Chapter XLVI
"Come o'er the sea, Maiden, with me, Mine through sunshine, storm and snows; Seasons may roll, But the true soul Burns the same where'er it goes. Let fate frown on, so we love and part not, 'Tis life where thou art, 'tis death where thou'rt not."
MOORE.
The voyage was at last accomplished without adventure or interest, the_Windsor Castle_ not having fallen in with more than two or three vesselsduring her passage. Happy were the military officers to hear the ordergiven for the anchor to be let go upon their arrival in Madras Roads; morehappy were they to find themselves again on shore; and most happy wereCaptain Oughton and his officers to witness the debarkation of the troops,who had so long crowded their decks and impeded their motions. Parting wasindeed "sweet sorrow," as it always will be when there is short allowanceof room, and still shorter allowance of water.
Newton Forster was in a state of anxiety during the quarter of an hour inwhich he was obliged to attend to his duty, furling the sails and squaringthe yards; and the time appeared most insupportably long, until he couldventure aft to make some inquiries from the dubashes, who were crowdingalongside, as to the fate of Isabel Revel. Time and absence had but maturedhis passion, and it was seldom that Isabel was away from his thoughts. Hehad a faint idea formed by hope that she was partial to him; but this wasalmost smothered by the fears which opposed it, when he reflected upon whatmight be produced by absence, importunity, and her independent spirit,which might, if not well treated by her relation, reconcile her to amarriage, which, although not in every way eligible, secured to her aprospect of contentment and of peace.
At last the yards were squared to the satisfaction of the boatswain, theropes were hauled taut, and coiled down, and the men sent below to theirdinners. Newton walked aft, and the first person he met was the dubash whohad attended the _Bombay Castle_. The cheeks of Newton flushed, and hisheart throbbed quick, and his lips quivered, as he asked intelligence ofthe colonel and his family.
"Colonel Saib quite well, sir. Two ladies marry officer."
"Which two?" demanded Newton, eagerly.
"Not know how call Bibi Saib's names. But one not marry--she veryhandsome--more handsome than all."
The heart of Newton bounded at this intelligence, as he knew that it mustbe Isabel who was still a spinster. This was shortly after corroborated byan English gentleman who came on board. Their stay at Madras was intendedto be short, and Newton resolved to ask immediate leave on shore.Apologising to Captain Oughton for making such an unusual request, which hewas induced to do from intelligence he had just received relative to hisfriends, he expressed his anxious wish. Captain Oughton, who had reason tobe highly satisfied with Newton, gave his consent in the kindest manner;"and, Forster, if you wish to remain, you have my permission. We willmanage without you: only recollect, we sail on Thursday night." Newton wassoon ready, and quitted the ship with Major Clavering; to whose credit itought here to be observed, that a _daily_ note was despatched to CaptainOughton, requesting the pleasure of his company at the mess, until he wassatisfied that, in this instance, the general invitation was sincere.
As soon as he was clear of the surf and out of the masulah boat, Newtonhired a conveyance, and drove out to the bungalow of the old colonel. Hetrembled as he announced his name to the butler, who ushered him halfway tothe receiving-room; and, like most of the natives, finding some difficultyin pronouncing English, contented himself with calling out "burrah saib,"and then walked off. Newton found himself in the presence of the oldveteran and Isabel. The latter had been reading a new publication, whichshe laid down at the voice of the butler announcing a visitor. But "burrahsaib" may be anybody; it implies a gentleman. What then was the surprise ofIsabel, who had no intimation of his arrival, when Newton Forster made hisappearance? Her exclamation of delight, as she ran to him and extended herhand, made Newton Forster but too happy; and, as for a few seconds he heldthe hand not withdrawn, and looked in her beaming eyes, he quite forgot thepresence of the colonel. A glance from the eye of Isabel in the directionwhere the old gentleman was seated brought Newton to his recollection. Hewalked up to the colonel, who shook hands, and declared that he was mostglad to see him.
"You take up your quarters here, of course, Mr Forster?"
"I shall have great pleasure in availing myself of your kind offer for aday or two," replied Newton. "I trust that you have been in good healthsince we parted."
