Cords and Discords. A family record of long ago

Front matter

AT EVERY LIBRARY. A SON OF MARS. % rHob£l. BY MAJOR ARTHUR GRIFFITHS. AUTHOR OF "THE QUEEN'S SHILLING," "LOLA," "A WAYWARD WOMAN," &C. 2 Vols., 14s. *' 'A Son of Mars ' is a Military Novel of the best type. It is quick in movement and rich in incident, while, dealing with a life which its Author knows well, its interest never flags."— The World. REMINGTON & CO., 133, New Bond Street, W. Of Every Bookseller. & cfawultr gfrort of g-go. IN TWO VOLUMES. BY CHARLOTTE ATCHERLEY. " Dem Klugen Weitumsichtigen zeigt sich fur wahr oft unmogliches als mbglich." — Goethe. " The meaning of song goes deep; who is there that in logical words can express the effect music has on us, a kird of inarticulate unfathomable speech, which leads us to the edge of the infinite, and lets us for a moment gaze into that."— Carlyle. VOL. II. REMINGTON AND CO., 133, New Bond Street, W. [Removed from j, Arundel Street, Strand. ~\ 1880. [All Rights ReserueU.]

Chapter I

The next morning Stanhope rose at an early hour, his first thought was to look out of the window to see what the weather was likely to prove ; it bid fair to be fine, and his spirits rose, while in imagination he was already successful in capturing game, already astonish ing the M'Naughtons, proving to them that he was an unerring shot and possessed the finest dog in the world. Stanhope was the first on the bridge, he waited for his pro mised companions, and every moment seemed an hour ; Tip too was restless and impatient, no doubt wondering why his master did not go on. VOL. II. B At last Robert came up exultingly flourish ing a gun in each hand, and shouting — " Hurrah ! " " I have waited so long ! " said Stanhope. " I thought something had gone wrong," and he took the gun to scrutinise it.

" I thought you looked crest-fallen," said Robert, " but quick step, march ! Let us lose no more time." " It is all Robert's fault," said Alic, coming up, " that we are late ; would you believe it, he was such an ass, he saw a cat, and per sisted in giving him chase." " He was getting into practice for chasing a hare," said Stanhope, while still examining the gun, his companions being equally en gaged in a scrutiny of the dog's points, which brought forth the remark from Alic — " The governor is right, there is nothing like blood in man, or beast." The lads went off in high spirits, shot all day, and bagged a reasonable quantity of DISCOEDS. 3 game. They had gone over so much ground that the brothers were nearly worn out, while Stanhope was almost as fresh as when he had started. " What a fellow you are, Fitzgerald !

" said Robert, " what muscle you have ! you would wear out any one I ever saw ; no one could have any chance with ye. I heard the governor say the other day, that he never knew such a wonderful leaper and runner as your father was in his youth, but I'm sure you beat him in strength." " Well, I suppose I do, I have a good share of muscle ; feel this," said Stanhope, bending up his arm, and making the muscle swell. " Like iron ! " exclaimed the M'Naughtons iu admiration. Alic adding — " I'd give the world to show such an arm ! " The youths were on the road home, when Robert exclaimed — " I am so awfully thirsty, I don't wonder that Esau bartered his birthright for a mess of porridge, I dare say his hunger equalled my thirst ! " " I fancy he felt as I do just now," said Alic, " I am so hungry, I could eat a bit of dry bread."

"I'm never hungry," said Stanhope, "as long as the sport lasts, but when it is over, and I get home, you should see me demolish cold meat ! " At that moment a covey of partridges rose ; Stanhope fired and wounded two of the birds, one fell immediately, the other flew over the hedge into the next field. " Go on, I'll overtake you," said Stanhope to his companions, and quick as thought he climbed the hedge and reached the fallen bird as soon as the dog, he was just stooping to pick up the game, when he was arrested by the sound of an imperious voice crying out as a slave-driver might — " D you, stop ! " Stanhope turned, and saw General Mac donald, livid with rage, standing beside him. In a moment it flashed across the youth's mind that he was on forbidden ground. He instantly took off his hat and bowed politely; he knew the character of the General, yet he was rather startled by the response to his civility being — " D me, sir, arn't you Fitzgerald's youngster ?" as he spoke the colour deepened in his face.

