The Sisters; or, the Fatal marriages ... Illustrated with fifty-eight engravings by Kenny Meadows and Alfred Crowquill: a portrait of the author: and twenty-two etchings on steel, by Onwhyn. Second edition, with additions

Front matter

THE SISTERS; OR, THE FATAL MARRIAGES. BY HENRY COCKTON, AUTHOR OF "THE LOVE MATCH,'1 "THE STEWARD," AND "SYLVESTER SOUND, THE SOMNAMBULIST." ILLCBTBATED WITH FIFTr-EIGHT ENGRAVINGS BV KENNY MEADOWS AND ALFRED CEOWQUILI,; A PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR; AND TWENTY-TWO ETCHINGS ON STEEL, BY ONWHYN. SECOND EDITION, WITH ADDITIONS. LONDON : W. M. CLARK, 18 & 17, WARWICK-LANE, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1851. CONTENTS PAGE Chap. I. — The Introduction ... ... ... ... ••■ 1 II.— The Discovery ... ... ... ••• ■•• 7 IIL— The Proposal ... ... — — ■■• 16 IV. — The Explanation between Sir Arthur and Charles ... 26 V.— The Wedding Day ... ... ... — — 35 VI.— Connubial Felicity ... ... ... •■■ — 43 VII.— On Predestination ... ... — ••• — Sp VIII.— On Taste ... ... ••• ••• — - 61 IX.— On Fashion ... ... ■•• — - 68 X. — Life in the Country ... ... ••• ■•■ ••■ ''' XI.— The Bespeak and File Champilre ... ... ••■ 81 XII.— The Departure .. ... ... ••• ••• av_ XIII.— The Introduction of Vincent Darnley ... ... ••• $■> XIV. — The Attack and Defence ... ... ••• ••• 104 XV. — News from Verdun ... ... •■■ ••• ••■ 113 XVI.— The Inspiration of Jealousy ... ... ■•■ ••■ 122 XVII.— The Incarceration ... ... ■•• ••• — l-J XVIII.— The Visit to the Fleet ... ••■ ■•• ■•• 13" XIX.— The Release ... — — — — 14' XX.— The Prisoners at Verdun ... ... ... ••• ljt XXI.— The Jewels ... ... — •■• •■• — 182 XXII— Espionage ... ... — ••• ••• ••■ 17° XXIII.— The Suggestion ... ... — — ■•• 176 XXIV.— Napoleon 18'2 XXV.— The Return to Verdun ... ... , ■■■ ••• 189 XXVI.— Bribery ... ... ••■ ■•• ••• - *jj?

XXVII.— Conviction, Forgiveness, and Death' ... ... ... 2(>2 XXVIII.— The Reunion ... ... ••• ••• — 210 XXIX.— The Will 218 XXX.— The Test, and the Question proposed ... ... ... 229 XXXI.— The Sisters' Reconciliation ... ... •■• ••• 238 XXXII.— Circumvention ... ■•• ••• ••• ••• 2;3 XXXIII.— The Settlement ... ... ••• •■• ■•■ 2SS XXXIV.— Greville's Interview with Darnley ... ... ... 260 XXXV.— The Art of Hypocrisy ... ... •■• ... 267 XXXVI.— Mrs. Darnley's Visit to Caroline ... — ••■ 282 XXXVII.— The Burglary 288 XXXVIII.— The Cause ... ... ••• — ••• — 2" XXXIX.— The Secret revealed ... ... ••■ — ... 304 XL.— The Result 31* XLI.— Resignation ... — •■• ••• — 32° XLII.— The Chase 327 XLIII.— The Meeting of Caroline and her Aunt ... ... 333 XLIV.— Captain Greenwood ... ... - — ••• 344 XLV.— The Conclusion ... ... ••• — ••• LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Poetp.ait of the Author ... ... ... ... ... Ta face Title Lady Grange leaving the Ball disgusted ... ... ... Page 28 The Reception of Sir Arthur and his Lady at the Theatre ... ... S4 Lady Cleveland saves Darnley from Arrest ... ... ... 99 Sir Arthur causes a Scene ir. the Fleet ... ... ... ... 140 The Sacrifice ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 18S The Passports ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 189 Munoz disgraced ... ... ... ... ... ... 194 The Return to Verdun ... ... ... ... ... ... 195 Sir Arthur's Joy at seeing Charles ... ... ... ... 203 The Will ... 225 Fred comes to the Point ... ... ... "... ... ... 235 Circumvention ... ... . . ... ... ... ... 245 The Declaration ... ... ... ... ' ... 251 Mrs. Vincent Darnley's Intrusion ... ... ... ... ... 272 The Missing Jewels ... ... .. ... ... ... 296 Greville in a Mess ... ... ... ... 30g The Secret revealed ... ... ... ... ... 3j. The imaginary Revenge ... ... ... ... ... 3jg Mrs. Vincent Darnley seeks her Husband ... ... ... 330 Mrs. Vincent convicted ... ... ... ... 340 The Detection ... ... ,.- o57 The End of Darnley ... ... ... 3G3 OR, THE SACRIFICE.

