The Wonder of Kingswood Chace

Front matter

PHYLLIS Presented GRATIS with Nos. 1 and 2 of THE WONDER OF KINGSWOOD CHACE BY PIERCE EGAN Prinlid m Paris for V. Ii H RFNNF.TT 9TI RRIlFnR.) STREET STRAND LONHstN W I. THE fonder of Kingswood Chace BV PIERCE EGAN, AUTHOR OF "THE VOOB GIRL;" "THE FLOWER OF THE FLCCKj" "IMOGEN; OR, THE MARBLE HEART ;" &C., &C. LONDON t E. & H. BENNETT, BEDFORD HOUSE, MAIDEN LANE, STRAND, W.C. AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. (AU rights reserved.) BY PIERCE EGAN. GOWER TO THE HAUNTED CHAMBER. THE HOUSEKEEPER CONDUCTS EELE and a charming Coloured Plate " Phyllis." No. 1, with which are given away No. The violet in her greenwood bower Where birchen-boughs with hazels mingle. May boast itself the fairest flower In glen, or copse, or forest dingle. —Scott. horses and ride over them. Alechanically he did this, had done it for many a year, and would do it again, from sheer force of habit, even if he were to take a seat on a stile by way of rest after a walk in the field.

Chapter I

The work which long he in his heart had brewed ZSow to perform he ardent did advise. — Thomsou. Upon a cold, cheerless afternoon in the uninviting month of November, a post chaise travelled slowly along a dusty turnpike-road. The pleasant town of AVootton-under- Edge had been left a few miles behind, and with its quaint spires, its tall chimneys, and pointed roofs, was yet visible, though but a hazy mist in the rear. It was not so easy to perceive what might lie in front of the travellers, as dense clouds of dust whirled fantastically by; a brisk, bleak, moaning wind swept furiously past the carriage, and pattered smartly in the eyes, ears, and teeth of the exceedingly old post-boy, vexing at the same time the antique Roman visages of the steeds drawing the chaise, and one of which he be strode.

Notwithstanding the cold, gray gloom which the leaden-hued masses of driving clouds cast over the face of the country, the scenery wherever the eye could catch glimpses of it through the careering volumes of dust, was extremely beautiful. To the south and east ran the Dursley Hills, clad in rich, deep, dark verdure from base to crest ; [ while away to the westward stretched a fair, handsomely wooded, gently-undulating country, extending up to the silvery Severn, whose gleaming waters glided with serpentine course beneath the deep blue, though now misty hills, of Monmouthshire. The post-chaise, with a large valise strapped on the top, had two occupants, who gave little heed to the surrounding scenery ; they were too much absorbed in their own reflections. The elder of the two, a pale-faced man, with a stem but dignified character of feature, lay back in a corner of the carriage, closely enve loped in a large travelling-cloak.

His eyes were fixed on vacancy, and it was evident his abstraction was not less gloomy than profound. The younger of the two travellers was quite a youth, about eighteen, possessing an open, handsome, intelligent countenance. As he leaned forward in the carriage, he appeared to be curiously exami ning the wreathing volumes of dust, an These animals had never been high trotters ; a suspicion of being fast trotters had never attached to them, and now they were undoubtedly long past that age at which speed in trotting might have been hoped from them, but withal, as if they accepted the blinding, gusty, repellent wind as an excuse, they proceeded on their way at a peculiarly mild pace. Not so the old boy in blue — very, very faded and dingy blue — he bobbed up and down in his saddle with a vivacious and animated jerk, as if his motion had much to do with the rate of speed, and quite as if he had made up his mind to overtake his own MT LADY MAUDE; OH, they swiftly careered past the vehicle ; but a second glance would have told an inquisitive gazer that he was plunged in thought too — in troubled thoughts.

