Ruth Garnett. An historical tale

Chapter I

It was a bright and beautiful morning, about the middle of August, 16 — , when a small number of gentlemen, whose dress and mien denoted them attaches of the court, entered St. James's Park, and sauntered idly along the MaU. The hour was very early, and there was but one way of accounting for persons of their fashion not being under the dominion of the poppy god, and that was byr the supposition that they had outwatched the stars, and were come to inhale the fresh morn ing air, after a night passed over the wine-cup or the gaming-table. An observer might have been VOL. I. B confirmed in this opinion by noting the paleness of their countenances, and the evident effort it cost two of them to keep up with their companion, as he continued talking to them with an animation that could have been nothing impaired by the fatigue and excitement of the previous night.

The only evidence he gave of weariness was by a half-suppressed yawn, which lapsus he instantly and courteously requested his companions to par don. Between two of these a slight glance was instantly and furtively exchanged, and the younger, dropping a little behind, elevated his eyes and shoulders, in a kind of polite horror. But if such were indeed his feeling, it by no means prevented the bow with which he acknowledged the offender's apology being a very low and courtly one. He was a slight, stripling-like person, of fair com plexion, and almost feminine features, and having long rich locks, curled and perfumed according to the most approved mode, though at present some what out of order, probably from the length of time that had elapsed since his valet had operated upon them. His countenance would have been exceedingly intellectual, but that the stamp of excess and intemperance had been already set upon it.

His deep — and nature had made it a bright — blue eye, wandered languidly over the fair piospect, visible from St. James's Park at sunrise ; and yet it would kindle with a poet's enthusiasm for a moment, as he lagged behind his more robust, and perhaps less intellectual companions, and gazed upon the glorious gold and crimson that heralded the coming of the poet's god. It was evident that a mind, not a mere vehicle for two or three stale ideas, but one capable of compre hensive, and true and glorious thought, was en shrined in that fragile form. But it was equaUy visible that the stamp of the Godhead had been defaced — the working of gross and earthly pas sions was plainly perceptible, and your imagination turned with a sickening sigh from what such a man was, to what he might have been. The person who walked on the right hand of the gentleman who was speaking, the stripling we have just described, held the left hand place, was a handsome and finely formed man, of some two or three and forty.

His dress was richer than that of either of his companions ; his very symmetrical leg and foot, upon which, by the frequent glances with which he honoured them, he prided himself in no slight degree, were encased in silk stockings, having gorgeous gold clocks, and shoes, rather indeed adapted for the saloon than the Park, of white satin, finished with large gold roses. His eye was fine and searching, and his whole look and bearing were unmistakably those of a gallant and b aristocrat of the first order. He appeared to listen w-ith profound attention to the gentleman who was speaking to him, notwithstanding that he every now and then threw a merry glance over his shoul der at the gentlemen who walked behind them, displaying, as he did so, a set of teeth scarcely to be equalled. The individual who walked between, but almost imperceptibly in advance of the persons just described, was rather above the middle height, of handsome figure, and highly-polished deportment.

His age might be some five or six and thirty, but his dark complexion and strongly marked linea ments, gave him the appearance of being three or four years in advance of that period. A large peruke, the colour of the raven's wing, fell over his shoulders ; he was attired in a grave, but exceed ingly rich suit of black Genoa velvet, clasped at the knees with sparkling diamonds ; his nether stocks and shoes were similar to those worn by his right hand companion, save that a splendid buckle of diamonds held the place of the gold rosettes. A Spanish hat, with a rich plume, and a short cloak of black velvet, worn, however, only over one shoulder, completed the attire of this remark able and noble looking personage. He broke carelessly off in his conversation with the gentle man of the golden clocked hose, and glancing over his shoulder, addressed one of the persons behind — " Thou wert saying to me yesterday, Sir Charles," exclaimed he, "when we gazed together on Claude's unequalled landscapes, that a fair pic ture lost half its charms unless some figure, some dryad of the wood or naiad of the stream, were introduced.

I coincided with thine opinion, for who in matters of taste may dare gainsay one of thy fraternity ? But I felt not the full truth of thy remark until this moment. Step forward, Sir Charles, and look yonder." He directed the eyes of his companions to a gate in the Park wall, through the bars of which the green, rich meadows of Pimlico were visible. A stream, sparkling like Uquid silver in the morn ing sunlight, meandered across the nearest of these. A girl of exquisite form — but whose back was towards the Park gate — was kneeling beside the rivulet, laving her face and hands _ now and then sportively flirting some of the diamond-like water drops over her companion. Her long rich auburn hair fell low over her shoulders, and floated, released from all confinement, at the pleasure of the gentle breeze.

