66 Marian, I cannot tell you how she died. I was in her arms -her last breath fluttered on my lips. If I could have died with her, it would have been well for me. A motherless child is the most desolate little creature in the world. "There came then a change for me. After my mother was buried our servants were dismissed, our home was broken up, and Mrs. Dean brought me to England. Can you imagine the change from the beautiful olive-clad shores of Como, the sunny, rippling lake, the blue, Italian sky, the purple vines, and fragrant flowers, to this dreary spot? Yet here the only child of Lord Carleon was condemned to stay, because my lord did not wish the world to know anything of his marriage. My little establishment was soon formed. Mrs. Dean was appointed housekeeper; the butler is her brother; and a governess was sent down to take possession of me. Poor Miss Tirrell, she had but a weary time of it. She is dead now (sho died in London), so I must only speak of her virtues; they were many, but I could never love her. She was full of that cold English propriety that freezes one. She never had a warm-hearted impulse. She tried hard to make me study; and five years passed in this dreary place in one monotonous round of duty struggles and rebellions. I wonder that I did not weep myself away; night and day I cried continually for my lost mother. "I had but two sources of comfort; one was my old nurse, Mrs. Dean, the other my beloved picture. I kept up my childish habit of talking to it. I used to tell it all my troubles, and my longing for my mother. That picture was to me what brothers, sisters, and playfellows are to other children. In this dreary way, without change or alteration to enliven me, I attained my sixteenth year-sullen, gloomy, and unhappy, without the feelings and pleasures of a child, thinking ever of my home at Como and the mother I had lost there. One morning there was a great excitement in the house. A messenger came to say that my father was exceedingly ill, and wished to see me. I went, accompanied by Miss Tirrell. I shall never forget my emotion on leaving Ingledew House; it had seemed to me so like a prison. We went by rail to London, and found a close carriage awaiting us at the station. I was positively frightened at my father's house; it was so grand, so magnificently furnished. I had never seen anything like it in all my life. The imposing array of servants in gorgeous livery, the exquisite statues and costly tokens of abounding wealth, for a time bewildered me. I could only gaze in utter astonishment. We were taken to a grand drawing-room, and there the housekeeper attended us. I do not know what the servants thought of this late introduction of a daughter into a home where she ought to have been years ago. They were very respectful to me, and I have no doubt gossiped freely amongst themselves about the private marriage of their master. There was no concealment now; I was called by my father's name, Carleon. "While we were sitting there in anxious suspense, awaiting every moment a summons to my father, the door opened, and a young man entered. Marian, it was Allan Douglas. It seemed to me as though my picture had come to life, and stood before me. I forgot that I was a stranger and he unknown to me. Had I not in my lonely hours kissed a hundred times those blue eyes and chestnut curls? The face was unchanged: it wore the same noble, open look I knew so well. It was as though an old and dear friend had suddenly appeared. I sprang from my seat and ran up to him; I clasped one of his hands in my own. "You are Allan Douglas,' I cried, I remember you so well.' "He smiled, and bending over me, said, 'Where have you seen me? I do not remember your face.' "I never saw you until now,' I answered, quickly; 'but it is your picture. I have had it ever so many years. When I was a child I used to think it was alive and talk to it.' "When you were a child?' he laughed. 'Why, how old are you now?' "Sixteen,' I replied, rather offended that he should consider me as very young. "But,' he said, 'my dear little girl, although you know me so well, I have not the least idea who you are, or what you are doing here.' "Do you mean,' he said, at length, that Lord Carleon is your father?' Yes,' I replied, as much surprised at his question as he was at my revelation, of course he is.' "All further conversation was prevented by the entrance of a tall and stately lady; her haughty face and rich rustling dress startled me. She, too, was pale, and her lips quivered. She almost shuddered when she saw me. Going up to the young man, she laid her hands on his shoulder. "Oh, Allan, my poor boy,' she said, 'I can hardly bear it." "Mother,' he asked in a trembling voice, pointing to me, did you know this?' "Never until this minute,' she replied; 'your uncle has just sent for me, and told me. Oh, Allan, my heart is breaking, after all my hopes and dreams, to see you disappointed at last.' "It is not that so much,' he said, impatiently; why has there been such concealment ?