The Wife's Error

Chapter I. Tt

Avas, perhaps, fortunate for Evelyn that, in consequence of the little monetary transaction recorded in the last chapter, her mind became suddenly, as it Avere, awake to the consideration of the actual position of her affairs, and induced to consider what would become of her after her present resources Avere expended. At the rate at which she was living, even in the very moderate man ner in which her expenses were conducted, she found a very few more Aveeks would suffice to exhaust them; and beyond that time she had as yet planned no future I! VOL. THE AVIFE'S ERROR. — she had never calculated upon the possibility of the prospect thus presented to her. Evelyn felt, however, some satisfac tion, slight as it was, at the fact, that Mrs. Barrell's claims were satisfied, and that she was free to continue for the present to lead the monotonous life she had done since she left her home.

She dreaded any change — she dreaded also the necessity of making the exertions which she felt Avould, sooner or later, be necessary. In her secret heart she almost wondered at tbe ease Avith Avhich she had been given up — for at times she quite forgot that her husband must believe her to have taken refuge with his greatest enemy — that she was with her father — for he was Avell aware of the anxiety she had long felt to be with him again. Long did Evelyn Avander that afternoon by the Avater's edge ; she began to look upon the river as her only friend — in its mysterious depths she fancied she could find counsel and relief. When gazing on its tranquil surface, she experienced a greater facility of thought, and freedom of imagination, than when confined within the narroAV boundary of the little parlour of that small hotel.

Sometimes the passing idea would dart into her mind, that she could at the worst find rest and quiet in the bosom of those still deep waters ; there, she Avould cry to herself, surely the " Aveary may be at rest, and the wicked cease from troubling." Alas ! poor Evelyn, it was a wretched state of mind that could give birth to such an idea, and even find comfort in b it ; she wandered so long that same afternoon, absorbed in such meditations, that it was much later than usual Avhen she returned home. Home! it was a dreary substitute for the reality, that Evelyn sought and found in her hotel. Her mind had been slightly stirred and excited that day, and Avith her long Avalk contributed to produce a Aveary sensation of lassitude when she retired to her chamber for the night. She rather welcomed the unusual feeling of fatigue, hoping, from its effects, to pass a longer time than usual in the oblivion of sleep, or in the enjoyment of such dreams as brought back to her the friends and the pleasures of her past life.

Thus it happened that Evelyn went to bed at her accustomed hour, and soon fell into a deeper and more untroubled sleep than she had done for many a long night. She slumbered on, till she was aroused from her repose by what appeared at first to be an undefined sensation of un easiness and alarm. It was some little time before she quite awoke to a full perception of where she was, and how she came to be there. In her former light slumbers, interrupted with restless wakings, she had seldom forgotten the peculiar circumstances in which she found herself placed ; but on this night it was not so — her sleep had been deep, and to a certain point refreshing, Avhen she was thus un pleasantly disturbed in the very midst of it. She had the sensation of something repulsive being near to her ; she felt quite sure she was in the presence of some unknown creature, human or othenvise, that might be hostile to her.

It was a very awful feeling, for she had no light; she rather preferred the dark ness, and the light came in early those September mornings, through the scanty Avhite curtains ; and there was besides the reflection of a gas lamp without, that penetrated into her room, and prevented total obscurity for any length of time. Evelyn moved — she sat up and listened ; all was still for a time, then she plainly distinguished the suppressed sound of breathing close to the head of her bed. She dared not draw back her curtain, and it was too dark at that spot to have discerned anything, had she done so. And now, for the first time, the horrible helplessness of her condition rushed into her mind ; she had placed herself out of the reach of any of her natural protectors. Should she be mur dered in that obscure inn, who would tell the tale ; if she raised her voice to cry, Avho would come to help and deliver her?

What, in fact, was the object of her midnight visitor? Fast crowding images of terror SAvept across her mind, causing her almost to scream aloud Avith the dread of Avhat might be near. She had, however, sufficient presence of mind to suppress all outcry, and even all intimation of being awake, after the first involuntary movement she had made. She laid so still, that no doubt the " presence" was encouraged to advance, for, to her unspeakable horror, she soon felt a hand insinuated very cau tiously beneath her pillow. Stealing on, it approached nearer to Avhere her head lay. Still she moved not, nor had she then the power to do so; but she felt and noted each motion of the horrible hand. Suddenly it contracted as it closed upon something, which she then felt and knew was her watch, which she ahvays placed under her pillow at night, and being a small repeater (another of her father's gifts), Avas particularly valuable to her in the lonely night hours.

