CHAPTER XXV
A GRATEFUL MIND
The news of the abduction, you may be sure, formed, next day, the onlytopic of talk in the pump room and the gardens. There are many rumoursand reports. Mr. Rising was allowed to be a villain of the deepestdye. He was also allowed to be a gentleman of the greatest courage andresolution. The duel was described with such embroideries andadditions as the feminine imagination could invent. Lord Fylingdalewas desperately wounded; no, only slightly wounded; no, he was nottouched. Mr. Rising was brought home dead, in a pool of blood; no, hewas wounded and not expected to live; and so on. He lay, indeed, athis lodgings in a fever, which held him for some days; but being youngand strong, and in good health, except that his habit of drinking hadinflamed his blood, he recovered, and, as you shall presently learn,escaped from certain toils and snares that had been laid with skill,and were promising success.
I am sorry to say that the opinion of the ladies remained adverse toMolly. It was universally acknowledged that she was a forward minx;that she ought to have known her place; that, had she not givenencouragement, Mr. Rising could never have attempted his rashadventure. "She wants to marry a gentleman. Naturally; she thinks thatmoney will buy anything. What is the good of having all these finethings--if, indeed, they are hers--if she is to marry in her ownclass, a quill driver, a shopkeeper, a tarpauling? As everybody knows,Mr. Rising is a gentleman of good family and good estate; could shelook higher? She ought to feel honoured at being carried away by agentleman. As for any rumour, connecting her with Lord Fylingdale, onewould be sorry for the poor wench if that was true, because nothingcould be more impossible. Yet the ambition of a girl ignorant of theworld may soar to heights incredible, like the soap bubble, only toburst, or the sky-rocket, only to fall ignobly to the ground. It isnot likely that his lordship, said to be so fastidious, would bestow aserious thought upon the girl, save as representing the town of Lynn."And so on ... with whispers from one to the other at morning prayers,and louder talk in the pump room, and at the confectioner's and in thegardens.
Meantime, the captain made haste to wait upon his lordship, in orderto thank him more formally than in the turmoil and agitation of theevening had been possible.
"Captain Crowle," said his lordship, "there needs no thanks. Thehonour of the spa--of the company--was at stake. Could we look onunmoved when such a crime was committed under our very eyes? Sir,there were with me, as you saw, half-a-dozen gallant gentlemen, allpledged to take my place should I fall. Their swords were as much atthe service of insulted virtue as my own."
"You fought a desperate man, my lord. Had you lost hand or eye for amoment, you would now be dead."
"Captain, I do not lose my eye nor my hand. Nevertheless, to die forthe honour of such a woman as Miss Molly should be happiness enoughfor any man."
Said I not that the abduction was the very best thing that couldpossibly happen to Lord Fylingdale? Whether he understood thecaptain's ambitions as regards himself, or not, I cannot say. We know,however, that the old man aimed at nothing short of a great alliancefor his ward, a dream that was justified by the noble fortune whichwould go with her. Lord Fylingdale knew, besides, that he himself hadmade a most favourable impression upon this simple sailor, whobelieved everything that he was told. And now, by the rescue of thegirl, he had not only raised himself still higher in the estimation ofthe captain, but he stood before Molly as a hero and a fearlessavenger of insult and violence. Nothing could have been morefortunate.
"Sir," he added, "if you will carry me to Miss Molly herself, I wouldoffer her my congratulations on the happy ending of her adventure. Sheis perhaps overcome by the terrors of the night."
"Molly felt no terrors. She had a knife in her hand which might haveproved more formidable to the young man than your lordship's sword.But if you will honour my humble house, both Molly and I shall bestill more grateful."
Molly was in the kitchen making a beefsteak pie, with her sleevesrolled up and her apron on. "Shall I go to my lord as I am?" she said."Let me wash my hands and roll down the sleeves at least."
She presented herself, therefore, in her plain morning dress, that inwhich she performed her domestic work. Perhaps she showed to greateradvantage thus than in her silks and jewels.
"Miss Molly, your obedient servant." His lordship bowed as low as ifhe was addressing a countess at least. "I have ventured to inquireafter your health. Last night's adventure may have proved too great ashock."
"I am quite well, my lord, thanks to your bravery and your generosity,which I can never forget--never--not even if I wished to forget."
