It was thus, boyishly, that Mr. Fox chose to take me into his confidence, an honour which I shall remember with a thrill to my dying day. So did he reveal to me the impulses of his early life, hidden forever from his detractors. How little does the censure of this world count, which cannot see the heart behind the embroidered waistcoat! When Charles Fox began his career he was a thoughtless lad, but steadfast to such principles as he had formed for himself. They were not many, but, compared to those of the arena which he entered, they were n.o.ble. He strove to serve his friends, to lift the name of a father from whom he had received nothing but kindness, however misguided. And when he saw at length the error of his ways, what a mighty blow did he strike for the right!
"Here is a man," said Dr. Johnson, many years afterwards, "who has divided his kingdom with Caesar; so that it was a doubt whether the nation should be ruled by the sceptre of George the Third or the tongue of Fox."
CHAPTER XL. VAUXHALL
Matters had come to a pretty pickle indeed. I was openly warned at Brooks"s and elsewhere to beware of the duke, who was said upon various authority to be sulking in Hanover Square, his rage all the more dangerous because it was smouldering. I saw Dolly only casually before the party to Vauxhall. Needless to say, she flew in the face of Dr.
James"s authority, and went everywhere. She was at Lady Bunbury"s drum, whither I had gone in another fruitless chase after Mr. Marmaduke.
Dr. Warner"s verse was the laughter of the company. And, greatly to my annoyance,--in the circ.u.mstances,--I was made a hero of, and showered with three times as many invitations as I could accept.
The whole story got abroad, even to the awakening of the duke in Covent Garden. And that clownish Mr. Foote, of the Haymarket, had added some lines to a silly popular song ent.i.tled "The Sights o" Lunnun", with which I was hailed at Mrs. Betty"s fruit-stall in St. James"s Street.
Here is one of the verses:
"In Maryland, he hunts the Fox From dewy Morn till Day grows dim; At Home he finds a Paradox, From Noon till Dawn the Fox hunts him."
Charles Fox laughed when he heard it. But he was serious when he came to speak of Chartersea, and bade me look out for a.s.sa.s.sination. I had Banks follow me abroad at night with a brace of pistols under his coat, albeit I feared nothing save that I should not have an opportunity to meet the duke in a fair fight. And I resolved at all hazards to run Mr. Marmaduke down with despatch, if I had to waylay him.
Mr. Storer, who was forever giving parties, was responsible for this one at Vauxhall. We went in three coaches, and besides Dorothy and Mr.
Marmaduke, the company included Lord and Lady Carlisle, Sir Charles and Lady Sarah Bunbury, Lady Ossory and Lady Julia Howard, two Miss Stanleys and Miss Poole, and Comyn, and Hare, and Price, and Fitzpatrick, the latter feeling very glum over a sum he had dropped that afternoon to Lord Harrington. Fox had been called to St. Stephen"s on more printer"s business.
Dolly was in glowing pink, as I loved best to see her, and looked divine. Comyn and I were in Mr. Manners"s coach. The evening was fine and warm, and my lady in very lively spirits. As we rattled over Westminster Bridge, the music of the Vauxhall band came "throbbing through the still night," and the sky was bright with the reflection of the lights. It was the fashion with the quality to go late; and so eleven o"clock had struck before we had pulled up between Vauxhall stairs, crowded with watermen and rough mudlarks, and the very ordinary-looking house which forms the entrance of the great garden.
Leaving the servants outside, single-file we trailed through the dark pa.s.sage guarded by the wicketgate.
"Prepare to be ravished, Richard," said my lady, with fine sarcasm.
"You were yourself born in the colonies, miss," I retorted. "I confess to a thrill, and will not pretend that I have seen such sights often enough to be sated."
"La!" exclaimed Lady Sarah, who had overheard; "I vow this is refreshing. Behold a new heaven and a new earth, Mr. Carvel?"
Indeed, much to the amus.e.m.e.nt of the company, I took no pains to hide my enthusiasm at the brilliancy of the scene which burst upon me. A great orchestra rose in the midst of a stately grove lined on all four sides with supper-boxes of brave colours, which ran in straight tiers or swept around in circles. These were filled with people of all sorts and conditions, supping and making merry. Other people were sauntering under the trees, keeping step with the music. Lamps of white and blue and red and green hung like luminous fruit from the branches, or cl.u.s.tered in stars and crescents upon the buildings.
"Why, Richard, you are as bad as Farmer Colin."
