CHAPTER VII.
"Loveliest of lovely things are they On earth, that soonest pass away. Even love, long tried, and cherished long, Becomes more tender, and more strong, At thought of that insatiate grave From which its yearnings cannot save.
"But where is she, who, at this calm hour, Watched his coming to see? She is not at the door, nor yet in the bower: He calls,--but he only hears on the flower The hum of the laden bee."
BRYANT.
"The Lady Ursula was the daughter of an English nobleman, the proprietorof Grondale Abbey. She was betrothed, in early life, to a young man, anofficer in the army. As she was an only daughter, and inherited from hermother a large fortune, her father disapproved of her choice, and wishedher to ally herself with the heir of a noble family. He was rejoiced,therefore, when a war broke out, that obliged Col. Fowler to leave thecountry with his regiment, to join the army.
"The parting of the lovers was painful, but they parted, as the youngdo, full of hope, and agreed to keep up a very frequent correspondence.
"For a year, his letters cheered his faithful mistress; but then theyceased, and a report of his death in battle reached her. Her father thenurged the other alliance. This the Lady Ursula steadily refused; and shewas soon after relieved from all importunity, by the death of herfather.
"She was an only daughter, but her father left several sons. His estatebelonged to the eldest, by entail, and the younger brothers, havingobtained large grants of land in this country, determined to emigrate tothe new world.
"The Lady Ursula, disappointed of all her cherished hopes, after muchreflection, decided to accompany them, and become an actual settler inthe wilderness.
"She purchased a large farm on this beautiful part of the coast, and asshe was much beloved by her dependents, she persuaded a large number tounite their fortunes with hers. She brought out twenty serving-men, andseveral young maidens, and created a little paradise around her. Thegarden was filled with every variety of fruit and flower then cultivatedin England, and the strong fence around the whole was to protect herfrom the Indians.
"At the time the Lady Ursula came to this country, she very muchresembled the beautiful portrait that has charmed you so much. It waspainted after she parted from her lover, and was intended as a presentfor him, had she not soon after heard of his death."
"You have seen her, then, my dear father," said Edith. "You knew thebeautiful original of that lovely portrait."
"I scarcely knew her," said Mr. Grafton. "Soon after I came to thiscountry, I was riding, one day, near a part of her estate. The day waswarm and sultry: under some large spreading oaks a cloth was laid for arepast. I stopped to refresh my horse, and soon after I saw the ladyapproach, drawn in a low carriage.
"She had brought her workmen their dinner, and after it was spread onthe grass, she turned her beautiful eyes towards heaven, and asked ablessing. She then left her men to enjoy their food, and returned as shecame, driving herself in a small poney chaise.
"Among the maidens who came over with her from England was one who hadreceived a superior education, and was much in her lady's confidence.This young girl was often the companion of her lady's solitary walksabout her estate. One evening they were walking, and the Lady Ursula wasrelating the circumstances of her early life, and said that till thistime she had never parted with all hope; she had cherished unconsciouslya feeling that her betrothed lover might have been a captive, and thathe would at length return. The young girl said, 'Why do you despair now,my lady? that is a long lane that has no turning.' The lady smiled morecheerfully. 'My bird,' she said, 'you have given me a name for myestate. In memory of this conversation, it shall be called _Long Lane_;'and it has always retained that name.
"The dews were falling, and they returned to the house. Her men andmaidens were soon assembled, and the Lady Ursula herself led the eveningdevotions. They were scarcely ended, when a loud knocking was heard atthe gate. It could not be Indians! No; it was a packet from England;and, O joy unspeakable! there was a letter from her long-lost friend andlover. He had been taken prisoner when half dead on the field of battle,had been removed from one place of confinement to another, debarred theprivilege of writing, and had heard nothing from her. But the war wasended, there had been an exchange of prisoners, and he hastened toEngland, trembling with undefined fears and joyful anticipations. Hewould embark immediately, and follow his mistress to the new world,where he hoped to receive the reward of all his constancy.
"The lady could not finish the letter: surprise, joy, ecstasy,--all weretoo much for her, and the Lady Ursula fainted. As soon as she recovered,all was bustle and excitement through the house. The lady could notsleep that night, and she began immediately to prepare for the arrivalof her lover. He said he should embark in a few days; she mighttherefore expect him every hour.
