Constance rose from her seat as the Cavalier entered; but there was an expression of deep sorrow over his whole countenance, that was almost immediately communicated to hers. What an extraordinary and undefinable tie is that which binds souls and sympathies together--the voice, that is heard only by the ear of affection--the look, that only one can understand--the silent thrill of happiness or of anguish, communicated by a smile or by a sigh! The world may sneer at, or may condemn; yet most true it is, that they who love with the most purity and the most truth, draw nearest to that great Spirit who is the perfection of both!
"I am come," said De Guerre, "to bid for awhile farewell to Mistress Cecil; to thank her for the kindness I have received under this roof; and to a.s.sure her that it can never be forgotten."
"You have received but little attention--too little, indeed; yet, my father"s health--our recent heavy affliction--will, I am sure, plead for us, and win an excuse. I was not, however, aware that your departure would come so suddenly. Is my father apprised of it?"
"He is not:--forgive me, lady; but I could not avoid saying how much and how truly I have felt the kind consideration you have bestowed upon one who, however worthy, I hope, in many respects, has nevertheless deceived you."
"De Guerre may deceive me," replied Constance, with considerable emotion, extending one hand as she spoke, and covering her face with the other, "De Guerre may deceive me, but Walter--_dear_ Walter--never."
The young man took her offered hand, and pressed it affectionately to his lips. "Ah! how soon you saw in the Cavalier the companion and playmate of your childhood, though you believed him dead! Women have quick eyes, and warm hearts for old friends. Unrecognised by my nurse--by your father--yet discovered by you--by you only, Constance! I need not say, do not betray me; do not breathe, even to those walls, who it is that has entered within them; let it remain secret as the grave.
But I need not urge you thus, for treachery is not in your nature; let me talk of other things, and ask by what token, Constance, did you trace me through the disguise that years, and the burning sun of many a parched land, have thrown over my features and my form?"
"It was your voice that struck me first--some tones and modulations, that I well remembered when you called my dog:--then the unforgotten locket which you placed in my hand, which, when I had seen you, I knew could have been placed there by no other:--then----" Constance paused and blushed; she ought to have felt angry at the liberty that had been taken with her tresses, but she gave no expression to such a feeling; and the pause was broken by the Cavalier, who drew from his bosom the beautiful braid of which the maiden had been robbed.
The colour on Constantia"s cheek was succeeded by a deadly paleness.
"Ah! what a moment it was, by that old temple, the lily triumphing over the rose on your fair cheek, even more than now, yet with such mild and gentle triumph, one scarce could wish it less; your eyes veiled by those soft lashes:--well, no more--I will say no more of this. I tried my poor skill to call you back to life, and, just as I succeeded, your companion and attendant came in sight. Since then, this dear memento has nestled near my heart, a shield against evil, and against evil thoughts.
What! still so pale? you must be ill, my sweet friend," he inquired tenderly.
"No, Walter, not in body; but wherefore should you bear that braid so near you?"
"Sweet Constance, may I now call you by that dear name? Oh, how my heart rebelled against the sound "Mistress Cecil!"--Truly is love a republican, for he does not recognise t.i.tles; though, perhaps, it were better to describe him as a despot, acknowledging none that are not of his own creation. Why should I not wear the braid? Though now an outlawed man, it may not be always thus; the time will come when my own arm shall win the way to glory and to fortune."
"I doubt it not--I doubt it not;--but--save that nothing can make your fortunes a matter of indifference to the friend and companion of your childhood--I can have no greater interest in you, nor you in me. But why prevent my saying to my father that the lost bird is found? Methinks I would gladly know with him the mysteries of your disappearance, and the still greater one of your concealment; suffer that I tell----" The Cavalier smiled a smile so moody, so full of sad expression, that she paused.
"Not so; I cannot explain any thing: perhaps (if your words be serious) the time may never come when I can explain. As to your father, if you ever valued Walter, I charge you, even as you now value his life, that you give hint to no human being of his existence. I am sure you will keep my secret; strange as may seem the request, still you will grant it."
"Yet surely, Walter, you may confide in one who sorrowed for her playmate, with a lengthened and deep grief; but--" she slowly added, observing the altered expression of his countenance, "remember, I can only be to you a friend."
The words were uttered in a tone not to be misconceived. The Cavalier understood and felt it.
"Better, then, that I had gone forth, as I was about to do, in ignorance that any here recognised the ruined and outcast Walter! Can there be truth in the rumour, that one so young, so beautiful, bearing the softened impress of a n.o.ble and immortal mind upon a brow so lofty, is a willing sacrifice to a coward and villain? Did I not hear you, with my own ears, protest to the Lady Frances Cromwell, that, of your own free will, you would never marry this Sir Willmott Burrell? and, if it be so, if you spoke truth then, who dare compel you, wealthy and high-born, to give your hand where your heart is not? Oh, you are not the free, true-hearted girl, that, twelve years ago, leaped upon your native hills to meet the sunshine and the breeze, and often--alas! alas! that it should only have been in mere sportiveness--declared that--but no matter--I see it all, and future Lady of Burrell, bid you farewell and for ever."
