False and True

Chapter I. Pamela Dynely

" Auaena'ide had many faults: her youth Had seen, too soon, life's bitterness and truth ; And homage from the crowd and lovers' praise AVere all too apt disgust and doubt to raise. There was a something wayward in her mood, She left her heart too much to solitude, For kindly thoughts are social ; but she held A scornful creed, and sympathy repelled." — L. E. L. In the pretty little back draAvhig-room of a small house in Belgravia sat two ladies, one fine morning in spring, during the height of the London season. The elder of the two, Avho reclined eracefullv in her Ioav arm-chair, as she carefully studied the fashionable columns of the " Morning Post," Avas still handsome, though she had, unfortunately, B arrived at that melancholy period of her existence when ladies can only be described as being la meme age que tout le monde.

This was Lady Dynely, now the widow, and formerly the second wife, of Sir Thomas Dynely, Bart., of Ravensdale and Elton, in the county of S . Lady Dynely had been, for the last few years, left with only a very moderate jointure and the charge of a young step-daughter, Avho had inherited from her own mother a small independent fortune, and who was, on attaining her majority, to succeed to the fine estates of her late father. There Avere some legal difficulties pending with regard to the title-deeds of these estates ; but Mr. Turnbull, the family solicitor, was busily employed in smoothing every difficulty and in removing every obstacle • so that by the time Pamela Dynely completed her twenty-first year, Mr. Turnbull pro mised to have his business fairly and satisfactorily concluded, and everything in order for his youthful client.

Pamela was now about twenty years of age, and was thought very handsome for an heiress ; though, perhaps, if she had inherited only her mother's little fortune, and had had no other prospects for the future, Pam's charms might never have been discovered by the discriminatin_; eye of the public : for her features Avere not regular, and her expression not quite so amiable as could be desired in a person of moderate means ; though of course, with a really enormous fortune, these little blemishes Avould be of no consequence at all. Still, howeA'er, Pamela's bright broAvn eyes and glossy raven hair must always give her a picturesque appearance • and when eager or excited, she had an odd, sharp, espiegle look, Avhich was rather attractive than othenvise. Even though she was an heiress, Pam was by no means a popular girl.

She was considered to be " too much unlike other people," and " other people" rather resented the defection from their little rules and regulations. They were not quite sure Avhat it meant, and doubted Avhether it Avere quite respectful to themselves to say and do things which they Avere not in the habit of saying or doing; so "other people" reckoned Pam "singular," and found they could not " get on" AA7ith her. Lady Dynely especially mourned over " her dear Pam's odd Avays." She was essentially one of the " other people," and would rather have died twenty deaths than have committed herself by doing anything that Avas not quite " the thing." Lady Dynely's great object in life was to be thought an affectionate woman, and she had prac tised the art for so long that she at length perfectly succeeded in persuading herself, and several of her friends, that she was " all affection," though Pam FALSE AND TREE. sometimes fancied that a good deal of it was only affectation, and that, however fond Lady Dynely might be of her friends and relations, that she was infinitely more attached to Lady Dynely.

However that might be, she was a very kind step mother to Pam. She had never attempted to guide or restrain her step-daughter in any AA-ay : " she could not bear to see a child made unhappy," she said, " and her dear, darling little Pam, Avas not to be teazed and scolded;" and as Sir Thomas had been much of the same Avay of thinking, Pamela Dynely had grown up quite as wayAvard and self willed as might have been expected under the circumstances. The odd thing was, that Pam did not seem to return Lady Dynely's affection. She Avas brusque, and occasionally even rude and dis respectful, and her step-mother would lament plaintively over " poor Pam's Avant of manner." She thought so much depended upon a gentle, feminine manner, and she was sure dear Pam must see that Avomen who had good manners were always so much more popular in the world than those avIio Avere rough and untact.

