"That, of course," said Swaby; "but I"m thinking I"ve hit on a way to meet your wishes, so we"ll talk of the matter again this evening;" and thus saying, he withdrew, leaving Sir Archy in a frame of mind very far, indeed, from tranquil or composed.
Swaby"s surprise at his interview with Sir Archy, whom he never had the slightest suspicion of possessing any property whatever, was even surpa.s.sed by his astonishment on hearing the favourable turn of O"Donoghue"s affairs; and, while he bestowed the requisite attention to follow the old man"s statement, his shrewd mind was also engaged in speculating what probable results might accrue from this unexpected piece of fortune, and how they could best be turned to his own benefit.
O"Donoghue was too deeply interested in his own schemes, to question Swaby respecting his business with M"Nab, of which Kerry O"Leary had already given him a hint. The attorney was, therefore, free to deliberate in his own mind how far he might most advantageously turn the prosperity of the one, to the aid of the other, for the sole benefit of himself. It is not necessary, nor would it conduce to the object of this story, to ask the reader"s attention to this interview. It will be enough to say, that Swaby heard with pleasure O"Donoghue"s disclosure, recognizing, with practised acuteness, how far he could turn such unlooked-for prosperity to his own purposes, and subsidize one brother-in-law, at the expense of both.
While thus each within the limit of this narrow household was following out the thread of his destiny, eagerly bent on their several objects, Kate O"Donoghue sat alone, at the window of her chamber, buried in deep thought. The prospect of her approaching visit to the capital presented itself in so many aspects, that, while offering pleasures and enjoyments none relished more highly than herself, she yet saw difficulties which might render the step unadvisable, If not perilous. Of all considerations, money was the one which least had occupied any share in her calculations; yet now she bethought herself, that expense must necessarily be incurred, which her uncle"s finances could but ill afford. No sooner had this thought occurred to her, than she was amazed it had not struck her before, and she felt actually startled, lest, in her eagerness for the promised pleasure, she had only listened to the suggestion of selfishness. In a moment more she determined to decline the invitation. She was not one to take half measures when she believed a point of principle to be engaged; and the only difficulty now lay, how and in what manner to refuse an offer proffered with so much kindness.
The note itself must open the way, thought she, and at the instant she remembered how Mark had taken it from the breakfast-table.
She heard his heavy step as he paced backwards and forwards in his chamber overhead, and without losing another moment, hastily ascended the stairs to his door; her hand was already outstretched to knock, when suddenly she hesitated; a strange confusion came over her faculties--how would Mark regard her request?--would he attribute it to over-eagerness on the subject of the invitation. Such were the questions which occurred to her; and as quick came the answer--"And let him think so. I shall certainly not seek to undeceive him. He alone, of all here, has vouchsafed me neither any show of his affection nor his confidence."
The flush mounted to her cheek, and her eyes darkened with the momentary excitement; and at the same instant the door was suddenly thrown open, and Mark stood before her.
Such was his astonishment, however, that for some seconds he could not speak; when at last he uttered in a low, deep voice--
"I thought I heard a hand upon the lock, and I am so suspicious of that fellow, Kerry, who frequently plays the eaves-dropper here----"
"Not when you are alone, Mark?" said Kate, smiling.
"Ay--even then. I have a foolish habit of thinking aloud, of which I strive in vain to break myself; and he seems to know it, too."
"There is another absent trick you have acquired also," said she, laughing. "Do you remember having carried off the note that came while we were at breakfast?"
"Did I?" said he, reddening. "Did I take it off the table? Yes, yes; I remember something of it now. You must forgive me, cousin, if these careless habits take the shape of rudeness." He seemed overwhelmed with confusion, as he added, "I know not why I put it into my pocket; here it is."
And so saying, he drew from the breast of his coat a crushed and crumpled paper, and gave it into Kate"s hand. She wished to say something in reply--something which would seem kind and good natured; but, somehow, she faltered and hesitated. She twice got as far as, "I know, Mark--I am certain, Mark;" then unable to say what, perhaps, her very indecision rendered more difficult, she merely uttered a brief "thank you," and withdrew.
