A Heart-Song of To-day (Disturbed by Fire from the 'Unruly Member'): A Novel
"Yes, and a land-mark of Home, in the by-gone. Ah! Sir Dennis, there
has been more martyr's blood shed in the immortal city than that of
the early Christians; when one thinks of the use the Coliseum was put
to, when one thinks of the Roman women with their warm beauty, of
their men beautiful as gods, who graced with their presence scenes
where men like that met a death of torture, one weeps for human nature
with its stains, its blots. Ah! well, even the flowers one loves best
are bespattered in the mire, and soiled by the skirts of mortals with
not too clean a record, and the pure snow-flake as it falls goes down
with smut from the chimney upon it, it is only the trail of the
serpent which is over all."
"The wells of pity in your eyes are deep and full enough to take in
more than the Dying Gladiator; he is dead; there are living men," said
the Irishman with the susceptibility of his race.
"Why, Sir Knight of Erin," said Vaura gaily, as she turned from the
painting, "you are not going to ask me to weep over all suffering
humanity, from the Pole, not North but Siberian; the Sultan, whose
siesta, is disturbed by the call to arms; to your own Pat with his
real or imaginary wrongs."
"To the shades of oblivion with Pat and the Pole,--they don't fill the
world."
"And in the meantime the shades of evening will be upon us if we don't
hasten. Pedro, you will send my purchases with the vases and model of
St. Peter's Lady Esmondet bought yesterday, to the Villa Iberia, and
be expeditious, as the servants are now packing our belongings for
England."
"Already packing!" said the Irishman, as they turned their steps
homeward, "that sounds like the first note of a fare-thee-well."
"A true and fairly-well made remark, oh, Son of Erin!"
"Your voice is glad as the bird-notes of my own Isle, which means
you'll smile as you say farewell."
And so in gay chit-chat Time seemed as naught until the villa was
reached. Sir Dennis lunching with them when as afterwards the ladies
having P.P.C.'s to make, he took a reluctant leave.
The following three days were spent in leave-takings to the beauties
abounding in and around the city; sometimes attended by Signer
Castenelli, sometimes by the warm-hearted Irishman, and again by
Priest Douglas; they walked again and lingered in the gardens of the
Colonna palace they loved; the dear warm earth which was kissed so
lovingly by the sun's rays as not to be cold to the bare brown feet of
the child-peasant; and sent up such bright flowers for the vase of the
King. Their glance rested often on the deep blue of the heavens above
them, as though to carry its majestic arch with them to lift the
leaden clouds from off the spires of London, which seemed as though
weighed down to earth, as the souls the bells in their tower called to
worship, were weighted with the clouds in the struggle of life.
And so Father Time, who to Vaura for once seemed to walk with stealthy
step, still with inevitable tread brought the world and humanity to
the fourth day of a new year.
On the third a letter had come from Col. Haughton to Lady Esmondet,
which ran thus:
"MY DEAR OLD FRIEND,--
"Your letters are so full of health that I don't think I'm selfish in
saying to let nothing tempt you and my hearts-light, Vaura, to stay
away any longer; when you come you will not blame me for wanting you
both; my married life has not been of very long duration, and yet, and
yet my new made wife ... but you will see if there is anything to see;
you are not a curious woman, Alice, God forbid; but you will know in
the social atmosphere which surrounds me, if I needlessly fear for the
honour of my name.
"The preparations for the ball are on a gorgeous scale and my _bete
noire_, Major Delrose, is up to the neck in, floral decorations. And
my lady's gown, mine and yours, too; did we say him yea; his nose is
broad enough to enter into everybody's business; and his back is broad
enough to bear anything I may write you.
"Be sure and be here on the morning of the sixth, so you can rest for
the night's frolic; and Vaura, whose health is too splendid to feel
much fatigue, can chat with me and look about her.
"I see by the _Daily News_ that Trevalyon has succeeded to the
baronetcy; he writes me he will be here for the ball; I feel just now
in the humour for a long talk with my old friend.
"I'm really grieved he should have got himself into such a mess as to
have married some years ago some female he has been hiding ever since.
It is common gossip here; some name her as a ballet dancer; some as
pretty daughter of his late father's lodge-keeper; some, as wife of a
friend; in whatever dress Dame Rumour presents her, she's a toothsome
bit for Mrs. Grundy. Whatever truth there's in it the wasps sting
Trevalyon all they can; but the butterflies smile and say: 'if he has,
he's handsome enough to take out a license for anything.' I have
regretted since hearing the news and seeing it in the papers, that he
was in daily intercourse with Vaura; but again, if he is bound as I
fear, I can trust to his honour not to endeavour to gain her
affections.
"Isabel Douglas was married on New Year's' day; we were invited;
Blanche and I went; the laughs at the Hall were the loudest, so Mrs.
Haughton remained. Isabel looked hopeful and happy, and an ideal
Scotch lassie as she is. I am writing in the recess at the end of the
library, and merry voices and gay laughter reach me here; but the
sounds come not from any of my personal friends; none are with me as
yet; we have Mrs. Meltonbury, the Fitz-Lowtons, two De Lancy girls,
Peter Tedril, Everly, and Major Delrose at Rose Cottage--means Major
Delrose at the Hall. So you see, Alice, a congenial spirit would be
congenial. Read above to Vaura; she is a woman of the world, and knows
its walks and ways. Come soon. And from
"Yours,
"ERIC HAUGHTON,
"Haughton Hall, Surrey, England.