One of Lady Dynely's greatest anxieties for Pam had been that she should marry young. She felt the responsibilities of taking charge of an heiress so great, that she longed to make them over to some more competent person, and so she contrived, with very skilful management and great poAvers of diplomacy, to bring about a very reluctant engagement betAveen her step-daughter and a nephew of her oavii, — a very good-looking and popular, but vain and selfish young man, named Dudley Harcourt. The marriage Avas, however, not to take place till Pamela came of age, or at least till her affairs had assumed a more settled aspect, and in the mean while her engagement was to be kept a profound secret ; and in fact, except a feAv near relatives and very particular friends, no one had the least idea that anything more than a kind of cousinly inti macy existed betAveen Pamela Dynely and Dudley Harcourt.

" I say, mamma," began Pam, on this particular spring morning, as she busied herself in ar ranging a large collection of cowslips and blue-bells in numerous china basins on the table; — " I say, mamma, Avas it not good of Vere to send me up all these treasures ? See ! I have nearly filled four vases, and I have such a great heap of floAvers left ! And only look at these violets, I hardly know Avhat to do AA'ith them." "Very nice indeed, my love," said Lady Dynely, Avithout looking round. " Don't you think, dear, they will make the room look a little untidy ? MacLean sent up some beautiful azaleas and camelias. I think they would be better worth the trouble of arranging." " Oh, mamma ! I am so tired of azaleas and camelias — tiresome, common-place things!" " My dear child ! what can you mean ?

Azaleas common ! What do you call cowslips then, I Avonder ?" " Well, azaleas are by far the most common of the two, to me. I have not seen a cowslip groAA*ing for years. If Vere were not to send me some once a-year, I should quite forget what they were like. The school-children picked all these on purpose for me, Vere says." " I wonder Avhat has become of Dudley this morning?" said Lady Dynely, yaAvning as she turned over her paper. " Was not he to have ridden with you ? " " Yes, mamma, I believe so : but I don't much care about riding to-day. I want to finish putting my poor floAvers in Avater before they die, and then I must write to Vere and thank him for sending them." " Indeed, dear, I don't think it is necessary you should take that trouble. I am sure Vere Avon't expect it of you, with all your engagements."

" But, mamma, I like it, — it is no trouble at all," argued Pam. "I like to Avrite to Vere, and to hear from him, too." " Yes, darling ; I know Mr. Courtney is a most excellent, praiseAvorthy person, in everyway, and he is everything in his parish, but still not quite a person to correspond Avith now. You knoAV, Avhen you Avere only a little girl it Avas a different thing ; but now you are grown up and engaged to be married, you should behave so very discreetly." ** Oh, mamma, what nonsense ! If Dudley is to prevent my writing as usual to poor old Vere, I Avon't marry him at all!" " Well, dearest, you and Dudley must settle that between you ; but do remember, my pet, that though your poor father chose to take up Vere Courtney as his first Avife's relation, and the son of his oldest friend, it by no means follows that you are bound to keep up the intimacy.

Consider that Avhen vou so to live at Ravensdale as the e*reat _- o O lady, and only see Mr. Courtney as the curate of the parish, your relative positions Avill be so very different ; and it Avill not be pleasant for you to have to drop this friendship suddenly, and rather hard on poor Mr. Courtney." "What, mamma!" said Pam; "give up my friendship Avith Vere Avhen I go to Ravensdale ! I dare say, indeed ! The moment old Mr. Weddel dies, I shall give Vere the living of Elton, and then he will be a rich Vicar instead of a poor curate ; and I suppose I may ask him to dinner sometimes then, may I not?" asked Pam, rather sarcastically. This Avas an old feud betAveen Lady and Miss Dynely, and generally ended in Pam's growing excited. Vere Courtney Avas a cousin of the first Lady Dynely's, and his father had been Sir Thomas's great friend from the time thev Avere bovs at school together.

