welcometo it, at all events."
Rapid action was to Harry's taste. Within half an hour of the time hefell in with Jacob Tuttle few would have recognised in the smart, young,sailor-like-looking lad, the sedate London-dressed merchant's clerk.Harry felt freer than before in his new dress, and promising to returnto old Dame Tuttle's cottage, he hurried away towards Stanmore. It wasdusk when he approached the house; but he knew every path and sylvanglade in the grounds, and had already thought of the best place in whichto watch for a chance of meeting Mabel. By climbing a high paling hegot round to the garden side of the house. Lights were in severalwindows. He could, he thought, approach the drawing-room--Mabel mightbe there alone. He would then ask her to come out and talk with him.The most secure approach to it was by a long straight avenueovershadowed by trees which led up one side of the grounds. He hurriedalong it, keeping as much as possible on the turf on one side, that hemight run no risk of making a noise, when he heard footstepsapproaching, and presently a man's figure appeared in the centre of thewalk. Who could it be? It might possibly, he thought, be the colonel,though it was not his custom to walk out at night. Harry drew behind atree by which he was completely concealed. The person passed on, but sothick was the gloom that Harry could not distinguish his features. Byhis height it was certainly not the colonel. The person went up theavenue, then turned, and walked once more in the direction of the house.Harry did not move for fear of being discovered: he watched the personnarrowly. A gleam of light came through an opening in the trees. Hesaw clearly the outline of the figure. His jealous feelings told him atonce that it was the Baron de Ruvigny.
"I thought he loved poor Lucy," he muttered to himself. "But Mabel! canit be to see her that he comes here? I might give her up for her ownsake, but I would never yield her to a Frenchman."
He came forward from his concealment, and confronted the youngFrenchman.
"We don't allow people in England to skulk about houses," he whispered,seizing the young man's arm.
"Why, I know that voice--you are Harry Tryon. Surely you would not mockme?" answered the baron, not attempting to withdraw his arm from Harry'sgrasp.
"Mock you! no; but what brings you here? I ask," exclaimed Harry. "Ihave a right to know that."
"To indulge in my grief," answered the baron. "I have lost one who hadwon my deepest affections, and I come here, like an uneasy spirit, towander over the ground on which she trod. Harry Tryon, I thought youknew how I loved her."
"I thought you did, and I now feel sure you did," answered Harry, hisanger vanishing. "You know also that I love her cousin; I wish even nowto see her. I am very unhappy. I cannot venture into the house. Willyou, therefore, act the part of a true friend, and bear a message fromme to her? and also will you pass your word of honour not to try and winher affections during my absence? Your attentions might annoy her, andyet you might be tempted to pay them."
"Again you mock me, Tryon," said the young baron. "Can you suppose thatmy affections, which are buried in the grave of her sweet cousin, shouldso soon be restored to life? I will, however, give you my promise asyou desire it."
It is possible that the young baron's affections were not so deeplyburied as he supposed. However, he spoke with sincerity, and Harrybelieved him. He agreed to go round to the front door, and enter as anevening visitor, and to deliver Harry's message, should he have anopportunity of doing so without being overheard by the colonel or MadameEverard.
Lucy had constructed an arbour with woodwork, interspersed with flowersand paths winding among it. A rustic bridge crossed a sparkling stream,which ran murmuring down in front towards the lake. There was but oneapproach, so that strangers could not easily find it. Here Harry beggedthat Mabel would come to him. He sat down in the bower, anxiouslywaiting her approach. More than once he started up, thinking that heheard her footsteps, but his senses had deceived him. At length hecould restrain his anxiety no longer. Had the baron deceived him, orcould not Mabel venture out? He wished he had not trusted to anotherperson. He might have written, or he might, by watching patiently, haveseen her during the day as she walked about the grounds. He was goingonce more towards the house, when he saw a figure coming along thegravel walk towards him. He was sure it was Mabel. At the risk ofbeing mistaken he hurried to meet her.
"Speak, speak! Is it Miss Everard? is it Mabel?" he asked.