"Never," said the captain.
"Whenever I hear of a brave man I shall think of your lordship, andwhenever I think of a gallant fight, it will be your lordshipfighting."
"You think too highly of a simple affair, Miss Molly. Nevertheless, Iam proud to have been of service to you."
"At least we must continue grateful, because we have nothing that wecan do in return."
"I am not so sure of that." He smiled kindly. "We shall see. Meantime,Miss Molly, there is one thing which you might do to please me."
"Oh, what is that?"
"You wore at your first appearance a large quantity of gold chains andprecious stones. I am curious about such gauds. Will you allow me tosee your treasures?"
It was an unexpected favour to ask. Molly laughed, however, and ran tofetch the box. She poured out the whole of the glittering contentsupon the table. "There, my lord, and if I could venture to offer anyof these things that would please you."
He laughed. "You are kindness itself, Miss Molly. But I am not a lady,and jewels are of no use to me. I have, however, at my poor house inGloucestershire, my family jewels. Let me look at yours."
He sat down and began to examine them closely. Apparently heunderstood jewels. It was as if he apprised their value. He placedsome on one side; some on the other. "This," he said, "is a diamond ofthe first water. Keep it very carefully. This has a slight flaw, yet,with more careful cutting, it might become a valuable stone. Thischain is fashioned by an Indian workman. None but an Indian can make achain so fine and so delicate. See, it is no thicker than a piece oftwine, and yet how careful and how intricate the workmanship! Theman's fingers must have been more delicate than our craftsmen canimagine." And so on through the whole of the treasure. "Well, MissMolly," he said, "there are few ladies, indeed, even of the highestrank, who can show so good a collection. I congratulate you with allmy heart. Some day, I hope to see you at court wearing these jewelsand bearing--who knows?--a name as honourable as these are precious."
"Your lordship always encourages," said the captain. "You hear, Molly?At court and bearing an honourable name."
She blushed and gathered up her treasures.
Her visitor looked round the room. It was the parlour. The homelyappearance of the room, plainly furnished, as might be expected of aman in the captain's position, was strangely inconsistent with themass of treasure which he had just examined. The plain linsey woolseyof the girl who owned the treasure was also out of proportion, so tospeak, for he understood that this glittering pile of jewelsrepresented a vast sum of money, and that the girl was far richer thanthe poet knew or even the captain guessed. At the mere thought ofgetting possession of this treasure his blood quickened; but heremained, to all appearance, save for a slight and unwonted colour inhis cheek, unmoved. I have never heard, nor can I guess, the value ofthese jewels, save that they were worth many thousands.
"These jewels," he said, coldly, "should belong to a great lady. Theydeserve to be seen. They are thrown away, save as portable property,unless they can be used to grace the court. However, ... let me hopethat they will not be thrown away. I think, Miss Molly, that yourmother lives with you in this house. Perhaps this treasure is hers--oris it all your own?"
The captain made answer. "Molly's mother has no share. A modest sum ofmoney, sufficient for her needs, is paid her out of the estate. Therest--all the rest belongs to Molly."
"T
ruly she is first favourite with Dame Fortune, who, I hope, will notturn her wheel. Miss Molly, will you present me to madam, yourmother?"
"With all my heart; but my lord, my mother is not used to being calledmadam." So saying, Molly retired to the kitchen, and presentlyreturned, bringing her mother with her. She came in red faced fromstooping over the kitchen fire, wiping her fingers, which she hadhurriedly washed, on her apron, wearing at her side her greathousekeeper's pocket, in which she carried a vast quantity of thingsnecessary, useful, and handy, such as scissors, pins, a needle-case,the nutmeg grater, a corkscrew, a few weights, a thread paper, a yardmeasure, stockings to be darned, a ball of twine, a skein or two ofsilk, ends of ribbon, fragments and rags of cloth, lint for wounds, abox of goose fat for ointment, and many other articles indispensablefor the complete housewife. Jennifer Miller, Molly's mother, wasindeed a homely body, low in stature, inclined to stoutness, somewhatshort of breath, and, in appearance, exactly what she was in fact,namely, a woman whose whole delight and study was in housewifery. Whenshe was young I have heard that she possessed some share of beauty, asa rosy cheek, red lips, bright eyes, and so forth. But her daughtertook after the father, who was a tall and proper man, as those testifywho knew him.