When Vere was left an orphan, very meagrely provided for, Sir Thomas took him home to Ravensdale ; and there he had spent his holi days as a boy, and all his spare time in after years, till he Avas ordained to the curacy of the parish, under the almost superannuated vicar, with the full understanding that he Avas ultimately to succeed to the living. Mr. Courtnev Avas bv no means a favourite of Lady Dynely's. She had not liked his influence over her late husband, and she Avas very jealous of the poAver he still had over Pam. She thought the curate had no business to interfere in the family arrangements ; and she declared she had no idea of encouraging that kind of thing : in fact, the less he dictated to the heiress of Ravensdale the better, in her opinion. (Lady Dynely only talked, hoAvever, in that very decided manner, Avhen quite alone with one of her most intimate friends.)

After all, poor Vere's Avorst crime Avas, that he happened to be related to the first Lady Dynely. Nobody ever really likes their predecessors' relations ; and Lady Dynely Avas not at all inclined to form an exception to that rule. There had been a long pause after Pam's last speech, Avhich was only broken by a violent ring at the door-bell. " Here comes Dudley at last," observed Lady Dynely, with a sigh of relief; and as she spoke, a very handsome but effeminate-looking young man daAvdled languidly into the room, and threw him self into a chair near his aunt. " How d'ye do, Aunt Rosa ? How are you, Pam ? Do you want to ride ? It's very hot !" " I am rather busy this morning, thank you, Dudley, and I mean to stay at home," said Pam, Avith a little glance of defiance at Lady Dynely. "Ah! AA*hat have you got there?" asked Dudley, stretching out his arm to take up a blue hyacinth between his finger and thumb.

" Why, what's all this?" he added, curiously examining the pile of flowers on the table through his eye glass. " Weeds, ain't they ?" A primrose on the river's brim A yellow primrose was to him. And it was nothing more,' " said Pam, laughing. " Yes, I suppose they are what you would call weeds." " And Avhat do you call them, then ? " asked Dudley, sharply, for he did not like to be laughed at, much better than his neighbours. " I am sure I've seen them growing in every hedge in the country." "Perhaps so, but not in London; and these came from Ravensdale : that is why I like them. I say, Dudley " " Well, Pam, Avhat do you say ?" asked Dudley, after waiting a reasonable time for the end of the sentence. " Do you mind my writing to Vere Court ney? "I. mind your writing to Courtney, Pam? Certainly not.

He is a very worthy individual, I believe ; not that I ever had the honour of making his acquaintance : but you may write him tAventy letters a-day, if you like. Do you stand in need of religious consolation in consequence of your engagement to me, or AA*hat?" " Mamma said I had better not 2*0 on writing to him now," said Pam, quietly ; "that's all." " Oh, well, if that's all, I'll give you leave to Avrite to anybody you like, so long as you don't expect me to read the letters. I'm not at all in clined to be jealous." " There, mamma, you hear ! I was sure Dudley would not care." "What a naughty, spoilt Pam!" said Lady Dynely, shaking her head. " I am sure no one ever had such prospects as you have, child ! What a husband Dudley will make !" " You knoAV, Aunt Rosa, there's not the least occasion to talk more about that than is absolutely necessary," said Dudley, looking annoyed.

" As the affair is not to come off this twelvemonth, it is no good to have it talked about all over London in the meanAvhile. It Avill be quite bad enough when the time comes, Avon't it, Pam?" " So /think," said Pam, very heartily. " Nonsense, Pam ! you should not say those sort of things, even in jest," said Lady Dynely, looking fidgety. After all her trouble in having brought about an engagement between her wealthy step-daughter and poor, but extravagant nepheAA7, she lived in constant dread lest one or other of them should rebel and break it off again. " Where were you last night, Dudley ? Ave did not see you at the Duchess of M 's." " No ; I Avent to a little party at Madame de Bontems. Johnny Graham wanted to be intro duced to her, and she is so goodnatured and nice, and one hears such good singing there, and it is all so easy and comfortable."

