Inez.
by Augusta J. Evans.
CHAPTER I.
"But O, th" important budget!
Who can say what are its tidings?"
COWPER.
"There is the bell for prayers, Florry; are you ready?" said Mary Irving, hastily entering her cousin"s room at the large boarding-school of Madame ----.
"Yes; I rose earlier than usual this morning, have solved two problems, and translated nearly half a page of Telemaque."
"I congratulate you on your increased industry and application, though you were always more studious than myself. I wish, dear Florry, you could imbue me with some of your fondness for metaphysics and mathematics," Mary replied, with a low sigh.
A momentary flush pa.s.sed over the face of her companion, and they descended the stairs in silence. The room in which the pupils were accustomed to a.s.semble for devotion was not so s.p.a.cious as the cla.s.s-room, yet sufficiently so to look gloomy enough in the gray light of a drizzling morn. The floor was covered with a faded carpet, in which the indistinct vine seemed struggling to reach the wall, but failed by several feet on either side. As if to conceal this deficiency, a wide seat was affixed the entire length of the room, so high
"That the feet hung dangling down, Anxious in vain to find the distant floor."
There were no curtains to the windows, and the rain pattered drearily down the panes.
The teacher who officiated as chaplain was seated before a large desk, on which lay an open Bible. He seemed about twenty-four, his countenance n.o.ble rather than handsome, if I may make so delicate a distinction. Intelligence of the first order was stamped upon it, yet the characteristic expression was pride which sat enthroned on his prominent brow; still, hours of care had left their impress, and the face was very grave, though by no means stern. His eye was fixed on the door as the pupils came in, one by one, for prayers, and when Florence and Mary entered, it sunk upon his book, In a few moments he rose, and, standing with one arm folded across his bosom, read in a deep, distinct tone, that beautiful Psalm, "The Lord is my shepherd."
He had only reached the fourth verse, when he was interrupted by two girls of twelve or fourteen, who had been conversing from the moment of their entrance. The tones grew louder and louder, and now the words were very audible:
"My father did not send me here to come to prayers, and Madame has no right to make us get up before day to hear him read his Bible!"
Many who coincided with them t.i.ttered, others stared in silence, while Florence"s lip curled, and Mary looked sorrowingly, pityingly upon them--hers was the expression with which the angel mult.i.tudes of Heaven regard their erring brethren here. The chaplain turned toward them, and said, in a grave yet gentle voice, "My little friends, I am afraid you did not kneel beside your bed this morning, and ask G.o.d to keep your hearts from sinful thoughts, and enable you to perform all your duties in a humble, gentle spirit. In your present temper, were I to read the entire book instead of one Psalm, I fear you would receive no benefit."
The girls were awed more by the tone than words, and sat silent and abashed. The reading was concluded, and then he offered up a prayer earnest and heartfelt. Instead of leaving the room immediately, the pupils waited as for something, and taking a bundle of letters from the desk, their tutor distributed them as the direction indicated.
"My budget is not so large as usual, and I regret it for your sakes, as I fear some are disappointed. Miss Hamilton, here are two for you;"
and he handed them to her without looking up.
"Two for Florry, and none for me?" asked Mary, while her voice slightly trembled. He was leaving the room, but turned toward her.
"I am very sorry, Miss Mary, but hope you will find a comforting message in your cousin"s."
Gently he spoke, yet his eyes rested on Florence the while, and, with a suppressed sigh, he pa.s.sed on. "Come to my room, Mary; it is strange the letters are postmarked the same day." And while she solves the mystery, let us glance at her former history.
CHAPTER II.
"Calm on the bosom of thy G.o.d, Fair spirit! rest thee now!
Ev"n while with us thy footsteps trod, His seal was on thy brow."
HEMANS.
Florence Hamilton had but attained her fourth year when she was left the only solace of her widowed father. Even after the lapse of long years, faint, yet sweet recollections of her lost parent stole, in saddened hours, over her spirit, and often, in dreams, a face of angelic beauty hovered around, and smiled upon her.