Introduction

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HE Eight Honourable Alexan der Greville, in the early part of his political career, courted Fortune with so much fervour and zeal, that, despite her pre scriptive blindness, her eyes were opened to his merits, and she took him affectionately by the hand. She led him, with the aid of her sweet sister Hope, from a somewhat plebeian sphere, through various circles described by Ambition, until, feeling himself secure, he with barefaced ingratitude treated her with contempt ; when she withdrew her patronage and left him to Ruin, who sedulously follows in Fortune's wake, to pounce upon all whom she discards. B ; At the age of twenty-six Fortune kindly introduced him to a young and lovely heiress, to whom in the fulness of time he was united. A son and two daughters were the fruit of this union, of which the chief characteristics were tranquillity and joy, until he became a cabinet minister ; when, in consequence of some imaginary slight on the part of his colleagues, he abandoned them, and with them his principles ; and, to be revenged, launched into a sea of extravagances to prove to them what influence they had lost ; resigned his seat with truly admirable magnanimity, when called upon to do so by his old constituents ; and after having been unsuccessfully engaged in a series of ruinous contests, and run through nearly the whole of his wealth, he became so disgusted with the ingratitude of the country, and so thoroughly convinced that he should never be able to get into Parliament again, that, with all the noble indignation in him, he repudiated every patriotic feeling, and boldly retired from public life altogether.

Up to this ever-memorable crisis, he had held that a man had within himself the power to compass any object proposed ; that prosperity depended upon his own exertions solely, and that it was all perfect nonsense to imagine that destiny had anything to do with human actions. He had the utmost contempt for those who could not get on ; he felt perfectly sure that they were alone to be blamed ; he could not conceive how any man, having the smallest pretensions to intellect, could have sufficient brass to shew his face to the world when poor, and claim sympathy without a blush ; and invariably pointed to himself as a living proof that talent and perseverance may surmount every obstacle which can by possibility be thrown in the way of a man's advancement. But when his lady patroness Fortune had left him, and he found himself surrounded by difficulties which, with all his tact and talent, could not be overcome, his opinion upon the point so entirely changed, that he became an inveterate predestinarian ; he contended for the pre-ordination of everything, however momentous or minute, which either has been, is, or ever will be, and held with surpassing tenacity the doctrine which denies the free agency of man.

Upon every occasion, and under all circumstances, here he took his stand : he would not move an inch ; while the principal business of his valuable life was to prove to all with whom he came in contact, how utterly ridiculous it was for men to eudeavour to prevent things from taking their pre-ordained course, which — assuming the premises to be sound — was in the abstract extremely correct. At the period of his retirement upon this highly laudable doctrine, and something like five or six hundred a year, his daughters were approaching a marriageable age — Caroline being twenty, and Lucrece eighteen. They were both lovely girls, healthful, elegant, and accom plished ; and while their hearts were warm, and their imaginations pure, GreviUe' s pecuniary circumstances prompted their mamma to be con stantly on the qui vive.

