scene we have just witnessed, and if MistressSherwood's looks do not belie her, she thought so too. I ween histragedy hath outdone your comedy." Then he (well-nigh biting his lipsthrough, as the person who related it to me observed) made answer: "Ifthis young gentlewoman's taste be set on tragedy, then will I promiseher so much of it another day as should needs satisfy her."
This malicious lady misliked Hubert, by reason of his having deniedher the praise of wit, which had been reported to her by a thirdperson. She was minded to be revenged on him, and so the shaftcontained in her piercing jest had likewise hit those she willed notto injure. It is not to be credited how many persons have been ruinedin fortune, driven into banishment, yea, delivered over to death, bycareless words uttered without so much as a thought of the evil whichshould ensue from them.
And now upon the next day Basil was to leave London. Before he went hesaid he hoped not to be long absent, and that Mr. Congleton shouldreceive a letter, if it pleased God, from his father; which, if itshould be favorably received, and I willed it not to be otherwise,should cause our next meeting to be one of greater contentment thancould be thought of.
I answered, "I should never wish otherwise than that we should meetwith contentment, or will anything that should hinder it." Which hesaid did greatly please him to hear, and gave him a comfortable hopeof a happy return.
He conversed also with Mistress Ward touching the prisoners we hadseen the day before, and left some money with her in case she shouldfind means to see and assist them, which she strove to do with thediligence used by her in all such managements. In a few days shediscovered Mr. Watson to be in Bridewell, also one Mr. Richardson inthe Marshalsea, and three laymen in the Clink. Mr. Watson had a sisterwho was a Protestant, and by her means she succeeded in relieving hiswants, and dealt with the gaolers at the other prisons so as to conveysome assistance to the poor men therein confined, whose names she hadfound out.
One morning when I was at Kate's house Hubert came there; and she, thewhole compass of whose thoughts was now circled in her nursery, notminding the signs I made she should not leave us alone, rose and saidshe must needs go and see if her babe was awake, for Hubert must seehim, and he should not go away without first he had beheld him walkwith his new leading-strings, which were the tastefullest in the worldand fit for a king's son; and that she doubted not we could find goodenough entertainment in each other's company, or in Mr. Lacy's books,which must be the wittiest ever written, if she judged by herhusband's fondness for them. As soon as the door was shut on her,Hubert began to speak of his brother, and to insinuate that mybehavior to himself was changed since Basil had come to London, whichI warmly denied.
"If," I said, "I have changed--"
"_If_," he repeated, stopping my speaking with an ironical anddisdainful smile, and throwing into that one little word as he utteredit more of meaning than it would seem possible it should express.
"Yes!" I continued, angered at his defiant looks. "Yes, if my behaviorto you has changed, which, I must confess, in some respects it has,the cause did lie in my uncle's commands, laid on me before yourbrother's coming to London. You know it, Master Rookwood, by the sametoken that you charged me with unkindness for not allowing of yourvisits, and refusing to read Italian with you, some weeks before everhe arrived."
"You have a very obedient disposition, madam," he answered in ascornful manner, "and I doubt not have attended with a like readinessto the behest to favor the _elder_ brother's suit as to that whichforbade the receiving of the younger brother's addresses."
"I did not look upon you as a suitor," I replied.
"No!" he exclaimed, "and not as on a lover? Not as on one whose lips,borrowing words from enamored poets twenty times in a day, did avowhis passion, and was entertained on your side with so much good-natureand apparent contentment with this mode of disguised worship, asshould lead him to hope for a return of his affection? But whyquestion of that wherein my belief is unshaken? I know you love me,Constance Sherwood, albeit you peradventure love more dearly mybrother's heirship of Euston and its wide acres. Your eyes deceivednot, nor did your flushing cheek dissemble, when we read togetherthose sweet tales and noble poems, wherein are set forth the dearpains and tormenting joys of a mutual love. No, not if you did takeyour oath on it will I believe you love my brother!"