" My name is Stanhope Fitzgerald, sir," the boy answered, with some dignity, and drawing himself up to his full height. " Exactly so — and you are poaching ! " the old man said, with a glare of fury in his eyes. " Pardon me, sir, I am not poaching ; allow me to explain," said Stanhope, steadily fixing his eyes on the ferocious face before him. At the same moment his dog seized the partridge his master had left on the ground. General Macdonald, who was carrying a gun, instantly took aim, fired, and the poor dog fell dead at Stanhope's feet. " Beware of adding insolence to the offence already committed," growled the furious General, " your dog, young jackanapes, will poach no more, whatever his master may do." Stanhope grew crimson with passion, and exclaimed — " It is well for you and me, that you are an old man ; I am young and powerful, and but for your years I would twist your neck, by Heaven I would !

" and lifting the dead dog tenderly, he leapt over the hedge, as if flying from the temptation to avenge him self. General Macdonald felt as if a string were suddenly drawn tightly round his throat ; the blood rushed to his head, he was seized with a dizziness, objects appeared whirling around him, with a strong effort he kept his feet,. and muttering, " Infernal whelp ! " he began to walk towards his house, which stood at no great distance. General Macdonald was a large, heavy man, about sixty years of age, and at this moment every limb of his body trembled, while fierce, tigerish passion struggled in bis convulsed face. Having reached his house, he called for his horse, mounted it with some difficulty, and rode off to Brook Cottage, which was distant about two miles. Leila had conceived a great dislike to the General, because she had heard so many stories of his cruelty and of his inclination to grind down the poor, and to oppress all over whom he had any power, and as lord of the manor he possessed that of tormenting many.

If there was one thing more than another that called forth pride in Leila, it was being brought in contact with tyranny. She was sitting at the window working, when she saw a gentleman on horseback, ride through the gate, which had been accidentally left open ; he came across the lawn, close up to the window. Leila instantly recognised the intruder, and with a feeling of astonishment and indignation at seeing the turf trampled upon by the hoofs of the horse, she hastily stepped out. The General touched his hat instinctively when he saw her, but before he had time to speak, Leila had drawn herself up to her full height, and exclaimed, while her usually gentle eyes flashed fire — " Off, General Macdonald ! Off my lawn !" and she pointed towards the gate. "Madam, I — " began the General. " Your horse's hoofs trample my lawn, sir ; off !

" repeated Leila. " But permit me, madam — " he persisted. " I permit no one to act as you are acting ; turn your horse's head instantly ! " inter rupted Leila, waving her hand towards the gate, while unmistakeable scorn played on her lips. The General felt it would be useless to argue the point, and with a curse between his teeth, he beat a retreat. Nellie had just entered and closed the gate. " Child ! " cried the rider, in a voice of thunder, " open that gate ! " Nellie had heard her mother order the -General to turn his horse's head, and without understanding why or wherefore, she felt her mother had received some indignity, and answered — " I shall not, sir ! " and she threw her little head back, with an expression of de fiance in her brave eyes, adding with more spirit than prudence, " I see that you have been rude to my mamma !

" The General bit his lip with rage, he was obliged to dismount, which was not an easy matter for him, but to remount was almost beyond his power. The giddiness he had felt before, returned, and this time accom panied by a singing in the ears and a coufu- DISCORDS. sion of ideas. He was far from being a prepossessing-looking man at any time ; he had a coarse, bull-dog looking face, with a deep red colour, hanging jaws, and small restless suspicious eyes, embedded in fat wrinkles, which gave him a peculiarly malicious appearance. He was evidently a great lover of the table, but rather a gourmand than an epicure ; in fact he was a thoroughly sensual being. The rebuff he had met with, and the exer tion of mounting his horse, had caused the blood to rush to his head; he felt too, that he was the wrong side of the hedge this time, and he muttered curses deep enough, from his verv heart.

" An infernal nest of hornets," he added, " it would have been hard to root them out, backed by those d — d M'Naughtons ! D — me, if I'm sorry they're going of their own accord. I wouldn't have suffered them to remain here under my very nose, even if I DTSCOEDS. 11 had been obliged to buy them out ! They are evidently needy. Ah, that youngster shall be fined ! there's nothing like touching a poor man's pockets when they're empty, it brings him to his senses ! And that she dragon dame, she must be tamed some way — a fine woman though ! " Thus soliloquised the General, as he rode slowly into the town, meaning to call on Mrs. Durham to sow what seeds of discord he could. As he rode he was confusedly planning schemes of vengeance; when he reached Mrs. Durham's door they had taken no definite form .