"Poor fellow!" said she, as she re-entered her own chamber, "his is the hardest lot of all."
She had often wished to persuade herself that Mark"s morose, sullen humour was the discontent of one who felt the ignominy of an inglorious life--that habits of recklessness had covered, but not obliterated the traces of that bold and generous spirit for which his family had been long distinguished; and now, for the first time, she believed she had fallen on the evidences of such a temper. She pondered long on this theme, and fancied how, under circ.u.mstances favourable to their development, Mark"s good qualities and courageous temper, had won for him both fame and honour. "And here," exclaimed she, half aloud, "here, he may live and die a peasant!" With a deep sigh, she threw herself into a chair, and as if to turn her thoughts into some channel less suggestive of gloom, she opened the letter Mark had given her. Scarcely, however, had she cast her eyes over it, when she uttered a faint cry, too faint, indeed, to express any mere sense of fear, but in an accent in which terror and amazement were equally blended.
The epistle was a brief one--not more than a few lines--and she had read it at a glance, before ever there was time to consider how far her doing so was a breach of confidence; indeed, the intense interest of the contents left little room for any self-examinings. It ran thus:--
"Dear Brother--No precipitation--no haste--nothing can be done without France. T. has now good hopes from that quarter, and if not 30,000, 20,000, or at least 15,000 will be given, and arms for double the number. Youghal is talked of as a suitable spot; and H. has sent charts, &c. over.
Above all, be patient; trust no rumours, and rely on us for the earliest and the safest intelligence. L. will hand you this. You must contrive to learn the cipher, as any correspondence discovered would ruin all.
"Your"s ever, and in the cause,
"H. R."
Here, then, was the youth she had been commiserating for his career of lowly and unambitious hopes--here, the mere peasant! the accomplice of some deep and desperate plot, in which the arms of France, should be employed against the government of England. Was this the secret of his pre-occupation and his gloom? Was it to concentrate his faculties on such a scheme, that he lived this lonely and secluded life? "Oh, Mark, Mark, how have I misjudged you!" she exclaimed, and as she uttered the words, came the thought, quick as a lightning flash, to her mind--what terrible hazards such a temperament as his must incur in an enterprise like this--without experience of men or any knowledge of the world whatever--without habitual prudence, or caution of any kind. The very fact of his mistaking the letter--a palpable evidence of his unfitness for trust. Reckless by nature--more desperate still from the fallen fortunes of his house. What would become of him? Others would wait the time and calculate their chances. He would listen to nothing but the call of danger. She knew him well, from boyhood upwards, and had seen him often more fascinated by peril, than others were by pleasure.
As she reasoned thus, her thoughts insensibly turned to all the dangers of such an enterprise as she believed him engaged in. The fascinating visions of a speculative patriotism, soon gave way before the terrors she now conjured up. She knew he was the only tie that bound his father to existence, and that any misfortune to Mark, would be the old man"s death-blow. Nor were these the most poignant of the reflections, for she now remembered how often she had alluded tauntingly to those who lived a life of mean or inglorious ambition; how frequently she had scoffed at the miserable part of such as, endowed with high names and ancient lineage, evinced no desire to emerge from an ign.o.ble position, and a.s.sume a station of eminence and power; could she, then, have contributed to this youth"s rash step, had her idle words and random speeches driven him to embrace a cause, where his pa.s.sions, and not his judgment were interested? What misery was in this fear?
Each moment increased the agony of this reflection, while her doubts as to how she ought to act, thickened around her. Sir Archy, alone, was capable of advising her, his calm and unbia.s.sed reason, would be now invaluable, but dare she--even to him, make use of a confidence thus accidentally obtained? Would Mark--could he ever forgive her? and how many others might such a disclosure compromise! In this dilemma, she knew no course open to her, but one--to address herself at once to Mark, to explain how his secret had become known, to learn from him as much as lay in her power of the dangers and difficulties of the meditated revolt, and if unable to dissuade him from partic.i.p.ation, at least to mingle with his resolves all she could of prudence, or good counsel. The determination was scarcely formed, when she was once more at the door of his chamber; she knocked twice, without any reply following, then gently opened the door. The room was vacant, he was gone. I will write to him, said she hurriedly, and with this new resolve, hastened to her chamber, and began a letter.
