"That!" exclaimed John Effingham, his voice sounding harsh and unnatural to the listener,--"that picture like _your_ mother!"
"It is her miniature--_the_ miniature that was transmitted to me, from those who had charge of my childhood. I cannot be mistaken as to the countenance, or the dress."
"And your father"s name was a.s.sheton?"
"Certainly--John a.s.sheton, of the a.s.shetons of Pennsylvania."
John Effingham groaned aloud; when Paul stepped back equally shocked and surprised, he saw that the face of his friend was almost livid, and that the hand which held the picture shook like the aspen.
"Are you unwell, dear Mr. Effingham?"
"No--no--"tis impossible! This lady never had a child. Powis, you have been deceived by some fancied, or some real resemblance. This picture is mine, and has not been out of my possession these five and twenty years."
"Pardon me, sir, it is the picture of my mother, and no other; the very picture lost in the Montauk."
The gaze that John Effingham cast upon the young man was ghastly; and Paul was about to ring the bell, but a gesture of denial prevented him.
"See," said John Effingham, hoa.r.s.ely, as he touched a spring in the setting, and exposed to view the initials of two names interwoven with hair--"is this, too, yours?"
Paul looked surprised and disappointed.
"That certainly settles the question; my miniature had no such addition; and yet I believe that sweet and pensive countenance to be the face of my own beloved mother, and of no one else."
John Effingham struggled to appear calm; and, replacing the pictures, he took the key from the dressing case, and, opening the bureau, he took out the secretary. This he signed for Powis, who had the key, to open; throwing himself into a chair, though every thing was done mechanically, as if his mind and body had little or no connection with each other.
"Some accidental resemblance has deceived you as to the miniature,"
he said, while Paul was looking for the proper number among the letters of Mr. Monday. "No--no--that _cannot_ be the picture of your mother. She left no child. a.s.sheton did you say, was the name of your father?"
"a.s.sheton--John a.s.sheton--about that, at least, there can have been no mistake. This is the num her at which we left off--will you, sir, or shall I, read?"
The other made a sign for Paul to read; looking, at the same time, as if it were impossible for him to discharge that duty himself.
"This is a letter from the woman who appears to have been entrusted with the child, to the man Dowse," said Paul, first glancing his eyes over the page,--"it appears to be little else but gossip--ha!--what is this, I see?"
John Effingham raised himself in his chair, and he sat gazing at Paul, as one gazes who expects some extraordinary developement, though of what nature he knew not.
"This is a singular pa.s.sage," Paul continued--"so much so as to need elucidation. "I have taken the child with me to get the picture from the jeweller, who has mended the ring, and the little urchin knew it at a glance.""
"What is there remarkable in that? Others beside ourselves have had pictures;-and this child knows its own better than you."
"Mr. Effingham, such a thing occurred to myself! It is one of those early events of which I still retain, have ever retained, a vivid recollection. Though little more than an infant at the time, well do I recollect to have been taken in this manner to a jeweller"s, and the delight I felt at recovering my mother"s picture, that which is now lost, after it had not been seen for a month or two."
"Paul Blunt--Powis--a.s.sheton "--said John Effingham, speaking so hoa.r.s.ely as to be nearly unintelligible, "remain here a few minutes-- I will rejoin you."
John Effingham arose, and, notwithstanding he rallied all his powers, it was with extreme difficulty he succeeded in reaching the door, steadily rejecting the offered a.s.sistance of Paul, who was at a loss what to think of so much agitation in a man usually so self-possessed and tranquil. When out of the room, John Effingham did better, and he proceeded to the library, followed by his own man, whom he had ordered to accompany him with a light.
"Desire Captain Ducie to give me the favour of his company for a moment," he then said, motioning to the servant to withdraw. "You will not be needed any longer."
It was but a minute before Captain Ducie stood before him. This gentleman was instantly struck with the pallid look, and general agitation of the person he had come to meet, and he expressed an apprehension that he was suddenly taken ill. But a motion of the hand forbade his touching the bell-cord, and he waited in silent wonder at the scene which he had been so unexpectedly called to witness.
"A gla.s.s of that water, if you please, Captain Ducie," said John Effingham, endeavouring to smile with gentleman-like courtesy, as he made the request, though the effort, caused his countenance to appear ghastly again. A little recovered by this beverage, he said more steadily--
"You are the cousin of Powis, Captain Ducie."
"We are sisters" children, sir."
"And your mother is"
"Lady Dunluce--a peeress in her own right."
"But, what--her family name?"
"Her own family name has been sunk in that of my father, the Ducies claiming to be as old and as honourable a family, as that from which my mother inherits her rank. Indeed the Dunluce barony has gone through so many names, by means of females, that I believe there is no intention to revive the original appellation of the family which was first summoned."
"You mistake, me--your mother--when she married--was--"
"Miss Warrender."
"I thank you, sir, and will trouble you no longer," returned John Effingham, rising and struggling to make his manner second the courtesy of his words--"I have troubled you, abruptly--incoherently I fear--your arm--"
Captain Ducie stepped hastily forward, and was just in time to prevent the other from falling senseless on the floor, by receiving him in his own arms.
Chapter XXVII.
"What"s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, That he should weep for her."
HAMLET.
The next morning, Paul and Eve were alone in that library which had long been the scene of the confidential communications of the Effingham family. Eve had been weeping, nor were Paul"s eyes entirely free from the signs of his having given way to strong sensations.
Still happiness beamed in the countenance of each, and the timid but affectionate glances with which our heroine returned the fond, admiring look of her lover, were any thing but distrustful of their future felicity. Her hand was in his, and it was often raised to his lips, as they pursued the conversation.
"This is so wonderful," exclaimed Eve, after one of the frequent musing pauses in which both indulged "that I can scarcely believe myself awake. That you Blunt, Powis, a.s.sheton, should, after all, prove an Effingham!
"And I, who have so long thought myself an orphan, should find a living father, and he a man like Mr. John Effingham!"
I have long thought that something heavy lay at the honest heart of cousin Jack--you will excuse me Powis, but I shall need time to learn to call him by a name of greater respect."
"Call him always so, love, for I am certain it would pain him to meet with any change in you. He _is_ your cousin Jack"
"Nay, he may some day unexpectedly become _my_ father too, as he has so wonderfully become yours," rejoined Eve, glancing archly at the glowing face of the delighted young man; "and then cousin Jack might prove too familiar and disrespectful a term."
"So much stronger does your claim to him appear than mine, that I think, when that blessed day shall arrive, Eve, it will convert him into _my_ cousin Jack, instead of your father. But call _him_ as you may, why do you still insist on calling _me_ Powis?"
"That name will ever be precious in my eyes! You abridge me of my rights, in denying me a change of name. Half the young ladies of the country marry for the novelty of being called Mrs. Somebody else, instead of the Misses they were, while I am condemned to remain Eve Effingham for life."
"If you object to the appellation, I can continue to call myself Powis. This has been done so long now as almost to legalize the act."