who knew Captain Roland – I forget when and where I heard it – but is it not the fact?"
"My uncle Roland has no son."
"How!"
"His son is dead."
"How such a loss must grieve him!"
I did not speak.
"But is he sure that his son is dead! What joy if he were mistaken – if the son yet lived!"
"Nay, my uncle has a brave heart, and he is resigned; – but, pardon me, have you heard anything of that son?"
"I! – what should I hear? I would fain learn, however, from your uncle himself, what he might like to tell me of his sorrows – or if, indeed, there be any chance that" —
"That – what?"
"That – that his son still survives."
"I think not," said I; "and I doubt whether you will learn much from my uncle. Still there is something in your words that belies their apparent meaning, and makes me suspect that you know more than you will say."
"Diplomatist!" said Lady Ellinor, half smiling; but then, her face settling into a seriousness almost severe, she added, "It is terrible to think that a father should hate his son!"
"Hate! – Roland hate his son! What calumny is this?"
"He does not do so, then! Assure me of that; I shall be so glad to know that I have been misinformed."
"I