Constance replied with tears, yet calmly and firmly: "Walter, be not cruel; or, at least, be not unjust. You were ever impetuous, but also ever ready to repair the evil you had done. It is ill of you to use so harsh a word against one who has never wronged you. Alas! could you but read my heart, you would also judge of me otherwise; but think of me as your friend--your fervent and faithful friend--I will not prove unworthy."
The Cavalier was about to reply, when Robin Hays was ushered into the room by Barbara, who immediately withdrew. After bowing with due respect to Constance, he was about to whisper into the ear of the Cavalier, who, however, desired him to speak out, as he had nought to conceal from that lady. The Ranger seemed but little astonished at receiving such a command, and without further ceremony proceeded.
"I did hope, sir, that you would have left Cecil Place before this; Sir Willmott Burrell will, I am certain, arrive within an hour; and you know it is the Skipper"s earnest desire that you should not meet."
"Robin, you told me all this but a little time past; and I know not why I am to hear it again. I have nought to fear from this Burrell."
"It would be certainly unsafe, were there a possibility of his suspecting you, for his----" Again Constantia interrupted herself; she had been on the point of betraying her knowledge of Sir Willmott"s jealous and impatient temper; and, after a pause, she added, "but there is little danger of that: as a boy, he never saw you; and he must respect the friend of Major Wellmore."
"Ah, madam!" observed Robin, "he is no respecter of persons; and I see no reason why two should meet again, who have already so roughly handled each other."
"Where did they meet?" inquired Constance eagerly.
"There is no time to tell the story now, lady," replied Robin impatiently. "As I see you know this gentleman, and knowing him, are too generous not to be interested in his favour, urge, I beseech you, his instant departure from Cecil Place. Surely I can explain every thing as well as he. It was Dalton"s wish----"
"I bitterly grieve to hear that you have aught to do with so bold, so bad a man as Dalton," said Constance hastily; "his name brings to my remembrance feelings of undefined pain, for which I cannot account. It is long since I have heard of him; but something poor Barbara communicated to me in her innocence, made me suspect he had been here.
Go then; and take my prayers, and (though nothing worth, it may be,) my blessing. And now, farewell--farewell--at least for a time!"
"We must meet again, Constance! say only that you will see me once more before----"
"By Heaven!" exclaimed Robin, "you stand dallying here, and there is Sir Willmott himself coming down the avenue at full speed! Lady, I entreat your pardon for my boldness--But go, lady go!--in G.o.d"s name!--then, and not till then, will he depart."
Constance did not trust herself in the room a moment longer. After briefly collecting her thoughts, which had laboured unceasingly to unravel the mysteries that surrounded the Cavalier, she entered her father"s chamber. He had been evidently suffering from illness, and was seated in a large easy chair, his feet resting upon cushions, while the Reverend Jonas Fleetword read from time to time out of sundry pious books that were placed on a table before him. The preacher paused as she approached, and signified his intention of walking forth "to meet the man Burrell," who, he understood from the wild youth called Robin Hays, was to arrive ere noon. It was a precious opportunity, one not to be neglected, for cultivating the rich seed sown in that holy land.
When the worthy divine was fairly out of the room, Constance delivered a message from the Cavalier, stating that he had been obliged to leave Cecil Place without taking a personal leave of his kind host; and repeated his expressions of grat.i.tude for the attentions he had experienced during his brief sojourn.
"Thank G.o.d, he is gone!" replied the baronet, drawing his breath freely, as if relieved from a painful oppression. "Introduced as he was, it was impossible not to treat him with respect, but he strangely disturbed me.
Did you not think him a cold, suspicious youth?"
"I cannot say I did, sir."
"You are singularly unsuspicious, Constance, for one so wise: you ought to learn distrust; it is a dark, a dreadful, but a useful lesson."
"Methinks one has not need to study how to be wretched; suspicion has to me ever seemed the school of misery."
The baronet made no reply to this observation, but soon after abruptly exclaimed,--
"He will not come again, I suppose."
Constance did not know.
He then fancied he could walk a little; and, pressing to his side the arm on which he leaned, said,--
"Ah, my child! a willing arm is more delightful to a parent than a strong one. Wilt always love thy father, Constance?"
"My dear father, do you doubt it?"
"No, my child; but suppose that any circ.u.mstance should make me poor?"
"You will find what a nice waiting-maid your daughter is."
"Suppose I was dishonoured?"
"Public honour is given and taken by a breath, and is therefore of little worth; but the private and more n.o.ble honour is in our own keeping: my father keeps it safely."
"But suppose that I _deserved_ the ill word of all mankind?"
"My dear father, why trouble yourself or me with such a thought?--if it so happened, you would still be my parent; but such an event is impossible."
The baronet sighed, as if in pain. Constance looked anxiously into his face, and noted that a cold and clammy perspiration stood thickly on his brow.
"You had better sit down, dear sir."
"No, my child, I shall be better for a little air; let us go into the library."