The task she proposed to herself, was not so easy of accomplishment; a dozen times, she endeavoured while explaining the accident that divulged his secret, to impress him with the hazard of an undertaking, so palpably depicted, and to the safe keeping of which, his own carelessness, might prove fatal; but each effort dissatisfied her.
In one place, she seemed not to have sufficiently apologized for her unauthorized cognizance of his note; in another, the stress she laid upon this very point, struck her as too selfish, and too personal in a case, where another"s interests were the real consideration at issue; and even when presenting before him the vicissitudes of fortune to which his venturous career would expose him, she felt how every word contradicted the tenor of her own a.s.sertions for many a day and week previous. In utter despair how to act, she ended by enclosing the letter with merely these few words:--
"I have read the enclosed, but your secret is safe with me.
"K. O"D."
This done, she sealed the packet and had just written the address, when, with a tap at the door, Sir Archy entered, and approached the table.
With a tact and delicacy he well understood, Sir Archy explained the object of his visit--to press upon Kate"s acceptance a sum of money sufficient for her outlay in the capital. The tone of half authority he a.s.sumed disarmed her at once, and made her doubt how far she could feel justified in opposing the wishes of her friends concerning her.
"Then you really desire I should go to Dublin," said she.
"I do, Kate, for many reasons--reasons which I shall have little difficulty in explaining to you hereafter."
"I half regret I ever thought of it," said Kate, speaking her thoughts unconsciously aloud.
"Not the less reason perhaps for going," said Sir Archy, drily; whileat the same moment his eye caught the letter bearing Mark O"Donoghue"s name.
Kate saw on what his glance was fixed, and grew red with shame and confusion.
"Be it so then, uncle," said she, resolutely. "I do not seek to know the reasons you speak of, for if you were to ask my own against the project, I should not be able to frame them; it was mere caprice."
"I hope so, dearest Kate," said he, with a tone of deep affection-- "I hope so with all my heart;" and thus saying, he pressed her hand fervently between his own and left the room.
CHAPTER XXVI. A LAST EVENING AT HOME.
With the experience of past events to guide us, it would appear now that a most unaccountable apathy existed in the English Cabinet of the period, with regard to the plan of invasion meditated against Ireland by France; nor is it easy to determine whether this indifference proceeded more from ignorance of the danger, or that amount of information concerning it, which disposed the Minister to regard it as little important.
From whatever cause proceeding, one thing is sufficiently clear--the emissaries of France pervaded the country in every part without impediment or molestation; statistical information the most minute was forwarded to Paris every week; the state of popular opinion, the condition of parties, the amount of troops disposable by Government--even the spirit which animated them, were reported and commented on, and made the subject of discussion in the "bureau" of the War Minister of France. To such an extent was this system carried, that more than once the French authorities became suspicious regarding the veracity of statements, from the very facility with which their details were communicated, and hinted, that such regularity in correspondence might be owing to the polite attentions of the English Cabinet; and to this distrust is in a great measure to be attributed the vacillating and hesitating policy which marked their own deliberations.
Tone"s letters show the wearisome toil of his negociation; the a.s.surances of aid obtained after months of painful, harra.s.sing solicitation, deferred or made dependent on some almost impossible conditions; guarantees demanded from him which he neither could nor would accord; information sought, which, were they in actual possession of the country, would have been a matter of difficult acquisition; and after all, when the promised a.s.sistance was granted, it came coupled with hints and acknowledgements that the independence of Ireland was nothing in their eyes, save as inflicting a death blow to the power and greatness of England.
In fact, neither party was satisfied with the compact long before the time of putting it in operation arrived. Meanwhile the insurgents spared no efforts to organize a powerful body among the peasantry, and, at least numerically, to announce to France, a strong and effective cooperation. Such reports were necessary to enable Tone to press his demand more energetically; and although he never could have deceived himself as to the inutility of such undisciplined and almost unarmed ma.s.ses, still they looked plausible on paper, and vouched for the willingness of the people to throw off the yoke of England.