His face, singularly delicate in its whiteness, was heightened by a hectic flush upon his cheeks, and betrayed an expression of anxious and solicitous bewilderment. His large, earnest eyes every now and then 'flashed under the influence of strange conjectures floating through his brain, and occasionally he would press his hand sharply over them, and an impatient exclamation would burst Lfrom his lips, having more, however, the character of a gasp than the sound of a word. sisters and brothers had been to see them, and how much they longed that it should be vacation always, and school never. But, sir, I have driven away these sorrowful emotions, because it appeared to me that it was proper I should be circumstanced as I have been, or else why all my life have I been detained at school during the holidays?

AVhy have I not been sent for to enjoy the happiness of some other home ? I have cheered myself in the hope that some day I should be taken away, and that day has come." The boy stopped for an instant, for his eyes were full of tears, but with an effort, he suppressed his emotion, and pro ceeded — At these times he would turn a quick, inquiring glance at his companion ; but the pale, stern face, whose lineaments he so eagerly perused, afforded him no explana tory clue to a solution of the wild speculations that chased each other through his active brain. " I have no remembrance by whom I was conveyed to old Cramboy 's school. I know only that no living person visited me there until you came to-day to remove me. You,. sir.met melike one who is not related to me." "lam not," emphatically observed his companion.

Suddenly he placed his hand upon the shoulder of his companion, and pressed it lightly to arouse his attention. He succeeded, for the latter started up as if aroused from a trance. " But," rejoined the youth, quickly, " Cramboy, on parting with me, told me you had all my life been my friend, and no doubt you would continue to be such." " I will," laconically responded his fellow traveller. " What now !" he exclaimed, hastily, glancing rather than staring in the face of his companion. " I wish, sir, to put a question or two to you respecting myself," replied the youth, with much earnestness. " I am so bewildered, so perplexed, so distressed, at my position." His companion, with a half-suppressed sigh, sunk back into his seat, and said, in an undertone — ■ " Sir," continued the boy, with quivering lip, " by that friendship you have extended towards me, which you promise still to continue, I entreat you to inform me why I have been so isolated from relatives, and whither you are conveying me ?"

His companion, who had listened to him with deep attention, now turned his full, melancholy eye upon him. " Erie," he exclaimed, with deep impressiveness, "1 have with heedful interest listened to you ; your remarks have been made in a spirit which has afforded me much satisfaction. The good sense and discretion which have guided you hitherto I am equally surprised and pleased with. I expected some such question as you have put to me ; it was natural that you should form the wish you have embodied in your question, and I frankly confess I was un prepared to hear it put in such terms. Now, let me most earnestly and emphatically call upon you to continue to exercise that good sense and discretion you have already dis played ; you will have need of it." He paused for a moment, as if convulsed, and he covered hi3 face with his hand.

After a brief space he withdrew it, and observed the boy regarding him with half affrighted surprise. He shook his head slowly, and, as it seemed, sadly. " Proceed !" The boy, with an effort to clear a slight huskiness in his throat, brought there by a sudden emotion, said— "Aly earliest recoDections, traced back with much patience and a strong pressure upon my memory, are, sir, of a cottage, of large trees almost at its very door, of an old brown-faced couple who fondled me and caressed me much. Then of finding myself among grim strangers and many boys — the school, sir, I have to-day quitted, and which has been my only home since my first appearance there. Of course, sir, holidays to me have been only a cessation of school-work. I remained at my home — I knew of no other — while our boys went away to theirs.

I have not repined at this, though I own to having been dull some times, when the boys came back after the holidays were over, and told me grand stories of what they had done and seen, how glad their mothers and fathers and THE W0NDEB OP KINGSWOOD CHACE. "Erie," he exclaimed, "mark me; you are yet an infant in the world's ways. You have yet to learn how much of hidden an guish, how much of trust, of toil and trial, how little of triumph there is in human life. You have seen the pool in the wood ; you have noticed how calm its surface, how blooming flowers have adorned its breast, how trailing grass and waving flags have bordered it and smilingly played above it, yet beneath that surface you have known to dwell strange noxious, poisonous reptiles, loathsome to the eye, leprous to the touch.

