CHAPTER THIRTY.
A MIXED ASSEMBLY.
If Waller's passage through Bristol caused general rejoicing, there wasjoy in a certain private circle at the re-entry of Sir Richard Walwynwith his troop. Three of the inmates of Montserrat House hailed hisreturn with a flutter of delight; though not all on his account, nor anyof them its mistress, the Madame herself. She was pleased, however, tosee the gallant knight again, as also his young troop captain, so much,that within a week after their return she sent out invitations to agrand ball, to be given, if not professedly for them, at least sounderstood.
Many of the invited who were of the King's party wondered, not at hergiving a ball, but giving it at such a time, and in honour of theirenemies; one of these Eustace Trevor, formerly in the service of theCourt itself, whom they regarded as the basest of renegades. MadameLalande, hitherto such an enthusiastic Royalist, making merry, while theState Martyrs were scarce cold in their graves, and things looking blackgenerally! Waller's unopposed marchings through the surroundingdistricts had, in a manner, made good the belief in his beinginvincible; and that he would be equally victorious in the shires of the"West," whither he was now gone. If so, the Royal cause, hithertoascendant in that quarter, would come under a cloud, if not beextinguished altogether.
Among the Cavalier acquaintances of the planter's widow, therefore, wereheard sneering allusions to the "worship of the rising sun," as thereason for her seeming defection.
It was not the correct one, though. Nor, if called upon, could sheherself have stated the precise _motif_. Alone her daughter could dothat; since it was she had suggested the entertainment; or rathercommanded it. Though but turned eighteen, this young lady, child of aprecocious clime and race, was a full-grown woman, intellectually asphysically; wont to have her own way in Montserrat House, as in hernative isle of the Antilles; and was in reality more its mistress thanher mother. Her father's will had been read to her, and she quitecomprehended its provisions--all in her favour. Little cared she forslanderous whispers, whether by the tongues of Cavaliers or Cropheads;though it was no worship of rising sun inspired her in this particularmatter. Instead, a wish to shine herself in the eyes of society; butchiefly those of one for whom she had begun to feel adoration, beyondthat to sun, moon, or stars. She could dance like a Bayadere, and knewit.
There need be no difficulty in getting together an assemblage of guests,numerous, and of the right _ton_. Bristol was then an ancient city,second only to London itself; the mushroom Liverpools, Manchesters, andBirminghams having barely a mark upon the map. Besides, in those days,the gentry were more resident in towns; the state of the roads--wherethere were any--and the scarcity of wheeled vehicles, cumbersome atthat, making travel irksome and country life inconvenient. In times ofpeace the city on Avon's banks had its quota of England's upper crust;but now that war raged around it was crowded with such--fugitives fromthe adjoining villages and shires, even from beyond the Welsh border,who, as Ambrose Powell and his family, had repaired thither to escapeexaction and insult--it might be outrage--from the marauding Cavaliers.
In addition, Bristol, just at this time, contained a goodly sprinklingof the Cavaliers themselves, both military and civilian; not voluntarilythere, nor as political refugees, but prisoners. Waller had flung somethreescore into it, brought all the way from Monmouth and Hereford, mostof them men of high rank, and most as many _on parole_--allowed freerange about the city and circulation in its best society, if they hadthe _entree_.
So, in sending out her invitations, Madame Lalande had not only a large,but varied list to select from; and to do her justice--or it may havehave been Clarisse--on this occasion the names were pricked withimpartiality; short hair and long being alike honoured by circulars ofcomplimentary request. In this there might have been an eye to thechanging times.
Few were the refusals. No ball had ever come off at Montserrat Houseunaccompanied by a sumptuous supper. This was lure enough for the elder_invitees_, especially in a city still straitened if not besieged; whileto the younger the dancing itself offered attraction sufficient. Sincethe deposition of the festive Essex there had been but little gaiety inBristol; under the stern administration of his successor the dance beingdiscouraged, if not altogether tabooed; so that youthful heels wereitching for it, of both sexes, and belonging to families on both sidesof the political question.
As a result, over two hundred responded to Madame Lalande's invitationsby presenting themselves at Montserrat House. Twice the number wouldnot have inconveniently crowded it; since, in addition to several amplereception rooms, there was plenty of space in the ornamental groundsoutside, which had been prepared for the occasion by a setting andfestoonery of lamps. A summer's night--for it was July, and sultrytoo--this was an advantageous arrangement, the open air being moreenjoyable than that inside.
But another advantage was derived from it; one that may be thoughtstrange enough. It gave Madame Lalande's guests an opportunity of_shunning_ one another! With many of them a thing most desirable; formen met there who had been enemies outside--were so still, even tohating--the fugitives from persecution and their very persecutors; thelast, now their prisoners, humbled and abashed. Seemingly a fine chancefor the former to indulge spites; but good manners forbade that.