A hat and mantle lay beside her on the grass, and these had by no means escaped a sprinkling of the pure element she was profusely scattering around her. The other girl, whose profile was turned towards the persons in the Park, was a very beautiful brunette, slightly but gracefully formed, and whose attire of puritanical stiffness and precision could not veil the simple and classical elegance of her movements. Her hair was closely fastened beneath the coif and hood of the sect to which she was consequently supposed to belong; but her dark and brilliant glances were visible, and the note of merry and unsuppressed laughter with which she — stooping to fill her small, rosy palm — returned the sprink lings of her companion, evidenced that, whatever might be the faith of her fathers, her own glad young heart was an unsophisticated worshipper of Nature.

She might have seen some seventeen or eighteen summers, and the Poet's beautiful simile, " Like a rose at fairest, neither a bud nor blown," might have been very aptly applied to her. She followed up the sounds of her musical laugh with that of a voice even yet more musical. " Thou art a naughty, self-willed child," said she to the other girl, " and assure thyself I will tell Hubert of thee. What ! insist on coming hither each morn, vowing that no other water giveth thee the feeling of freshness that doth this stream. Oh ! 'tis aught but seemly, and I will tell" — She sprang hastily aside to escape the shower of water drops her companion flung with no niggard hand towards her, and again her merry laugh, with which that of the other girl chimed in, fell upoii the ears of the unseen spectators.

" Nay!" exclaimed she whose back was towards them, and whose figure might well have served for the representation of a nymph at a fountain, " Nay, but thou must, dear Ruth, let me enjoy this whim of mine. Did it consist with thine education to read the old fables of Diana and her maidens, thou wouldst better understand my folly7. I love this pure, sparkling, placid stream, and I am rapt in the dreams of olden poesy when I come hither at early morn to lave brow and bosom. And what harm, dear Ruth, for thou wottest it is too soon for any less guileless than thyself and me to be abroad V She shook back her luxuriant locks, rose from her kneeling position, and, carelessly turning, glanced round, and for the first time became aware that strangers were within sight and hearing. Her startled look, and exclamation of alarm, directed her companion's attention to the Park gate.

If they had been before thought lovely by those court-connoisseurs in beauty, how greatly was their loveliness enhanced when, each turning fully round, their faces and forms became entirely visible. Neither did the deep flush that coloured b their countenances render them less fascinating. As they stood a moment mute from surprise, and from a feeUng evidently very like alarm, the cavalier in black velvet courteously removed his plumed hat, and made them a respectful obeisance. The other gentlemen, one and all, immediately doffed their bonnets, and remained uncovered, though he who had first saluted the young women immedi ately replaced his own. The conduct of the pretty pair was very different. She whose hair flowed in such beautiful disorder over shoulders in compari son with which the purest ivory would seem to wear a dusky hue, snatching up her hood and mantle, would have fled in the most precipitate haste, had she not been restrained by her some what older, and more self-possessed companion.

This last seized her hand, and significantly signed to her to pause. She then, raising her eyes for a moment to the face of the cavalier, who now alone wore his cha peau, bent them instantly to the ground, and dropped at the same time so low and reverential a courtesy, that she seemed to be actually sinking into the daisy covered turf. The other girl evidently viewed this proceeding with surprise and displeasure ; and the first feeling seemed shared by the larger number of the gentlemen. Those two who had walked right and left of the cavalier, to whom the girl's courtesy seemed more particu larly addressed, had appeared to entertain an intention of overclimbing the gate, probably with a desire to delay their departure. But a glance from this gentleman, whose rank it now seemed was higher than that of the others, detained them motionless at his side ; and then he again, with unequalled grace and dignity, removed his plumed chapeau, and bowed to the young women as respectfully as he could have done had they been peeresses of England.

Bidding them a courteous " good morning," he then replaced his hat, and turning, retraced his steps, followed by the other gentlemen, along the Mall, towards White hall. He had not advanced many paces beneath the fine avenue of trees, then in all the leafy glory of early August, before the person he had addressed as Sir Charles Sedley called his attention to the circumstance of a man having apparently dogged them during the whole of their promenade. " I noted him," said Sedley, " scrutinizing our party as we crossed from Whitehall, and observed, Sir, that his gaze seemed intently fixed so soon as he obtained a view of your person. Shall I accost him, and demand to know his motive for this impertinence ?" " Or shall Sir Charles and myself warn him to keep at distance, Sir, while you walk forward with Rochester and Etheridge," inquired he of the handsome leg.