"What warrant have you, sir," I answered with burning cheek, "tominister such talk to one who, from the moment she found you thoughtof marriage, did plainly discountenance your suit?"
"You were content, then, madam, to be worshipped as an idol," hebitterly replied, "if only not sued for in marriage by a poor man."
My sin found me out then, and the hard taunt awoke dormant pangs in myconscience for the pleasure I had taken and doubtless showed in thedisguised professions of an undisguised admiration; but anger yetprevailed, and I cried, "Think you to advance your interest in myfriendship, sir, by such language and reproaches as these?"
"Do you love my brother?" he said again, with an implied contemptwhich made me mad.
"Sir," I answered, "I entertain for your brother so great a respectand esteem as one must needs feel toward one of so much virtue andgoodness. No contract exists between us; nor has he made me the tenderof his hand. More than that it behoves you not to ask, or me toanswer."
"Ah! the offer of marriage is then the condition of your regard, andlove is to follow, not precede, the settlements, I' faith, ladies arevery prudent in these days; and virtue and goodness the new names forfortune and lands. Beshrew me, if I had not deemed you to be made ofother metal than the common herd. But whatever be the composition ofyour heart, Constance Sherwood, be it hard as the gold you set so muchstore on, or, like wax, apt to receive each day some new impress, Iwill have it; yea, and keep it for my own. No rich fool shall steal itfrom me."
"Hubert Rookwood," I cried in anger, "dare not so to speak of onewhose merit is as superior to thine as the sun outshines atorchlight."
"Ah!" he exclaimed, turning pale with rage, "if I thought thou didstlove him!" and clenched his hand with a terrible gesture, and groundhis teeth. "But 'tis impossible," he added bitterly smiling. "As soonwould I believe Titania verily to doat on the ass's head as for theeto love Basil!"
"Oh!" I indignantly replied, "you do almost constrain me to avow thatwhich no maiden should, unasked, confess. Do you think, sir, thatlearning and scholarship, and the poor show of wit that lies in aready tongue, should outweigh honor, courage, and kindliness of heart?Think you that more respect should be paid to one who can speak, andwrite also, if you will, fair sounding words, than to him who in hisdaily doings shows forth such nobleness as others only inculcate, andGod only knoweth if ever they practise it?"
"Lady!" he exclaimed, "I have served you long; sustained torments inyour presence; endured griefs in your absence; pining thoughts in theday, and anguished dreams in the night; jealousies often in timespast, and now--"
He drew in his breath; and then not so much speaking the word"despair" as with a smothered vehemence uttering it, he concluded hisvehement address.
I was so shaken by his speech that I remained silent: for if I hadspoken I must needs have wept. Holding my head with both hands, and soshielding my eyes from the sight of his pale convulsed face, I satlike one transfixed. Then he again: "These be not times, MistressSherwood, for women to act as you have done; to lift a man's heart onewhile to an earthly heaven, and then, without so much as a thought, tocast him into a hellish sea of woes. These be the dealings which drivemen to desperation; to attempt things contrary to their own minds, toreligion, and to honesty; to courses once abhorred--"
His violence wrung my heart then with so keen a remorse that I criedout, "I cry you mercy, Master Rookwood, if I have dealt thus with you;indeed I thought not to do it. I pray you forgive me, if unwittingly,albeit peradventure in a heedless manner, I have done you so muchwrong as your words do charge me with." And then tears I could notstay began to flow; and for awhile no talk ensued. But after a littletime he spoke in a voice so changed and
dissimilar in manner, that Ilooked up wholly amazed.
"Sweet Constance," he said, "I have played the fool in my customablefashion, and by such pretended slanders of one I should rather inclineto commend beyond his deserts, if that were possible, than to give himvile terms, have sought--I cry you mercy for it--to discover yoursentiments, and feigned a resentment and a passion which indeed hasproved an excellent piece of acting, if I judge by your tears. I prayyou pardon and forget my brotherly device. If you love Basil--as Imisdoubt not he loves you--where shall a more suitable match be found,or one which every one must needs so much approve? Marry, sweet lady;I will be his best man