"Oh, Harry, your voice has relieved me, for not expecting to see you inthe dress you wear, as the moonlight fell on you I feared that I mightbe mistaken. Oh! tell me, what has brought you down so suddenly. TheBaron de Ruvigny's manner made me very anxious."
"Come and sit down here, and I will tell you all," said Harry, takingher hand and leading her to the arbour. "I have folly to confess. I amlowered in my own sight, and I fear I must be in yours," said Harry, ina trembling voice, very unlike his usual tone.
"What is it you have done?" asked Mabel, much agitated. "Nothing wrong,surely; nothing wrong?"
"Yes, I have done much that is wrong. I was wrong to trust to a falsefriend, to visit scenes of dissipation with him, to stake money I couldnot afford to lose, to lose my senses so as no longer to have commandover my actions. He plied me with wine till I knew not what I wasabout, and during that time I put my name to papers which have broughtirretrievable ruin on me. My honour, oh! Mabel, my honour is lost! Noone will again trust me."
"But who is the person of whom you speak, Harry? who could gain suchinfluence over you--surely not Mr. Kyffin?"
"Oh! no, no. Had I remained with him, this would not have happened. Heis one whose name I scarcely like to mention to you, Mabel; for he is, Ibelieve, related to you. He is Silas Sleech, the son of the lawyer atLynderton."
"Oh, he is a man I never could endure, even as a girl. His countenancealone made me always fancy he must be a hypocrite. But how could such aman gain an influence over you, Harry?"
Harry had to enter more into details than he had before done. Still,"blessed in the faith of woman," Mabel could not believe him as guiltyas he was inclined to consider himself.
"Such is my history," he said at last, "since I parted from you; andnow, Mabel, I come to set you free. I have no right to bind you to solost, so penniless a wretch as I am; and yet with the thought that Imight still be worthy of you, I feel confident that I could once morerise to a position in which I might be worthy of your love. I am stillyoung. I have resolved to enter the navy, and work my way up to thequarter-deck. Once there, I may rise to the rank your father holds. Hewas a post-captain when still a young man, and why should not I be,Mabel?--fame and fortune are before me. For your sake I feel sure thatI may achieve them. Mabel, it was this I came to tell you. I could notgo away without seeing you, and bidding you farewell. Mabel, pray forme; pray that my life may be saved, and that I may win a name worthy tooffer to you. Still believe me, I could love no one but you, though youare free."
Neither spoke for some time.
"I dare not urge you to take any other course," Mabel said at last, "butI wish you could have consulted my kind uncle. He is too ill, however,I fear, to see you; still, he would give you wise counsel, I am sure. Iwould rather, indeed, that you had remained in London, and, braving theanger of Mr. Coppinger, have exposed the villainy of that wretched man,Silas Sleech."
"It is too late now, Mabel," said Harry; "there are many things I oughtto have done, and ought not to have done."
Much more the lovers spoke to the same effect. Mabel did not in any wayexpress her thanks to Harry for offering to give her up. On thecontrary, she spoke as if she was more firmly bound to him than ever.
At last, as they sat in the bower, forgetting everything else, the lightof a lantern fell upon them. They started and saw before them the tallfigure of Paul Gauntlet.
"Why, Master Harry, no one knew you were in these parts," he said,letting the light of the lantern fall on his face; "but you should nothave been keeping the young lady out so long as this. Miss Mabel, MadamEverard has been qui
te in a taking about you for the last quarter of anhour. You must come in at once, and wish this young gentleman good-bye,unless he wants to come in, too."
Harry knew very well that the old soldier would not betray him if he putconfidence in him. He therefore at once told him the reason of hisvisit to Stanmore.
"Ah! Master Harry," said Paul, "the only advice I can give you is tocome in and talk the matter over with the colonel. He will tell youwhat to do better than any other man. That's more than I can do. Ihave learned to obey orders, and I know how to obey them, but I neverwas much of a hand at giving orders. You, Master Harry, as I say, justcome and tell your troubles to the colonel. He is so wise and good thathe is sure to show