" The fellow may have fire arms in his possession." " And thou and Sedley are doubtless bullet proof," rejoined the cavalier, whose safety each seemed to tender beyond his own. " Not so. I myself noted him ; nay, as we turned just now, I narrowly observed his eye. There is too much self-possession in its glances, to be that of a man who intends the commission of murder. Let him tread in our footsteps an' he will. He is some tailor, who would note the fashion of our doublets." The man evidently knew that he had become the subject of notice and conversation. He changed colour once or twice, and seemed nerving himself for some desperate purpose ; thrust his hand into the breast of his doublet, and apparently clutched something therein ; and finally appeared sufficiently agitated to warrant the half opinion one of the gentlemen had expressed, that fire arms were in his possession, and that he intended to put them to a dreadful use.

At this moment Sedley once more looked round, and after giving the man a menacing look, again addressed a few words to the cavalier in black velvet. The five gentlemen immediately faced round, and so quickly and suddenly confronted the person who had followed them, that he started a few paces back in astonishment and dismay. A smile -enlightened the features of the principal in the group, and he glanced at his friendly advisers, as if to say, " Doth this look a wight whom such as we need hold in ter ror ?" Then immediately composing his counte nance to a look of dignified gravity, he addressed the individual, who now seemed greatly inclined to run, and hide himself behind the nearest tree. " Step forward, man," said the gentleman, "and say what wouldst thou with us?" Whatever were the man's intentions, certainly upon this invitation he was about to approach the King — for the cavalier in black velvet was no other than Charles Stuart himself — more closely than the forms of court etiquette permitted.

But one of the gentlemen put him back with no very gentle motion, and observing his hand still in his bosom, caught his doublet breast, and drew from thence — not a formidable pistol— but a harmless roll of closely written paper. The word "petition" was in stantly uttered by two or three voices, and it seemed to give Charles more real alarm than per haps ten pistols — for he came of a gallant race — would have done. " A petition !" repeated he, hastily, and with evident annoyance : " We have notified our resolution to receive none such, when offered to our own person. Our state secretary is their fitting medium of conveyance." " Petition ! 'tis none, your Majesty, and heaven bless you !" exclaimed the man, who had now in a great degree recovered from his apparent terror; " but it is matter of moment, royal sir, and con cerns your throne — pardon me — and perchance your life."

The courtiers cast significant glances at one another, and more closely surrounded the King. But Charles received the information with an incredulous smile, and coldly demanded of the man his name and calling. " May't please your gracious majesty, John Kirby is my name, and I deal in drugs and che micals," answered he. " A poisoner by profession," said Rochester, scornfully, "your majesty were well take heed what credence you afford him." " Be sure that we shall do," responded Charles; " natheless," he added, " methinks this matter caUeth for further inquiry How came this business to thy knowledge, man, and in brief what is its substance ?" " That your majesty's enemies have a foul design against your life, and are planted daily in this very walk, watching a fit opportunity to deprive you of it," responded the man.

" Those villain Jesuits, Grove, Pickering, and Ireland, have sworn on the cross, that your sacred majesty shall not behold the setting of many more suns. I can bring for ward credible witnesses, ready to depose to this fact." " This matter must not be slightly passed over, sir," said the cavalier of the handsome leg, who was no other than the Duke of Buckingham. He added, in the King's ear, " yonder cometh the relief guard, shall I bid them attach the fellow in your majesty's name ?" " Methinks 'twere needless, George," answered the King. He then glanced at the papers, which still remained in the hands of Etheridge. " Do these," said he, " relate to the matter of which thou hast spoken ?" "They do, an' please your majesty," answered Kirby, " and they were given to me by a loyal subject of your majesty's, the Reverend Dr. Tongue."

" We will hear further of this strange matter," said the King. " Few of our subjects are there with whom we would fear to trust the safety of our person, and well must that plot be authen ticated, which shall cause us so to do, in the dusky and unkingly garb of sour-eyed suspicion. Me thinks, gentlemen," added he, turning to his courtiers, " the poisoned shirt of the Centaur could scarcely be more fatal to Hercules than would such to the bosom of a true sovereign." « Yet—pardon me, sir— 'twas lack of suspicion in the son of Jove, that caused his destruction," remarked Rochester. " Natheless," retorted the good-natured King, " had Dejanira been free from the ill quality thou laudest, and had not doubted her lord's fidelity, she had destroyed the fatal tunic, in Ueu of making it a present to him, and then no harm had hap pened.