His lordship treated her with the respect due to a great lady, bowingas low to her as he had done to Molly.
"Madam, I come to congratulate you on the escape of your daughter.'Twas providential."
"With your help, sir. Oh! I know a gentleman's modesty. Well, sir--mylord, I mean--we are humble folk, but I hope we know how to begrateful. I said to Molly this morning: 'Look out,' I said, 'amongyour fine trinkets the very finest thing you've got, and take ityourself with your humble respects to his lordship,' and I would havesent with it some of my last year's ginger cordial to warm thestomach. I warrant it is poor stuff that they give you. Servants don'tgive their minds to cordials. But Molly wouldn't go. She was never oneof your shy and shamefaced girls, neither. 'Go and thank his honour,do,' I said to her, 'What will he think of your manners? Don't leaveit to the captain. Go yourself.' That's what I said."
"Indeed, madam, Miss Molly has already thanked me more than enough. Iam most fortunate in being of some service to her."
"John," the good lady added, "where are your manners, pray? His honourhas nothing to drink. A glass of home-brewed, now, or a little of myginger cordial? Unless you will take a bottle home with you. Or aglass of Lisbon? We are not so poor as to miss it."
"Nothing, madam, nothing, I assure you." So saying, his lordship, withhis most profound bow, quitted the room and the house.
His mind was now made up. There was no longer any doubt possible as tothe girl's great fortune. He had satisfied himself in everyparticular. He knew the value of her fleet, and the income of herbusiness. He now knew the value of her jewels. He would make the girlhis wife, provided he could do it without the settlement of herfortune upon herself. There must be no settlement.
What he proposed to do with her after his marriage I do not know.Perhaps he would send her to his country house, from which he hadalready sold the furniture, the pictures, the books, and everything.It stood, I have been told, in a desert, which had once been a lovelywood. But the wood was felled, and only the stumps were left. Therewere gardens around, but they had gone to wrack and ruin. The farmers,his tenants, paid their rent to the lawyers; his name was a by-wordand a proverb in his own county for mad gambling, for raking, andungodly living. I say that he might have proposed to take her to thisdeserted spot, and to leave her there. Or he might have taken her toLondon, there to associate with I know not what kind of women or whatkind of men. It is certain, however, that no good woman and no honestman would consort with the wife of the Earl of Fylingdale. He walkedaway, however, his mind made up. He would marry the girl if he couldget her without settlements. And as he thought of that treasury ofprecious stones, his unholy heart glowed within him.
Molly went back to the kitchen and resumed the making of the beefsteakpie.
"John," said her mother, "does that young man mean anything?"
"He gives me advice. He knows my design as regards Molly. He is a veryvirtuous young gentleman, as well as courageous."
"John, do nothing hastily. He did not look at Molly in a way--well, Ican remember--what I call a hungry way. Take care, John. Perhaps heonly wants her money."
"Why, Jennifer, he is the most fastidious man in the world. Do youthink he can be taken with Molly?"
"Try him. Offer him Molly without a farthing. He would turn away. I amsure he would, John. I know what a lover's looks should be. Offer himMolly with her fortune. Ah! then you shall see. John, do nothing rash.Remember, Molly is ignorant of gentlefolk and their ways. I've heardof their ways. Molly is like me; she will expect the whole of herhusband, not a part of him."
"Don't I tell the woman that he is a man of the nicest honour?"
"You say so. How do you know, John?"
"Did he not rescue the girl at the risk of his own life? Why,Jennifer, what more do you ask?"
"Ay. That he did. Perhaps he was not willing to let her fortune go tosome other man. Molly is worth fighting for. Well, if he meanssomething, why did he go on board the dirty ship with you--and he sofine? Why was he so anxious to know what the girl has in ships andthings? Why did he ask to see her jewels if it was not to find outwhat they are worth? I tell you, John, I could see in his eyes what hewas thinking about."
"Ay, ay; trust a woman for seeing into a millstone."
"He was thinking 'Is she worth it?' And he was calculating how it allmounted up. Oh! I saw it in his eyes. John, be very careful. If she istaken from us let her go to a man who will make her happy and then Iwill bear it. But not among them that drink and gamble, nor make awoman mad with jealousy and sick with fear. John, John, be verycareful with that man."