""O Patty! Soft in feature, I"ve been at dear Vauxhall; No paradise is sweeter, Not that they Eden call.""
whispered Dolly, paraphrasing.
At that instant came hurrying Mr. Tom Tyers, who was one of the brothers, proprietors of the gardens. He was a very lively young fellow who seemed to know everybody, and he desired to know if we would walk about a little before being shown to the boxes reserved for us.
"They are on the right side, Mr. Tyers?" demanded Mr. Storer.
"Oh, to be sure, sir. Your man was most particular to stipulate the pink and blue flowered brocades, next the Prince of Wales"s."
"But you must have the band stop that piece, Mr. Tyers," cried Lady Sarah. "I declare, it is too much for my nerves. Let them play Dibbin"s Ephesian Matron."
"As your Ladyship wishes," responded the obliging Mr. Tyers, and sent off an uniformed warder to the band-master.
As he led us into the Rotunda, my Lady Dolly, being in one of her whimsical humours, began to recite in the manner of the guide-book, to the vast diversion of our party and the honest citizens gaping at us.
"This, my lords, ladies, and gentlemen," says the minx, "is that marvellous Rotunda commonly known as the "umbrella," where the music plays on wet nights, and where we have our masquerades and ridottos.
Their Royal Highnesses are very commonly seen here on such occasions.
As you see, it is decorated with mirrors and scenes and busts, and with gilded festoons. That picture was painted by the famous Hogarth. The organ in the orchestra cost--you must supply the figure, Mr. Tyers,--and the ceiling is at least two hundred feet high. Gentlemen from the colonies and the country take notice."
By this time we were surrounded. Mr. Marmaduke was scandalized and crushed, but Mr. Tyers, used to the vagaries of his fashionable patrons, was wholly convulsed.
"Faith, Miss Manners, and you would consent to do this two nights more, we should have to open another gate," he declared. Followed by the mob, which it seems was part of the excitement, he led us out of the building into the Grand Walk; and offered to turn on the waterfall and mill, which (so Lady Sarah explained to me) the farmers and merchants fell down and worshipped every night at nine, to the tinkling of bells. She told Mr. Tyers there was diversion enough without "tin cascades." When we got to the Grand Cross Walk he pointed out the black "Wilderness" of tall elms and cedars looming ahead of us. And--so we came to the South Walk, with its three triumphal arches framing a n.o.ble view of architecture at the far end. Our gentlemen sauntered ahead, with their spy-gla.s.ses, staring the citizens" pretty daughters out of countenance, and making cynical remarks.
"Why, egad!" I heard Sir Charles say, "the wig-makers have no cause to pet.i.tion his Majesty for work. I"ll be sworn the false hair this good staymaker has on cost a guinea."
A remark which caused the staymaker (if such he was) such huge discomfort that he made off with his wife in the opposite direction, to the time of jeers and c.o.c.k-crows from the bevy of Vauxhall bucks walking abreast.
"You must show us the famous "dark walks," Mr. Tyers," says Dorothy.
"Surely you will not care to see those, Miss Manners."
"O lud, of course you must," chimed in the Miss Stanleys; "there is no spice in these flaps and flies."
He led us accordingly into Druid"s Walk, overarched with elms, and dark as the shades, our gentlemen singing, ""Ods! Lovers will contrive,"" in chorus, the ladies exclaiming and drawing together. Then I felt a soft, restraining hold on my arm, and fell back instinctively, vibrating to the touch.
"Could you not see that I have been trying to get a word with you for ever so long?"
"I trust you to find a way, Dolly, if you but wish," I replied, admiring her stratagem.
"I am serious to-night." Indeed, her voice betrayed as much. How well I recall those rich and low tones! "I said I wished you shut up in the Marshalsea, and I meant it. I have been worrying about you."
"You make me very happy," said I; which was no lie.
"Richard, you are every bit as reckless and indifferent of danger as they say your father was. And I am afraid--"
"Of what?" I asked quickly.
"You once mentioned a name to me--"
"Yes?" I was breathing deep.
"I have forgiven you," she said gently. "I never meant to have referred to that incident more. You will understand whom I mean. You must know that he is a dangerous man, and a treacherous. Oh!" she exclaimed, "I have been in hourly terror ever since you rode against him in Hyde Park.
There! I have said it."
The tense sweetness of that moment none will ever know.
"But you have more reason to fear him than I, Dorothy."
"Hush!" she whispered, catching her breath; "what are you saying?"
"That he has more cause to fear me than I to dread him."
She came a little closer.