It was getting late; so Morley enquired the nearest way to Ashley Hall, and returned by a short cut which the farmer pointed out, determined to explore the interior of the house the next morning.
Julia ran down to meet her brother when she heard he had returned, and begged him to have his dinner in the breakfast-parlour, if he didn"t mind, as her aunt was engaged with a stranger in the dining-room.
"What! more mysterious visitors, Julia?" said her brother, smiling; "why, my aunt Courland must be worried out of her life."
"Yes. Now eat your dinner, like a good boy," replied Julia, leading her brother to the table, which was already laid for dinner; "and then, if you are very good, I will tell you a grand secret."
"Hallo!" exclaimed Frederick, eating at the same time--for he was very hungry; "why, this place ought to be called "The Castle of Mystery"
instead of "Ashley Hall." You seem to have more secrets here than were contained in "Blue Beard"s" secret chamber. But the tables are turned here, and the ladies hold the secrets, and the poor men have to guess."
"Heighho!" cried his sister, with a sigh; "I am sorry to say we haven"t many men here to hide secrets from. Their visits are "like angels"
visits, few and far between.""
"Now, one gla.s.s of wine," said Frederick, who had been going into the substantials heartily while his sister had been talking;--"one gla.s.s of wine, my little sister, and then for your secret."
"Two gla.s.ses, Frederick dear,--I must insist on your taking two gla.s.ses at least; for I want to make you able to hear my terrible secret without fainting outright." And she kissed him so kindly as she said this, that he could not refuse his little sister"s request.
"Two gla.s.ses, then," said he, "if it must be so."
When he had finished his two gla.s.ses of wine, she said she had such a surprise for him in the dining-room, where perhaps he would have to take another gla.s.s of wine.
"You little mysterious puss," said he, as he drew her arm within his, and suffered her to lead him to the dining-room. "What can you have to shew me?--it isn"t a lover, is it?"
"Oh! no," replied she, sighing; "animals of that genus don"t acclimatize at Ashley Hall--the atmosphere here is too cold for them."
"You little satirical minx," said he, as his sister threw open the dining-room door, and introduced him to their eldest brother, William, from India.
It was a surprise indeed. The two brothers embraced most affectionately, and then they looked at each other for some minutes. At last Frederick said,--
"My recollection of our poor father is but faint--I was only ten years of age when I last saw him; but it seems to me as if I saw him standing before me now."
"Yes," replied his brother; "the likeness has been remarked by all our friends in India."
"I was painfully struck with it," said Mrs. Courland, "when William entered the room this morning. I felt as if my poor brother had come back again, to bring to light that awful catastrophe. My thoughts went back to that awful time, and I shuddered as he entered. I can scarcely get over it now."
"It shall be discovered, my dear aunt," said the elder brother--whom in future we will call Mr. Morley. "We will not return till the guilty parties are brought to light."
A sudden change came over the countenance of Mrs. Courland as these words were p.r.o.nounced, in the solemn voice so like her poor brother"s, that alarmed her nephews. Julia had seen those fits on her before; and she motioned to her two brothers to be quiet, while she held her aunt"s throbbing head to her bosom.
It soon pa.s.sed away; and then she rose and begged her two nephews to sit a little over their wine, as she knew they must have much to say to each other.
CHAPTER XXII.
ALRINA"S FIRST LOVE-LETTER.
The wine and dessert had remained on the table, although all but Frederick had dined long ago. The two brothers sat over their wine, as Mrs. Courland had requested them to do; but their time was otherwise employed than in drinking wine. Mr. Morley related to his brother the history of his life, from the time of their father"s death, and his miraculous escape from the shipwreck. Frederick, in return, related to his brother the incidents of his life,--his miraculous preservation on the cliffs at the Land"s-End; Josiah"s prompt a.s.sistance; the discovery of the box of gold; the conjuror;--indeed, all except his love-affair.
That he retained as a secret still. They had much to tell, and the brothers sat late.
It was a great relief to Mr. Morley"s mind to know that their father"s box was safe. That Mr. Freeman knew something about the parties, he had no doubt whatever, and he was now as anxious as his brother was to find him, in order to obtain any information he might be able to give them; for Josiah, who had been sent for into the dining-room, to give them a description of the "man of cunning," and his habits and mode of life, said that "The Maister" knew "bra" things."
Alrina was mentioned by Frederick; but he did not tell all respecting her, nor did he so far confide in his brother as to tell him of the plighted troth which existed between them. Mr. Morley guessed, however, that there was something more than disinterested friendship in his brother"s anxiety on her account.
The discovery of the house in which the murder had been committed was also told; and the brothers determined to go to the deserted house again the next day, and effect an entrance, when they might possibly discover some clue to the mystery.
