CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN.
When souls which should agree to will the same-- To have one common object for their wishes, Look diff'rent ways, regardless of each other, Think what a train of wretchedness ensues! ROWE.
But we must return to England, or we shall lose sight of the Rainscourtfamily, in which much that is interesting has occurred since our hero'sabsence in the East.
Mr Rainscourt made occasional visits to the Hall, with the hope ofinducing his wife to break through her resolution, and once more toreside with him under the same roof; but in this he could not succeed;for although Mrs Rainscourt received him with kindness and urbanity,she was too well aware, by information received from many quarters, ofthe life of excess which he indulged in, ever again to trust herhappiness in his keeping. Nevertheless, pursuing his point with anobstinacy that seemed surprising, Rainscourt always was to be found atthe watering-place to which Mrs Rainscourt might remove for change ofscene; and for nearly five years from the time when he first paid avisit to his once neglected wife, did he continue to press his suit.The fact was, that, so far from tiring, his anxiety to effect thereunion was constantly on the increase, from the general admirationwhich was bestowed upon Emily when she made her appearance in public;and Rainscourt felt that his house would be more resorted to, and hiscompany be more courted, if he could have under his immediate protectionone who had beauty sufficient to satisfy the most fastidious, and acertainty of ultimate wealth, exceeding the views of the mostinterested.
It was two years, or more, after the departure of Seymour, that MrsRainscourt and Emily determined upon passing the autumnal months atCheltenham, accompanied by the McElvinas. A few days after theirarrival, Mr Rainscourt made his appearance. He was now determined, ifpossible, to bring his suit to an issue. Some months back, he hadformed the plan which he thought most likely to succeed. This was torepair and refurnish the castle in Galway, and persuade Mrs Rainscourtto pass a few weeks there--when he hoped that, having her in a moreisolated position, she might be induced to accede to his wishes.Workmen had been employed for some time repairing the exterior of theancient pile--the interior had been embellished under the guidance of aman of taste, and without any regard to expense. Splendid furniture hadalready been forwarded from London; so that Mr Rainscourt's agent hadwritten to him that in a few weeks the castle would be ready for hisreception.
Upon his arrival at Cheltenham, Mr Rainscourt astonished everybody byhis splendid equipage. His carriages, his stud, and the whole of hisestablishment, were quite unique. On the other hand, Mrs Rainscourtand her daughter were equally objects of curiosity, not likely to passunnoticed in such a place as Cheltenham, where people have nothing elseto do but talk scandal, and to drink salt water as a punishment.
The arrival of a pretty heiress increased very much the flow of bile inthe young ladies, and in their mammas, who did not bring them toCheltenham merely to drink the waters. The gentlemen, moreover, did notadmire being so totally eclipsed by Mr Rainscourt, who renderedinsignificant what, previous to his appearance, had been considered "tobe quite the thing." The ladies would talk of nothing but MrRainscourt and his equipage--and such a handsome man, too. But, on thewhole, the females were the most annoyed, as there threatened to be astagnation in the market, until this said heiress was disposed of:Gentlemen who had been attentive more than a week, who had been askedtwice to dinner, and who had been considered to have nibbled asufficient time to ensure their eventually taking the bait, had dartedin full liberty in the direction of the great heiress. Young ladies whowere acknowledged to have the most attractions, pecuniary or personal,who simpered and smiled to twenty young philanderers, as they took theirmorning glass, now poured down their lukewarm solution in indignantsolitude, if Mrs Rainscourt and her daughter made their appearance onthe promenade. Real cases of bile became common; and the fair sex, indespair, although they did not, as they were evidently requested by theconduct of the gentlemen, "to a nunnery go," to preserve theircomplexions, were necessitated to repair to the pump.
"Don't you think that Miss Rainscourt's nose is rather too straight?"asked a young lady, with one on her own face that had a strong tendencytowards the pug.
"Indeed, I do not," replied a light-hearted Irish girl, "although shehas put ours out of joint, as they call it. I only wish I'd her face orher fortune--either the one or the other--and I wouldn't be coming toCheltenham after a husband--the gentlemen should trot over to Ireland."
"How very odd that Mr and Mrs Rainscourt should not live together--such good friends as they seem to be."
"Oh, I know the reason of that; I was told it yesterday by Lady Wagtail.It was a runaway match, and they happened to be related within thecanonical law; they are both Roman Catholics; and the Pope found it out,and ordered them to be separated, upon pain of excommunication."
"Indeed!"
"Yes, and Mr Rainscourt is waiting for a licence from the conclave--adispensation they call it. They say it is expected from Rome next post,and then they can be united again immediately."