-why have I been brought up to hopes and expectations that were utterly false? My uncle had every right to please himself, but not to deceive me.' "The lady whispered something to him, and he said, resoIutely: 66 6 No, mother; let right be right. Blanche is my cousin ; I must meet my fate.' Then turning to me, he said, 'Blanche, this is your aunt, Lady Douglas.' "She coolly touched my cheek with her lip; and, oh, Marian, I thought my heart would have broken. She might have given one word of welcome to the motherless girl who seemed so much in every one's way. What would I not have given to have been lying with my mother on the shore of Como! Lady Douglas spoke a few words to Miss Tirrell, something about the rooms we were to occupy. I was sent away to have my traveling dress removed, and then was taken to my father's room." CHAPTER IV. "Unless you can die when the dream is past- -MRS. BROWNING. ARIAN," continued Blanche, "I sometimes think that if I live to be a hundred years old, every moment of time I spent in my father's house will rise as vividly before me as it does now. "When I entered the room I saw a stately bed with rich velvet hangings; the air was redolent with perfumes; on the thick carpet no footfall could be heard. Every imaginable luxury and comfort was there, both for use and ornament. Lady Douglas came forward and took me by the hand. She led me to my father's side. Ah, how changed was he from the proud handsome gentleman who used to visit us at Como! Death was in his pallid face and sunken eyes. He seemed to be in a light slumber, but Lady Douglas, bending over him, said: 66 6 Walter, your daughter is here.' It an obscure and poor family. I married her privately at Naples. "Marian, I shall never again feel a pain so acutely as the anguish those words caused me. My father, lying dying there before me, had been ashamed of my beautiful, pure young mother, who had died, I believe, because she knew it. "Lady Douglas held a glass that contained some cordial to my father's lips, and he went on : "Forgive me, Blanche, my child, if my words grieve you. I must tell the truth now-I was ashamed of the obscure marriage I had made, and did not care to own it. If I had had a son, I should, however, have made my marriage no secret; but my little daughter was born. Gradually I thought less of my Italian home. Position, wealth, and honors, were mine, in England, and I became absorbed in them. My name grew famous amongst the leading men of the day. I do not excuse myself. I acted wrongly, nay, wickedly; but true it is that every day seemed to weaken the ties that bound me to my wife and child. In my sinful, miserable pride I regretted my marriage. At length my poor wife died-died without murmur or complaint, and I sent for my child. I intended then to declare my marriage and bring her home; but I delayed it so long, that every day I felt more and more reluctant. One great reason was, Allan, that having brought you up as my heir, I could not bear to disappoint you. I have loved you, boy, as though you had been my own son.' เ Promise me that you will make my daughter your wife," "You will have the title and Hulme with it; Blanche will "Allan had grown pale, and looked distressed beyond expression. My father looked at him anxiously. "I know,' he said, that you have loved Gabriel d'Este; but, Allan, she is only coquetting with you. She has been betrothed more than a year to the Russian Prince Scholsky. Nothing under a duke or a prince would satisfy her. There is no hope for you there. My little Blanche, if she resembles her mother, will make you a good wife.' "Still Allan answered not; his mother looked anxiously on. "You cannot hesitate, my son,' she said, at length; 'you will make your uncle happy, and redeem the lands of the Douglas.' "Uncle,' asked Allan, in a low, hoarse voice, are you quite sure of what you say about Gabriel?' "Sure, Allan,' he replied; I signed one of the marriage bonds six months since. I was one of the principal witnesses. Everything was prepared for the wedding then, but Prince Scholsky's mother died, and it was deferred until the end of this year.' 666 And all this time she has led me on to love her,' said "Allan buried his face in his hands; my father, who seemed 6 "You will not refuse my last request, Allan ?-you will not "Allan touched my father's brow with his lips, and said, refuse me, who never refused a request of yours?' tenderly : "I am your son in love and affection.' "I could not endure the thought of telling you, Allan, that a poor little child must usurp your place,' said my father; but I dare not die without doing so. I sent little Blanche to the old dower house, Ingledew House it is called, a gloomy mansion, built many years ago by one of the Lords of Carleon, who hated his kind. I had it furnished as befitted the residence of my daughter and heiress. I gave the control of it into the hands of the faithful nurse who attended the little one from her birth. I selected a governess who could effectually educate Blanche. I ought to have done more; but, alas, now I see it all-my sin and its folly! I stifled the love with which my heart yearned at times for my child; it has now become remorse.' *** You can atone for it now, uncle,' said Allan, soothingly. "At your expense, my dear boy,' he said, 'I can and must. You will soon be Lord Carleon. Allan, I shall not see another sunset. But with the title there goes only a very small portion of the estates; only Hulme Hall. My fortune-which is, you know, a very large one-must go to Blanche.' "I will not, uncle,' he replied. 