Robert Mornay

Preface

. In writing the following history, the author has endeavoured to awaken interest by depicting the struggles of modern and every-day Faustism (which in these enlightened days cannot turn to magic), to solve the problem of life by its own unaided views in contrast to that happy mate rialism which accepts everything from its mere animal gaiety, the one obliged to be reconciled to existence by psychological study, the other living it unawares. Either character is common, as well as the failing from which Robert Mornay and Harry Winsome both suffer — absence of self-denial. h

Part I

Capacity for joy admits temptation. — Atjkora Leigh. B EOBEET MORNAY.

Chapter I

It is fine To stand upon some lofty mountain thought And feel the spirit stretch into a view. . Bailey's Festus. " Is it merely the imagination that suggests the mysterious converse that we seem to hold at times with something not mortal ? Whither leads this delicate thread that occasionally throbs unbidden into being ? Strive not to trace it, or the sensitive fibre vanishes. Delicate as a dream, it comes — to be remembered vaguely though never realised. The attempt to woo some tangible shape from it renders fainter the obscure and mystic idea, yet a peculiar scene, a curious sound, an emotion stirred, incomprehensibly familiar, and straightway there flashes on the mind a sudden b2 memory of things not experienced in this world, yet surely remembered from another, a particle of essence, centuries old, relinking itself for the second, then abruptly to vanish."

Thus dangled with one of the threads of im mortality, or phantasms of the brain, the indivi dual, a period of whose life the following pages attempt to describe. He is leaning over the side of a schooner yacht that lies becalmed, one lovely night, in the centre of a lonely sheet of smooth glassy water. It seems huge, the watery prospect, yet is but a tiny self-formed circle of the vast Mediterranean. There is not a ripple to be seen ; the view is bounded by the horizon, a distinct black line that forms the extremity of this separate world, upon which seems to dome itself the great midnight heaven, studded Avith brilliant constellations — somewhat paled, though, by the too absorbing light of a splendid moon that has just commenced to rise, and which throws a silver path along the sea to the yacht, there pausing to drown the only visible object Avith its vivid light, casting its shadow on the water, and thence losing itself in the space.

The scene was sufficient to soothe the poetical temperament of any man: the solemn, still sea, undisturbed except by the occasional splash of some monsterof its depth, that Avould lazily rise for the moment, blow in the atmosphere, and then dart down again to its deep home; the motionless yacht, so contrasted with her customary action, but which now only reminded of her tendency, by the hardly audible creak of an uneasy bulk head; and the gorgeous heaven, naked for con templation. Robert Mornay was a man of thirty, stamped by the class of men round him as a " good fellow" — which expression was qualified, though, by many with the additional term of a " curious fellow" — which meant that Robert endeavoured occasionally, as yet with failure, to rise out of the grub, as he himself expressed it, into something more worthy of the higher nature of man, and this being by no means the spirit of the present day, such attempt, disapproved of by custom and fashion, presented the appearance of simple eccen tricity; and certainly the most liberal minded would have drawn puzzled inference from the variety of channels through which he had sought outlet for his aspiring.

Many pursuits, with equal vehemence, had he taken up and rapidly quitted ; now it was metaphysics, now literature, sacred and profane, now chemistry, now geology, natural his tory, and a dash into political economy — to say nothing of many minor occupations, into which he had entered with hot ardour, and, after mas tering a certain point, had speedily relinquished: all this until some tAvo years since, during which period he had settled down into a sober, happy man. The reason of this was twofold, but the one rather emerged from the other. The prominent reason of this content was, that during the afore said period an engagement had existed between Mabel Fairon, a young lady belonging to his own class of society, and himself, which now though, to be accounted for presently, was broken off; and, secondly, because the doubter of human happiness was rising out of the " Sturm und Drang" epoch, and gradually commencing to fulfil the object his nature craved at — viz. that of reading God himself, interpreted by no one but his own reason and imagination.

