Gómez Arias
CHAPTER X.
Where is she? I wish to see my daughter, shew her me;
* * * *
You have betrayed me; y' have let loose The jewel of my life: Go, bring her me, And set her here before me.--
_Beaumont and Fletcher._
The next day arrived--a day of sorrow for the unfortunate Monteblanco.Seated on a ponderous chair of rude workmanship, the old _caballero_waited for the appearance of his darling daughter, to pay her morningdevoirs, and receive his blessing. He waited patiently for some time,but his mind becoming fraught with more than usual anxiety, he calledlustily to the duenna,--he called again, and again, but to no purpose.The pious old dame was deeply engaged in her orisons, and her mindoccupied with other affairs than appertain to this sinful world. Sheappeared at last, her eyes half closed, her lips moving fast in thefervour of her devotions, and her long skinny fingers employed in amanner equally devout, as with the most exemplary industry, and solemnsedateness, she let fall in measured intervals, one by one, the largeblack counters of her rosary.
"The Lord be with you!" ejaculated piously the duenna.
"Save you, good Martha," responded Don Manuel.
"And may the blessed Virgin forgive you Senor, for thus disturbing anhumble sinner at her prayers."
"Amen!" answered Don Manuel; "and now Martha tell me where is mydaughter."
"_Ave Maria!_" continued the duenna, as another counter fell.
Monteblanco, who expected quite a different answer, was however kindenough to give the customary response to the salutation.
"_Santa Maria!_" muttered he with a movement of impatience, raisingnevertheless his eyes to heaven. But it so happened that the devotion ofthe old cavalier was obliged to give way to his paternal solicitude.
"Martha," he therefore cried, "put aside your beads, and tell me, ingoodness tell me, if my child is indisposed."
"Holy Virgin!" exclaimed the duenna, "what brings that into your head,Don Manuel?"
"If not," demanded the father, "how does it happen she has not yetappeared?--Where is she?"
"In bed, God help her," replied Martha, "for she very naturallyconcluded, that a lady who had spent the night in an amorous colloquy,could not be expected to rise over early the next morning."
"In bed!" echoed Monteblanco, "in bed! shame, why it is past seven," headded, somewhat ruffled at the idea. "What! has she passed anindifferent night?"
"Not that I know of, unless indeed that she may have been a little toozealous in her midnight devotions: the grace of the Lord be upon her fora sweet, innocent child. Bless her soul, she could not be otherwiseafter the holy counsel which I, a miserable sinner, have endeavoured toinstill into her tender mind."
"Martha, Martha," seriously observed Don Manuel, "I do not entirelyapprove of this excess of devotion."
"Ah!" ejaculated the duenna. "That is exactly what I say to her, but sheis very scrupulous in her religious exercises."
"Well Martha, you must moderate her zeal, and make her understand thatthe views of heaven will be much better realized, by yielding implicitobedience to the dictates of a father; and now," he added in a morefamiliar tone, "go, and bid her come, for I expect Don Antonio de Leyvaevery minute."
The duenna went out muttering a _Gloria Patri_, which was exactlyfinished by the time she got at the other side of the door. She thenhastened to the chamber of her charge, by no means pleased with asomnolency that exposed her to any rebuke, however trifling.
