CHAPTER XXI What say'st thou, Wise One? that all powerful Love Can fortune's strong impediments remove, Nor is it strange that worth should wed to worth, The pride of genius with the pride of birth.
CRABBE.
V. Brown--I will not give at full length his thrice unhappy name--hadbeen from infancy a ball for fortune to spurn at; but nature had givenhim that elasticity of mind which rises higher from the rebound. His formwas tall, manly, and active, and his features corresponded with hisperson; for, although far from regular, they had an expression ofintelligence and good-humour, and when he spoke, or was particularlyanimated, might be decidedly pronounced interesting. His manner indicatedthe military profession, which had been his choice, and in which he hadnow attained the rank of captain, the person who succeeded ColonelMannering in his command having laboured to repair the injustice whichBrown had sustained by that gentleman's prejudice against him. But this,as well as his liberation from captivity, had taken place after Manneringleft India. Brown followed at no distant period, his regiment beingrecalled home. His first inquiry was after the family of Mannering, and,easily learning their route northward, he followed it with the purpose ofresuming his addresses to Julia. With her father he deemed he had nomeasures to keep; for, ignorant of the more venomous belief which hadbeen instilled into the Colonel's mind, he regarded him as an oppressivearistocrat, who had used his power as a commanding officer to deprive himof the preferment due to his behaviour, and who had forced upon him apersonal quarrel without any better reason than his attentions to apretty young woman, agreeable to herself, and permitted and countenancedby her mother. He was determined, therefore, to take no rejection unlessfrom the young lady herself, believing that the heavy misfortunes of hispainful wound and imprisonment were direct injuries received from thefather, which might dispense with his using much ceremony towards him.How far his scheme had succeeded when his nocturnal visit was discoveredby Mr. Mervyn, our readers are already informed.
Upon this unpleasant occurrence Captain Brown absented himself from theinn in which he had resided under the name of Dawson, so that ColonelMannering's attempts to discover and trace him were unavailing. Heresolved, however, that no difficulties should prevent his continuing hisenterprise while Julia left him a ray of hope. The interest he hadsecured in her bosom was such as she had been unable to conceal from him,and with all the courage of romantic gallantry he determined uponperseverance. But we believe the reader will be as well pleased to learnhis mode of thinking and intention from his own communication to hisspecial friend and confidant, Captain Delaserre, a Swiss gentleman whohad a company in his regiment.
EXTRACT
'Let me hear from you soon, dear Delaserre. Remember, I can learn nothingabout regimental affairs but through your friendly medium, and I long toknow what has become of Ayre's court-martial, and whether Elliot gets themajority; also how recruiting comes on, and how the young officers likethe mess. Of our kind friend the Lieutenant-Colonel I need ask nothing; Isaw him as I passed through Nottingham, happy in the bosom of his family.What a happiness it is, Philip, for us poor devils, that we have a littleresting-place between the camp and the grave, if we can manage to escapedisease, and steel, and lead, and the effects of hard living. A retiredold soldier is always a graceful and respected character. He grumbles alittle now and then, but then his is licensed murmuring; were a lawyer,or a physician, or a clergyman to breathe a complaint of hard luck orwant of preferment, a hundred tongues would blame his own incapacity asthe cause. But the most stupid veteran that ever faltered out thethrice-told tale of a siege and a battle, and a cock and a bottle, islistened to with sympathy and reverence when he shakes his thin locks andtalks with indignation of the boys that are put over his head. And youand I, Delaserre, foreigners both--for what am I the better that I wasoriginally a Scotchman, since, could I prove my descent, the Englishwould hardly acknowledge me a countryman?--we may boast that we havefought out our preferment, and gained that by the sword which we had notmoney to compass otherwise. The English are a wise people. While theypraise themselves, and affect to undervalue all other nations, they leaveus, luckily, trap-doors and back-doors open, by which we strangers, lessfavoured by nature, may arrive at a share of their advantages. And thusthey are in some respects like a boastful landlord, who exalts the valueand flavour of his six-years-old mutton, while he is delighted todispense a share of it to all the company. In short, you, whose proudfamily, and I, whose hard fate, made us soldiers of fortune, have thepleasant recollection that in the British service, stop where we may uponour career, it is only for want of money to pay the turnpike, and notfrom our being prohibited to travel the road. If, therefore, you canpersuade little Weischel to come into OURS, for God's sake let him buythe ensigncy, live prudently, mind his duty, and trust to the fates forpromotion.