In doing this he was hardly aware in how much he had re approached the spirit of the faith of his fore fathers, or to what extent his studies had con firmed what the rebellious youth refused to be lieve implicitly; not, reader, that he had re enrolled himself in the orthodox band, but that he insensibly each day adopted more of its spirit. Goodish-looking was Robert Mornay — one of your black-haired, pale-featured, earnest-looking men — kind-hearted, easily swayed by strong emotions, weak confronting them, though strong in theoretical combat ; unable, in fact, to resist that which seemed irresistible, simply from want of Avill to deny that it was so, yet of a reflective, generous, warm disposition. Down below in the cabin of the yacht were two men playing ecarte and smoking cigars : they were Mornay's com panions — one, the owner of the yacht, Sir Fry Sunhill ; and the other, a guest like himself, Harry Winsome.

Sir Fry Sunhill Avas a merry young baronet of about eight-and-twenty. Driving teams and yacht ing Avere his principal amusements. He was a straightforward, plucky, common-place English gentleman, possessing no striking feature worth description, average talent in most things, a fast friend when once gained, very good-natured, a little shallow in reflection, but possessing a true discernment, when forced to make it, between jus tice and injustice. He Avould have fought with the Cavaliers, and certainly would not vote for the admission of the Jews into Parliament; "con serve" was his motto, and he knew who his an cestor was. No one could deny his being happy with that merry laughing face, though, indeed, he Avas sometimes shy, which marred occasionally an otherwise joyous life. Harry Winsome— dear Harry Winsome! — so loved by all who knew him! always sunny, always charming, always fascinating, whether to man or woman ; the latter had suffered from the memory of that too handsome face, with its au burn hair and speaking blue eyes.

Dear Harry ! what could he not do? Avhere was he not at home? who was his enemy? That man never had one : there might be those who were jealous before they knew him — jealous, on account of the universal tribute paid to Harry Winsome — but when they knew him they loved him, and only trembled lest so charming a creature should cross their path in rivalry of love. Who could contend with Harry? Robert Mornay used to say: "He is the only man I could not be jealous of ; if I were making up to a woman, and were ever so much in love, and Harry were to interpose with the same object as myself, my first feeling would be pain, my second despair, but my last I think, really — I don't know, never having been put in the position, thank God! — but I almost think it would be satisfaction — satisfaction, that she I loved should be only won, if not by me, by him — by dear Harry.

I never could feel enmity toAvards him ; and he is one of the few, very few, men in the world that I could, Avithout humiliation, expose a weakness to. In the case I have supposed, were he my rival, and I saw that his affections were not much involved, but that still he Avas endeavouring to fascinate, I could, Avithout seel ing shame, simply beg of him to desist, and I feel sure that, had I made an error in calculating the extent to which his feelings were engaged, and that he was really becoming captivated, he Avould immediately break off that which Avould pain his friend, and, with his old laugh, say that he was only amusing himself, with, ' Go on, my dear Bob, I Avon't go near her,' even though Harry had to struggle down a sharp twinge of regret for the loss of that which was becoming a little dear to him."

A great flirt was Harry Winsome ; unbounded success had he had with dames and with damsels ; he had captured, in a few days, what other men would have sighed long, long months, ay, years, for; the consequence was, that he had no longer an ideal notion of women ; they were to him simply butterflies, to be pursued and caught, but their Avings were by no means so gorgeous to him as when, at nineteen, Harry fell really in love with a young girl in the neighbourhood of his father's house, and enacted the old, old, painful story. Yet he was not heartless, but he did not realise to himself what the suffering of a woman was, that inner life we none of us see — the form kneeling at the bed, the eyes weeping tears, the hands beseechingly clasped, the heart bursting with its secret, and the striving to get God's protection.

