Valerie Part 24

"Indeed!" exclaimed Mrs Bradshaw.

"Yes."

"Well, that alters the case; but still, why did she leave in this strange way?"

"I presume the gentleman did not think it right that she should marry out of a young ladies' establishment, madam."

"Very true: I did not think of that."

"After all, what is it? Your French teacher is married--surely that will not injure your establishment?"

"No, certainly--why should it?--but the news came upon me so abruptly, that it quite upset me. I will lie down a little, and my head will soon be better."

Time went on; so did the school. Miss Adele, that was, sent no wedding-cake, much to the astonishment of the young ladies; and it was not till nearly three weeks afterwards that I had a letter from Adele Chabot, now Mrs Jervis. But, before I give the letter to my readers, I must state, that Mr Selwyn, junior, had called upon me the day before Caroline went to school, and had had a long conversation with her, while I went out to speak with Madame Gironac on business: further, that Mr Selwyn, junior, called upon me a few days afterwards, and after a little common-place conversation, _a l'anglaise_, about the weather, he asked after Miss Caroline Stanhope, and then asked many questions. As I knew what he wished, I made to him a full statement of her position, and the unpleasant predicament in which she was placed. I also stated my conviction that she was not likely to make a happy match, if her husband were selected by her father and mother; and how much I regretted it, as she was a very amiable, kind-hearted girl, who would make an excellent wife to anyone deserving of her. He thought so, too, and professed great admiration of her; and having, as he thought, pumped me sufficiently, he took his leave.

A few days afterwards, he came upon some pretended message from his father, and then I told him that she was to be removed in October. This appeared to distress him; but he did not forget to pull out of his pocket a piece of music, sealed up, telling me that, by mistake, Caroline had left two pieces of music at Kew, and had taken away one belonging to his sister Mary; that he returned one, but the other was mislaid, and would be returned as soon as it was found; and would I oblige him so far as to request Miss Stanhope to send him the piece of music belonging to his sister, if she could lay her hand upon it?

"Well, I will do your bidding, Mr Selwyn," replied I; "it is a very proper message for a music-mistress to take; and I will also bring back your sister's music, when Caroline gives it me, and you can call here for it. If I am out, you can ask Madame Gironac to give it to you."

Upon which, with many thanks and much grat.i.tude for my kindness, Mr Selwyn withdrew.

Having made all this known to the reader, he shall now have the contents of Adele's letter.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

We must now read Adele's letter.

"My dear Valerie,--The die is cast, and I have now a most difficult game to play. I have risked all upon it, and the happiness of my future life is at stake. But let me narrate what has pa.s.sed since I made you my confidante. Of course, you must know the day on which I was missing.

On that day I walked out with him, and we were in a few minutes joined by a friend of his, whom he introduced as Major Argat. After proceeding about one hundred yards farther we arrived at a chapel, the doors of which were open, and the verger looking out, evidently expecting somebody.

"'My dear angel,' said the Colonel, 'I have the licence in my pocket; I have requested the clergyman to attend, he is now in the chapel, and all is ready. My friend will be a witness, and there are others in attendance. You have said that you love me, trust yourself to me.

Prove now that you are sincere, and consent at once that our hands as well as our hearts be united.'

"Oh! how I trembled. I could not speak. The words died away upon my lips. I looked at him imploringly. He led me gently, for my resistance was more in manner than in effect, and I found myself within the chapel, the verger bowing as he preceded us, and the clergyman waiting at the altar. To retreat appeared impossible; indeed I hardly felt as if I wished it, but my feelings were so excited that I burst into tears.

What the clergyman may have thought of my conduct, and my being dressed so little like a bride, I know not, but the Colonel handed the licence to his friend, who took it to the clergyman while I was recovering myself. At last we went up to the altar, my head swam, and I hardly knew what was said, but I repeated the responses, and I was--a wife.

When the ceremony was over, and I was attempting to rise from my knees, I fell, and was carried by the Colonel into the vestry, where I remained on a chair trembling with fear. After a time, the colonel asked me if I was well enough to sign my name to the marriage register, and he put the pen in my hand. I could not see where to sign, my eyes were swimming with tears. The clergyman guided my hand to the place, and I wrote Adele Chabot. The knowledge what the effect of this signature might possibly have upon my husband quite overcame me, and I sank my head down upon my hands upon the table.

"'I will send for a gla.s.s of water, sir,' said the clergyman leaving the vestry to call the verger, or clerk, 'the lady is fainting.'

"After he went out, I heard the Colonel and his friend speaking in low tones apart. Probably they thought that I was not in a condition to pay attention to them,--but I had too much at stake.

"'Yes,' replied the Colonel, 'she has signed, as you say, but she hardly knows what she is about. Depend upon it, it is as I told you.'

"I did not hear the Major's reply, but I did what the Colonel said.

"'It's all the better; the marriage will not be legal, and I can bring the parents to my own terms.'

"All doubt was now at an end. He had married me convinced, and still convinced that I was Caroline Stanhope, and not Adele Chabot, and he had married me supposing that I was an heiress. My blood ran cold, and in a few seconds I was senseless, and should have fallen under the table had they not perceived that I was sinking, and ran to my support. The arrival of the clergyman with the water recovered me. My husband whispered to me that it was time to go, and that a carriage was at the door. I do not recollect how I left the church; the motion of the carriage first roused me up, and a flood of tears came to my relief.