Unfortunately, Florence proved totally unlike her sainted mother, both in personal appearance and cast of character. Mr. Hamilton was a cold, proud man of the world; one who, having lived from his birth in affluence, regarded with a haughty eye all who, without the advantages of rank or wealth, strove to attain a position equal to his own.
Intelligence, n.o.bility of soul, unsullied character, weighed not an atom against the counterpoise of birth and family. He enjoyed in youth advantages rare for the unsettled times in which he lived; he tasted all that France and Italy could offer; and returned _blase_ at twenty-seven to his home in one of the Southern States. Attracted by the brilliant fortune of an orphan heiress, he won and married her; but love, such as her pure, gentle spirit sought, dwelt not in his stern, selfish heart. All of affection he had to bestow was lavished on his only sister, who had married during his absence.
His angel wife drooped in the sterile soil to which she was transplanted, and, when Florence was about four years old, sunk into a quiet grave.
Perhaps when he stood with his infant daughter beside the newly-raised mound, and missed the gentle being who had endeavored so strenuously to make his home happy, and to win for herself a place in his heart, one tear might have moistened the cold, searching eyes that for years had known no such softening tendency. "Perhaps," I say; but to conjecture of thee, oh Man! is fruitless indeed.
As well as such a nature could, he loved his child, and considered himself extremely magnanimous in casting aside all thought of a second marriage, and devoting his leisure moments to the formation of her character, and direction of her education.
Florence inherited her father"s haughty temperament without his sordid selfishness, and what may seem incompatible with the former, a glowing imagination in connection with fine mental powers. To all but Mr.
Hamilton she appeared as cold and impenetrable as himself; but the flashing eye and curling lip with which she listened to a tale of injustice, or viewed a dishonorable act, indicated a nature truly n.o.ble. Two master pa.s.sions ruled her heart--love for her parent, and fondness for books. Idolized by the household, it was not strange that she soon learned to consider herself the most important member of it.
Mr. Hamilton found that it was essential for the proper regulation of his establishment that some lady should preside over its various departments, and accordingly invited the maiden sister of his late wife to make his house her home, and take charge of his numerous domestics.
Of his daughter he said nothing. Aunt Lizzy, as she was called, was an amiable, good woman, but not sufficiently intellectual to superintend Florry"s education. That little individual looked at first with distrustful eyes on one who, she supposed, might abridge her numerous privileges; but the affectionate manner of the kind-hearted aunt removed all fear, and she soon spoke and moved with the freedom which had characterized her solitude.
One day, when Florence was about nine years old, her father entered the library, where she sat intently reading, and said,
"Florence, come here, I have something to tell you."
"Something to tell me! I hope it is pleasant;" and she laid her hand on his knee, and looked inquiringly in his face.
"You remember the cousin Mary, whose father died not long ago? Well, she has lost her mother too, and is coming to live with us." As he spoke, his voice faltered, and his proud curling lip quivered, yet he gave no other evidence of the deepest grief he had known for many years.
"She will be here this evening, and I hope you will try to make her contented." With these words he was leaving the room, but Florence said,
"Father, is she to stay with us always, and will she sleep in my room, with me?"
"She will live with us as long as she likes, and, if you prefer it, can occupy the same room."
The day wore on, and evening found her on the steps, looking earnestly down the avenue for the approach of the little stranger.
At length a heavy carriage drove to the door, and Florry leaned forward to catch a glimpse of the inmate"s face. A slight form, clad in deep mourning, was placed on the piazza by the coachman.
Mr. Hamilton shook her hand kindly, and, after a few words of welcome, said,
"Here is your cousin Florence, Mary. I hope you will love each other, and be happy, good little girls." Mary looked almost fearfully at her proud young cousin, but the sight of her own pale, tearful face touched Florry"s heart, and she threw her arms round her neck and kissed her. The embrace was unexpected, and Mary wept bitterly.
"Florence, why don"t you take Mary to her room?"
"Would you like to go up-stairs, cousin?"
"Oh yes! if you please, I had much rather." And taking her basket from her hand, Florry led the way.
Mary took off her bonnet, and turned to look again at her cousin.