She wrote again on the 10th of November, 1864:--
"Here, madam, are the details I promised you about my first interview with Lord Byron. I give them to you in all their simplicity. I make no attempt at style; but simply tell unvarnished truth; for, with regard to Lord Byron, I consider truth the most important thing,--his name is the greatest ornament of the page whereon it is inscribed. I will also send you, madam, if you desire, my second and third interview with this n.o.ble, admirable man, who was so _misjudged_. To write this history is a great happiness for me; since I know that, in so doing, I render him that justice so often denied him by the envious and the wicked.
"His conduct toward me was always so beautiful and n.o.ble, that I would fain make it known to the whole world. I think they are beginning to render him the justice that is his due; everywhere now he is quoted--_Byron said this, Byron thought that_--that is what I hear continually, and many persons who formerly spoke against him, now testify in his favor.
"They say we ought not to speak evil of the dead; that is very well, but as this maxim was not observed toward Lord Byron, I also will repeat what I have heard said of his wife--I mean that the blame was hers--that her temper was so bad, her manners so harsh and disagreeable, that no one could endure her society; that she was avaricious, wicked, scolding; that people hated to wait upon her or live near her. How dared this lady to marry a man so distinguished, and then to treat him ill and tyrannically? Truly it is inconceivable. If she were charitable for the poor (as some one has pretended), she certainly wanted Christian charity. And I also am wanting in it perhaps; but, when I think of her, I lose all patience."
On announcing to Mrs. B---- the sequel of her narrative, she says:--
"It contains the history of the two days that pa.s.sed after my first interview with him whom I ever found the _n.o.blest and most generous_ of men, whose memory lives in my heart like a brilliant star amid the dark and gloomy clouds that have often surrounded me in life; it is the single ray of sunshine illumining my remembrances of the past."
Miss S---- had not forgotten a look, a word, not even the material external part of things; and when Mrs. B---- expressed her astonishment at this lively recollection,--
"All that concerned Lord Byron," said she, "has been retained by my heart. I recall his words, gestures, looks, now, as if it had all taken place yesterday. I believe this is owing to his great and beautiful qualities, such a rare a.s.semblage of which I never saw in any other human being.
"There was so much truth in all he said, so much simplicity in all he did, that every thing became indelibly engraven on heart and memory."
After having said that Lord Byron gave her the best counsels, and among others that of living with her mother ("not knowing," she adds, "to what it would expose me"), she continues:
"You say, madam, there is no cause for astonishment that I so admire and respect Lord Byron. In all he said, or advised, there was so much right reason, goodness and judgment far above his age, that one remained enthralled."
On sending the conclusion of her history to Mrs. B----, she says:--
"You who knew Lord Byron, will not be surprised that I loved him so much. But a woman does not pa.s.s through such a trial with impunity. On returning home, I threw myself on my knees and tried to pray, imploring Heaven for strength and patience. But the sound of his voice, his looks, pierced to my very heart, my soul felt torn asunder; I could not even weep. For two years and a half I was no longer myself. A man of high position offered me his hand. He would have placed me in the first society; but he wished for love, and I could only offer him friendship."
And, finally, when the reception of the concluding part of her narrative was acknowledged, she further added:--
"I am very glad that the history of my heart appears to you a precious doc.u.ment for proving the virtues of one whom I have ever looked upon as the _first of men, as well for his qualities as for his genius_."
Her last letter ends exactly as did her first:--"_Ah! there never was but one Lord Byron!_" In her narrative, which is quite as natural in style as her letters, no detail of her interviews with Lord Byron has escaped her memory.[88]
We have already seen how, in a moment of despair, the young girl, full of confidence in Lord Byron, whom she considered as one of the n.o.blest characters that ever existed, thought she might go and ask his protection. A fashionable young man, and still unmarried, the reports current about him might well lead to the belief that his house was not quite the temple of order. She was surprised on knocking timidly at his door, on explaining to the _valet-de-chambre_ who opened it, her great desire to speak to Lord Byron, to see Fletcher listen to her with a civil, compa.s.sionate air, that predisposed her in favor of his master.