In this labour of love, up to the period of her death, which occurred soon after, she was zealously assisted by Lady Grange, their paternal aunt ; who, having been accustomed to move in the highest circles, pro- OB, THE SACRIFICE. posed to take charge of them during the season ; and, as this propositioa was acceded to with gladness, they, under brilliant auspices, made their dibut. At first they were all heart, all soul, all nature, at which their pre ceptress was dreadfully annoyed ; for, notwithstanding their vivacity and beauty inspired general admiration, they conversed as freely with men of intelligence without rank, as they did with men of rank without intelligence! Of course this was highly incorrect. In the view of Lady Grange it was not to be borne : she was perfectly shocked, in fact, and delivered in consequence innumerable lectures on prudence in general, and matrimonial diplomacy in particular.

With Caroline these lectures had immense weight : she studied them deeply, and hence became au fait to the mysteries involved. But Lucrece was not nearly so apt a pupil : she coidd not dissemble ; in her B heart Nature still maintained her ascendancy : despite the rallying of her sister and Lady Grange, she could not appreciate that dazzling hypocrisy which, unhappily, constitutes one of the chief features of fashionable life. She was not, therefore, nearly so attractive as Caroline, who studied to subdue all those beautiful feelings which render the female character so charming, and who became what her preceptress had laboured to make her, namely, a woman of the world. With all the arts, however, for which a woman of the world is distinguished, Caroline failed to make " a good match." She had, indeed, suitors, but they were not of the right east.

The hand of Lucrece had also been solicited ; but the solicitors had received no encouragement from the prudent Lady Grange, although Charles, the only son of her late physician, and nephew of Sir Arthur Cleveland — a wealthy old knight, and one of Greville' s most intimate friends — was among them. And thus were the girls, for four seasons, in the labyrinth of artificial love, without a chance of making a matrimonial exit. Of course, this was very distressing ; and when, at the end of the fifth season, they, as usual, returned to Greville Hall, Caroline began to look at the matter very seriously indeed. She felt, and very naturally, that it never would do to go on much longer so ; and, as Sir Arthur and Charles— of whom the old Knight was proud, aud who, having studied his father's profession, was about to commence practice — had agreed to pass ten days or a fortnight with Greville, she, after mature dehberation, resolved to do something.

Having conceived and arranged all her plans, she accordingly, on the eve of Sir Arthur's arrival, named the subject to Lucrece, whom she had theretofore studiously kept in the dark. "Lucrece," she observed thoughtfully, "Lucrece, I have something to communicate, something of importance — at all events, something which may perhaps surprise you." "What is it?" inquired Lucrece. "In a word, dear, I've made up my mind to be married." "Indeed!" said Lucrece, smiling archly; "to whom? I had begun to despair." "Despair !" echoed Caroline ; "Ridiculous ! Why should we despair ? We are both still young, and, while I admit that you are handsome, I shall claim the same admission for myself. It is true, too true, that we have been hitherto unsuccessful. This has not been our fault. We have endeavoured with all our souls, my love, to win those prizes which without our souls have been seeured by others.

How is this ? Of what are we destitute? Of spirit, beauty, wit, sincerity, or affection? No, Lucrece, but of that incomparable virtue before which every other smks as if it were valueless — yes, of that virtue, for a virtue it is deemed, whose powerful lustre so dazzles every sense and attracts admiration so strongly, that with it folly, vice, and deformity pass unperceived, or, if perceived, unheeded ; while without it, mind, sweetness, beauty, all combined, are absolutely looked upon as nought ; of that, dear Lucrece, ot that paramount attraction we are destitute, and to that, and that alone, must we ascribe the loss of all we strove to gain. Yet why should we despair?" " Why should we not, dear, seeing that it is by the very conscious ness of this that despair is created ? " "Despair, Lucrece, although the offspring of folly, can seldom if ever be won ; and if it could be, easily, why should we court it ?

What would be the value of a conquest there ? But we have not lost all ; we have, in fact, gained that experience which will teach us to win fortune yet." "I confess," said Lucrece, "that I cannot see the game." "The game," returned Caroline, earnestly, "the game which we must henceforward play is that which all the world are playing, women as well as men ; for even ice have proved that fortune-hunting is not an exclusively masculine sport. We must no longer insist upon a perfect reciprocity of affection, for men do not love as they were wont, if, indeed, they ever did love as we are told they loved ; and as we have found that all around us are calculating, we must be calculating too. We have prac tised the art of pleasing unprofitably so long, that that which was in itself pleasureable has become a perfect toil.