The hand then appeared to be withdraAvn Avith the prize it had secured, and such thankfulness and relief as she was capable of feeling she then experienced. Soon after, between her half closed lids, she saw, in the dubious shadow of the midnight lamp's reflection, a species of form crawling along the floor of her room ; it Avas a something that never rose above the level of the tables and chairs of her small apartment. Being at last convinced that it had left her side of the room, she once more ventured to look out, and there she again saw the moving shapeless form, but Avhat it was she could not tell. At last her door turned slowly on its hinges, and was carefully closed upon her visitor. Evelyn distinctly heard a sort of scuffling down the little passage, but she waited for no more, for spring ing from her bed with more of energy than had actuated her since she came to that luckless place, she hastily drew the bolt and locked the door, then turned quickly to ring the bell, but ere she could reach it, a sensation of dizziness oppressed her, and she sunk fainting on the floor.

When she returned to consciousness, the sun was shining in at her window, THE AVIFE'S ERROR. 10 and the sounds of busy life stirring Avithin and without the house. She felt strange and bewildered at first, not clearly recollecting how she came to be where she found herself, and all the circumstances that preceded it. By degrees, however, the unpleasant facts came back to her remembrance, and then she felt sure she had been robbed of her Avatch, and pro bably of what little money she had still remaining in her desk. She soon roused herself to make the necessary investigation, and to ascertain the extent of her calamity; her watch, Avith its chain and various little ornaments, was indeed gone from beneath her pillow, and her desk, Avhich she always placed on her dressing-table, was also missing.

There was no doubt as to the results of the midnight visit Avhich had so greatly alarmed her. Evelyn then rang her bell, and it was quickly answered hy the chambermaid, bearing the accustomed can of hot water. This Avoman was a heavy-browed, repulsive-looking person, and Evelyn had rarely spoken to her since she came to the house. On the present occasion she lost no time in telling her what had occurred, asking at the same time if she had heard any disturbance in the night. The Avoman listened to her Avith a stolid look, and then replied, " No, — I never hears nothink Avhen I am asleep, and I ahvays sleeps heavy, as I am tired enough Avhen I goes to bed." " I daresay you are," returned Evelyn ; " but what had I better do ? My watch is gone, and my desk is gone, and all my money ; you have seen the Avatch, I daresay, in my room, when you have come in, in the morning — perhaps you might knoAv it again, if you were to see it?"

" Me ! laws, Miss ! I didn't even know as you had a watch. I never looks at nothink, when I comes into the room — so don't go for to call me to witness it." " I had better speak to your mistress, I believe," said Evelyn in helpless de spair. " Stay, I shall be down directly ; ask her to come to me then." " Very well," said the woman ; " but Avon't she and the master be fine and angry, to hear you go and say as you have been a robbed in this house." " I think," returned Evelyn, " I have the most cause to be angry ; but that Avill not do much good, I only want to be put in the way to get back what has been stolen." " Laws, miss, how d'ye know they have been stolen ; nothink was ever taken, to my knoAvledge, out of this house before, and belike you have left your Avatch below-stairs." " Not very likely, 1 think, under the circumstances," replied Evelyn, somewhat indignantly ; and then, dismissing the un satisfactory chamber-maid, commenced her toilet.

It was performed with a throbbing head, a sinking heart, and trembling hands ; but at last it Avas completed, and Evelyn, looking pale and worn, but neat and nice, as usual, descended the stairs, and entered the sitting-room. The landlady Avas in the bar, and seemed to be waiting her guest's sum mons, with something of an impatient air as she rose, and immediately followed Evelyn into the room. " I wanted to speak to you, Mrs. Barrell, on a very unpleasant subject, I am sorry to say ; for last night my room was entered, and my watch and my desk a were Here Evelyn stopped abruptly, as she looked on the table before her, and saw lying in its usual place her desk ! "Well, ma'am, your desk was," suggested the landlady Avith freezing polite ness, "am I to understand that is the desk you allude to ?"

" Yes, certainly," replied Evelyn, and in some confusion. " How it came here I cannot imagine, for I perfectly remember taking it upstairs with me; but at all events my watch Avas removed from under my head ; I felt the hand that took it, quite plainly." " Dear me, ma'am ! and you never to ring, nor to holler out, and keep all quiet, till just noAV. Why, ma'am, if I may take the liberty to ask, what's that a-ticking on the chimney-piece ?" " Goodness ! my watch, I declare," Evelyn exclaimed, in perfect beAvilder ment; for there, beyond a doubt, lay the missing repeater, uninjured and safe, with its various ornaments still attached. "Well, ma'am, really! this beats all I ever heard in the Course of my life, by Avay of an accusation as to a robbery in an honest and long respected house as this is Avell knoAvn to be ; and for what end, or aim, or object, I am wholly un prepared to hazard a conjecture."