"Every room in the house was ornamented with fresh flowers. A room wasprepared for her beloved guest, filled with every luxury the house couldfurnish; and her own portrait was placed there.
"She was not selfish in her joy: she told her men to get in the harvest:for when _he_ arrived, no work should be performed; there should be ajubilee. A fatted calf was selected, to be roasted whole: and every oneof her large household was presented with a new suit of clothes. 'Forthis my _friend_,' she said, 'was lost, and is now found; was dead, andis alive again.'
"When all was ready, the Lady Ursula could not disguise her impatience.She wandered restlessly from place to place, her eye brilliant, and hercheek glowing. At every sound she started, trembled, and turned pale.
"Her men were at work in a distant field; and she determined again, asusual when they were far from home, to carry them their dinner. When shetook her seat in the little carriage, she said, 'It is the last time, Ihope, that I shall go alone.'
"The repast was spread, and they all stood around for the blessing fromthe lips of the lady. It was remarked by her men that she had neverlooked so beautiful: happiness beamed from her eyes, and her usuallypale cheek was flushed with joy. She folded her hands, and her meek eyeswere raised. At that moment, a savage yell was heard; an Indian sprungfrom the thicket. With one blow of his tomahawk the Lady Ursula wasleveled to the ground, and, in less than a moment, her long, fair hairwas hanging at his girdle. The Indian was followed by others; and allbut one of her faithful servants shared the fate of their mistress."
Mr. Grafton paused; Edith's tears were falling fast. "What became of herlover?" she said, as soon as she could speak.
"He arrived a few days after, to behold the wreck of all his hopes, andreturned again, heart-broken, to England."
"And the picture," said Edith; "why did he not claim it, and take itwith him, to console him, as far as it could, for the loss of hisbeautiful bride?"
"As she had made no will," said Mr. Grafton, "all the Lady Ursula'sestate belonged to her own family. The lady we have visited to-day is adaughter of her brother."
Edith continued silent, and heeded not that the shades of eveninggathered around them. She was pondering the fate of the Lady Ursula.That one so young, so beautiful, so good, should lead a life of sorrowand disappointment, and meet with so sudden and dreadful a death,weighed on her spirits; for Edith had not yet solved the mystery oflife.
The sun had long set, when they reached their own door. Dinah hadprepared the evening meal, and the cheerful evening fire; and Edithsmiled her thanks.
As she helped her young mistress to undress, she said, "How pale youare, and how tired! You need a sweet, refreshing sleep to rest youagain."
When Edith laid her head on the pillow, she called her humble friend toher: "Ah, Dinah," she said, "I have heard a story that makes me thinkthere is no happiness on this earth."
Dinah had heard the story of the Lady Ursula.
"Was it not too sad, that she should meet that dreadful fate just as herlover returned, and she was going to be so happy?"
Dinah thought it was very sad. "But the lady was pure and good: thewords
of prayer were on her lips, and she went straight to heavenwithout much pain. Had she married and gone to England, she might havebecome vain and worldly; she might have lost the heavenly purity of hercharacter."
"Yes," said Edith; "and Col. Fowler, having lived so long in the army,might not have loved her as well as she thought he did. Ah, who couldlive without love?"
Dinah thought many could and did. "Women depended too much," she said,"on their affections for happiness. Strong and deep affections werealmost always disappointed; and, if not, death must come and sever thedearest ties;" and she stooped down and kissed Edith's hand, which sheheld in hers.
Poor Dinah! she little knew how entirely her own heart was bound up inEdith.
"But what can we live for, if not for love?" said Edith.
"For many things," answered Dinah, in her simple and quiet manner; "togrow better ourselves, and to do good to others; to make sacrifices, andto love _all_ good works."
"I should not wish to live, were I to lose my father, and you,and"--Edith paused, and closed her eyes.
Dinah drew the curtain, and bid her, softly, "good night."
Edith could not sleep. She was reflecting on the fate of the LadyUrsula. With Dinah's assistance, she had begun to solve the mysteries ofProvidence;[2]
"Without, forsaking a too earnest world, To calm the affections, elevate the soul, And consecrate her life to truth and love."
[Footnote 2: The story of the Lady Ursula is founded on fact. In theauthor's youth, the farm of "Long Lane" retained its name, and belongedto the C---- family.]