'I will marry Blanche.' Thank you, my dear son,' said my father. Add one favor more-promise me that my eyes shall be gladdened by seeing the wish of my heart fulfilled. Let the marriage take place here to-morrow morning.' "So soon?' said Allan. "Yes, I shall die happier for it,' was the reply. I shall "I have some dim recollection of Lady Douglas taking "Marian," resumed Blanche, after a pause of some moments, "you would laugh were I to tell you how passionately I loved Allan. You will think I was too young to know the meaning of the word 'love.' Ah, no! Though a child in years, I had a "It is only right and just, uncle,' said Allan. 'You could woman's heart. I had never loved any one but my mother; not do otherwise.' "Heaven bless you, Allan, for those words,' said my father. 'But what becomes of your dream? How can you buy back again the broad lands of the Douglas, that has been the hope of your life and of your mother's?" the next dearest object to me was my picture. Allan did not "I must relinquish it, uncle, or trust to time,' he replied. own son. prayer?' "That I will, uncle, cheerfully, if I can, and you will tell me what it is,' replied Allan. ing love for Allan Douglas. I cannot tell you all my folly— "None of the servants knew why Allan and I met the next morning in my father's room. was. Miss Tirrell was too much | upon it. I remember watching the sunbeams upon the wall until I suppose I fell asleep. Slowly enough I became conscious of the suppressed sound of voices. Presently I heard them more plainly. It was Allan, my husband, with his mother, and they were talking of me. If I had been quite awake, and mistress of my own thoughts, I should have told them I was there, and my fate would perhaps have been different. But I had emerged so gradually from my sleep into the waking reality, that the first few words I heard so utterly prostrated me, that I could neither stir nor speak. I assure you, Marian, I should sooner think it feasible to steal than to listen. If by my will I could have suspended their discourse, I would have done so, but I was powerless to speak or to move. "We were married, and the plain gold ring shone on my finger. Lady Douglas kissed me; Allan, for the first and last time, touched my brow with his lips. In my wild mad anguish since I have wished in that moment I had died-died on my husband's heart. My poor father smiled faintly. He lived the day through, but never saw another sun set. "Marian, I cannot tell you how bewildered I felt when Lady Douglas addressed me as 'Lady Carleon.' I thought I must be dreaming. "During the week that elapsed before my father's funeral I remained secluded in my own room with Miss Tirrell. On the evening of the day when this sad ceremony had taken place, I wandered into the large drawing-room. It was quite empty. The windows had deep recesses, something like the one in my library-a small couch stood in one of them, quite hidden by the massive velvet curtains. Listless and tired I lay down "The child is well enough, I dare say,' he replied, impa- | I will never look upon your face again. I will be no drag, no tiently; she is an ugly brown little thing. Oh, how different burden upon you. You are free. If it were lawful to die, I from my golden-haired Gabriel! Mother, I would give wealth would die and release you. As it is not, I must do the next and title both to be free again.' best thing-seek a living death. From this moment I renounce all claim upon you, your wealth, and your name. I will take what I think my father would have given me to live upon; I will go back to Ingledew House, and never leave it except for the grave. I will have no name, for I hate the one you bear.' "But,' he murmured, what will the world say?' "Poor boy,' said Lady Douglas, tenderly, I sympathize with you most heartily. I am grieved for you. You might have married so well. I wonder who her mother was? Some nobody, I suppose! I only hope the child will take after the Carleons, and not resemble that poor ignorant creature.' "It wanted just that, Marian, to sting me into life. With one bound I stood panting before them: my blood boiled, a burning lava of rage rushed through my mind and heart; for the moment I hated even Allan. To do them justice, I must say I never saw people so utterly surprised and ashamed as my husband and his mother. "That will do,' I cried. 'Abuse me; I am ugly and brown, not presentable, and 66 6 'No, I am not mad,' I retorted. 