" And I am sure," returned Evelyn, " I am equally at a loss. What Avas the object of the person who undoubtedly did enter my room last night, and remove my Avatch from under my pillow, and my Avriting-case from the table Avhere I had placed it, is as great a mystery to me as to you; but I confess it makes me feel very uncomfortable, and as if the object had been merely to terrify me last night." Here Evelyn, quite overcome by the recollection of what she had endured, sat doAvn, whilst a cold feeling of utter de spondency stole over her. Mrs. Barrell, meanwhile, like other narrow and vulgar minded people, thought far more of the stigma that her unhappy tenant had at tempted to cast upon her immaculate house than of the suffering so visibly depicted in her countenance and attitude. She continued, therefore, to harp upon her own grievances, saying, " Well, ma'am, I hope you are satisfied now that all the stolen property is safe ; and you must be aAvare of the falseness of the accusation you have brought against me and my husband's house, which was never so accused before.

I hope, ma'am, you feel easy now, and contented in your own mind." Evelyn was very far from being so, but saAV no * good in prolonging the fruit less altercation. She therefore Avearily told Mrs. Barrell she Avas so far satisfied that the articles Avere restored that she had supposed Avere lost, but there was yet more she could not attempt to under stand; but she wished to make no further remark at that time upon the occurrence. Mrs. Barrell, thus dismissed, flung out of c VOL. the room, evidently deeply displeased, and supposing the whole affair to be an invention, for some unknoAvn purpose of her lodger's. Evelyn sent the almost untasted breakfast aAvay, and then, drawing her writing case towards her, set about an investiga tion of its contents before making any determination as to what she should do on leaving the house, which Avas noAV become in every Avay so repugnant to her.

Evelyn looked first for* the remain ing sum of money she had placed in the little case that had contained her feAv bank notes. She looked indeed, but there was nothing to be found; all her money, including that in her purse (which also remained Avhere she had placed it) had vanished. Her money was evidently stolen; it Avas that which had been the THE AVIFE'S ERROR. 19 sole object of her midnight visitor's de predation; nothing else Avas taken, so there was not the slightest clue by which anything conld be traced to the thief. Evelyn now knew why her Avatch had been removed — because the key that opened her desk Avas attached to it ; and she was also conscious that the manner in Avhich the robbery had been effected left her but little chance of proving Avhat had been stolen from her. She, hoAvever, thought it advisable to let her hosts knoAv the actual state of the case, and therefore, stepping across the passage, and finding them together, she told her story.

She had, hoAvever, the mortification of per ceiving that it gained no credence from her hearers — Mrs. Barrell merely requesting her to look again, as no doubt the money Avould turn up* like the stolen c2 Avatch and desk, and advising her to send for the police, and declaring her own willingness to undergo any ex amination that might be necessary, adding she had plenty of friends to stand up for her character, and so had her husband, and she would advise Miss Lynn (if that was the lady's real name) to get some of hers and speak up as to hers, when she made such accusations against a respect able house, which had never been so ac cused before, and should be glad, before she did so, to receive the remainder of her bill, and see the lady safe out of her house, for she could not help feeling mis trustful of people who told such trumped up stories as she had done.

Chapter II

TjWELYN turned from the excited landlady with a sensation bordering on despair. Her thoughts then fixed them selves on the calm, peaceful flowing river, with a longing desire to find herself by its banks. She felt as if the sight of that unconscious friend would tran quilize her perturbed spirits, and that she should be better able there to con sider Avhat steps she should take next. She hastily ran up stairs and put on her bonnet and shawl, and then, after a little hesitation, took her restored watch in her hand, and detached the feAv little trinkets attached to it, intending to offe-r them for sale. She hoped she might be able to raise enough by that expedient to pay her small remaining account at Mrs. Bayell's, and find the means of re moving immediately from a place that Avas become so hateful to her in every respect.

Whilst she Avas pondering on the best way of accomplishing her in tentions, a slight circumstance arrested her thoughts, and brought a conviction as irresistible as it was instantaneous to her mind. It was simply this: at the moment of her descending the narroAv staircase, on her way out of the house, her pro gress Avas obstructed by a kneeling figure, busily engaged at that time in scouring the passage. As the person (it Avas the maid of the inn) moved aside to let Evelyn pass, there Avas something in the Avhole attitude and gesture of the ungainly craAvling form that brought back the recollection of her midnight visitor, and identified it as the same. Evelyn passed her with a shudder, and quitting the hotel, rambled on for some time before she could regain the poAver of calm consideration, so necessary.