It is now well known, that the French party in Ireland was really very small. The dreadful wrongs inflicted on the Roman Catholic church during the Revolution could not be forgotten or forgiven by that priesthood, who were their brethren; nor could it be supposed that they would lend a willing aid to further a cause which began its march to freedom over the ashes of their church. Such as were best capable of p.r.o.nouncing on the project--those educated in France---were naturally fearful of a repet.i.tion at home of the horrible scenes they had witnessed abroad, and thus the "patriots" lost the aid which, more than any other, could have stirred the heart of the nation. Abstract principles of liberty are not the most effective appeals to a people; and although the French agents were profuse of promises, and the theme of English oppression could be chaunted with innumerable variations, the right chord of native sentiment was never touched, and few joined the cause, save those who, in every country and in every age, are patriots--because they are paupers. Some, indeed, like the young O"Donoghue, were sincere and determined. Drawn in at first by impulses more purely personal than patriotic, they soon learned to take a deep interest in the game, and grew fascinated with a scheme which exalted themselves into positions of trust and importance. The necessity of employing this lure, and giving the adherents of the cause their share of power and influence, was another great source of weakness.
Diversity of opinion arose on every subject; personal altercations of the bitterest kind; reproaches and insinuations, pa.s.sed continually between them, and it needed all the skill and management of the chiefs to reconcile, even temporarily, these discordant ingredients, and maintain any semblance of agreement among these "United Irishmen."
Among those who lived away from such scenes of conflict, the great complaint was the delay. "What are we waiting for? When are we to strike the blow?"--were the questions ever arising; and their inability to answer such satisfactorily to the people, only increased their chagrin and disappointment. If the sanguine betrayed impatience, the despondent--and there are such in every cause--showed signs of vacillation, and threw out dark hints of treachery and betrayal; while between both were the great ma.s.ses, moved by every pa.s.sing rumour, and as difficult to restrain to-day, as impossible to muster to-morrow.
Such, briefly, was the condition of the party into which Mark O"Donoghue threw his fortune in life, as reckless of his fate as he was ignorant of the precise objects in view, or the means proposed for their accomplishment.
His influence among the people was considerable. Independently of all claims resulting from his name and family, he was individually a great favourite with them. Personal courage and daring--skill in every manly exercise, and undaunted resolution--are gifts which, when coupled with a rough, good nature, and a really kind heart, are certain of winning their way among a wild and uncultivated people; and thus, Herbert, who scarcely ever uttered a harsh word--whose daily visits to the sick were a duty Sir Archy expected from him--whose readiness to oblige was the theme of every tongue, was less their favourite than his brother.
This influence, which, through Lanty Lawler, was soon reported to the delegates in Dublin, was the means of Mark"s being taken into special confidence, and of a command being conferred on him, for the duties and privileges of which, he was informed, a few days would sufficiently instruct him.
Nearly a week had elapsed from the day on which Kate addressed her note to Mark, and he had not yet returned home. Such absences were common enough; but now, she felt an impatience almost amounting to agony, at the thought of what treasonable and dangerous projects he might be engaged in, and the doubt became a torture, how far she ought to conceal her own discovery from others.
At length came the evening before her own departure from Carrig-na-curra, and they were seated around the tea-table, thoughtful and silent by turns, as are they who meet for the last time before separation. Although she heard with pleasure the announcement that Herbert would be her companion to the capital, where he was about to take up his residence as a student in Trinity College, her thoughts wandered away to the gloomier fortunes of Mark, darker as they now seemed, in comparison with the prospects opening before his brother.
Of all the party, Herbert alone was in good spirits. The career was about to begin which had engrossed all his boyish ambition--the great race of intellect his very dreams had dwelt upon. What visions did he conjure of emulative ardour to carry off the prize among his companions, and win fame that might reflect its l.u.s.tre on all his after life. From his very childhood, Sir Archy had instilled into him this thirst for distinction, wisely subst.i.tuting such an ambition for any other less enn.o.bling. He had taught him to believe that there would be more true honour in the laurels there won, than in all the efforts, however successful, to bring back the lost glories of their once proud house.