"What beautiful horses Mr Rainscourt drives!"
"Yes, that curricle, with the greys and the outriders, is quite superb.He always drives through the turnpike, I observe."
"To be sure he does. Why, they say that he has 40,000 pounds a year."
"And the whole is entailed upon his daughter."
"Every farthing of it."
"And who are those McElvina's?--What an odd name!"
"Oh, I can tell you. Mrs Fitzpatrick says that he is of a very ancientIrish family--they are very rich. Mr McElvina made his fortune inIndia, by a speculation in opium, and his wife was the only daughter ofa stock-broker in the city, who died worth a plum."
"Number 4--a little warm, if you please, Mrs Bishop."
"Yes, Miss."
About a fortnight after his arrival, Rainscourt received theintelligence from his agent that everything was complete at the castle,and he determined to go over himself to examine it previous tocommunicating his interested act of gallantry to his wife. He proposedto McElvina, with whom he was on very friendly terms, to accompany him,and McElvina was decided in accepting the offer, in consequence of MrRainscourt's having informed him that a large property, contiguous tohis own, which had almost from time immemorial been in possession of theMcElvina family, was now for sale, the last possessor having gambled thewhole of it away.
"It may be worth your while," continued he, "if you are inclined topossess landed property, to look at it; as my agent informs me that itwill be disposed of very cheap, and will give you good interest for yourmoney."
McElvina had long wished to live in Ireland, from which country hederived his descent, and he could not but feel that some untowardrecognition might possibly take place in such a place of numerous resortas Cheltenham, by which some of the passages in his early career mightbe exposed. This appeared to be a chance which might not again presentitself: and he gladly consented to accompany Rainscourt in hisexcursion. After an absence of three weeks they returned. The castlehad been fitted out in a style of lavish expenditure and taste, andRainscourt could find little to improve or add. The property whichMcElvina went over to examine, suited him both in price and insituation; and having consulted his wife, who cordially acquiesced inhis view, he wrote to Mr Rainscourt's agent, requesting him to concludethe purchase.
Rainscourt now determined upon making his last effort for a resumptionof marital rights. Having introduced the conversation by stating inminute detail the alterations and improvements which he had made at thecastle, he then informed Mrs Rainscourt that he had been to thatexpense in the hope that she would take possession of it for theremainder of the autumn.
"If:" said he, "you knew the pleasure it would give me once more to seeyou surrounded with every luxury, in the place where we formerly residedin poverty--if you knew the joy which your presence would diffuse amongyour affectionate tenants, and the anxiety with which they are expectingyour appearance,--for I must acknowledge that I promi
sed them that youshould gladden them with your return,--you would not refuse the requestI have made."
But Rainscourt had not calculated well. If there was any spot of whichthe reminiscences were peculiarly painful to his wife, it was the castlein Galway. It was there that she had been treated with severity andcontempt--it was there that she had been cruelly deserted by herhusband, when he was restored to affluence. With the bitter feelingsattendant upon these recollections, Mrs Rainscourt penetrated into themotives which had induced her husband to act, and the balance was morethan ever against his cause. "If you have fitted up the castle tooblige me, Mr Rainscourt, I return you my grateful thanks for yourkindness and consideration; but I do not think that I could enter thecastle with pleasure; there are so many more painful than agreeableremembrances connected with it, that I had rather decline going there--the more so as I consider it too secluded for Emily."
"But not too secluded, Mrs Rainscourt," replied her husband, droppingon one knee, "for me to beseech pardon for my errors, and prove thesincerity of my repentance. Let me conjure you to allow it to be thescene of the renewal of my love and my admiration, as it unfortunatelywas of my folly and indifference."
"Mr Rainscourt, this interview must be decisive. Know, once for all,that such a reconciliation as you would desire never can or shall takeplace. Spare me the pain of recapitulation. It is enough to say that,once thrown from you, I cannot nor will not be resumed at your pleasureand fantasy. Although injured in the tenderest point, I forgive allthat has passed, and shall be happy to receive you as a friend, inprivate as well as in public; but all attempts to obtain more will onlymeet with mortification and defeat. Rise, Mr Rainscourt; take my handin friendship--it is offered with cordiality; but if you again resumethe subject of this meeting, I shall be forced to deny myself to youwhen you call."
Rainscourt turned pale as he complied with her request. He hadhumiliated himself to no purpose. Mortified pride, mingled withrejected passion, formed a compound of deadly hate, which raged withfury against the late object of his desire. He commanded himselfsufficiently to stammer out his regrets, and promised not again tointroduce the subject; and lifting up the offered hand respectfully tohis lips, he quitted her presence to meditate upon revenge.