"To both, love and kind thoughts,
"January 2nd, 1878."
"TO LADY ESMONDET,
"Villa Iberia, Rome, Italy."
The outcome of above letter was to cause Lady Esmondet and Vaura to
make immediate preparations to reach Haughton Hall.
"We should be there; the hand Madame holds is too full of tricks,"
said Lady Esmondet, energetically, as she finished reading the letter
aloud.
"We can go to-night by the midnight express," said Vaura, impulsively.
"I should like it, dear, but you are full of engagements for to-
morrow, and we are due at the Opera tonight."
"Trifles, all; as you are willing, we shall be on the wing to-night."
_Tres bien ma chere_; I shall give the orders, but there will be three
or four pairs of wistful eyes looking for your _entree_ at the opera,
to-night."
"Yes, until the curtain rises," said Vaura gaily.
On the afternoon of the same day (the third) Castenelli, with a couple
of friends, also O'Gormon, on calling at the villa, heard a rumour of
the departure from the servants (who were all astir, their ladies
being out driving), the Italian p'shawed and said to his friends:
"It is not so, the beautiful Signora told me she would be at the
Duchess of Wyesdale on the night of the fourth for a concert and ball;
they leave at sunrise on the fifth." And so was content that the
servants were mistaken. Not so O'Gormon, who hearing the same story,
and knowing their intention to attend the opera went thither, and not
seeing them was for leaving, but the Wyesdale signaled him to her
side, and so off duty only at the close; saw her party to the
carriage, and throwing his toga over his evening dress, hurried to the
depot. And none too soon, Lady Esmondet was already in the coach and
Vaura about to follow, when the tall figure of the Irishman came up
hurriedly.
"Surely you are not going to leave us, Miss Vernon, and so hush our
heart-beats as we listen in vain for your footfall."
"I am, and my heart is a trifle sad, as I say so."
"And has a great gladness, or you would not make us sad by going."
"Well, yes, Sir Dennis, glad and sorry; I go home! You are Irish and
will know the feeling; one loves with one's whole heart, and one's
life, one's home and friends; one loves with passion; and for a year,
or a day, fair warm Italia, where one has met loving words and kind
hearts, and yours is one Sir Knight of Erin," she added with feeling,
as she returned his tight hand clasp.
"The last whistle, by my faith, I wish it were for me too."
And the guard locked the door and in a few minutes, miles separated
these two who had so lately spoken, Sir Dennis still staring at space,
while a new pain came to his heart.
CHAPTER XXXV.
HEART TO HEART.
We shall not accompany our friends on their home-bound journey. Time
will fly with greater speed if we relate not the talks and incidents
by the way, but simply meet them at London, whither Lady Esmondet had
telegraphed Trevalyon of their arrival. Accordingly, on their coming
in at the station at 9 p.m., on the evening of the 5th, Lionel, all
eagerness, met them.
"So kind of you to meet us, Sir Lionel," said Lady Esmondet, for
Madame Grandy was about.
"Only a pleasure, dear Lady Esmondet. Someone told me you and Miss
Vernon were due," and turning to his servant, "Here, Sims, are the
checks; get the luggage stowed safely away until to-morrow morning,
and send the maids on to Park Lane."
"Yes, sir; all right, sir."
"You look tired, poor fellow," said Vaura, sympathetically, as they
were driven to Park Lane.
"Tired, yes, waiting for you. God only knows how I have missed you,
darling."
"How about the nun you spoke of in your letter, Lionel?" inquired Lady
Esmondet, "will she aid you? What a long story you have to tell us."
"Yes, and one until lately I had will nigh forgotten, for in spite of
Dame Rumour's falseness I have not been the principal actor in it. For
to-night only does she triumph, ere, to-morrow's sun has set I hope to
be at or very near Haughton Hall with those who will lift the veil
from the past, and put in Dame Rumour's hands another version of the
scandal."
"We shall have a long evening together, Lionel; you can stay with us,
I suppose."
"Only until I see you comfortably settled, dear Lady Esmondet, in
still untangling the web of 'difficulty,'" and Vaura's hand is
pressed. "I have a twelve-mile drive in a suburban train to the
monastery of St. Sebastian."
"Nuns and monks, the _denouement_ will be interesting," said Vaura.
"Will they win, that's the question; the other hand is full of knaves
and tricks," said Lady Esmondet.
"They shall," answered Lionel, earnestly, and holding Vaura's hand, "I
hold a hand that gives me strength to win."
Park Lane is now reached, the servants are in the hall to welcome
their mistress, when the house-keeper says:
"If it will suit your ladyship, dinner will be served in twenty
minutes or half an hour."
"Say half an hour, Grimes."
"Surely you can stay and dine with us, Lionel?" said his friend.
"You know, dear Lady Alice, how much I would wish it, but I must be
off in less than half an hour."
Whereupon remembering the "Golden Rule," saying she would go and talk
with the housekeeper, and so again these two who feel such
completeness in each other, such fulness of satisfaction, such an
ecstasy of love, are alone in the sweetest of solitude, dual solitude,
and in silence, save for the deep full heart-beats.
"Let me take off your jacket, my own darling."
"I can, dear Lionel; you look too tired to do anything but rest."
But he does as he wills, the jacket of seal, and bonnet of velvet are
off, the long tan gloves laid aside, the fluffy hair is caressed, a
strong arm is about her, the perfect shaped head is again on his
chest, and the sweet mouth and warm eyes are kissed rapturously.