" She is a good creature, and it is quite a thing to do, to go to her ' at-homes,' they tell me. I must go some night, for I Avant her to arrange some music for me. We must give something, and music is less trouble than a ball, and more useful than several dinners, in the way of clearing up one's visiting list; but I have not a notion who I shall have to sing. Delorme is in England, is not he? He can play and sing too, and his voice is splendid, certainly." " I met him -last night : he has brought over a sister, or a niece, or something of that sort, who is to make a furore, I hear. Such a pretty creature L Make Delorme bring her here. I dare say she has no engagements yet, and he AA7on't let her go on the stage ; Avhich is great nonsense, J think." " Oh ! but Dudley, hoAv charming ! Hoav am I to find her ?

I really must have her here. Where does she live?" " I can find out through Madame de Bon terns ; she knows all about her. I -will go at once, and talk it over Avith her, if you like ; and she can give me a letter to her, I dare say. I shall be happy to make any arrangement for you, Aunt Rosa. Johnny Graham raves about her, and she certainly is uncommonly pretty." " Then go at once, my dear boy ; Pam does not want to ride. Engage her for me, bv all means. I hope she Avill not have been much talked of before she conies here : that will be so delightful. If she is very, very charming, I shall go and call on her myself. It rather ansAvers to ■invent a neAv singer, or a new artist, noAv and then, especially if they turn out something Avonderful aftenvards." " I am so glad he is gone," muttered Pam, as Dudley left the room on his aunt's errand. " Noav I shall have a little time to myself."

Chapter II. Mr

ST. MAUR. " King Lear. Pray do not mock me. I am a very foolish, fond old man, Fourscore and upward ; and to deal plainly, I fear I am not in my perfect mind. Methinks I should know you, and know this man, Yet I am doubtful : for I am mainly ignorant What place this is. And all the skill I have Remembers not these garments ; nor I know not Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me." Shakspearl. After obtaining Miss St. Maur's address, and a note of explanation from Madame de Bontems, Dud ley Harcourt mounted his white horse and pro ceeding leisurely down the King's Road, crossed the old bridge — so like Longfellow's, Avith its "long black rafters" and " wooden piers," — and thence entered the little river-side town of Battersea, once so famous for its roses and asparagus, but now redolent of all the evil smells exhaling from its various manufactories.

Dudley, according to the directions he had received, stopped at the garden-gate of one of the numerous neat, semi-detached villas, bordering the road-side.; and leaving his horse in the charge of a small boy, who was waiting about in search of a job, he gave a violent ring at the bell, and speedily summoned a tidy little maid, Avho looked grievously alarmed at the prospect of having to announce so grand a gentleman. Dudley thought it proper to go through the ceremony of asking Avhether Miss St. Maur Avas at home, though the fact of her being so Avas evident from the sounds of music and singing which issued from the open window ; and as the little maid replied in the affirmative, Dudley followed her into a neatly-furnished sitting-room, overlooking a tiny garden at the back of the house. Dudley at first fancied that the room was un occupied, but he soon perceived, sitting in a large arm-chair, Avith its back toAvards him, an old gentle man, apparently nearly seventy years of age.

His dress and appearance bespoke a man of good birth and education, and he looked as if he Avere in strong and robust health ; but he did not attempt to move as Dudley entered, and his eyes were fixed with a vacant stare on the opposite wall, while his mouth relaxed at the corners with a sad, unmeaning smile. " Here's a gentleman, sir," said the little maid, touching her master's shoulder to recall his wander ing thoughts. " He wants to see Miss St. Maur, sir ; but she is engaged just hoav with Mossiou. Shall I call 'er, sir?" " Ah ! how do you do, sir ? " said Mr. St. Maur, brightening up, as he rose and held out his baud to his visitor. " I am very happy to see you, sir. I have not the honour of remembering your name, for my memory is not quite AA7hat it has been ; but it is very kind of you to call upon me.