Poor child! none knoAv thy secret, perhaps not even he, and you may not go and lie at his feet and be anything. Come in, religion, and strength, and firmness — come in, pride — come in, womanly reserve and delicacy — come in, thoughts of home, thoughts of family — come in, all of ye ! — form a phalanx round this child, and save her, so ! she walks again with head erect, but no more a child ! Harry knew nothing of this : he considered it was in general woman's nature to fall, and ig nored the terrible bruises. Well, well! Harry, thou must learn some day, and a woman Avill teach thee. As yet the lesson has not been taught, so we meet Harry on board the yacht, gay, brimful of spirits, irresistible. These three men had long been engaged for a yachting expedition together, and, now the Lon don season was over, they had determined to fulfil the plan.

Sir Fry was anxious to be afloat again, from simple love of the sea and attachment to his vessel, besides which he wanted to break through certain sj'ren fetters of a hopeless description, that he had been labouring in vain to extricate himself from while in toAvn. Now he would be free again. What fun might they not have ? Hurrah for the sea ! Harry Winsome had come because he was tired of country-houses, and " Fry" and " Bob" were devilish good fellows to go for a cruise with ; besides Avhich he threw off the better all thoughts of those " infernal duns." Bob — Robert Mornay — went simply because his marriage had been just broken off — in rather an unjustifiable manner, he thought — on account of the impetuosity of his father, who, in making the marriage settlements, quarrelled with the young lady's mother — a worldly woman and a heartless woman — who, the match not being as brilliant as she could have wished, had not scrupled to break an engagement that, secretly, she had never approved of.

Yet had Robert and Mabel been formally en gaged in the eyes of the world for nearly two years, the very duration of Avhich engagement was caused by the trivial excuses Mrs. Fairon from time to time advanced in order to delay the ceremony which Avould have rendered both the young people independent of her. Mornay was an only son of Mr. Tobias Mor nay, a wealthy commoner. His mother had died in giving him birth, and perhaps this was one ofthe reasons that he felt the less conciliated towards the faith that strangers, with an arro gance from which they admitted no appeal, had insisted on acceptance, nor tolerated the natural questions of inquiring youth ; there had been no mother's love to hallow it, no earnest parent to breathe the sympathy contained in it — a mere de mand for credulity; this he had refused.

Between Mabel Fairon and himself there had been, since childhood, a mock engagement; the fathers of the two children had been early friends, and thus they were thrown much together. Ma bel used to be called his little wife, and Robert proudly used to protect the toddling child. Since Mornay had gone to school, though, the two had seen nothing of one another until the year of Mabel's coming out, during which time Robert had completely forgotten the existence of his little intended, though, indeed, the child in nocently enough Avould frequently wonder about him. Mornay had lived the usual man's life, though interspersed Avith more study and meditation than is customary; he had feasted much, flirted much, running through half a dozen passions, wondering each time which was the one, persuaded it must be this, until, indeed, it was forgotten and became that ; he had no pro fession ; in fact, was an idle man, and perhaps with too comfortable an income for indolent habits, for he had received from his mother, who had been an heiress, 2000/. a year.

He was ever, however, arousing himself to lead a more Avorthy life, but the object always failed him — the effort was feeble — until one day, at a breakfast, he met Mabel Fairon again, admired, respected, marvelled at, and loved her — loved her deeply, as he never yet had loved ; Mabel, who was noAv a lovely girl, returned his affection ; the two groAvn people ratified the engagement of their childhood, and while the woman saAV her destiny accomplished, the man at last found the permanent influence of his. They were betrothed. Mrs. Fairon was angry ; she used every argument and entreaty to induce her daughter to consider her love mere levity, but the firm character of the girl, though pained at her mother's conduct, could not dismiss what had become the one feeling of her life. She assented dutifully to delay, but felt surely there could be no change, if Mornay would only trust her as she trusted him.