Alas ! alas ! human society is of this cha racter ; it has its smiling, rosy, placid sur face for public eyes, but it has also its terrible concealments, known alone to those who by accident or right may, or dare, penetate its depths." Again he paused, checked by his emotion. Erie watched him with trembling an xiety. what relation I stand to him !" cried the youth, imploringly. The pale face grew dark, the brow fell, and the teeth set at his companion. " Let him answer that !" he almost growled. " And why not you ?" inquired Erie, eagerly. " Because that task is his," was the re joinder, uttered sternly. The boy sunk back in the carriage, and covered his blanched face with his hands. His chest heaved and fell, and the stern man who sat by his side saw, with com passionating eyes, that the boy had been compelled to give way to a fit of hysterical sobbing.

" Poor boy !" he ejaculated, almost un consciously. Erie withdrew his hands from his eyes ; a crimson flush was on his brow, his large eyes appeared supernaturally bright. He turned to his companion with a fierce expression on his face, and with clenched hands, he said, with haughty determination — " I will not goto this Lord Kingswood !" The stern, pale man at his side regarded him with an air more of interest than of wonder. He smiled faintly, and gently raised his hand in a deprecating manner. "You will go, Erie," he said, quietly. " I will tell you why you have a right to claim a home beneath the roof of Kings wood Manor. You have there the rights of another to sustain as well as your own. It would be pusillanimous and cowardly to refuse to go, and by going there you may weave golden sunshine out of weeping clouds.

I do not say to you that you can not help yourself, that acting in opposition to my wishes and instructions you have then nowhere else to turn to. You are a lad of spirit, and would quickly find the means of support and of getting on in the world, but I do say, that it ie your solemn duty, more, far more than it is your in terest, to place your foot boldly upon his hearth, to rear your head erect beneath his roof. I say this, I who know that it is your duty to enter Kingswood Alanor, to "defend and sustain the right." The boy folded his arms. " I will go there," he said. Again his companion turned his melancholy eyes upon his face. He perceived, by the knitted brow and compressed lip, that Erie had heard the whisperings of a "still, small voice, and that he was prepared to take and to pursue a resolute and daring course.

He laid his hand gently upon the boy's arm. " Assume nothing," he said to him, em- " Oh, sir," he murmured, " your allusion to the condition of human society is to prepare me " " To be wise and discreet," abruptly re joined his companion. " Listen. You have been, you ase, strangely circumstanced. You cannot alter the past, you cannot con trol the present, but you have a future ; what that may be must in a great measure depend upon yourself. For the present, be content with your past history, make no attempt to unravel that portion hidden from you, and believe it for the time being enough to know that your name is Erie Gower." " But you ?" inquired the boy, .with an incredulous and dissatisfied look, '' you have penetrated into the mystery which seems to enshroud me ; you know who and what I am, why I have been isolated from all kith and kin ; you, who have assumed the control of my actions, have called yourself my friend, who and what are you?"

His pale-faced companion softened the stern expression of his features, and said, kindly — "To you nothing more than I have stated. I am your friend." " But whither are you conducting me ?" interrogated Erie, with a kind of fretful impatience. "To him upon whom you have a rightful claim for maintenance, and to be guided to a prosperous future," answered his com panion. ""Who is he ?" asked the youth, quickly. " Lord Kingswood of Kingswood," was the laconic reply. " But— but— is he— am I — oh, sir, have mercy I Tell me, in pity, I entreat you, in ; OR, phatically, "conjectures are at least but the chimeras of heated imaginations. AVait for facts ; I say wait. The truth will be unfolded to you soon enough. An error of judgment may be fatal. A patient and discreet line of conduct will conduct j-outo the goal you are justly entitled to gain."

The boy dropped his arms, and turned his face to the road. The semi-circular road through the shrubbery led to a long avenue of tall trees, which terminated in a beautifully-kept lawn in front of the manor-house of Kingswood. The youth glanced at the building, which, commenced in the reign of the first Edward, had been gradually enlarged, until it had reached completion in the reign of the first James. The architectural styles were va rious: Norman, Gothic, and Elizabethan were incongruously intermixed ; and instead of realizing the idea of a fine old English manor-house, it was rather a quaint, irregular, overgrown, gloomy pile of buildings. By direction of the elder traveller, the carriage drew up at the principal entrance, and, as it stopped, two or three servants made their appearance.