A very dull neighbourhood this ! We see very few people here. Now, would you believe me? I think I may venture to say, with truth, that I have hardly seen a carriage stop at our door for Aveeks ! Not for Aveeks ! ! It is a most extraordinary thing to me, Avhere all the carriages have gone to of late years, and it is nearly the same thing with regard to the horses. I cannot understand it at all," said Mr. St. Maur, shaking his head and looking very serious. " Take a seat, sir. Mary, bring a little luncheon for the gentleman. My butler must be ill, I fear ; I have not seen him about lately, poor fellow ! Ah, we are all subject to little indis positions — high and Ioav, it is all the same Avith respect to illness." " Nothing for me, thank you," said Dudley, a little puzzled AA'hat to say next.

" Mav I be permitted to see your daughter on a little matter of business ; or M. Delorme could speak to me, perhaps." " Certainly, sh*, certainly ; she is merelv engaged with her singing-master. My daughter is fond of singing, and I have been fortunate enough to secure for her the services of a most eminent professor. It is really quite a treat to hear them perform together. He is a most ex cellent young man ; I have known him from a boy. AHoav me to shoAv you the Avay," said Mr. St. Maur, with infinite ceremony, as he opened the folding-doors connecting the tAvo rooms. At a very handsome grand piano, Avhich was the only good piece of furniture in the room, sat a strange, foreign-looking man, of about eight and-twenty or thirty years of age. The lower part of his face Avas concealed by a long, black beard, while his hair Avas cut extremely short ; and AA7hat added to his peculiar appearance Avas, that though his complexion was very dark — almost SAvarthy — his thick, fierce, black eyebroAvs and eyelashes, shaded eyes of the lightest grey.

Behind this man stood a young girl of ex quisite beauty. She Avas tall, but her figure Avas very slight, and all her movements Avere peculiarly graceful. Her small features were most delicately chiselled, and her fair hair was tinged with threads of the brightest gold. As the door opened, she languidly raised her large violet eyes, Avith a look of anxiety and Aveariness that Avas inexpressibly sad ; but she started, and a slight shade of colour rose to her pale cheeks, as she c recognised behind her father the form of Mr. Harcourt. " Alba, my dear," began Mr. St. Maur, pom pously, "this gentleman has been so kind as to call upon us. I am sure Louis will excuse you the rest of your lesson ; it is so seldom we have a visitor here now." " I think, dear papa, you are mistaken," said Alba, in a low sweet voice, as she laid her hand affectionately upon her father's arm ; " Mr. Har court has probably come to see Louis.

Let us go into the other room, shall we ? " " My dear, it is impossible that I can have made any mistake ; the gentleman distinctly stated that his business Avas with you, and, consequently, Avith me also." " I haA7e brought a note from my good friend, Madame de Bontems, to which, I trust, I may have the pleasure of conveying a favourable answer," said Dudley, putting a little rose-coloured note into Alba's hand. " Ah ! an invitation, no doubt : it is really very pleasant to find that our friends do not forget us," observed Mr. St. Maur, rubbing his hands. Alba coloured deeply, and having glanced at the contents of the note, gave it to M. Delorme, saying, " I will leave it entirely to you, Louis ; but if you have no objection, I should be very glad to accept tbe offer. My poor father," she added, in a Ioav voice to Dudley, " has unfortunately com pletely lost his memory, and he does not under stand that I have taken to music as a profession.

You must excuse his way of talking." For Mr. St. Maur was rambling on Avildly about invitations, and visitors, and carriages. " Will you step into the next room for a moment?" said Delorme to Dudley. "I will Avrite to Madame de Bontems, Alba." When the gentlemen returned, they found Mr. St. Maur's attention was absorbed in admiring the AA7hite horse at the gate. " There is Arab blood there, I can see. Look at his head ! did you ever see such a head ? Ah! I know that horse Avell. I had him for some time myself, and I am very sorry I ever parted Avith him. I should have been very glad of him down here. You gave me a very fair price, now, for that horse, I dare say, sir ?" "I beg your pardon. I think you must be mistaken," said Dudley, smiling. " I have had that horse from a foal. He Avas given to me when he was only six months old by an uncle of mine, avIio bred him on his OAvn estate."