The liberal settlements which he had made at the time of separation weretoo firmly secured to be withheld. To remove his daughter was the nextidea which presented itself; but that could not be effected. Emily wasof a resolute disposition, and would not consent to leave her mother;and an appeal to Chancery would show how unfit a person he was to havethe responsible charge of a young woman. The night was passed inanxious meditation, and before the morning his plans were arranged.Nothing could be accomplished by force; he must therefore resort toaddress--he would be more than ever attentive, and trust to time andopportunity for the gratification of his revenge.
The parties continued at Cheltenham; and Mr Rainscourt, following uphis plan, made an avowal to his wife, that he had now abandoned allhopes of success, and would not importune her any more. He onlyrequested that she would receive him on those terms of intimacy in whichconsisted the present happiness of his life. Mrs Rainscourt, who,although she had resolution sufficient to refuse him, felt greatstruggles in her own mind to decide the victory in favour of prudence,now leaned more favourably towards her husband than before. Hisassiduity for years--his indifference to money in fitting up the castleto please her--his humiliation when he kneeled to her--his subsequenthumble expressions of regret--his polite attention, notwithstanding hisrepulse--and, added to all these, her gratified pride--all tended tosoften her heart; and it is more than probable that, in a few months,she would have thought him sufficiently punished to have acceded to hiswishes;--but it was fated to be otherwise.
One morning, Rainscourt called in his curricle, and as the horses stoodat the door, champing their bits, and tossing their heads as they wereheld by the dismounted grooms, Mrs Rainscourt, who was looking out ofthe window with her husband, and whose heart was fast warming towardshim (for the tide once turned, the flow of affection is rapid),playfully observed, "Mr Rainscourt, you often take Emily out with youin your curricle, but you have never offered to take me; I presume youthink that I am too old."
"Indeed, Mrs Rainscourt, if I had thought that you would have ventured,Emily would not so often have been seated at my side. If not too late,and you will pardon my negligence, oblige me by permitting me to driveyou now."
"I don't know whether I ought to do so; but as married ladies have been,from time immemorial, forced from the field by their daughters, Ibelieve I shall submit to the affront, and accept your offer."
"I feel much flattered," replied he, "by your kind acquiescence; but youmust allow me to desire my grooms to take these horses out, and put theothers to, which are much quieter. It will be a delay of only a fewminutes."
Mrs Rainscourt smiled, and quitted the room, to prepare for herexcursion, while Rainscourt descended to the street door.
"William, drive to the stables; take these horses out, and put in thetwo others."
"The others, sir," replied the man with surprise; "what! Smolensko andPony-towsky?"
"Yes--be smart, and bring them round as soon as you can."
"Why, sir, the two young 'uns have never been in together yet--Smolensko's but a rum customer, when aside of a steady horse; and as forPony-towsky, he jibs just as bad as ever."
"Never mind--put them in and bring them round."
"Then I'd better tie up the dog, sir, for they can't neither of themabide him."
"Never mind--they must be accustomed to him--so let the dog follow asusual. Be quick;" and Rainscourt returned to the house.
"Sam, I can't for the life of me fancy what master's at today," saidWilliam, who had delivered his horse over to the other groom, and hadmounted the curricle to drive it to the stable. "If he means to drivethem two devils together, there's no road in England wide enough forhim."
"I'm sure I can't tell," replied the other.
"No man in his senses would do it--unless, indeed, he's going to drivehis wife."
"Why, hardly that, for they say he wants to marry her again."
"Marry his wife again--no, no, Bill: master's too wide awake for that."
The curricle re-appeared at the door--Rainscourt handed in his wife, andthe horses set off tightly reined by Rainscourt, and flying to and frofrom the pole, so as to alarm Mrs Rainscourt, who expressed a wish toalight.
"They are only fresh at first starting, my dear--they will be quietdirectly."
"Look there!" observed one of the promenaders; "there's Rainscourtdriving his wife in the curricle."
"Oh then, the bull has arrived, you may depend upon it."
As they spoke, the dog made a spring at the horses' heads,--they plungedviolently, and shortly after set off at full speed.
Rainscourt could not have stopped them if he had wished it; but the factwas, that he had entered the curricle determined to hazard his own liferather than not gratify his revenge. All that was left for him was toguide them, and this he did so that the near wheel came in contact witha post. The horses, with the pole and broken traces, continued theirrapid career, leaving Rainscourt, his wife, and the fragments of thevehicle, in the road.
Rainscourt's plan had been successful. Although much contused by thefall, he was not severely injured. Mrs Rainscourt, who had been thrownout with more violence, over the head of her husband, was taken up witha fractured skull, and in a few minutes breathed her last.