'And now, I hope you are expiring with curiosity to learn the end of myromance. I told you I had deemed it convenient to make a few days' touron foot among the mountains of Westmoreland with Dudley, a young Englishartist with whom I have formed some acquaintance. A fine fellow this, youmust know, Delaserre: he paints tolerably, draws beautifully, converseswell, and plays charmingly on the flute; and, though thus well entitledto be a coxcomb of talent, is, in fact, a modest unpretending young man.On our return from our little tour I learned that the enemy had beenreconnoitring. Mr. Mervyn's barge had crossed the lake, I was informed bymy landlord, with the squire himself and a visitor.
'"What sort of person, landlord?"
'"Why, he was a dark officer-looking mon, at they called Colonel. SquoireMervyn questioned me as close as I had been at 'sizes. I had guess, Mr.Dawson" (I told you that was my feigned name), "but I tould him nought ofyour vagaries, and going out a-laking in the mere a-noights, not I; an Ican make no sport, I'se spoil none; and Squoire Mervyn's as cross aspoy-crust too, mon; he's aye maundering an my guests but land beneath hishouse, though it be marked for the fourth station in the survey. Noa,noa, e'en let un smell things out o' themselves for Joe Hodges."
'You will allow there was nothing for it after this but paying honest JoeHodges's bill and departing, unless I had preferred making him myconfidant, for which I felt in no way inclined. Besides, I learned thatour ci-devant Colonel was on full retreat for Scotland, carrying off poorJulia along with him. I understand from those who conduct the heavybaggage that he takes his winter quarters at a place called Woodbourne,in ---shire in Scotland. He will be all on the alert just now, so I mustlet him enter his entrenchments without any new alarm. And then, my goodColonel, to whom I owe so many grateful thanks, pray look to yourdefence.
'I protest to you, Delaserre, I often think there is a littlecontradiction enters into the ardour of my pursuit. I think I wouldrather bring this haughty insulting man to the necessity of calling hisdaughter Mrs. Brown than I would wed her with his full consent, and withthe King's permission to change my name for the style and arms ofMannering, though his whole fortune went with them. There is only onecircumstance that chills me a little: Julia is young and romantic. Iwould not willingly hurry her into a step which her riper years mightdisapprove; no--nor would I like to have her upbraid me, were it but witha glance of her eye, with having ruined her fortunes, far less give herreason to say, as some have not been slow to tell their lords, that, hadI left her time for consideration, she would have been wiser and donebetter. No, Delaserre, this must not be. The picture presses close uponme, because I am aware a girl in Julia's situation has no distinct andprecise idea of the value of the sacrifice she makes. She knowsdifficulties only by name; and, if she thinks of love and a farm, it is aferme ornee, such as is only to be found in poetic description or in thepark of a gentleman of twelve thousand a year. She would be ill preparedfor the privations of that real Swiss cottage we have so often talked of,and for the difficulties which must necessarily surround us even beforewe attained that haven. This must be a point clearly ascertained.Although Julia's beauty and playful tenderness have made an impression onmy heart ne
ver to be erased, I must be satisfied that she perfectlyunderstands the advantages she foregoes before she sacrifices them for mysake.
'Am I too proud, Delaserre, when I trust that even this trial mayterminate favourably to my wishes? Am I too vain when I suppose that thefew personal qualities which I possess, with means of competence, howevermoderate, and the determination of consecrating my life to her happiness,may make amends for all I must call upon her to forego? Or will adifference of dress, of attendance, of style, as it is called, of thepower of shifting at pleasure the scenes in which she seeksamusement--will these outweigh in her estimation the prospect of domestichappiness and the interchange of unabating affection? I say nothing ofher father: his good and evil qualities are so strangely mingled that theformer are neutralised by the latter; and that which she must regret as adaughter is so much blended with what she would gladly escape from, thatI place the separation of the father and child as a circumstance whichweighs little in her remarkable case. Meantime I keep up my spirits as Imay. I have incurred too many hardships and difficulties to bepresumptuous or confident in success, and I have been too often and toowonderfully extricated from them to be despondent.