She had a vague impression of being alone in the world, Avithout friends, and Avithout any definite means of subsistence. Her money was gone, and no one Avould believe she had lost any. She could not prove it, and she shrank from the idea of pre senting herself before any magistrate, and from revealing Avho she was, and why she came to be in such an unsuitable position. She was equally averse, also, to giving her real, as a false name; she must, therefore, submit to her loss. THE AVIFE'S ERROR. But this occurrence compelled her to take some decided step for the future, much sooner than she imagined she should have found necessary. The first thing to be considered was how to obtain sufficient money to enable her to satisfy her pre sent hosts, and after that, Evelyn thought she might find some humble lodging, and then do something for her own maintenance, if she could procure em ployment ; " for," thought she, " it is little enough I shall need, and I am convinced I shall not long require it."

Thus, brooding over her unhappy thoughts, Evelyn at length ventured to enter a very humble shop, and tender her trin kets for sale. The man was probably more accustomed to such applications than she had supposed likely, for he testified no surprise at her demand, but proceeded in a business like way to test the quality of the various articles before him. He then named so low a price of purchase for the most valuable, that Evelyn involuntarily caught up her trea sures, and stood as if undecided. That action did her good service ; the shop man saw it Avas genuine, and fearing to lose a good bargain, condescended to negociate upon the business, and at length made over to her a sum about the third of the real value of her trinkets. It Avas, however, though small, of great importance to Evelyn, for it seemed not only the means of defraying her hotel account, but would enable her to seek, and pay for, a fresh lodging that very evening.

She took the money, and placed it securely in her purse, Avhich had been restored to her in its empty state ; and then, turning aAvay from the town Avalked down to the path, so often sought by the river's side. Absorbed in thought, though of an un defined and unconnected nature, Evelyn Avandered on, past the straggling houses and various buildings, which Avere clustered on the banks, as the suburbs disappeared, and she emerged into the wide wild open country. She had never been so far before, and experienced a sensation of freedom and ease as she left the murky town behind, and felt the soft springy turf beneath her feet, Avhich soon took the place of the regular path or road, that had skirted the river for some Avay past the town. The country greAV wilder, and more open at every step, and the faithful river by whose protecting banks she pertinaciously trod, became more winding, and less formal than she had found it hitherto.

The leaves of many a floAvering Aveed dotted its ample surface, though the blossoms Avere passed away. Still its edges Avere bounti fully fringed by reeds and rushes, and wide-leaved water plants, that could not flourish upon the slimy margin of the river nearer to the town. A sensation of calm contentment stole over Evelyn's weary mind, as she looked up to the clear autumnal sky, and thence into the depths of the Avater by the side of which she Avandered. Hope sprang up once more in her heart, very vague, no doubt, but sug gested by the quiet harmonious scene around, which spoke unconsciously to her young imagination of the unspeakable goodness and glory of the Creator, who had made so fair and beautiful a Avorld for the habitation of his erring sinful creatures. " I might find rest and be happy here alone, in this sweet place, if I could re main here for ever!"

Avas the cry of her undisciplined heart, and she sat doAvn to enjoy the sensation of that first hour of peace and calm. Hoav long Evelyn had sat dreaming she kneAv not ; but she was aroused from her meditation by a faint cry; it was a distant sound, but borne to her distinctly on the breeze — she listened, and it was repeated. There Avas no mistaking the sound — it Avas a cry for help. Evelyn sprang from her seat, and, without a moment's pause for consideration, pressed fonvard in the direction from which the cries came. The wind bore the voice doAvn the river, and up its bank and by the narrow edge she ran, now hear ing the shrieks grow stronger as she evidently approached nearer the spot from Avhence they proceeded. Evelyn soon be held from whom the appeal came. An old man, Avith long Avhite hair, moved restlessly up and doAvn a small space upon the bank, noAV stooping doAvn and laying his ear almost upon the earth, then quickly addressing some unseen ob ject beneath the place Avhere he stood, and ever and anon lifting up his shrill Avild cry for help.

Panting and breathless, at last Evelyn reached the old man. At first he seemed unconscious of her presence, for he never looked towards her — all his energies seemed to be directed towards the bank beneath his feet. "What is the matter?" she asked as she came quite close ; is it anything in which I can help you?" "Who are you? I don't know your voice, but, for the love of God, help ee us, young woman. " Where, and in Avhat Avay?" again asked Evelyn; and as she spoke to the old man, she perceived that he was totally blind. "Look doAvn, look down!" he screamed. " I can't see her, but you can, and you, may be, can help to save her." Then indeed Evelyn looked over the edge of the bank Avhere she Avas standing by the old man; and what did she see, that sent the life-blood curdling to her heart, and caused a film to gather over her eyes ?