" Very extraordinary indeed ! " said Mr. St. Maur, looking incredulous ; " I don't quite under stand this. This matter should be sifted to the bottom ! Now, I cannot be deceived about that horse. Why, bless you, sir, I know that animal as well as I know my own name. There is a some thing in the expression of his countenance which I can never forget. I could swear to his identity before anv magistrate in the kingdom. Now if you have any Avish to get rid of him, I'll give you your OAvn price for him any day." " Thank you," said Dudley, rather at a loss for an answer ; " you are very kind, I am sure : I was not thinking of parting with him at present. If I should at any time, I will let you know." " Oh, no, father," interposed Alba, "you know you are not alloAved to ride iioav, the doctors wish you to keep so very quiet."

" So you always say, my dear ; but it by no means folloAvs that the doctors are right, you know. Now I sometimes fancy that a little ride would do me good. I used to be so much on horseback at one period of my life, I suspect I shall have to change my doctor and get further advice ; and in that case, sir, I shall be delighted to take that horse off your hands." " Oh ! by all means," said Mr. Harcourt, hastily taking leave of Alba ; and Avith a slight bow to Delorme, and a low one to Mr. St. Maur, Dudley mounted his Avhite horse and Avas soon out of sight ; and then poor old Mr. St. Maur crept back to his arm-chair whimpering like a child be cause the horse was gone, till Alba comforted him Avith a slice of cake and a glass of ginger-wine, which he fortunately fancied Avas some of his cele brated old Madeira.

" What business had that felloAv to come doAvn here ?" exclaimed Delorme, suddenly. " What is it to him whether you have any engagements or not ? " " Oh, Louis ! I am sure it Avas very good natured of Mr. Harcourt to ride down all this Avay to bring Madame de Bon terns' note." " Good-natured, indeed ! I call it downright impertinence ! If she had wanted to send a note, why could not she have put it in the post, or given it to me? I see her every night of my life. You see the note Avas only an excuse to get into the house. He did not expect to find me here : but I shall take care it never happens again," cried Louis, ringing the bell violently. " But, Louis, after all, he has brought me an engagement, which is all we want. I can't see what harm there Avas in that." " Yes, an engagement at the house of his aunt !

I almost wish I had not accepted it for you ; only it was a good connexion to get into, and I did not think it right to throw aAvay such an opportunity of your being heard by many persons of fashion and influence in society." "If you please, ma'am, did you ring?" said a stout, elderly Avoman, with a merry, good-humoured countenance, Avho came into the room unnoticed. " Yes, Martha, /rang," said Louis. " Did you observe that gentleman who has just ridden away from the door?" " Yes, sir ; I opened the door for him, and a very nice, handsome, young gentleman he was, too." "Oh, very!" said Louis, scowling porten tously. " At the same time, Martha, you will have the kindness not to admit him into this house again, if you please. We don't want to see any more of him here !" " Goodness me, sir ! Avhat has the poor dear young gentleman gone and done to offend you?"

" He had no business to come here at all, and that's enough. We shall have all the poor dear young gentlemen in London coming soon, I suppose ; but I desire you, Martha, on no account to admit one of them Avithout my leave, on any pretence whatever." " Lor, sir ! 1 never Avent and let him in ; 'tAvas Susan opened the door." " Well, then, tell Susan the same thing. I shall never have any peace if I think that the moment my back is turned this house is to be full of idle young men." " Very well, sir ; in course it must be as you please. I suppose you are the master in this house," said Martha, looking a little huffy ; " but noAv you are so much in London, it is but lonely for poor old master, and a little cheerful society always sets him up again." " I will try to find your master a few friends in the neighbourhood, Martha, who can come and sit Avith him occasionally, and I shall be here every day."