We broke through Nature's rules at first : our aim was to be naturally artificial ; as that has in our case so signally failed, why let us try the effect of being arti ficially natural." " I do not exactly understand you." " Let me explain, then : Sir Arthur and Charles, as you are aware, will be with us a fortnight or ten days at least. Do you not think, dear, that something may be done in ten days ? Charles and I, you know, are on amiable terms ; I believe him to be sincerely attached to me, although I must confess that I am not much enamoured of him." "Well, dear?" "Well, if you wish me to come to the point at once, I have but to say that I have resolutely made up my mind to have him. Why do you smile?" " Simply in admiration of your fancied security." "Fancied security! I shall not, I apprehend, have much trouble to win him!

I feel that I can and will secure him." " But if even he were inclined to be, as you say, secured, you could surely never be happy with one whom you have a thousand times told me you despise?" " That remains to be proved, my dear. He is not, you know, absolutely horrible : indeed, some say that he possesses many admirable qualities, and they may be correct ; I am sure that I have no disposition now to set up my judgment in opposition to theirs— nay, I myself admire him for one thing, which is, that he has the prospect of being extremely rich, for he must eventually have the greater portion of Sir Arthur's property. But I confess that I hate him for his intolerable coldness ; lie is so precise, so diffident, so fearful of committing him self, as if immortality were attached to every syllable he uttered ; he has no life, no soul ; he cannot speak until he has mentally rehearsed his speech, and dwelt on its importance and probable effect ; he cannot on any occasion converse, unless indeed the conversation be profound."

"That Charles has peculiarities, none can dispute," observed Lucrece; "and yet I know of no one so generally admired." "It is hence," rejoined Caroline, "'that I am able to tolerate the creature ! " " But how do you imagine he is to be won ? That I apprehend to be the chief consideration." " He is not, dear, to be won by the usual means. I must assume his own character : be retiring, yet eloquent ; apparently apathetic, yet intense. I must dwell not on his countenance only, but on his words ; 1 must affect to feel their infinite importance, and repudiate every species of ridicule, of course." •' " That character you can never sustain, dear," observed Lucrece emphatically. " Pray do not attempt it." " Oh, I am resolved, my love — firmly resolved. You will see how completely my design will be accomplished.

I must, of course, be all that is interesting and amiable; dressing as plainly as may become the native purity of a perfectly unsophisticated creature, and glancing as timidly and looking altogether as uncomfortable as if I had been taught to regard man as a monster to be dreaded. I perceive that you do not admire this project, that you have, in fact, no faith in its success ; but, when I have fuily explained to you the minutiae of my scheme, I have not the slightest doubt of being able to make a convert even of you. And think, my love, when I have thus made my fortune, what splendid opportunities I shall have of making yours ! But I must prepare : no time is to be lost; you shall assist in the completion of my arrangements, and then I'll convince you that failure is impossible." The happiness of Lucrece was more deeply involved in this ex periment than Caroline imagined.

Lucrece loved Charles — dearly, pas sionately loved him ; but she never revealed the secret, conceiving, as she did, that Caroline was as dearly loved by him. The task of listening to her sister's explanations touching the details of her scheme was therefore fraught with unmitigated agony. She did, however, listen with all the patience at her command ; albeit she felt that, whether the project succeeded or failed, the result would be death to her own dearest hopes.

Chapter II. The Discovery

T may be said to be one of the most prominent characteristics of unmar ried ladies in the aggregate, that their anxiety to be united to par ticular persons increases exactly in proportion to the difficulties which others imagine exist between them and the attainment of the objects proposed. That direct opposition tends to strengthen attachment, is a fact which, being demonstrated daily, can excite no surprise ; but that women should peril their happiness for ever, by forming alliances with those whom they have been long accustomed to ridicule, if not, indeed, to despise, solely because it has been said that they cannot have them, would be perfectly incredible, were it not known that a woman is by far the most interesting anomaly in nature. Had Lucrece, for example, treated Caroline's scheme as a jest — had she caused her to feel that the conquest of Charles would not require any very extraordinary tact, or that any one of common intelligence might win him — it is extremely rational to suppose that her design would have been relinquished ; but, as she laboured to inspire her with the belief that she could not sustain that character which she herselt conceived to be essential to success, she resolved to succeed, and became, for the satisfaction of her own pride, so anxious to appreciate those mild, yet manly qualities, which others admired, and for which he was dis tinguished, that before he arrived she almost fancied that she loved him.