He conducted her into a small room, where all Lord Byron"s servants were a.s.sembled, and there also she was greatly surprised at the order and simplicity in the establishment of the young lord.
"I never saw servants more polite and respectful," says she. "Fletcher and the coachman remained standing, only the old house-keeper kept her seat."
Miss S---- had dried her tears when admitted into Lord Byron"s presence.
"Surprise and admiration," says she, "were the first emotions I experienced on seeing him. He was only twenty-six years of age, but he looked still younger. I had been told that he was gloomy, severe, and often out of temper: _I saw, on the contrary, a most attractive physiognomy, wearing a look of charming sweetness._"
Miss S---- soon found cause to appreciate Lord Byron"s delicacy. She began by excusing herself for having come to him, saying she had taken this step in consequence of family misfortunes. She remained standing.
After some moments of silence, during which Lord Byron appeared to interrogate memory, he said:--
"Pray be seated; I will not hear another word until you are. You appear to have an independent spirit, and this step must have cost you much."
Having already partly seen the results of this interview, we refrain from giving further details here, although they are full of interest on account of the goodness, generosity, and delicacy they reveal.
Miss S---- endeavored to draw his portrait, but the pencil dropped from her hands:--
"I feel that unless I could portray his look, and repeat his words as p.r.o.nounced by him, I could not even do justice to his actions."
She does it, however in a few bold touches which, on account of their truth, we have quoted in the chapter ent.i.tled _Portrait_ of Lord Byron.
After having said that it was impossible to see finer eyes, a more beautiful expression of face, manners more graceful, hands more exquisite, or to hear such a tone of voice, she adds:--
"All that formed such an a.s.semblage of seductive qualities, that never before or since have I remarked any man who could be compared to him.
What particularly struck me was the serene, gentle dignity of his manner. Lady Blessington says, that she did not find in Lord Byron quite the dignity she had expected; but surely, then, she does not understand what dignity is? Indeed she did not understand Lord Byron at all. With me he was unaffected, amiable, and natural. The hours pa.s.sed in his society I look upon as the brightest of my life, and even now I think of them with an effusion of grat.i.tude and admiration, rather increased than diminished by time."
Lord Byron saw directly that Miss S---- had a n.o.ble nature. It must have been such; it must even have been, so to say, _incorruptible_, since she had been able to preserve her purity of soul and simplicity in the position to which she was, despite her surroundings and with such a mother. Lord Byron, seeing her so unprotected and ill-advised, took an interest in her, and instead of profiting by her isolation, resolved to save her. With virtue superior to his years, he opposed the best counsels to the more than imprudent projects of a mother who thought only of repairing her fortune by whatever means. Miss S----, attracted toward him with her whole heart and soul, begged her young and n.o.ble benefactor to come and see her, if it were only once a month. "I should be so happy, my lord, if you would sometimes grant me the favor of a visit, and guide my life," said she to him.
But Lord Byron had perceived the excited state of feeling in which the young girl was. Besides, he was betrothed, and did not wish to expose her and himself to the consequences. Honor and prudence alike counselled a refusal, and he refused.
"My dear child," answered he, "I can not. I will tell you my present position, and you will understand that I ought not: I am going to marry."
"At these words," said she, "my heart sunk within me, as if a piece of lead had fallen on my chest. At the same instant I experienced an acute pain in it. It seemed as if a chilly steel had pierced me. A horrible, indescribable sensation shook my whole frame. For some moments I could not possibly articulate a single word. Lord Byron looked at me with an expression full of interest, for indeed I must have changed countenance."
Lord Byron, already aware that his image was graven on this young heart, and might become dangerous to her, then understood still better the silent ravages that love must be making there. He pitied her more than ever, he felt the necessity of refusal and sacrifice, and, from that moment, all struggle between will and desire ceased.
He also refused, after some hesitation, to recommend her to the Duke of Devonshire.
"You are young and pretty," said he, "and that is sufficient to place any man, wishing to serve you, in a false position. You know how the world understands a young man"s friendship and interest for a young woman. No; my name must not appear in a recommendation to the duke.