'Listen, and you will know. Allan,' I said, turning to my husband, a wild, bitter grief shaking me from head to foot, 'I will be no clog upon you. My mother married Lord Carleon; she loved him and died of a broken heart. I have married Lord Carleon; I love him -ah, Allan, it is true -and I will break my own heart, loving him who hates me; I will leave him, and never in life consent to see him again. Take all my money, Allan. I shall never want it; it is for that "The world knows nothing of me,' I replied, with a bitter laugh. A faint rumor of Lord Carleon's ugly brown daughter may get abroad, but nobody will credit it. If all the world knew and opposed, I should still go, and keep to the resolutions I have made.' "In that case,' he said, 'it is useless for me to oppose them.' "Quite so, my lord,' I replied. All communication be FIGURE OF THE GODDESS FORTUNE. (FROM A PAINTING IN ROME, BY MICHAEL ANGELO.) tween us ceases from this hour. A few business arrangements will be necessary. Your solicitor can make them with the only friend I have in the world, Miss Tirrell.' "Let it be so, Allan,' said Lady Douglas. Lady Carleon speaks like a woman of business; one I would think she had studied the matter.' "Sudden injuries call forth sudden resentments,' I said, quietly. I leave you now, my lord. I shall return to Ingledew House with Miss Tirrell this evening. I need not ask you never to attempt to see me. You will not. The most welcome news to you will be that I have rejoined my mother. I hope you will hear it soon.' "Blanche, Blanche,' he cried, how you mistake!' "Not at all,' I replied; I am in the way, and have sense enough to know it. I bid you farewell, my lord.' "Blanche,' he said, suddenly, as I turned toward the door, did you say you loved me?' "I did,' was my you bought me. I never wish to see it or hear of it. I will go | quiet reply; 'I have loved you all my life, but I am going away and die.' now to learn how to hate you. When I can do that I will die.' "I have never seen him since, Marian. That same night I came back here to Ingledew House. My heart seemed broken. I would not care to live. I would not read or study, or admit any interest in anything. Night and day I brooded over my "Blanche, how wildly you talk!' cried Lady Douglas. "Lady Douglas,' I said, turning on her fiercely, you have insulted my dead mother. Never presume to address me again. What I have to say will be said to Lord Carleon, not to you.' "Marian, she actually cowered before me, that haughty wo-wrongs for three dreary years-they were long as centuries. I man of the world. received three letters from Lord Carleon, and returned them un"You never could live with such an undisciplined fury, opened. His solicitor, Mr. Wilson, sent me one from Lady Allan,' she said, contemptuously. Douglas; I did the same with that. "Hush, mother,' said my husband; let me hear what Blanche has to say.' "Poor Miss Tirrell went up to London on some business of her own, and, as you have heard, died there. Then you came "It is not much, Lord Carleon,' I replied, only this-that to me, Marian. I liked you at first. Very slowly but surely you awakened a new interest in my heart. I began to see that life might yet have some beauty for me, although I had suffered so keenly. I have rigidly kept my vow. I have never uttered myself, or allowed others to breathe, the name I bear. I shut myself up there to die; but you see," she said, with a bright, happy smile," my heart would not break. What do you think of my story, Marian?" "It is the strangest I ever heard," I replied. we will make a tour through Germany and Italy," I replied. "That will give you more experience of the world than any amount of reading." "It will be delightful," she cried; "but, Marian, we must not go near Como. I could not bear to see the place again." "You shall not," I said. "And now I think we had better return to the house; Mrs. Dean will think we are lost." We returned to the house, and the good old housekeeper did "My husband would not know me now," she said; "and I indeed look flurried and anxious. am much altered." "That he would not if he once called you an ugly, brown "Indeed, my lady," she said, "I was getting alarmed." little thing," I said. "I should like him to see you and hearful face one glow of blushes and smiles. Mrs. Dean gave me a shrewd glance, but made no comment; "I think I was a very plain and awkward child," she said, she guessed I knew at length the history of the recluse of Inmusingly. gledew House. As I gazed upon her beautiful, radiant face I should have thought it impossible, only that I knew beautiful children often grow up plainer, and vice versa. The first thing I did that evening was to write a long letter to my aunt, asking for a reconciliation. I was so anxious to have her co-operation in my plans for Blanche, that I did not mind We both sat silent for some time--the murmur of the waves any humiliation. I was willing to do anything, except marryhad been the accompaniment to Blanche's romantic narration.ing Sir Wilton Graham. So I told my aunt, if she would like I was lost in thought. A sudden idea had presented itself to to see me, I would run up to London and spend a day or two my mind, and I was "making it out." with her; intending to do so on our route to Paris. On return "Blanche," I said, "I have found a beautiful ending to your of post I received a long and most affectionate letter from Mrs. story that is, if you will consent." Erlecote. She was only too pleased to take the