When they were about to separate for the night, Mr. Morley gave his brother a letter which he said had been left at the "First and Last Inn"
for him; but as he supposed it had come from Ashley Hall, he did not think of giving it to him before, as he had no doubt heard its contents from the lady herself. Frederick took the letter and put it into his pocket, intending to read it in his bedroom. He could not imagine who could have written it. It could not have been either his aunt or sister; for they would no doubt have mentioned it, if it had come from them.
The ladies had retired long ago; and the brothers, being tired, followed their example.
When Frederick had closed the door of his room, he took out the letter and examined the address, which appeared to be written in pencil. He did not know the handwriting. It was a neat lady-like hand. At first he thought of Miss Pendray,--but what could she have to write him about? At last he broke the seal, and was astonished as well as delighted, to find that it was a letter from Alrina--a short letter evidently written in haste. So he sat down and almost devoured its contents.
ALRINA"S LETTER.
_My own dear Frederick_,
_May I call you so? Yes; I feel I may,--and yet I scarcely know what to say or how to begin a letter to you. But who else can I look to? Oh! Frederick, I am very, very unhappy. My father discovered our meetings. He knows our secret,--by what means I know not._
_I was in a state of stupor for a long time, and when I recovered myself I was in a strange place. How I was conveyed here, or when, I do not know. I am puzzled and bewildered._
_The house is surrounded by high walls on every side. My father has been absent,--I have only seen him once. I think this house must be near the sea; for the owner dresses like a sailor, and I overhear conversations which lead me to believe he is connected with smugglers. His wife is older than he is. Oh! Frederich, she is such a tyrant, and treats that poor girl shamefully. (I forgot to say they have a young girl living with them, whom they call their niece.) Poor girl! I pity her; but I am not allowed to speak to her,--indeed, she seems to forbid it herself, by placing her finger on her lips whenever I happen to meet her. I hear her cries, poor child!_
_There is some mystery about her,--I feel convinced of this. I hear whisperings. My aunt is in the secret, whatever it is. The two women have been closeted continually. I am closely watched and guarded--I know that; so that I amuse myself by watching too, and listening; but I cannot learn much. Yesterday the man went out, and took the girl with him; and soon after, my aunt told me she was going a short journey, and I must remain here until her return. I am accustomed to hear of her short journeys. She often went from home; but the journeys appeared to be long ones,--she generally stayed away a fortnight. All is mystery. The old woman keeps guard over me. The boy Billy, whom you may have seen in poor Mr. Brown"s stable, came with my father, and he managed to get me this sheet of paper and a pencil unknown to anyone. I am writing now as a prisoner; for the old woman locks me in when she is not with me. I am thankful to be alone, for then I can think of you,--and oh! how pleasant the thought. When I shall see you again I know not,--and whether I shall be able to send this letter after I have written it, G.o.d only knows; but it is a pleasure, in my solitude, to write my thoughts and my troubles, to one who will feel for me. I shall try to send this by the boy, should he ever come here again. Hark!
I hear the bolt of the door drawn back. She comes! Adieu!_
_Your fond and loving_ ALRINA.
Frederick read Alrina"s letter over and over again, as he paced the floor of his bedroom in mad agitation. He had wasted his time by coming after this waggon, while his Alrina was probably still within a few miles of her former habitation. Had he received this letter before he started, he might have rescued her; but now! it may be too late. Several days had pa.s.sed,--days? yes, nearly a fortnight since that letter was written. "Fool! madman! idiot!" he exclaimed as he paced the floor. "Why did I not enquire more strictly before I took this fool"s journey?"
Exhausted nature gave way at last, and, throwing himself on the bed, he slept heavily till Josiah came to call him for their usual early morning"s ride. He had not taken off his clothes, so that, after a refreshing wash, he went out into the garden followed by Josiah. The fresh morning air invigorated him, and restored tranquillity to his mind; and he was enabled to tell his faithful follower the princ.i.p.al contents of the letter.
"Well, sar," said Josiah, "that"s a whisht job sure nuf; but what"s done caen"t be helped. Ef har fe-a-ther es a conjuror, you arn"t, I s"pose; so how cud you tell that she wor there?"
"True," said Frederick, who now began to see the folly of reflecting on himself for coming to Bristol instead of remaining in Cornwall--a mistake which it was impossible he could have seen the result of.
"We have done something by coming here, however," he continued, reflectively; "we have discovered that lonely house. Now, I think you had better remain here with my brother; for I feel convinced that by entering that house, some discovery will be made. In the meantime I will return and seek Alrina and her father. If I can find that boy, I shall succeed without a doubt in rescuing her."
"Iss; but semmen to me that two "f"s" do belong to that," said Josiah.
"What do you mean by "two f"s?"" exclaimed Frederick.
"Why, the fust es, _ef_ you cud find the boy," replied Josiah; "and the next es, _ef_ she"s there still. You don"t knaw that boy so well as I do; but "tes no harm to try. I"ll go home, or stay here, whichever you plaise; but there"s one thing I ha" got to say, that I b"lieve we wor "pon a good scent, after all."
"What do you mean?" asked Morley.