Don"t think me disobliging, therefore. On the contrary, I wish you to make an appeal to Devonshire, but without naming me; I have told you my reasons for refusing to be openly your advocate."
"Another time," adds she, "I ventured to express the wish of being presented to the future Lady Byron. But he again answered by a refusal.
"Though amiable and unsuspicious," said he, "persons about Lady Byron might put jealous suspicions, devoid of foundation, into her head.""
Thus equally by what he refused her and what he granted her, he proved his great generosity, the elevation of his character, his virtuous abnegation and self-control.
Although Miss S---- was then in an humble and humiliating position, she had received a fine cla.s.sical and intellectual education from her uncle, who was a professor at Cambridge. Her natural wit, the _navete_ and sincerity of her ideas, uncontaminated by worldly knowledge, were appreciated by Lord Byron. He understood her worth, despite the difficulties that made virtue of greater merit in her, and notwithstanding appearances that were against her; and he showed interest in her conversation during the different interviews she obtained from him. He talked to her of literature, the news of the day; and even had the goodness to read with indulgence and approbation the verses she had composed. One day, among others, she had the happiness of remaining with him till a late hour, and when his carriage was announced, to take him to a _soiree_, he had her conducted home in the same carriage.
"Oh! how delightful that evening was to me," says she. "Lord Byron"s abode at the Albany recalled some collegiate dwelling, so perfectly quiet was it, though situated at the West End, the noisiest quarter of the metropolis. His conversation so varied and delightful, the purity of his English, his refined p.r.o.nunciation, all offered such a contrast even with the most distinguished men I had had the good fortune to meet, that I really learned what happiness was."
These conversations afforded her the opportunity of knowing and admiring him still more. In conversing on literature, she was able to appreciate his modesty by the praises he lavished on the talents of others, and by the slight importance he attached to his own; and also his love of truth when, _a propos_ of some book of travels she was praising, he told her that he preferred a simple but true tale of voyages to all the pomp of lies. In speaking about an adventure in high life that was then making a great noise in England, she was able to appreciate his high sentiments of delicacy and honor. When the conversation fell on religion, she had the happiness of hearing him declare he abhorred atheism and unbelief; and when his childhood was touched upon, of hearing him say that it had been pleasant and happy. Finally, when she asked his advice with regard to her future conduct, he displayed, at twenty-six years of age, the wisdom that seldom comes before the advent of gray hairs. In short, by word and by action, he manifested that n.o.bleness of soul which always unveiled itself to pure open natures, but which closed against artificial ones; and which makes Miss S---- say at the beginning as well as at the end of her account:--"There has been but one Byron on earth: how could I not love him?"
But it is especially on account of the great love she felt for him, on going over it, reflecting, comparing the depth of feelings she had been unable to hide from him, with the conduct of this young man of twenty-six, who drew from duty alone a degree of strength superior to his age and s.e.x, that she expressed herself thus. She can still see his looks of tenderness; she can judge what the struggle was, the combat that was going on in him as soft and stern glances chased each other; at length she sees honor gain the victory, and remain triumphant.
It is this spectacle of such great moral beauty, still before her eyes, that can be so well appreciated after the lapse of long years, and which justifies the words that begin and close her recital by divesting it of all semblance of exaggeration:--"There has been but one Byron!"
When we have known such beings, admiration and love outlive all else.
And while the causes that may have led to transient emotions in a long career--an error, a fault--pa.s.s away and are forgotten like some beautiful vision, these glorious remembrances, these more than human images, tower above, living and radiant, in memory, and even come to visit us in our dreams, sometimes to reproach us with our useless and imprudent doubts, ever to sustain us amid the sadnesses of life; and if the love has been reciprocal, then to console us with the prospect of another life, in that blessed abode where we shall meet again forever.
After this long narrative, it would be useless and perhaps wearisome for the reader if we quoted many other similar facts in Lord Byron"s life.
They might differ in circ.u.mstances, but would all wear the same moral character.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 87: She had dedicated to him a small collection of poems, which she sent to Pisa, in 1821, with a letter, _to which she received no answer_.]