Conspicuous among them was the butler, who advanced to receive Ishmael as he alighted. AYithout immediately taking notice of him, Ishmael turned to his companion, and said — " I am the sport of fate, I see," he mur mured. " To a certain extent, yes," observed his companion, thoughtfully ; " and may be yet. Still, you will not be without a friend while I live. At Kingswood I shall part from you; we shall meet again only by chance, or by your wish. I confide to you my name, but I request you not to let it escape your lips, unless urgent need compels you to utter it. I am Ishmael Malpas. A note addressed to that name, to the care of N. Pengreep, Gray's Alount, near London, will always find me. Have you a pocket book?" " Erie, follow me." Then addressing the postilion, he bade him await his return.

He then strode into the entrance-hall, attended by Erie, and closely followed by the butler. AVhen almost at the foot of the spacious staircase, be abruptly halted, and, turning to the butler, he said, in a haughty, authoritative tone — ■ " Yes," replied Erie, producing one. " Put it down as I have told you — but in cipher," rejoined his friend. " Can you write in symbols ?" "I can," returned Erie, again having the name and address repeated to him. He wrote them down, and restored his pocket book to its place, as his companion, leaning back in the chaise, said, in decided tones — " Ask me no more questions ; my replies will avail you nothing. You must gather further information for yourself. AVe near our destination, and I have need of unin terrupted thought." Erie looked out of the window of the carriage in silence and sadness.

He, as he spoke, perceived that the road took its way through large tracts of heath, and presently he also observed that they came upon an enclosed shrubbery of considerable extent. At least a mile of thi3 enclosed wood, containing trees of all descriptions, closely interlacing each other, was passed, when the postilion turned his horses' heads, and passed through a gateway, contiguous to which stood a stone-built Gothic lodge, of rather large proportions, and judging by its appearance, of some antiquity. Erie just caught a glimpse of a tall, soldier-like look ing man, in rustic attire, who emerged from the door of the lodge, and made a semi-military, respectful salute with his hand, and the carriage whirled on, the postilion, more lively than ever, flourishing his whip, and actually persuading, by a few sharp appli cations of it, the steeds with the Roman noses to assume the virtue of a respectable trot if thev had it not.

" Aly Lord Kingswood is within?" " He is, sir," returned the butler, with a respectful manner. Ishmael placed within the butler's hand a small sealed paper, and said, in the same tone he had before assumed — " Convey that to his lordship, and inform him that the bearer requires an immediate interview." The butler bowed, and offered to conduct the travellers to an ante-chamber, where to await his return, but Ishmael sternly de clined. " I will receive the reply here," he an swered. Again the butler bowed, and hastened up the staircase, while the other servants fell back, leaving Ishmael aud Erie standing by themselves. Erie's eyes wandered over the spacious hall, and he gazed curiously upon its adornments, military, sporting, and artistic. An cient spears, and curious shields and helmets, were arranged upon the walls with skilful taste; associated with them were deer antlers, boars' heads, and foxes' brushes.

There were some fine old portraits besides, which might have represented the earlier owners of the barony or not. They were so blackened with age, that it was *>«xt to an impossibility to decipher them. A magnificently-carved chimney-piece contained some allegorical representations of the fortunes of the house under various reigns, as well is some grim faces which frowned grotes quely down upon those who sought the comfort bestowed by the huge fire beneath. The inquisitive eyes of Erie were far from satisfied with their inspection, when the butler returned with hasty step, and on reaching Ishmael, he said, in a manner in dicative of much respect — - " Aly lord will see you, sir." " Where is his lordship ?" inquired Ishmael, curtly. " In his library, sir," replied the butler, "but " he became suddenly conscious that a pair of soft hands were passed over his eyes, and held firmly there, while his head was imprisoned between two soft, velvet arms, while a mocking, silvery laugh rung in his ear, and a sweet whisper murmured so closely to his temple that he felt the warm breath play on it — " Guess my name, guess my name ; if you cannot, a forfeit I claim."