Instantly dashing away the overhanging shrubs, she Avas in a moment cautiously descending the precipitous bank, and speaking Avords of encouragement to a little face that was gazing helplessly up from the deep waters that seemed to be fast gathering around the little form that hung there so perilously. The face ap peared to be that of a little girl of some six or seven years of age ; the long fair hair was floating all around, and the SAveet pleading eyes strained to agony, in the long upward gaze that was cast above. " I can't hold on much longer," sobbed the pale lips of the poor child; "help! help !" It was indeed a situation of the greatest danger, and Evelyn felt uncertain how far she might even increase the peril in her efforts to afford assistance. She then saw hoAV utterly vain it must have been for the blind old man to have attempted the child's rescue, had he even known the exact spot towards Avhich his attempt should be directed.

It was evident the child had overbalanced herself in gathering the rushes, of which a half-finished basket Avas made, that hung on a neighbouring branch; whilst the poor little girl clutched on with her failing strength to a long and strong Avillow bough Avhich SAvept the sur face of the water, Avhich appeared to be deep and dangerous in that part. At length Evelyn, slipping and sliding herself along this bough, which swayed and bent with her weight, succeeded in reaching out one hand to the child, whispering a caution to be very quiet and gentle, or the branch would break. Then she stooped and caught the little hand that held on to the bough, and the dim look of fear and anguish in that young face Avas turned into one of hope and joy; and then the other hand, suddenly disengaging itself, Avas throAvn round Evelyn's neck, bringing the sweet pale face close to her OAvn.

Evelyn felt for a moment as if the shock must have precipitated them both fromthe branch which supported her as she crouched upon it, and to Avhich she still clung Avith one hand, unable to move either Avay, with that little stranger rescued child hanging round her neck, and its little terrified heart beating close to her own. Ah! what woman who has had a child of her own for ever so short a space nestling there, but feels as if all helpless in fancy has its proper resting-place henceforth in her sheltering arms! So naturally did Evelyn press the little form to her, and D ArOL. whisper gently words of hope and encouragement, though every moment made the realization of them less probable. At last, Avhen almost overcome by the exertion and tension of mind and muscle, sounds Avere heard of approaching relief.

The old man had groped his way, by a well-knoAvn path, to some of his own labourers' cot tages, and they approached, bringing ropes and hurdles, Avhich Avere speedily lowered beneath the place where Evelyn and the child hung. All then seemed indistinct. She knew only that her arms relaxed, that the child Avas saved, and then she felt cold waters all around, and after that sight and memory failed. Long fainting fits succeeded Evelyn's first return to con sciousness, though she had been in no danger of droAvning after she and the TIIE AVIFE'S ERROR. 35 child Avere discovered and rescued; but the Avaters rushed over the temporary litter on which they were placed before it could be entirely disengaged from the surrounding bushes aud branches. When Evelyn's senses returned sufficiently to enable her to observe Avhere she Avas, she saw all Avas strange around her.

She Avas lying in a quaint old room, with long lattice AvindoAvs, on an unfamiliar bed, Avhilst other objects in it Avere equally so ; but Avithal everything Avore an air of freshness "and comfort that brought a sensation of rest and repose to her overstrained faculties. She Avas again visited by that strange mesmeric feeling, in Avhich she Avas capable of see ing and hearing and distinguishing objects, but Avithout having any distinct perception of her OAvn personal identity, as concerned D in all that Avas going on around her. At the slight noise made by her partial awaking, and faint exclamation of sur prise, Evelyn observed the curtain of her bed drawn aside, and a face and form appeared at the opening, looking down and bending over her with evident anxiety and interest. She saAV it was that of a young Avoman, apparently about six or seven and twenty; and as Evelyn's eyes became accustomed to the dim light that fell upon her attendant from the opposite shaded window, she perceived the face and countenance was one of singular SAveetness and beauty.

She caught the delicately rounded outline of it, as a straggling sunbeam fell just where she stood, bringing out the pure clearness of the soft Avhite complexion, and lighting the dark hair with a golden tint; but it Avas the gentle candour of the dark brown eyes that looked upon her so tenderly, and the expression of the sweet mouth, that struck Evelyn most forcibly, even in her half unconscious state, whilst she listened to a feAv Avords of kind inquiry as to how she found herself, the questioner being evidently anxious to suppress every appearance of bustle and over-anxiety that might excite and alarm the patient. " You Avill dt> well now, I trust," said the gentle voice, " and I shall defer all expressions of gratitude till you are better able to bear them. Pray — pray do not exert yourself in any way."