"Oh you sluggish girl," she began. "_Dios me perdone_,[22] what meansthis? Are you not ashamed to be in bed at this time in the morning, andallow a christian matron like me to be disturbed at her prayers on youraccount? This comes of your nocturnal meetings; I must put a stop tothem; they may be very refreshing to the heart, but cannot contribute tothe health, nor to the good keeping of the soul; up, up _perezosa_,[23]and never more expose a kind duenna to your father's rebukes; up,immediately, Don Manuel is waiting." Receiving no answer, she took itfor granted, being not a little deaf, that Theodora was replying withthe various excuses which were naturally to be expected, under similarcircumstances. She continued, therefore, without troubling herself as totheir import. "Nay, nay, attempt not to exculpate yourself, for it isvery wrong to expose me thus, because I am so amiably inclined as tooverlook your frailties with christian charity. Holy Virgin! I shudderwhen I think to what perilous compromises my unsullied reputation isdaily exposed by the tenderness of my disposition. What is it yousay?--Eh?--What?--you are silent then, well child, after all that is thewisest thing you can do; it pleaseth me to see you thus humble, forhumility, like charity, covereth a multitude of sins." The good duennaproceeded in this strain for some time, without receiving any check toher eloquence, till at length, surprised at such an excess ofcontrition, she grew impatient, flung the windows wide open, pulled thebed hangings aside, when to her utter consternation she found the objectof her intended visitation vanished. The surprise of the duenna wasstrongly pictured on her shrivelled visage, as the dismal truth obtrudeditself upon her mind. The wrath of Monteblanco, and the blot upon herown dear reputation, as the natural consequences of this disaster, tookpossession of her mind. She first uttered something between a whine anda discordant cry, meaning thereby to indicate at once her emotions ofanger and sorrow. Then she began busily to invoke the protection of allthe saints in the calendar. But the saints, though very holy personagesin their way, are by no means the proper persons to consult respectingthe discovery of stray damsels. She appeared to place more confidence inher own exertions than in their assistance. She commenced a scrupuloussearch in every part of the chamber, under and round about the bed, andwaddling out of the apartment, she left no corner in the houseunsearched.
Astonished at the duenna's activity, and puzzled to discover the cause,the servants flocked around her, but to all their inquiries she gave noother answer but interjections and exclamations, and such harsh gutturalsounds, that they began to suspect that the good dame had fairly losther wits.
The garden was now explored, but alas! with no better success, and theperturbation of poor Martha's mind baffled all description.
It was some time before she could determine what course to pursue,balancing in her mind whether it would be more prudent to avoid theimpending storm by flight, or boldly and confidently to encounter hermaster's ire. Flight certainly is the method preferred on similaroccasions; but then by adopting it she would tacitly confess herselfguilty, and her tender reputation would be sullied with an indeliblestain; by bravely encountering, on the other hand, the irritated father,she could stoutly deny all cognizance of the affair, and boldly call onall the saints of Heaven to assert her innocence, witnesses to whosetestimony Martha always confidently appealed, being satisfied they wouldhave no inclination to contradict her.
Acting upon this idea, she left the garden, instilling into herparchment features all the surprise and grief that she could muster upat so short a notice.
In the meantime Monteblanco, heartily tired of sending message aftermessage, resolved to seek himself the cause of the duenna's protractedabsence.
"Martha--Martha," he cried, as soon as he saw her--"In the name of thedevil, what means this?"
"Hush, Don Manuel!" replied the duenna, with great solemnity ofmanner--"Hush, venerated Senor; for sure enough the evil one has been atwork."
"What!" exclaimed the astonished Don Manuel, "explain yourself, andquickly."
"Holy Virgin!" proceeded the dame, "that such a thing should happen inmy time!"
"In the name of God--Martha," cried again the father, in agony, "tell mewhat misfortune has happened."
"Oh!" whined the duenna, struggling hard to force from her old eyes acouple of rebellious tears, "ask me not, for shame and sorrow will chokemy utterance."
"May all the curses of Heaven choke you! Woman, what have you done withmy daughter? Speak--speak, or by _Santiago de Compostela_, I will sobelabour thy shrivelled form, as to reduce it to atoms in less ti
methan you can say your _credo_."
The duenna had never before seen her master in so terrible a passion,and she almost repented not having followed her first impulse to fly.She inwardly cursed that tenderness for her reputation, which hadbrought the more substantial part of her person into the presentquandary. A vigorous defence was the only alternative now left her.