Mrs. Durham was at home ; the General entered, the interview was short, the visitor did all the talking, he blustered a good deal, misrepresented the affair with Stanhope, and took his departure, after succeeding in frightening his auditor. The moment she was alone, Mrs. Durham started for Brook Cottage, and moved by her anxiety, walked at such a rapid pace, that she entered exhausted and agitated. " Mother, dear ! " Leila exclaimed, " you are ill ? or, only very tired ?" and she placed her on the sofa, putting a cushion at her back, and a foot-stool under her feet, while she kissed her fondly. " Oh, my dear Leila," exclaimed the mother, when she had recovered her breath, " I have come on a painful errand. I am grieved to wound your feelings, and nothing but absolute necessity makes me speak," and Mrs. Durham paused.

" Tell me quickly, mother, I am inured to pain ! " said Leila, with eyes that dilated so much that they seemed to grow quite dark. " General Macdonald has called on me, to-day," began Mrs. Durham, fidgeting with her bonnet strings. " Do you mean, mother, that he has called on you to complain of me? that would be too ridiculous ! " and Leila laughed scornfully. DISCORDS. " It is nevertheless a fact," said Mrs. Durham. " He told me the whole story. What could have made Stanhope act so madly ? To begin with, he will be fined, and you can ill afford that ! Who can say what this wild folly will entail ? The General says Stanhope threatened his life ! and you vindicated him, I hear. Ah, Leila, that is not like your general feeling of justice ! " " Dear mother, I understand nothing you have said !

" said Leila, wearily. " What has Stanhope done? I know nothing about the matter, I have not seen him since early morning. I cannot condemn him unheard, and God help him if he has fallen into the hands of that low tyrant ! Stanhope is an impulsive passionate boy, and may have com mitted some folly when stung by insult, as I myself resented the man's over-bearing inso lence. If Stanhope has been foolish and imprudent, worse than that I am sure he has not been, I dread the effect on his father, who unfortunately is inclined to impatience with him, forgetting that he is young and over flowing with life and spirits, though simple as a child. Ah, here he comes, I will speak with my boy alone, please mother dear, and then return to you, with his side of the story ! "

CHAPTER IL

He that ruleth his own spirit is greater than one that conquers men or kingdoms. Stanhope entered the dining-room, where his mother awaited him. Leila placed her hand on her heart as if to still its beating ; she succeeded to some extent in calming her agitation, and she fixed her eyes on her son to learn how far he had been to blame. The boy did not avoid her glance, but he was pale and looked anxious ; he knew that his mother would be shocked to hear what had taken place, and he was grieved to pain her ; he knew also that it would reach his father's ears, and the thought occurred to him to act on Robert's suggestion, and go off to fight for Don Carlos. It was but a passing idea, and one glimpse of his mother, with her sad, sweet eyes fixed on him, immediately banished the idle dream. " Oh, Stanhope !

Stanhope ! " cried Leila, " what have you done ? What could have tempted you to act so madly ? " " Ah, mother," responded the lad, his eyes filling with tears, " I am destined to be a source of torment to all whom I love best." " I do not think of myself, only of you," said the mother. " Why did you enter the General's grounds, and what evil spirit could have possessed you to threaten his life ? " Never before had Stanhope heard so severe a tone in his mother's voice. Then Leila went on to tell him of General Macdonald's visit, of his going to Mrs. Durham's, and what had followed ; and the boy also told his story, " nothing extenu ating." And the mother leaned lovingly on her son's shoulder as she said — " Dear child, you had evidently much to provoke you, but the world will not take my view of the matter, nor, alas ! will your father.

The fine we might meet, with an effort, but the charge the old man threatens to bring against you of threatening his life because he caught you poaching on his lands — that is — oh, my God, save my son from such disgrace ! " she ejaculated, in an agony of grief. " My darling mother, my worst trouble is to have grieved you ; but I really have done nothing wilfully wrong. General Macdonald grossly insulted me, shot my dog, and — oh ! I am glad I was not here when he rode across the lawn and defied you ; I could not have restrained myself, I must have knocked him off his horse." " Would that your blood were cooler, my boy," said Leila, who had striven hard to master her emotion. " The mischief being done, let us both try to face it as calmly and firmly as we can. I shall say nothing about the affair to your father to-night — he is ill,. and all agitation tends to aggravate his com-- VOL. II. o DISCOEDS. plaint — nor will I reproach you, dear ; you see the evil your haste has brought about.