"Not very; that is, latterly. I am thinking of a change of climate. Iintend to go home in October. I suppose you have been informed that the twoyoung women have married?"
"I was told so by some one who came on board."
"Yes. Isabel, my dear, order a chamber for Mr Forster." Isabel left theroom. "Yes, both married--thought of nothing else--regularly came out onspec. In less than a month they knew the exact rank of every gentleman inthe Presidency; ascertained their prospects, and the value of theirappointments; turned the rupees into pounds sterling; broke off aconversation with an ensign at the sight of a lieutenant; cut thelieutenant for a captain; were all smiles for a major; and actually madelove themselves to any body who was above that rank, and a bachelor. Theymade their decision at last; indeed pretty quick. They were only fourmonths on my hands. Both up the country now."
"I trust they have married well, sir?"
"That depends upon circumstances. They have married young men not used tothe climate. May be widows in half a year. If their husbands weather it, ofcourse, they will come in for their share of the good things; but I'llwarrant they will never be able to leave the country."
"Not leave the country, sir! May I ask why?"
"Because they have married foolish, extravagant wives, who will run them indebt; and when once in debt, it is no easy matter in this country to getout of it. They must insure their lives for the money which they borrow;and as the house of agency will be gainers by their demise, of course theywill not be permitted to leave the country and their chance of the _choleramorbus_. Don't you think that my niece looks remarkably well?"
"I do; the climate does not appear to have affected her."
"Rather improved her," replied the colonel; "she is not so thin as when shecame on shore. God bless her! I'm sure, Mr Forster, I am under greatobligations to you for having persuaded me to go for the dear girl when shearrived. She has been a treasure to me! If she has had one, she has hadtwenty offers since you left; many unexceptionable; but she has refusedthem all. In some instances I have persuaded her--I thought it was my duty.But no; she has but one answer, and that is a decided one. She will notleave me. She has watched and attended me in my sickness as my owndaughter. I say again, God bless her!"
It was with delight that Newton heard these encomiums upon Isabel, and herresolution not to marry. Whether it was wholly on account of not wishing toleave the colonel or not, still every delay gave him more chance ofultimate success. Isabel, who had stayed away that the colonel might havetime to make any communications to Newton, now returned, and theconversation became general. Newton entered into a narrative of what hadoccurred during his passage home, and amused them with his anecdotes andconversation.
In about an hour the colonel rose from his chair that he might prepare fordinner; and then it was that Newton perceived the great change which hadtaken place. He was no longer upright, but bowed down; his step was nolonger firm, it was almost tottering; and, as he left the room, Newton'seyes met those of Isabel.
"You think him ill?" said Isabel, inquiringly.
"Yes, I do, Miss Revel. He is very much changed; his stamina appears tohave been exhausted by the climate. I trust he will go home as heproposes."
"He has been ill--very ill indeed. He talks constantly of home; he has doneso for months; but when the time comes he puts it off. I wish you wouldpersuade him."
"I will do all I can; but if you cannot prevail, I'm afraid that mypersuasion will be of little use."
"Indeed, I think otherwise; you have power over him, Mr F
orster. I have notforgotten how kindly you exercised it in my behalf. We--that is," continuedIsabel, colouring up, "the colonel has often talked of you since youquitted us."
"I feel highly flattered by his remembrance," replied Newton; "but you arein mourning, Miss Revel. If not a liberty from one who feels an interest inall concerning you, may I inquire for whom?"
"It is for my father," replied Isabel, with emotion, sitting down, andpassing her hand across her eyes.
"I never heard of his death, and must apologise for having been soindiscreet as to renew your sorrow. How long is it since? and what was hiscomplaint?"
"He had no complaint--would to God that he had had! He was shot in a duel,"replied Isabel, as the tears coursed down her cheeks. "Oh! Mr Forster, Itrust I am resigned to the dispensations of Providence, but--that he shouldbe summoned away at the moment when he was seeking the life of hisfellow-creature, with all the worst passions in excitement--unprepared--forhe was killed on the spot. These reflections will make his death a sourceof bitter regret, which can terminate but with existence."
"Your mother is still alive?" inquired Newton, to change the painfulsubject.
"Yes, but very ill; the last accounts were very distressing; they say thather complaint is incurable."