offered olive "Have you?" she said, smiling. "What is it? Are you branch, and agreed to welcome Lionel as her nephew. going to live with me forever?'' "No," said I; "in my plan there is love and happiness, ending in the joyous peal of wedding bells, if you will only humble your pride." The Then I busied myself in selecting a school for Blanche. only difficulty was in choosing from so large a number of eligible establishments. I decided at length upon Madame Duplin's. She received but few boarders, and those were all of high birth. "Tell me what it is, Marian," she said. "I have suffered so I knew that Blanche would learn here all those little etiquettes much I have no pride left." of which she was ignorant. "You were married at sixteen, or perhaps seventeen," I replied. "You were then a plain, uneducated girl-that is nearly four years since. Now (mind, I speak without flattery), you are exceedingly beautiful. You have read and thought; besides which you possess a gift that, in itself, makes a woman lovely." Once or twice it struck me that I was taking a great deal upon myself, but then Blanche was married, and mistress of her actions. If my plans resulted in anything for her benefit, so much the better; she could have but gone mad or died if she had remained much longer shut up at Ingledew House. I cannot describe my aunt's delight at seeing us. I took Well," she said, smilingly, "to what does this catalogue of Blanche with me, and with her full consent and permission, my perfections tend ?”’ "To the furtherance of my plan," I replied. "If Lord Car leon were to see you now, he would, I do not doubt, fall in love with you; but he shall not see you yet. Place yourself in my hands, without reserve, until you are twenty-one. I will make peace with my aunt, and you shall visit us in London. Nothing will be easier than to introduce you to Lord Carleon as my cousin, or something of that kind, and if all does not end happily, I will never have faith in fortune again." confided her history to Mrs. Erlecote. I need not say what a lively interest it excited, the more so as Lady Douglas and Lord Carleon were both well known to her. "Marian," said my aunt, "of all the strange stories I ever heard, this is the strangest. Who would believe that that handsome, melancholy nobleman, had such a lovely young wife?" "Is he melancholy?'' I asked, almost glad to hear it. 'Yes; and to my mind, this fully explains the reason," re"You think he would be sure to love me?" she asked, blush- [plied my aunt. "The world believes him to have been hopeing most beautifully. "I do indeed," I replied; "and, Blanche, you have been cruelly used; but I fancy that, despite your long seclusion and desperate attempts, you have not learned to hate your husband yet, have you?" "No," she said, gently. "I love my pictured hero, Allan Douglas, although I do not love Lord Carleon." "Remember," I said, "that from this moment you belong, not to yourself, but to me. We shall start for Paris next week." "For Paris, Marian!" she said. "How quick you are! You make me giddy." lessly in love with the Princess Scholsky." "Does she reside in England now, aunt," I asked. it, Marian, Blanche is far the most lovely of the two." With many thanks to my aunt for her kindness, we started for Paris, and were soon safely installed in the very aristocratic establishment of Madame Duplin. 'Yes, for Paris, Blanche," I replied; " and I will tell you I have no need to give in detail the history of those six why. You must consent, old as you are, to spend six months months. They were spent by Lady Carleon in uninterrupted at one of the best finishing schools in Paris. It is absolutely study. The result was more successful than even I had dared necessary. There are a thousand little things to learn before to hope. She was now an exquisitely beautiful high-bred woyou can mingle with the gay world. I want Lord Carleon to man, whose every motion was replete with grace and harmony. see a beautiful, accomplished, high-bred woman, in place of the Her singing was unequaled. I was proud of her. Mrs. Erlebrown, ugly little thing, of years ago. You must have lessons cote joined us, and we made our eagerly anticipated tour. It in dancing, and I should advise you to study singing well under was, I believe, one long ecstacy to Blanche. Those quaint old one of the best masters of the day." German cities with their ancient legends, the beautiful Rhine "Oh, I shall like it all, Marian," she cried, laughing glee- with its romantic borders, its ruins and stories, were like a new fully, "if you are with me. world to her. Carefully avoiding Como, we visited the chief "That I shall be," I said. "I do not intend to lose sight of Italian cities, and examined to our hearts' content the beauties you again, Blanche, rely upon it." of each. We enjoyed it so much, that instead of returning After six months in Paris, what shall we do?" she inquired home, as previously arranged, at Christmas, we prolonged our again, laughingly. stay in Rome until the end of April, and only arrived in London "If we can persuade my aunt, Mrs. Erlecote, to chaperone us, as the season opened. |