Keep your mind as quiet as you can, and, oh, do try, my hot-headed darling, to bear and forbear — it is a difficult task, I know, and one that cost me a hard inward struggle ere I learnt it." Stanhope had thrown one arm over his chair, and shaded his tearful eyes with his hand, while he listened to his mother; her tenderness moved him more than the severest lecture would have done. " And ah ! " she continued, " had I learnt that lesson better, I should have striven to soothe the wretched man, instead of irritating him. I blame myself; I thought that pride of that sort had died within me long ao*o :" O O •* and she sighed. " No, no, mother, you have nothing to reproach yourself with. I am delighted that you resented his insolence — the brute, the odious brute ! " " Stanhope, control yourself — moderate your language, or you will make me fear that if you were in a similar situation to-morrow, you would fall into the same error again.'' " I am a brute myself to torture you," groaned the boy, covering his face with his hands.

" Oh, mother, I am so miserable ! " " My darling boy," said Leila, laying her hand upon his head, " God bless you, and give you power to master your own spirit. I must leave you now to go to your dear grandmother, who is waiting in the next room, most anxiously, I know; she will view the matter very differently when she hears the other side of the story," and Leila kissed her son fondly as she left him. Mrs. Durham was walking up and down the little drawing-room with some impa tience. Leila entered, looking calm though pale ; nineteen years of enforced self-com mand had given her a power not originally belonging to her impulsive nature. DISCOEDS. " I am grieved to have kept you so long waiting, my dear mother," said she. " I have heard all Stanhope has to say; he never tries to screen himself.

From what I gather, I cannot blame him much, though the consequences of his rashness may be very serious, for he was goaded and insulted shamefully." Then Leila related to her mother all that had happened, adding, " Now, mother, don't you think the poor boy received great provocation ? " " Certainly," said Mrs. Durham; " but it would never do to let him think you approve of his conduct, and his language seems to have been really dreadful." " Of course not," said Leila; " but I can well understand his being goaded into using strong expressions, as I have been exposed myself to the insolence of the same tyrant." " And then, Leila," continued Mrs. Dur ham, growing warm, " how strange that even little Nellie, a mere child, should take on DISCORDS. 21 herself to refuse to open the gate for the General to pass out !

You must correct that child, my dear, or she will give you great trouble." " Dear mother, Nellie only thought she was defending me ; I blame myself, much more than either of my children." " Oh, Leila, your children have inherited the passionate nature of their father, and from you only a certain degree of pride," said Mrs. Durham ; " pride which you always possessed as a child, despite your many noble qualities." "You may be right, mother," said Leila, and a gleam of light in her eyes proved that the remark had some truth in it, but the light died away, and was succeeded by a half suppressed sigh, though she soon resumed her calmness, and added, " I should be sorry to see my children deficient in a certain self-respect or tamely submitting to insult." CORDS AND DISCOEDS. " Well, Leila," said her mother, wishing, perhaps, to change the theme, " I will pay the fine, should there be one, and then, perhaps, we need say nothing to Roger — it would only cause a scene if he knew the matter, and that would tell on your health."

" I am not sure that it would be possible, even if it were right, to keep Roger in the dark," said Leila. " I could not deceive my husband even to spare Stanhope, though the temptation is strong, considering his state of health. I am very, very grateful to you, mother, for your generous offer, which I will accept, should it be absolutely necessary. I shall see my way more clearly to-morrow ; now my head needs rest that I may prepare for contingencies." " Do go to rest early, my child ; your poor eyes show how weary you are. Forgive me if I have added to your grief by one harsh word," said Mrs. Durham, kissing her daughter ; and it was with a heavy heart she walked down the little lane which led to the town in which she lived. The idea that her son was about to be dis graced in the eyes of the world, pursued Leila even in sleep, and Stanhope's excited brain created a wild dream, in which he fought with a phantom which had taken the form of the General.

It was a desperate struggle ; now the boy felt his adversary's hands tighten round his thi-oat, then his grasp loosened and the tyrant fell dead at his feet, which caused in him such a feeling of* horror that it awoke him, making him ex claim : " Thank God, it was but a dream ! " His next thought was of sorrow for the trouble he had brought on his mother, and the boy prayed for her as, perhaps, he had never prayed before — he prayed, too, that he might be forgiven.

Chapter III

The death of an enemy gives to the generous soul a pang which the loss of a beloved object cannot inflict ; the last has no remorse. Dinnee has been waiting at least one hour at Musgrave Hall, and the cook is wishing her master, General Macdonald, at the bottom of the Red Sea, while John, the manservant, who is her lover, is trying to console her in her vexation. " The old Turk has come ! " muttered John, when a loud knock and a violent ring ing interrupted their conversation, and he flew to admit the domestic tyrant, a kind of person always the best served, if not the most willingly. " Why do you keep me waiting at the door, sir ? " thundered the General, adding an oath. John begged pardon most humbly for a fault he had not committed, and ere long telegraphed to the kitchen — " Look out for squalls !