"What have I done with your daughter!" she exclaimed, with a look whichshe meant to be expressive of indignant surprise.--"May the Lord helpyou!--what should I have done with your daughter?"
"Where is she then?"
A pause ensued.
"Where is she?" demanded again the agitated father, with redoubledemotion.
"Alas! I know not--she is gone to all appearance--May the light ofHeaven, and her guardian angel conduct her steps!"
"Gone!--my Theodora gone!" cried Don Manuel in the height ofaffliction.
"I conclude that to be the case," added the duenna, with assurance, "forshe is nowhere to be found."
The desolate father appeared thunderstruck at this intelligence. Hesmote his venerable forehead, and plucked his grey beard in the anguishof despair. Then he vented the most bitter reproaches against theingratitude of his daughter, and cursed the day that gave her birth.
Whilst he was thus vainly indulging in the paroxysm of grief, the duennakept crossing herself with such active fervour, that the repeated andrapid motion of her hand at last caught the attention of the sorrowingand abstracted father.
"Oh, thou vile hypocrite!" he exclaimed, darting a furious look--"Thoubeldame!--Is this the way thou hast answered the confidence reposed inthee?--I have nurtured a serpent in my house--I have set the ravenouswolf to guard the lamb! Accursed beldame! Thou art an accomplice in mydaughter's flight."
"Holy Virgin of the Conception!" ejaculated the offended Martha, "thatsuch foul aspersions should be thrown on my character, after sixtyyears of rigid penitence! May the Lord forgive you, Senor, as I do"--andshe crossed herself with redoubled zeal.
"Forgive me, thou imp of the devil!" thundered Don Manuel, astonished ather assurance.--"Forgive me!"
"I an imp of the devil!--I, who had an aunt who died in odour ofsanctity, in the convent of Santa Clara--I, who am second cousin to FrayDomingo, one of the most religious as well as most celebrated preachersof the day!"
"May the curse of Heaven fall on thee, and him, and all thy race."
"Do not swear," interrupted Martha; "Oh! do not swear--you fright me--Ishall faint."
"Avaunt, thou detested hag!" continued Don Manuel.
"_San Pedro y san Pablo!_" cried the duenna.
"Thou poisonous crocodile!" replied Don Manuel.
"_San Jose bendito!_" responded the duenna.
"Abominable fiend!" returned Don Manuel.
"_Animas benditas!_" answered the duenna.
This extraordinary litany, however, was at length cut short by thearrival of Don Antonio de Leyva. He was not a little surprised at thescene which presented itself, and was for some time unable to obtain anexplanation. When he at length arrived at a knowledge of the affair, hisastonishment and sorrow were exhibited in the most lively manner.
"Alas!" he cried, "I could not but suspect from my first interview withTheodora, that her affections were fixed on another object."
"Oh, no, no," eagerly replied Don Manuel--"you are far from themark--she cannot love any one--how could she form an attachment withoutmy knowledge?"
"Then," said Don Antonio, sighing, "it was to avoid my addresses thatshe has sought a refuge in flight."
"_Jesus Maria!_" interposed the duenna--"Do not say so, Don Antonio--howcould she possibly object to so accomplished a cavalier?"
"Good dame," answered he, "it is not difficult to account for herdislike; and I must acknowledge with painful sensations, that I amchiefly to blame for this unfortunate occurrence."
"No, no," cried Monteblanco, pointing to Martha; "the person chiefly toblame in this affair, is that detestable hag.--See how she crossesherself, and rolls her eyes to impose upon our credulity; but it is allover--I have been too long the dupe of her affected piety, and seemingausterity of manners; my eyes are at length open to conviction, and Isee the despicable creature in her true colours."
"What reason," observed de Leyva, "can you assign for Theodora's strangeresolution, unless it be dislike to me, or love for another."