How strange is it, Valerie, that we should be _so_ courageous and such cowards at the same time. Would you believe when I had collected myself, with a certain knowledge that my husband had deceived himself--a full conviction of the danger of my position when he found out his mistake, and that my future happiness was at stake--I felt glad that the deed was done, and would not have been unmarried again for the universe.

As I became more composed, I felt that it was time to act. I wiped away my tears and said, as I smiled upon my husband, who held my hand in his, 'I know that I have behaved very ill, and very foolishly, but I was so taken by surprise.'

"'Do you think that I love you the less for showing so much feeling, my dearest?' he replied, 'no, no, it only makes you still more dear to me, as it convinces me what a sacrifice you have made for my sake.'

"Now, Valerie, could there be a prettier speech, or one so apparently sincere, from a newly-married man to his bride, and yet recollect what he said to his friend not a quarter of an hour before, about having my parents in his power by the marriage not being legal? I really am inclined to believe that we have two souls, a good and an evil one, continually striving for the mastery; one for this world, and the other for the next, and that the evil one will permit the good one to have its influence, provided that at the same time it has its own or an equal share in the direction of us. For instance, I believe the colonel was sincere in what he said, and really does love me, supposing me to be Caroline Stanhope, with the mundane advantages to be gained by the marriage, and that these better feelings of humanity are allowed to be exercised, and not interfered with by the adverse party, who is satisfied with its own Mammon share. But the struggle is to come when the evil spirit finds itself defrauded of its portion, and then attempts to destroy the influence of the good. He does love me now, and would have continued to love me, if disappointment will not tear up his still slightly-rooted affections. Now comes my task to cherish and protect it, till it has taken firm root, and all that woman can do shall be done. I felt that all that I required was time.

"'Where are we going?' said I.

"'About twenty miles from London,' replied my husband, 'after which, that is to-morrow, you shall decide upon our future plans.'

"'I care not where,' replied I, 'with you place is indifferent, only do not refuse me the first favour that I request of you.'

"'Depend upon it I will not,' replied he.

"'It is this, dearest, take me where you will, but let it be three months before we return or come near London. You must feel my reason for making this request.'

"'I grant it with pleasure,' replied he, 'for three months I am yours, and yours only. We will live for one another.'

"'Yes, and never let us mention any thing about future prospects, but devote the three months to each other.'

"'I understand you,' replied the colonel, 'and I promise you it shall be so. I will have no correspondence even--there shall be nothing to annoy you or vex you in any way.'

"'For three months,' said I, extending my hand.

"'Agreed,' said he, 'and to tell you the truth, it would have been my own feeling, had it not been yours. When you strike iron, you should do it when it is hot, but when you have to handle it, you had better wait till it is cool; you understand me, and now the subject is dropped.'

"My husband has adhered most religiously to his word up to the present time, as you will see by the date of this letter. We are now visiting the lakes of c.u.mberland. Never could a spot be better situated for the furtherance of my wishes. The calm repose and silent beauty of these waters must be reflected upon the mind of any one of feeling, which the colonel certainly does not want, and when you consider that I am exerting all the art which poor woman has to please, I do hope and pray to heaven that I may succeed in entwining myself round his heart before his worldly views are destroyed by disappointment. Pray for me, dear Valerie--pray for one who loves you dearly, and who feels that the whole happiness of her life is at stake.--Yours,--

"Adele."

"So far all goes well, my dear Adele," thought I, "but we have yet to see the end. I will pray for you with all my heart, for you deserve to be happy, and none can be more fascinating than you, when you exert yourself. What is it in women that I do not feel which makes them so mad after the other s.e.x? Instinct, certainly, for reason is against it.

Well, I have no objection to help others to commit the folly, provided that I am not led into it myself." Such were my reflections, as I closed the letter from Adele.

A few days afterwards I received a note from Mr Selwyn, junior, informing me that his father had been made a puisne judge. What that was I did not know, except that he was a judge on the bench, of some kind. He also stated his intention of calling upon me on the next day.

"Yes," thought I, "to receive the music from Caroline. Of course, she will return it to me when I give her a lesson to-day."

I was right in my supposition. Caroline brought me a piece of music with a note, saying, "Here is the music belonging to Miss Selwyn, Valerie; will you take an opportunity of returning it to her? Any time will do; I presume she is in no hurry," and Caroline coloured up, when her eyes met mine.

"To punish her," I replied, "Oh, no, there can be no hurry; I shall be down at Kew in a fortnight or three weeks, I will take it with me then."

"But my note, thanking Mr Selwyn, will be of very long date," replied Caroline, "and I want the other piece of music belonging to me which I left at Kew."

"Well, Caroline, you cannot expect me to be carrying your messages and going to the chambers of a handsome young Chancery-barrister.

By-the-bye, I had a note from him this morning, telling me that his father is advanced to the bench. What does that mean?"

"That his father is made a judge. Is that all he said?" replied Caroline, carelessly.