Erie sat motionless and utterly bewildered. He knew not what to do. A strange thrill passed over his frame, such as he had never experienced before. " Guess," whispered the sweet, low voice. Erie would have been glad to guess if he could. He would have given worlds to have touched those soft hands, still pressing down his eyelids, but he feared — he feared to do it. " Is he alone ?" interrogated Ishmael. " His lordship is alone," returned the ser vant, " but " "I will see him in his library," responded Ishmael, promptly ; " my time is of importance to me. Conduct this young gentle man to a cheerful sitting-room, where he can remain until my interview with his lordship has ended." The butler bowed low in reply, and call ing to one of the footmen, he gave him in structions whither to conduct Erie, while he preceded Ishmael Malpas to the library.

Erie followed his guide up the staircase, and along a carpeted corridor, with inter secting passages running in what seemed innumerable directions. At length he paused before a door, and opened it. He entered, placed a chair by the side of a fire, and retiring, left Erie in the apartment alone. His heart beat violently, and some words rose up in his throat, but they could not get any further. " Guess, guess, you naughty boy ; guess, sir, this moment," repeated the musical voice, still in a whisper. " Indeed, indeed I cannot," he at length ejaculated, in an undertone. The charm was broken, the hands were removed like lightning, and he rose up and turned to face his captor. Before him stood a young, fair girl, his junior, but not by much, gazing upon him in unutterable astonishment, as though he had suddenly, spectre-like, appeared before her.

Then, like a startled, frightened fawn, she fled to the door, but turned again to gaze on him ere she disappeared. He stretched his hands entreatingly towards her, and, in a quick, agitated, low voice, said — The room was not very large, but was lofty. It was handsomely furnished, the furniture being quite modern. He took in everything at a glance, without being in terested ; on the contrary, was disappointed, for its newness did not accord with the grave antiquity of the building itself. "Be not alarmed, I pray you ; do not let my presence terrify you away — rather let me retire to another apartment." She listened to the tone of his appealing voice. She timidly looked in his face, and a rosy flush passed over her features ; then assuming a more composed demeanour, she replied, in a low tone — " I — I have — I am sure, to crave your pardon for my — my rudeness, but my cousin Cyril is expected here on a visit, and hear ing there had been an arrival, I came hither and made a foolish mistake."

He walked to the window and looked out. The scenery before him was beautifully grand, yet only such as he had seen all his life. And there was a dreary, gloomy mist spreading over it fast, shutting out the more distant objects from his view. He sunk down upon a cushioned stool in a very sad and lonely spirit. He gazed on the gloomy landscape with eyes suffused with moisture, for he felt his isolation here more bitterly than he had ever known it before. She bent gracefully to him as she spoke, and in another moment she was gone. Erie stood like a statue for a minute after she had disappeared, and then pressed his hands over his eyes, and withdrew them, but she was not there. The wind carried a dead leaf past the window : it only seemed to remind him of his own uncertain position — a waif, to be borne he knew not whither.

While thus sunk in painful meditation, " Am I to remain beneath this roof, »nd OR, appropriate adornments of a study, but they were all of the most modern make and most elegant style. Leaning back in a luxurious library-chair sat a man yet in the prime of life. His skin was delicately fair, and a light mou stache, carefully arranged and trimmed, covered his upper lip. The most marked indication of his true age was a tendency to embonpoint, and a very decided thinness of hair upon the crown of his head. But for these disclosures, he might have passed for a much younger man. He was still very handsome, but in his youth must havo been strikingly so. He sat in an attitude of listening expectation. Once or twice he rose up as if in anticipation of the approach of some per son, but after a moment's intent attention, he sat back in the chair, satisfied his ear had deceived him. to see her again and again, frequently ?" he thought.

