"Serious and thoughtful was her mind, Yet by reconcilement exquisite and rare."
All this taken together, and I might perhaps have conceded to the supposition and replied,
"She was not fair nor beautiful-- Those words express her not."
Mary had never hitherto been much considered in the family, as far as good looks were concerned. The mountain breezes which had dyed with such brilliant bloom her sisters" cheeks, had failed to chase the clear paleness of her own complexion; and therefore those around her who adhered to the usual vulgar idea of beauty, had never thought of giving her equality in that respect,--with the exception perhaps of the good Baronet, who on the principle of "loving others different to oneself,"
had first coveted the pale violet above the brighter flowers of the family, as in pleasing contrast to his own ruddy hues,--and by him whose refined perception had, as we know long since, discerned and singled out the pearl of great price from the more glittering jewels of the sisterhood.
But as we see her standing before us at this moment, in her delicately tinted attire, watching with a quiet smile of admiring interest the pretty children, who have bounded away together a little in advance--or lifting up her eyes toward the blue sky above, seeming to drink in with a pure and lively sense of rapture, the delight of that most beautiful of summer mornings--
"A morn for life in its most subtle luxury."
Standing thus, unconscious that human eye was upon her, to have seen her with that glow of youth and hope, and innocent intellectual enjoyment kindling her cheek, few could have looked coldly upon her, and said or thought "she was not fair or beautiful."
Very fair at least she seemed to him, who from an upper chamber window thrown open to cool the fever of his brow, looked down upon this morning scene, and dwelt upon that living object, pleasant and alluring to the thirsting of his heart--the thirsting for that something, purer, holier than his own nature could supply--which sometimes springs up within the soul of him who has wandered farthest from the paths of innocency and peace.
Mary was talking to her cousin Louis, who first joined her on the lawn, when Mrs. de Burgh and Eugene Trevor made their appearance. The latter congratulated Mary when they sat down to breakfast, on her having apparently so completely recovered from her last night"s fatigue, and mentioned his having seen her in the garden from his window.
She blushed, and said she had been making acquaintance with the dear little children, whose praises she then rung upon the father and mother"s ears. Mr. de Burgh looked delighted, and quite agreed upon the subject, his lady said more carelessly: "They were nice little monkeys; the girl good-looking enough, but getting to that dreadful age when she would require teaching; the boy a puny little fellow, who should be at the sea if everything was done for him that ought to be done."
Whereupon, Mr. de Burgh, who took this remark--probably as it was intended to be--as a reflection upon his own backwardness in forwarding that arrangement, began an a.s.surance, in way of defence, of Doctor somebody"s preference of his native country"s air to that of the seaside; adding, that it would do the boy much more good to have that long hair cut off which was exhausting all his strength. Mrs. de Burgh declared that he was welcome to have it cut off, for what she cared, for he knew she never interfered in any of his whims, however absurd they might be.
And so it went on for a short time, till Mary began to wonder if every repast was to be seasoned by such agreeable accompaniments, as the bickerings of this and the preceding conversations. But Eugene Trevor, who seemed to be accustomed to this sort of thing, managed, laughingly, to divert the conversation from this exciting topic, and peace was accordingly restored during the remainder of the meal.
But how wonderful it was to Mary, that those two beings, whom nature, as well as fortune, seemed to have crowned with every blessing their bounty can bestow to make this world a paradise--health, beauty, talents, on the one hand; wealth, station, princely possessions on the other--should awaken in her mind feelings of pain and compa.s.sion, rather than envy or admiration--as apparently lacking in so lamentable a degree, that first great ingredient in the cup of life--_love_.
How had this come to pa.s.s--how had the precious drop been banished from the draught they were about so joyously to quaff, and which seemed to sparkle with such glittering l.u.s.tre when she had seen them last?
Yet the same changeless heaven was above their heads--and earth should have been to them a still more thornless paradise.
Alas! Mary had not learnt to see by sad experience, how often this is the case with hearts that have once loved with--it might have seemed undying fervour; affection frittered irreclaimably away in the caprice and wantonness of unbroken prosperity,
"Hearts that the world in vain had tried, And sorrow but more closely tied.
Who stood the storms when waves were rough, Yet in a sunny hour fall off, Like ships which have gone down at sea, When heaven was all serenity."
Soon after breakfast Mary went up stairs to write to her aunt and uncle, then returned and sat with Mrs. de Burgh till luncheon time, when the gentlemen rejoined them, and after that they all went out together--that is to say Mr. Trevor and the two ladies, for Mr. de Burgh soon left the party, to follow his own business and pursuits.