Mrs. Fairon accused Robert Mornay of atheism, but, alas! a complete knowledge of her lover's mind had told Mabel there could exist no more earnestly thinking man, whose nature had sought God in its OAvn Avay, though, indeed, had arrived at conclusions sadly opposed to her own high hopes, but which she, poor woman as she was, felt strong enough to combat, and perhaps some day successfully. But when a long time of patience, resignation, and faith had been passed, and the day Avas at last named, and the guests bidden — suddenly the whole affair was broken off on both sides by the parents. Tobias Mornay insisted on his son giving up the union, and Mrs. Fairon imperatively forbid her daughter to consider herself any longer en gaged. The principals in the matter, finding their happiness suddenly jerked away by a quarrel they knew little about, but which concerned them so deeply, had no alternative but to yield outwardly, though the hearts, firmer than ever, united them selves as love only can unite, and determined again — to wait.

There was an abrupt farewell, and the two parted ; one, Mabel, going miserably down to a lonely country-house, and the other, Robert Mornay, leaving England wretched, in order to escape the familiarity of all things that tended to remind him of his sorrow. So, then, here were these three young men floating at sea on board the Ruffle, 200-ton yacht; Sir Fry and Harry playing ecarte below, Mornay lost in contemplation on deck at the beauty of what he saw, reminded of his "where" only by the voice that occasionally came up the skylight Avith " Mark the king." Presently the two players, having finished their game, appeared on deck. " Star-gazing, Bob ?" " Star-gazing, my dear Harry." " I Avish to God we had some wind !" exclaimed Sir Fry. " A little breeze drawing up now, sir," said the man at the helm.

And a few moments after he spoke the sails slowly and faintly rustled out into bellies, and the yacht commenced to glide through the water. " Much better than a London ball-room," said Sir Fry. "Ball-room ! I should think so," said Harry. " How people can, night after night, stuff theml\ selves into the ridiculous squeezes we have in London now-a-days, is more than I can imagine." "It is ridiculous," was Mornay's rejoinder. " But the women go, and so the men go ; it is a mere rendezvous, and when there is no appoint ment positively made, they go, anticipating the formation of one for the next night." Indeed, no more violent contrast could have been imagined than Avhen comparing the present sublime prospect, and the sensation of lying be tween two elements, both taintless, with the recollection of the hot, artificial atmosphere of a thronged ball-room.

Onward sails the yacht, Avith her black sweeping hull and white sails, adding loveliness to the scene, the west wind running after her playfully, but firmer each mo ment. The foam commences to rush from her bow, and the wake becomes more and more dis tinct. The three gentlemen go below to their berths, and the helmsman is left alone to guide the beauty over the sea, surely no heavy task on that glorious night.

Chapter II

Italie, empire du soleil ; Italie, maitresse du monde ; Italie, ber ceau des lettres, je te salue ! combien de fois la race humaine te fut soumise, tributaire de tes armes, de tes beaux arts et de ton ciel ! — Corinne. Away goes the little craft, bounding over many a wave, and dipping into each port that seems tempting enough to lure the three wanderers to pause; at last they find themselves at Corfu. But this place proves dull enough, as the shooting has not yet commenced ; and though its high hills and romantic scenery were sufficient food for the most ardent lover of the picturesque, yet that tranquil pursuit was not the prominent object of their cruise. Two months before the woodcock came in ! how should that time be passed ? Surely not at Corfu, eating heavy garrison dinners and scorching in the bay, however lovely c the Albanian mountains might look with the heavenly azure that tinged them all day, and with the crimson and pink hue that the sun bathed them in each night, as he threw out his last glimpse of glory, while the encompassed sea lay like a lake, studded with innumerable islets.