On his arrival, therefore, she proceeded to develop her well-studied character. And it was a most artistical performance. It was all art. There was no nature in it ; yet it failed not — so seldom indeed do we care to look below the surface of that which delights us — to prompt the belief in Charles that he had previously mistaken her character. He was amazed ! She looked so unassuming, so interesting, so amiable, and spoke with so much diffidence, judgment, and discretion, that really she was in his view a very different person indeed from that which he had theretofore imagined her to be; and hence, knowing the in fluence she possessed over the family, and conceiving that she would assist him materially in the promotion of his suit with Lucrece, he paid her every possible attention. This apparent success was to Caroline a source of delight.

She was in raptures. But the mind of poor Lucrece was on the rack : she had witnessed in silence what she conceived to be his affection for her sister, and was tortured by the conviction that no doubt could be entertained of the result. "Well!" exclaimed Caroline, having retired with Lucrece — and while she spoke her eyes sparkled with joy — " what think you now? Pretty well for the first evening, dear, considering ? " Lucrece was silent. "Why, what on earth is the matter?" "I am not well, Caroline; indeed, I am not well." " I am sorry that you are not in good spirits, dear ; but tell me, do you really believe, now, that I shal! fail ? " "No," replied Lucrece, with a sigh; "I do not." " Lucrece, I will have him ! I feel that were he an, emperor, I should not fail now. Did you perceive how excessively anxious he was to conciliate me, dear ; and how ridiculously lie blushed when I addressed him ?

And occasionally lie really looks a very charming fellow! What is your private opinion cf his personal appearance ? " "Do not ask me, Caroline," replied Lucrece, with energy; "I hate him!" "Hate him! Why, Lucrece, I have always supposed him to be one of your most special favourites ? I am sure there is nothing objection able in his appearance. But what has he done to forfeit your good opinion?" " Caroline, pray do not pursue this subject." "Well, if it be painful to you, dear, I will not ; but I am quite sure that nothing can be said against his personal appearance." There are times when we wish to conceal even from ourselves the existence of feelings which we cherish, notwithstanding we know that they ought to be repudiated, and which — so imperfect is our nature — acquire additional strength from the conviction that they are utterly unworthy of being fostered.

Such feelings Lucrece was, on this occasion, conscious of possessing ; and although they may be said to have been, under the circumstances, venial, she reproached herself bitterly for allowing them to be entertained, and would gladly, if she could, have destroyed them. "And yet," she argued with herself, when alone, "what power have I to banish those thoughts which exist independently of the will ? It is unkind — I feel, I know it to be unkind ; but what is it which prompts me to pray for her failure ? She is my sister, my own dear sister : and yet, although quite aware that if she should not succeed, not only will she feel humiliated, but Charles will be disgusted with us all, I cannot but hope that she may fail. For I love him : he ou°-ht to know that I love him ; yet how can I expect him to know that which I have at all times studiously endeavoured to conceal ?

It is painful, very painful, to see him thus snared by one who really does not love him. Still she is my sister, and I must, therefore, be silent; although that dear hope yet remains, and will not be by even a sister's love banished." Lucrece, of course, passed a most miserable night, while the bright imagination of Caroline revelled in golden dreams. In the morning, Charles, having resolved to embrace the very earliest opportunity of soliciting the assistance of Caroline, renewed his attentions ; and, as he could not fail to perceive that they were appreciated highly, he drew her arm in his, after breakfast, and led her across the lawn. Of course she inferred from this that he was about to propuse, and began to congratulate herself on the signal success of her design, and to think him a very agreeable person indeed ; but she very correctly fixed her eyes upon the grass, and, with a slight convulsive movement of her arm, which was admirably intended to convey to him the idea of a tremor, waited with highly becoming patience for him to begin.