Newton regretted having brought up so painful a subject. A few words ofcondolence and sympathy were offered, and they separated to prepare fordinner.
Newton remained four days under the roof of the colonel, during which timehe was constantly in the society of Isabel; and when the period of hisdeparture arrived, he had just grounds to imagine that, were all obstaclesin other points removed, Isabel Revel would not, on her part, have raisedany against the accomplishment of his wishes; but their mutual dependentsituations chased away all ideas of the kind for the present, and althoughthey parted with unconcealed emotion, not a word which could be construedinto a declaration of attachment was permitted to escape his lips.
The _Windsor Castle_ sailed for Calcutta, and in a few days anchored atKedgeree to wait for a pilot to come down the river. During their shortstay at this anchorage, Mr Williams, the first mate, who was an old Indianvoyager, went on shore every evening to follow up his darling amusement ofshooting jackals, a description of game by no means scarce in that quarterof the world. Often remonstrated with for his imprudence in exposinghimself to the heavy night-dew, he would listen to no advice. "It was verytrue," he acknowledged, "that his brother had died of a jungle fever inpursuing the same amusement, and what was more, the fowling-piece in hishand belonged to his brother, who had bequeathed it to him; but as he hadnever heard of two brothers dying from a jungle fever taken by shootingjackals, he considered that the odds were strongly in his favour." Thisargument, however specious, did not prove good. The third morning hereturned on board, complaining of a headache and shivering. He was bled andput into his bed, which he never left again.
Before the _Windsor Castle_ was ready to sail, the remains of Mr Williamswere consigned to the burying-ground at Diamond Harbour, and Newton Forsterwas promoted to the rank of first mate of the _Windsor Castle_. This, aswill hereafter be proved, was a most fortunate occurrence to NewtonForster. The _Windsor Castle_ sailed with leave to call at Madras forletters or passengers, and in a few days was again at anchor in theroadstead. The first intelligence which they received upon their arrivalwas, that the _cholera morbus_ had been very fatal, and that among others,the old colonel had fallen a victim to the disease. Newton again obtainedpermission to go on shore to Isabel. He found her in distress at the houseof a Mrs Enderby, a lady who had lost her husband by the same ravagingepidemic, and who had long been the intimate friend of the colonel and ofIsabel. Mrs Enderby was about to return to England by the first vessel, andhad advised Isabel to take so favourable an opportunity of a _chaperon_.Isabel, who had many reasons for wishing to leave the country, particularlythe declining state of her mother's health, had consented; and it was withgreat pleasure that she received from Newton the information of the bestcabins of the _Windsor Castle_ not having been hitherto engaged.
The colonel's will had been opened. He had bequeathed his property, thewhole of which, with the exception of his establishment in India, wasinvested in the English funds, to his grand-niece Isabel Revel. It amountedto nearly seventy thousand pounds. It would be difficult to say whetherNewton Forster felt glad or sorry at this intelligence. For Isabel's sake,he undoubtedly was glad; but he could not but feel that it increased thedistance between them, and on that account, and on that alone, hisreflections were painful. "Had it," thought he, "been five thousand, oreven ten thousand pounds, it would have been different. In the course of afew years I might have been able to produce an equivalent to it, and--butthis fortune has raised her above my hopes; even if she had a prepossessionin my favour, it would be dishonest to take advantage of it."
Isabel Revel had very different feelings on the subject--she was her ownmistress, and her manner to Newton was more cordial, more confidential thanbefore. She had not forgotten that Newton had shown the same regard andpartiality for her when she was going out to India, and afterwards, when indistress; he had been her friend and admirer when in adversity. She knewhis feelings towards her, and she had appreciated his delicacy andforbearance. Lately she had seriously analysed her own, and her analysiswas wound up by a mental acknowledgment that her wealth would be valueless,if she could not share it with Newton Forster.
At the request of Mrs Enderby, the poop cabins were engaged for Isabel andherself. Their time for preparation was short; but one day more having beenobtained from Captain Oughton, through the influence of Newton, Mrs Enderbyand Isabel embarked, and the _Windsor Castle_ spread her canvas, sailingaway from pestilence and death.