No ; far be it from three young Englishmen, in one of whom only was the poetic tendency de veloped, to loiter away their time in merely bask ing before nature. " Infernal rot," said Harry, " stopping here. Here's old Bob here, he'd be quite happy, he would; but then you know so he would be if he were anchored in the Dead Sea, and had a mountain to look at. What do you say, Fry; shall we go ?" " I'm all right for anything. Where shall we go to ?" "Leghorn," said Bob, "and see Florence." " Venice," said Harry, in the same breath. " Smyrna," maliciously cried Fry. Never were three places named lying in more diverse position to one another. " No, no," said Harry, " not to the eastward of Cape Matapan — not into Barbary, Fry; there never is, never was, and never will be, anything worth an Englishman's visit to the eastward of the Cape" — Harry, it will be observed, was no antiquarian— " a pack of dirty, filthy Orientals, every toAvn stinking, every woman veiled, every man a Turk, Jew, or Greek."

" Oh, gammon, Harry ! you're on board a clean yacht all the time." "Nonsense, Fry; don't go there." "Well, then, we'll draw lots; each place shall be written on a piece of paper — Leghorn, Venice, Smyrna, and the first draAvn shall be the place visited." Accordingly the names were written down, placed in a hat, and old Searly, the quarter master, was called to draw. He pulled out " Leghorn," and, consequently, the next day the Ruffle was ploughing her way to the westward again, bound to that port. How different the life of a man to that of a woman. Robert Mornay and Mabel Fairon were suffering from the same internal sorrow ; but look what distractions there are always for the former, while for the latter there is but simple resignation. The one goes abroad; he is at least free, he can go anywhere, and though pursued ahvays by a feeling of grief, still there are a thousand things to divert his thoughts; but Mabel must be nailed down to her duties, to that one mournful house, c with nothing in the whole Avorld to do but re member.

True, her position happened to be worse than would have been the case with most young girls, from the fact of having no sister, no cheerful family round her; but under any circum stances, how much greater the patience required, how much stronger the fortitude — to endure ! While the woman has naught to do but " remember," loving to remember, finding that if she strives to forget, it only harasses by attacking the one comfort, so cherishes more the remembrance, saying, "What harm can it do? he even will not know it — no one shall know it," the man endeavours to banish recollection, and the necessity for doing so furnishes him with excuse for seeking a thousand other distractions and excite ments; and thus with some natures the pure solemn love becomes deadened — deadened to re vive, or deadened for ever; with others, though, it burns vividly through everything.

Contrast, contrast ! Every aspect but furnishes melancholy contrast. How different that scene Avould have been shared with her! how far sweeter that music ! hoAv much gayer this party ! What would she have said of that ? How Avould she have liked this ? and the mind's eye brings her up and places her before it, to imagine how she would have looked. Robert Mornay's nature was at any time prone to distractions ; of an excitable temperament, he was always for occupying his mind with some object. Lately the object had been worthy of the high qualities he really possessed — the pursuit had a further aim than the mere acquirement of knowledge or the simple Avish to escape from him self; it had been seized, not as in the old bitter spirit to disprove Heaven, but rather to expound this life, and further to reveal beauties which he had but vaguely wandered round before, loving to deny their charm, but Avhose deep truth another's influence had magically interpreted to him at last.

But now he found himself reduced to the dreamer it had been his misfortune ahvays to be — the dream being succeeded by morbid vigils. Listlessly he found himself lingering over the glories of the Tribune, adoring the sculptured marvels of Greece, gazing abstractedly from the heights of Fiesole, endeavouring to find happi ness in the mere sense of existence, or abruptly awaking to the miserable actuality of a life which now stood destitute of any better ambition. By this time, if he had not been unfortunate, he would have been the husband of Mabel — Mabel's husband ! It Avas pleasant to dwell on the sound of those two words— he, her own legal protector, the right recognised by the world — that loved girl his wife. " Wife ! why does that name 'wife' sound insipid?" said Robert to himself. " What a horribly dull term it seems to signify — rather ' recognised mistress,' ' laAvful mistress.' This is a wife here," he soliloquised, looking at a plain middle-aged German woman stepping into a hired carriage, totally unassisted by her spouse, a bearded individual, who was unconcernedly occu pied brushing the dust off his boots, Avhich were one by one rested on the wheel of the vehicle for that purpose, while replying to his Avife with a rough monosyllable, as she leaned fonvard gently to address him.