"I do not know," he observed, after a lengthened pause, "when the hours appeared to me to pass so delightfully as they did last evening." " Believe me," returned Caroline, fervently, " I am overjoyed to hear it. I feared you would find our dull common-place domestic circle too cold, too monotonous." " Indeed I never experienced so much happiness"— — "Now you are about to flatter !" " Upon my honour I am not. But I never really knew you till now. I feel ashamed to confess it, but" "I know what you are about to say," interrupted Caroline, playfully. "You have always imagined me to be a very naughty creature." " No, no ! But I have been so excessively dull, that I never formed till now a just estimate of your character." "You are aware," rejoined Caroline, "that in society a woman has an extremely difficult part to perform.

She is ever apprehensive of her conduct being misconstrued. If she endeavour to be at all times agree able, she has the prospect of being deemed a coquette; and if she studies to avoid that, she immediately becomes chargeable with affected prudery. In striving to avert the latter charge, it appears, I incurred the former." " It was unjust : I feel it to be so now; and, having confessed my error, you must forgive me. But, Caroline," he added, and as he did so her heart in reality fluttered, " I am anxious, Caroline, to speak to you on a subject of some considerable importance." "Now for it," thought Caroline; but she would not have broken the pause which ensued for the world. "The subject," continued Charles, with appropriate deliberation, "is indeed a very interesting one : it is, in fact, the subject of marriage.

You are aware that I am about to commence practice" " Charles ! " shouted Frederick at this interesting moment. " It is Fred," said Caroline, scarcely knowing how to sustain the mild, amiable character she had assumed. " But you will not go out with him this morning? Pray do not allow him to prevail upon you; promise that you will not." "I will not," returned Charles. "How tiresome," said Caroline, in the most perfect confidence, to herself, as her brother approached them ; " just as he was coming to the very point!" "Charles," said Frederick, "Sir Arthur is anxious to see you. He has just received a letter, which I fear will induce him to leave us to-day." "I hope not," said Charles. "Do you know at all whom the letter comes from?" " I do not ; but go, he's impatient to see you. Leave Caroline with me."

" Caroline," he added, when Charles, who obeyed the summons in stantly, had left them, " it strikes me that you are not acting wisely What have you been doing?" " Have you any desire to be impertinent, sir 1 What do you imagine I have been doing?" "Giving encouragement to the addresses of Charles." "And pray do you see anything very monstrous in that?" " Do not be simple. Listen to me. You have no fortune." "Well, sir, I know that I have no fortune. What of that?" "That you ought not to think for a moment of marrying a man — whom I know that you do not love — without one. Charles has not a shilling." " But Sir Arthur has ; and, of course, the greater portion of his pro perty will eventually revert to him." " How is it possible for you to know that?" " Whom besides has he to leave it to ?" " Harriet, his niece, who is now in India."

" But she is provided for amply. He surely will not leave it to her!" " Possibly not ; but even in that event it does not by any means follow that he will leave it to Charles." " To whom else can he leave it ?" "To his wife." " His wife !" echoed Caroline, laughing very merrily, for she held the idea to be excessively amusing. " Gracious, Fred ! His wife ! Pray <lo not talk like a child." "You are positively sure," rejoined Frederick, "quite sure that he never will marry?" " Absurd ! What, at his age ? Why he is upwards of sixty ! " " Well, I know of no law to prevent a man marrying at sixty." "No law; but is it likely?" " Old bachelors occasionally inspire strange fancies, you will remember; and innumerable precedents for such an act can be found." " But surely he would never for a moment think of marrying?"

" Caroline, I know not a more likely man of his age : therefore, be cautious." "But did vou ever hear him, Fred, intimate anvthing of the kind?" " Not directly ; but at table words are sometimes uttered from which. certain rational inferences may be drawn." "Very true; but you perfectly astonish me. Really I should have supposed him to be the last man in the world to entertain the thought of marriage." " WeU, be upon your guard ; and recollect, if you have'l'harles, you will have a man who is not only now without a shilling, but without the actual certainty of ever being possessed of one. But, come, let us goin." " Frederick," said Caroline after a pause, during which she appeared to be thinking profoundly ; " Frederick, if Sir Arthur should marry — the idea, of course, is ridiculous — but if he should, would his property be left to his wife?"