"Alas! I know not what to think," answered Don Manuel; "my mind isbewildered, and all my conjectures may prove wrong. Perhaps somehastiness in my way of proceeding may have influenced herdetermination. But I do not despair; she may yet be brought to a senseof her duty; if not," he added despondingly, "the happiness of mydeclining age is blasted, and heartily shall I wish to be numbered withthe dead."
Monteblanco by these means sought a medium between accusing his daughterof downright criminality, and confessing to young de Leyva that hissuspicions concerning Theodora's aversion to the intended wedding werenot entirely groundless.
He was unwilling also to relinquish the thought of having so excellent ason-in-law, and he believed Don Antonio to be possessed of all thosequalities which are capable of enslaving the affections of women, eventhe most fastidious. He, therefore, prudently resolved, in case of hischild's return, to allow her due time to consider the proposal, which hehad been so anxious to carry by parental authority, hoping that shewould at last be brought to acquiesce in his wishes, by the constantassiduity and numberless accomplishments of her suitor.
Under this impression, he readily accepted the services proffered by DonAntonio, for the recovery of Theodora, and for speedily concerting themeans.
"Don Manuel," exclaimed the gallant de Leyva, "spite of your kind andcourteous asseverations, I cannot but consider myself the cause of yourdaughter's leaving her home. This reflection and that tender sentimentwhich Theodora was as capable of inspiring as I am susceptible offeeling, makes me perhaps a principal in this melancholy event. It iswith heartfelt sincerity, therefore, that I offer my assistance. Let usfirst endeavour to restore the lovely fugitive to her deserted home, andthen let not the shadow of compulsion actuate her future determination."
"I shall be happy," replied Don Manuel, "to profit by advice dictated atonce by affection and prudence. Theodora," he added after a short pause,"cannot have departed from this city, and we shall probably find hereither in a convent, or at the abode of one of her relatives. However,to insure all precaution, I shall forthwith send despatches to Granada,and the neighbouring towns."
Saying this, Monteblanco made a movement to retire with his youngfriend, and casting a look of anger on the duenna, he said as hepassed--"Thou mayest well tremble, miserable sinner that thou art!"
"Tremble, forsooth!" returned the stately dame, with great dignity ofmanner. "Innocence has no occasion to tremble; and now it only remainsfor me to quit a place where my virtue and honesty have so unwarrantablybeen called in question."
"When thou dost quit my house," said Don Manuel, "it will be to be shutup for life in a convent, there to do penance for thy sins, and toprofit by the holy example of that good aunt that died in odour ofsanctity."
Left to herself, Martha began seriously to reflect on the unpleasantnessof her situation; the threat of a conventual seclusion sounded harshlyto her ear. She fancied it would be more advantageous to society thather good offices should continue in requisition, than that they shouldbe for ever lost by an untimely adoption of a contemplative life.
"Oh, that ungracious Gomez Arias!" she exclaimed, in her perplexity.
"What wouldst thou with Gomez Arias?" said a well known voice.
She turned, and saw before her the object of her exclamation.
"Blessed be the Virgin! It is he, sure enough. What brings you here,Sir? Where is my young lady?"
"Where is she?" inquired Gomez Arias, with feigned anxiety.
"Nay, nay, your arts are thrown away on me; I know that Theodora, poorsilly thing, has eloped with you. She loves you, in very truth, shedoes; and when a woman really loves,
it is unaccountable what a numberof fooleries she will be tempted to commit."
"Well," returned Don Lope, "supposing she has intrusted herself to myprotection, she only followed the dictates of pure affection; surelythere could be no harm in so doing."
"Under favour, Don Lope," observed the duenna, "but there is. Notforsooth in loving you; but yet, there is a crying injustice, anunpardonable cruelty, in leaving me to suffer for it without a----"
"Reward, wouldst thou say?" interrupted Don Lope.
"_Valgame San Juan!_ But you misapprehend me strangely. I am notmercenary; heaven knows my only concern is for my safety, threatened asI am."
"Threatened! in what possible manner?" demanded Gomez Arias.