" I wonder if Mabel and I could ever come to that, and I wonder if — that dear woman once my wife — any other could ever charm me ? God knows I have been volatile enough as yet Avith regard to her sex, and how horrible it would be if — if — some day I were to find out I had made a mistake, and that Mabel and I were to become perfectly indifferent to one another. Heaven forfend! However, it is no use dreaming of that Avhich is not to be. Why think of her so much — why ? She is nothing to me." Whereon flowed the presence of Mabel through his frame, denying this, and whispering through every fibre, " All — all !" Thus pondered Mornay one lovely afternoon, as he was strolling out to the Cascini, where daily meet all the fashion and beauty of Florence, resi dents and roamers, to gaze, to gossip, to flirt.

There he met Fry Sunhill and Harry; they were talking to an Englishman and his wife, who were seated in a barouche. Mornay recognised the man — it was Lord Weyton, a bosom chum of Harry's; that, then, was Lady Weyton, femme celebre, that all the world had talked about, admired, and abused. " She is very nice-looking," thought Mornay. Lady Weyton had been an actress, and Lord Weyton, falling in love with her, had married her; for this the world had condoled with him and been spiteful about her. " So many charm ing women in society, why go to the stage for a wife ?" Yet Lady Weyton's life had been irre proachable, which vexed gossips still more; and when, on appearing among them, she was gentle, well-bred, and ladylike, they at once consigned her to oblivion. " How are you, Mornay ?" said Lord Weyton ; "just the man we want.

I've entirely persuaded Harry, and half Sir Fry, to come and stop with us for a month or six weeks at Spezzia; my lady and I have taken a house, or a villa, there for three months, and we want to fill it. A charming place, I assure you— my own cook there ; my sister, Mrs. Lovess, is coming, young Falkland of the 2nd , whom I picked up at Turin, and Mrs. and Miss Markham, the heiress, you know — a chance for you bachelors, by the way. It is to be Liberty Hall — no one to bore any one but himself ; only one rule, and that is, that we dine together. Harry'd like to come, and I think Sir Fry will yield too, only as yet each has had a great foil in the shape of you ; your name has been as often quoted during the last ten minutes as there are beggars round the carriage — look at them," he said, pointing to a motley group who surrounded the good-humoured looking Englishman in hopes of a copper.

" They say that they can't do any thing without you — will you come ? I can put you all up comfortably ; or if you persist in being afloat, there's your own cabin anchored under our windows." " Thank you, Lord Weyton ; if they like it, I am sure it will suit me." " Settled then, isn't it, Sir Fry?" " Yes ; we'll come, and soon tire you," replied the latter. " And now about the yacht ; hadn't she better take you round ? We'll all go down to Leghorn together." "So be it. Will you take Mrs. Lovess and Falkland ?" " Certainly ; the latter will have to put up Avith a soft plank on deck, but I dare say he won't mind roughing it for so short a time; but the Markhams ?" " Oh, never mind them. The heiress will find her own way ; they come from Genoa." So it was all settled. Three days later saw the Ruffle beating up the Gulf of Spezzia against a stiff breeze, the little craft lving well over, spinning through the smooth water at the rate of nine knots an hour ; tack and half tack she went up that glorious gulf, standing bolt upright only in stays, with her sails shaking the wind out merrily, and then, lying down well to her work, darting to the other side of the bay, the water parting brightly from the bow, smacking cheerily up against the weather bulwark and simmering away on her lee, flying in the wind again with a long shoot just Avhen, to Lord Weyton's unnau tical eye, she seemed about to beach herself on some pebbly creek, or to charge some rocky pro montory whereon browsed the meditative goat, disturbed for the moment by the white, noisy, rushing thing below it, that only came to retreat again; over she went, the breeze freshening; had they much farther to go it would be necessary to reef, but the master carries on all sail with only a mile more to beat.