They visited the garden, the green-houses, strolled through some of the most shady and picturesque parts of the grounds, conversing pleasantly the while; and then, rather wearied by their exertions, were about to place themselves on a seat, beneath the cool shadow of some magnificent trees, not far from the house, when a servant was seen approaching to inform Mrs. de Burgh that visitors were in the drawing-room; the Countess of Patterdale, and the Ladies Marchmont.
Mrs. de Burgh made a gesture expressive of distaste at this disturbance, but walked towards the house. Mary did not think it inc.u.mbent upon her to volunteer her a.s.sistance in the entertainment of these strangers, so remained behind; and a few moments after, she saw Eugene Trevor, who had accompanied his cousin across the lawn, coming back to rejoin her.
"You see I have followed your example, Miss Seaham," he said, sitting down beside her, "and have made my escape. Life is too short, in my opinion, for mortals to be shut up in a room this hot afternoon, making themselves agreeable to three fashionable fine ladies."
"But it is rather hard upon Olivia," Mary said, with a smile.
"Oh, not at all. She is quite equal to the task. A match for all the fine ladies in the land--are you?"
"Oh, no!" Mary answered laughing, "not at all; I have had so little experience in that way."
"Ah, well! Olivia is quite in her element amongst them; her real delight is a London season, where she can play that part to perfection: unfortunately de Burgh"s inclinations do not tend that way, particularly now that he has this improving mania upon him."
"It is unfortunate that their tastes in this respect do not agree," Mary rejoined.
"Very unfortunate," he repeated, regarding his companion with the marked interest and attention her simplest expressions or observation seemed to inspire; a peculiarity which, as it had in earlier years excited her wonder, now made as strong though somewhat more undefined impression on her feelings.
The effect it produced was, however, far from being one to embarra.s.s or constrain--on the contrary, there almost might have seemed to be some soothing power--some magnetic influence in this "serious inclination" on the part of Eugene Trevor; for never, with a less unreserved and uncommunicative companion, had she felt more at ease; had her own thoughts and feelings been drawn forth with such freedom and unconstraint. And a calm and pleasant conversation had been carried on between them for nearly three-quarters of an hour before Mrs. de Burgh reappeared, complaining of the length of time her visitors had remained.
Mary did not say anything, though it seemed to her that the complaint was somewhat unreasonable; but Eugene Trevor scrupled not to declare, that he never knew these people pay so short a visit before.
"Ah, it is very well for you to say so, and Mary to think the same,"
Mrs. de Burgh said, looking rather curiously from one to the other. "You two sitting here so comfortably; but it was very cruel of you both to let me have the whole burden, you Eugene should really have come and taken the Ladies Marchmont off my hands. I had a good mind to bring them out here, just to spite you."
"I am glad you did not," said Eugene Trevor, "or I should have been obliged to run away, as it is necessary that I should do now, my dog-cart having been waiting for me, I believe, more than an hour in the yard."
"What! are you really going?" exclaimed Mrs. de Burgh.
"Yes, my father will fidget himself to death if I do not arrive," was the reply.
"Well, come again as soon as you can."
"Oh yes, you may rely upon that. Good bye," and shaking hands with Mary and his cousin, he left them, and was soon driving rapidly through the park.
"You will find it very dull I am afraid, Mary," Mrs. de Burgh said, as, having watched this departure, she turned slowly to re-enter the house; "but I hope we shall have some people to-morrow."
Mary earnestly deprecated such an idea, and with the utmost sincerity.
She felt perfectly contented and happy all that evening, particularly as there was very tolerable harmony kept up between her cousins.
Mr. de Burgh inquired at dinner, though with no great interest "what had become of Trevor?" Mrs. de Burgh answered that he had been obliged to go home to his father who seemed to be in one of those fidgetty moods, when he could not bear to be left alone; and Mary asked very simply if he had no other child?
"Yes--no--that is to say," hesitated Mrs. de Burgh, looking at her husband, "one son died a few years ago."
"And the other--" proceeded Mr. de Burgh, as his wife did not carry on the reply--but some authoritative look or sign from Mrs. de Burgh which he seemed to have received, interrupted his intended information, and only murmuring "Nonsense!" he was silent on the subject.
"I must drive you over to Montrevor, some day," said Mrs. de Burgh, addressing Mary; "the place is well worth seeing."
"I don"t agree in that at all," Mr. de Burgh remarked testily--"at least, not worth knocking up the ponies by so long a drive. What should you take Mary there for? The old man will not greatly appreciate the visit, and I do not think there is any other consideration to make it a desirable excursion."
Mrs. de Burgh shrugged her shoulders; but as if it was not a subject she wished brought under discussion, she allowed it to drop for the present.
CHAPTER IX.
You first called my woman"s feelings forth, And taught me love, ere I had dreamed love"s name-- I loved unconsciously....
At last I learned my heart"s deep secret.