" Dinner was served. " D — the soup," said the General, " d — the cook, she shall go, for sending me this cold stuff." John bowed low and expressed as much sorrow as if the cooking had been his, while he removed the tureen. " I'll send it in boiling hot to-morrow, and I hope it will burn the old tiger's throat," said the cook when she heard of her master's good wishes and intentions ; but John returned to the dining-room with her " humble duty " and many assurances that " such a thing should never happen again." The •obsequious system adopted by John had often succeeded in soothing the storm, but to-day it utterly failed. The General put his glass to his lips, and contracted his brows ; as he did so, he made several dissatisfied twists with his sensual mouth, and said — " This wine has been tampered with ; d — you, sir, what do you know of it ?

" "I humbly beg your pardon, sir, but I know nothing that can have happened to it," answered John, and he threw into his face an expression of such intense sorrow that it was ludicrous ; but his master was not to be appeased, and he burst forth again with fresh fury — " This is not the first lie you have told me, sir, but it shall be the last ; and this is not the first time my wine has been meddled with ; away with it, and bring me a sound bottle ! " John retreated as soon as he could to the kitchen, and reported to the cook that the General had eaten no dinner, not finding " anything on the table fit for a civilised stomach," adding, "ten to one he will sleep off his rage ; if you see him to-morrow say ' yes, yes,' to everything he says, and try and keep a place with so many perquisites."

The General had not eaten, it is true, but when left alone with his wine, he drank, and drank, and grew more and more confused. Presently he rose, staggered across the room and rang the bell, which was promptly answered. " I am going to bed ; I shall rise early ; I have business of importance to transact to morrow; order breakfast one hour earlier than usual, and desire my horse to be brought round directly afterwards. Do you under stand, sir?" " Certainly, sir, certainly ; I will see to it," and John bowed his lowest. " Humph ! " ejaculated the General, and he began to reel. " I wonder what makes my head so confused, and my legs so heavy. Confound that wine, d — you, sir, you have tampered with it, I say." This time John thought it prudent to keep DISCOEDS. 28 silent, and only to look miserable, as he knew his master well enough to be aware, that nothing incensed him so much as to see cheerful faces about him, while he never seemed so near contentment himself, as when he had made all near him wretched.

But as the servant was leading the General up stairs he looked at him furtively, and ob served that he was strangely flushed, his very ears were crimson, while his eyes, almost lost in their baggy surroundings, had a queer look. Twice he paused, and clung to the bannisters for support. John dared not offer any assistance beyond that demanded. " D — you, sir, what have you done with the light ? Carry it so that I can see ! " he cried fiercely, and he appeared groping as if in the dark. " I beg a thousand pardons, sir," said the man, but in his heart he muttered, " the old fellow is blind with drink, wont he be in a way to-morrow when he's wide awake, calling for soda water and swearing it isn't up." With another low bow John ushered his master into his bed-chamber aud withdrew. " I only wish he'd go to his nest early like this every night," said the cook, " and leave us to enjoy ourselves a little below.

We'll make up a good fire and have a nice, comfort able supper. After all it's a great comfort to live in a house where there's no ladies ; if there's one thing I hates more than another it's ladies ; there's no perkisits where ladies be. Lord 'a mercy what's that noise ? " as a heavy fall was heard. " It's in the General's room ! " exclaimed John, rushing up stairs ; he heard a groan, applied his eye to the key-hole, and saw his master lying on the floor in a fit. Soon he stood beside him with a scared face, not un mingled with better feeling, for he had a heart. There lay the unhappy man prone on the floor. In his struggles he had turned round on his face which was fearfully distorted ; his breathing was loud and oppressed, and at intervals altogether interrupted. Heavy as he was, John succeeded in turning him on his back and putting a cushion under his head.

Every moment the convul sions became stronger and the face more purple, while foam oozed from the lips. Presently, partial consciousness returning, he made an effort to speak, but the tongue would not obey the will. Soon every hand in the house lent assistance, and the wretched man was laid on his bed a little calmer. It was nearly an hour before the doctor, who had been summoned from a distance, arrived. He shook his head ominously, but did all he could for the sufferer. Ere long the convulsions returned with in creased violence; the doctor's skill, the servants' care were alike useless, and the morning sun broke on the corpse of the man COEDS AND DISCORDS. 31 whose last thought had probably been one of vengeance. General Macdonald had lived and died alone, as far as relations and friends were concerned ; " his hand had been against every man, and every man's hand against him."