Then he walked to the window again, and squeezed his hands together, while a burning brand seemed to press over his forehead. " Who am I ?" he muttered between his teeth. " Wliat can be the nature of the claim I possess to demand a home beneath this roof ?'' he muttered. His cheeks flushed, and his breast heaved and ached, until the agony was all but un endurable. "This, at least, I must know — I will — I will know it. How could I rest at ease — how could I face again " He pressed his clenched hands upon his breast. " I must wait. Oh, Heaven ! what will it cost me to wait !" He groaned, sunk upon his seat, and buried his face in his hands. But he was not to rest. The sound of swiftly-approaching carriage-wheels attracted his attention. He gazed out of the window, and saw a very handsome equipage dash up to the principal entrance.

A youth about his own age alighted, and handed an elderly lady out of the carriage, and they both entered the hall. He drew once from the breast-pocket of his ' dressing-gown the paper Ishmael had sent to him, opened it, and took out a lock of light hair — a ringlet rather than a loci;. It yet retained its elasticity, and its graceful, long, curved curl, as he held it up and gazed at it. AVith it was a bunch of faded flowers. This dead bouquet he examined with curious care, especially the silken ribbon vvhich bound the flowers together. That the sight of these tokens occasioned him some emotion was evidenced by his inflated nostrils and the heavy sigh which involuntarily burst from his breast. He rose up, and took them to the window to inspect them yet more closely, and again a sigh left his lips.

The sound of approaching footsteps this time, heard with unmistakable clearness, caused him to hurry the tokens to the place whence he had taken them, and to resume his seat. The youth was tall and elegantly formed. Erie observed this, for he had closely observed him. The reason peeped out in his involuntary exclamation — " That must be ' cousin Cyril !' I hate cousin Cyril I"

Chapter II

Air, Love ! Perjured, false, treacherous Love ! Enemy Of all that mankind may not rue ; Most uutrue To him who Keeps most faith with thee . Woe is me ! The falcon has the eyes of the dove, Oli. Love! Perjured, false, treacherous Love ! —Longfellow. The footsteps were those of more than one person, and that impression seemed to disturb him. He knitted his brow angrily, and awaited the appearance of the butler. Thi3 functionary halted at the door of the study, and whispered to Ishmael — " What name did you say, sir ?" " I will announce myself," was the cold, curt reply. The butler threw open the door, and, in a loud voice, said — " The gentleman !" Lord Kingswood rose abruptly to his feet, and exclaimed, sharply — " Whitehead, I ordered you " " Aly lord, I instructed him to conduct me hither," interposed Ishmael, in a deep, firm tone.

The room to which the butler conducted Ishmael was only by a misnomer called the library. It adjoined an extensive suite of apartments, containing many thousand volumes, forming what was actually the library, but was itself properly a study. Three sides of this room were stored with boefe of reference and such literature as the noble occupier of the apartment most frequently indulged in. The fireplace was large, and fitted with an exceedingly hand some modern stove, set in a chimney-piece of the purest white marble, while above it was a full-length portrait of a young and beautiful woman, attired like a peeress. The room itself was furnished with the Lord Kingswood turned suddenly as pah as ashes, and trembled from head to foot at the sound of this voice. He, however, caught the eye of the butler fastened upon him with a kind of exculpatory look, blended with a certain amount of surprise, and he said, harshly, to him — " Retire."

He did not answer. Ishmael regarded him with bent browse. " Let me tell you, my lord," he exclaimed, with marked enunciation, " why I, of all other persons, am tho most fitting person living to have brought you those tokens, enclosed in an envelope, which one day, years past, you wore nearest to your heart, bad as it was then and may have been since." The butler obeyed hastily, and Ishmael and Lord Kingswood stood face to face with each other alone. Ishmael Malpas had flung his cap upon a chair, and his cloak had fallen loose upon his shoulders, disclosing his figure, which, if somewhat tending to thinness, was yet well knit and finely formed. His face, now fully exposed to view, was pale — absolutely colourless — but it was composed of features which, if not absolutely handsome, were yet regular and noble in their character and expression.