'I wish you saw this country. I think the scenery would delight you. Atleast it often brings to my recollection your glowing descriptions ofyour native country. To me it has in a great measure the charm ofnovelty. Of the Scottish hills, though born among them, as I have alwaysbeen assured, I have but an indistinct recollection. Indeed, my memoryrather dwells upon the blank which my youthful mind experienced in gazingon the levels of the isle of Zealand, than on anything which precededthat feeling; but I am confident, from that sensation as well as from therecollections which preceded it, that hills and rocks have been familiarto me at an early period, and that, though now only remembered bycontrast, and by the blank which I felt while gazing around for them invain, they must have made an indelible impression on my infantimagination. I remember, when we first mounted that celebrated pass inthe Mysore country, while most of the others felt only awe andastonishment at the height and grandeur of the scenery, I rather sharedyour feelings and those of Cameron, whose admiration of such wild rockswas blended with familiar love, derived from early association. Despitemy Dutch education, a blue hill to me is as a friend, and a roaringtorrent like the sound of a domestic song that hath soothed my infancy. Inever felt the impulse so strongly as in this land of lakes andmountains, and nothing grieves me so much as that duty prevents yourbeing with me in my numerous excursions among recesses. Some drawings Ihave attempted, but I succeed vilely. Dudley, on the contrary, drawsdelightfully, with that rapid touch which seems like magic; while Ilabour and botch, and make this too heavy and that too light, and produceat last a base caricature. I must stick to the flageolet, for music isthe only one of the fine arts which deigns to acknowledge me.
'Did you know that Colonel Mannering was a draughtsman? I believe not,for he scorned to display his accomplishments to the view of a subaltern.He draws beautifully, however. Since he and Julia left Mervyn Hall,Dudley was sent for there. The squire, it seems, wanted a set of drawingsmade up, of which Mannering had done the first four, but was interruptedby his hasty departure in his purpose of completing them. Dudley says hehas seldom seen anything so masterly, though slight; and each hadattached to it a short poetical description. Is Saul, you will say, amongthe prophets? Colonel Mannering write poetry! Why, surely this man musthave taken all the pains to conceal his accomplishments that others do todisplay theirs. How reserved and unsociable he appeared among us! howlittle disposed to enter into any conversation which could becomegenerally interesting! And then his attachment to that unworthy Archer,so much below him in every respect; and all this because he was thebrother of Viscount Archerfield, a poor Scottish peer! I think, if Archerhad longer survived the wounds in the affair of Cuddyboram, he would havetold something that might have thrown light upon the inconsistencies ofthis singular man's character. He repeated to me more than once, "I havethat to say which will alter your hard opinion of our late Colonel." Butdeath pressed him too hard; and if he owed me any atonement, which someof his expressions seemed to imply, he died before it could be made.
'I propose to make a further excursion through this country while thisfine frosty weather serves, and Dudley, almost as good a walker asmyself, goes with me for some part of the way. We part on the borders ofCumberland, when he must return to his lodgings in Marybone, up threepair of stairs, and labour at what he calls the commercial part of hisprofession. There cannot, he says, be such a difference betwixt any twoportions of existence as between that in which the artist, if anenthusiast, collects the subjects of his drawings and that which mustnecessarily be dedicated to turning over his portfolio and exhibitingthem to the provoking indifference, or more provoking criticism, offashionable amateurs. "During the summer of my year," says Dudley, "I amas free as a wild Indian, enjoying myself at liberty amid the grandestscenes of nature; while during my winters and springs I am not onlycabined, cribbed, and confined in a miserable garret, but condemned to asintolerable subservience to the humour of others, and to as indifferentcompany, as if I were a literal galley slave." I have promised him youracquaintance, Delaserre; you will be delighted with his specimens of art,and he with your Swiss fanaticism for mountains and torrents.
'When I lose Dudley's company, I am informed that I can easily enterScotland by stretching across a wild country in the upper part ofCumberland; and that route I shall follow, to give the Colonel time topitch his camp ere I reconnoitre his position. Adieu! Delaserre. I shallhardly find another opportunity of writing till I reach Scotland.'