"With nothing less than a convent."
"A convent," repeated Don Lope, smiling, "to so devout a dame, methinks,can have no terrors."
"Aye in troth, I am devout," replied the duenna, "and yet I feel nowiseinclined to be immured between four walls. What merit would there be inthe sacrifice of an old, poor, decrepid piece of mortality such as I.No, it is the voluntary seclusion of young, rich and beautiful virginsthat delights the divinity."
"Most prudent Martha," gaily replied Gomez Arias, "I greatly admire andapplaud your discretion. Never ought so worthy, so valuable a matron tobe lost to the world. No, thou wert born to be the consolation ofgallant knights and amorous damsels; it would be really unpardonable topermit thy seclusion, whilst thou mayest yet tend thy services tolovers. No, no, God forbid thou shouldst go to a nunnery."
"The Lord bless you, good Senor," returned Martha with humility; "butyou over-rate my poor deserts."
"By my sword! that modesty becomes thee mightily. But we must lose notime. Attend vespers this afternoon, there thou shalt find myconscientious valet, who will give thee proper directions and assistanceto effect thy escape, and ample means to pass the remainder of thyprecious life in some distant city of Spain, free from the blessed ideaof conventual retirement."
"That will I do, most generous Don Lope, and be thankful withal."
"But stay," added Gomez Arias with mock gravity; "there is one objectionto this arrangement."
"_Virgen de las Angustias!_--What is it, Senor?" demanded the duenna, invisible alarm.
"Why!" answered Gomez Arias, "only that thou must sacrifice somewhat ofthat dear, unsullied reputation by following such a course."
"Alas, Senor!" exclaimed she of the nice reputation--"That is too true;willingly would I preserve it entire, but feeble mortals are not boundto do more than their strength can compass."
"True," rejoined Gomez Arias; "thine argument, most venerable Martha, isa very plausible argument, and very consoling withal."
At this moment a noise was heard. The duenna started. "It is my master,and Don Antonio," cried she. "Hence! begone, Don Lope, they must not seeus together."
"Fear not, most respected dame," said Gomez Arias; "I am no collegegallant, no unskilful tyro in the affairs of love; I depart but toreturn in due time."
"Return!" echoed Martha; "to what purpose?"
"To cover thy threadbare reputation," said he laughing; "it appears ofso tender a texture, that it is likely to be torn piece-meal, if notremedied in time. Besides, I must protect my own, should it benecessary: a good pilot, even in a calm, must prepare against foulweather."
"Our Lady's blessing be upon your head!" said Martha, "for a rightprudent _caballero_."
"Well, mind to give thy assistance at vespers."
"Ah, my good Senor; my devotion requires no stimulus."
Gomez Arias made his exit, just in time to prevent a meeting with theaforesaid gentlemen. They had been busily occupied in devising the mostefficacious means to insure success in their researches. Don Manuelappeared more composed in his demeanor, for he placed much confidencein the influence and abilities of his ally. Hope, that with its cheeringray lights us even on the gloomy borders of the tomb, now in partdispelled the heavy cloud that overshadowed the deserted father's heart.
Don Antonio took an affectionate leave, and after repeating his cordialoffers of assistance, departed.
Monteblanco, when left by himself, felt his wrath again revived, at thesight of the duenna; he therefore renewed his threats of a convent.
"Don Manuel!" said the duenna, with a most sanctimonious look, "I aminnocent--innocent, as the child unborn: yet if it so pleaseth Heaven,that I should be immured in a cloister, the Lord's will be done; aconvent has no terrors for me; alas! a poor humble sinner can desire nobetter abode; but think, Senor, how galling it is to be forced bycompulsion to embrace a state, that ought to be embraced out ofspontaneous inclination; allow me at least a few hours to arrange myworldly concerns, and I shall be ready to obey your commands."
Saying this, the female _tartuffe_ retired to her chamber, to preparefor her secret departure.