Still something more interposed to prevent awkward encounter orrecognition. On the ball notes of invitation was marked "Fancy costumeat pleasure," which left the invited free to wear masks, or appearwithout them. But then, even in ordinary street promenade, masks hadnot been altogether abandoned, at least by ladies, many wearing them toa still later period.
As a consequence of this allowed latitude, numbers of both sexes whoattended the Lalandes' ball came in fancy costumes, and masked. Butladies reliant on their charms were careless about the fastenings of themasks, and, somehow or other, the detested screens soon disappeared,giving the gentlemen an opportunity for the scrutiny and comparing offaces.
Many were remarkable for their beauty--some of Bristol's fairestdaughters. And as a great seaport, with much foreign element in it, thetypes were varied. Three, however, attracted special attention--allentitled to the epithet lovely. They had been observed from thebeginning, as they were in the withdrawing-room, unmasked, beside MadameLalande, assisting her in the reception of the guests. Which identifiesthem as Madame's daughter, and her two nieces, Sabrina and Vaga Powell.So were they.
A connoisseur in female beauty would have found it difficult to decidewhich of the three deserved the palm. Paris himself would have beenpuzzled to award it. Clarisse, at home, and helping her mother in theduties of introduction stood prominently forward, and so first met theview of the incoming guests. Few who looked upon her would have thoughtof looking farther, nor cared to take their eyes off. But beyond herface with features of French type, tinted olive and carmine, was anotherof English outline, all roses set in a framework of gold--Vaga's. Infront of this that of the Creole brunette, despite its piquant beauty,was but the shadow of a partial eclipse vainly endeavouring to hide thelight of the sun.
Beside this, still another face in retirement, which many admired asmuch as either--Sabrina's. Notwithstanding the preference shown by thefrivolous Trojan, stately, queenly Juno had her charms too.
Among the gentlemen received by Madame Lalande, and the fair triuneforming her staff, were three who had peculiar relations with them--atleast with the young ladies--Sir Richard Walwyn, Eustace and ReginaldTrevor. They came not in together; the last by some minutes precedingthe other two. But, without bettor knowledge of antecedents, it mayseem strange his being there at all. Nothing much of this, however, wasthere about it; nor did Eustace show any surprise at seeing his cousinin the room, which he did soon as entering. He knew Reginald was in thecity, and the reason--no voluntary sojourner, but one of the prisonersenjoying "parole." As a captain in Sir John Wintour's troop of horse hehad been with Lord Herbert's Monmouthshire levies in their farcicalsiege of Gloucester, so abruptly raised by Waller; wh
ere he escapeddeath by being made captive, and sent for safe keeping to Bristol.Though Colonel Lunsford was not there also, that worthy had been servedin the same way at an earlier period. Having cried "quarter" atEdgehill, and there surrendered up his precious person, it was now beingtaken care of by the gaoler of Warwick Castle. But for that adverseincident he might have been in Bristol too, and figuring, as other fineCavaliers, at the Lalandes' ball.
Though Reginald Trevor had been now some weeks in the city, and onparole, before that night he and his cousin had not met. As known,Eustace was for a time absent on scout with Sir Richard. But even afterhis return Reginald had shunned him, and neither had seen aught of theother since that angry parting at Hollymead. Now that chance hadbrought them together again, it was to meet with no increasedcordiality; instead diminished, what had occurred since having butwidened the gap between them. Still the hostility was all on Reginald'sside, by him felt keenly and bitterly. He had suffered humiliation; asoldier of fortune he was now, not only thrown out of employ but aprisoner. And, if not one of his captors, there among them in amicableassociation was his cousin, to whom he had sworn giving "No Quarter!"should they ever cross swords in the field of fight.
By good fortune they had not done so yet; and whether he desired it, theother did not--had no such wish. Instead, would have been willing thereand then to shake hands with him, and be friends again.
With a half-formed resolve to make offer of reconciliation Eustaceapproached his cousin. To get a reception which flung him back uponhimself, and his sensibilities.
Though few their words exchanged, they were sharp and cutting, as mighthave been their swords.
"So you've done what you said you would?"
It was Reginald who spoke.
"Done what?"
"Turned traitor to your King. And to your father too?"
"But not to my conscience, nor my God. They are more to me than loyaltyto any King, as you call it--even more than affection for my poordeluded father, however much I feel for him."
"Feel for him, indeed! Ha, ha! But you can go on as you've begun.Your Cropheads have it all their own way here, and now; but the tidewill turn sooner than you may think for. As for yourself, Eust, you maythank your stars you weren't among the rabble that overpowered me atHighnam. I sent half-a-dozen to their long account, and like as notyou'd have been one of them."
The implied superiority, even without the cruelty, was an impertinence.But Eustace Trevor, instead of taking it in that sense, and making angryretort, treated it rather as a joke, with a light laugh rejoining--
"Possibly had I been there, Rej, you wouldn't be here."
At which he turned away, leaving his dark-browed cousin to count thechange in satire that had been given him in full.