But," he added, in a graver tone, " we will use a wary eye, and the information afforded by Master Kirby shall not be brought in vain. Thou hast no objection to attend us to the palace, that our lord-treasurer — for to him we will refer the matter — may take note of thine evidence ?" The last sentence was addressed to Kirby, and that person, not without evident signs of trepida tion, having replied with a humble affirmative, the king quickened his pace, and, in an apparently meditative mood — for he scarcely spoke again to his attendants — reached Whitehall before many of the domestics were astir.

Chapter II

In one of the lower apartments of a mansion, unpretending in appearance, but of moderate size, and whose exterior and interior alike bore the impress of the utmost neatness aud precision, were assembled five persons of both sexes, and of different appearances and years, on the same morning from which we date the commencement of our story. The house was an ancient irregular dwel ling, of the latter period of the Elizabethan age, surrounded by fine old trees, and situated in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. The beams of the morn ing sun — it was scarcely seven by the old-fashioned clock that stood between the ivy-darkened case ments — glanced upon the faces of the two blooming girls we have already introduced to the reader. They had but just laid aside their hoods and mantles, and beautiful as at all times they must have appeared, could never have shown to more advantage than now ; their eyes and cheeks sparkling and glowing with the light and hue that early morning air and exercise alone can bestow.

There stood by their side an elderly woman, whom any observer would, from the similitude of their lineaments, have declared to be nearly related to the darker of the two. Nor would such an opinion have been erroneous, for the aged matron was indeed her grandmother. She had been beautiful, perhaps, in a scarcely inferior degree to her young descendant ; the fine contour of her face was the same, and her cheek, though shrunken, wore a tint scarcely less delicate. Her dress was that of a puritan matron of the time of Cromwell, and by no means unbecoming one whom her sect had named a " Mother in Israel ;" one to whom the " outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of putting on of apparel," had never been permitted, and never by herself desired. There was a serenity in her look that gladdens the spectator to behold in one fast declining into the vale of years, giving rise to a hope that his own latter days may glide away as peacefully.

She was above the middle height, and time had not, in the slightest degree, detracted from her stature ; she stood as gracefully erect as the young creature whose blush and bloom of womanhood her own must have so strongly resembled. The other persons in the apartment were an old man of plain and blunt aspect and bearing, and a youth of nineteen or twenty. He was tall and pale, with a glorious large dark eye, which, mimicked on canvas, long holds a place in the memory ; but instinct with living soul is scarcely ever forgotten. He was the brother of the elder girl, and, like her self, stood in the relationship of grandchild to the elder lady, Mrs. Garnett, for that was indeed the name she bore. At the instant of our introducing these persons to the reader, the morning salutations had just been exchanged, and the young man yet retained the hand of his sister Ruth, and of her friend, Ellen Godfrey-.

His eyes were fixed upon the latter with an expression which had its rise in a feeling not difficult to divine. But none appeared to observe it, and when Ellen drew away her hand, and put it into that of Mrs. Garnett, at the same time affectionately kissing her, he sighed, and turning to the casement, appeared to examine the creepers that clustered round it with the attention of a most consummate botanist. " And how doth my Ellen this morning ?" said the kind old lady ; " I am glad to see thy look of health increase : daily thou growest rosier, dear child, than even my wild Ruth." "I am quite — quite well, dear Mrs. Garnett, thanks to your kind care," answered Ellen. " Give thy thanks to God, my daughter," replied the old lady ; " He it is who hath merci fully raised thee from a sick couch ; may He watch over thee, and if it seem good to Him, make thy days long in the land, and grant that thou mayest become a chosen instrument to do His will."

She pressed a kiss upon Ellen's white brow, fondly embraced her grandaughter, and then bade the latter summon the domestics to join in the morning worship. Ruth returned after the absence of a moment, followed by two middle-aged women and a clownish looking serving man, of about twenty, son to one of the latter. These made a gesture of respectful salutation to Mrs, Garnett, and then — the matron and her family having taken their seats — arranged themselves in their accustomed places. A moment of unbroken silence having succeeded, she read, in a clear and audible voice, a portion of the Scrip tures. That done, the old man, her deceased husband's brother, proceeded to " wrestle with the Lord in prayer." Then might an observer have first perceived that the old man's eyes were wholly sightless, as he lifted their expressionless balls towards heaven.

He prayed — such had been his wont for years that the day of darkness, and distress of gloominess, and wasteness, might be removed from the people of the Lord; that the fulfilment of the promises might come in good time, when " the desert should rejoice and blossom as the rose," and dried up water springs distil anew, to refresh the thirsty traveller. He lamented that the " cup of trembling," poured out for the iniquities of Jerusalem, must be drunken to the dregs, by reason of her iniquities ; and that he who should have been called the shepherd of the flock, was a backslider and idolator — one of those against whose arm the avenging sword should be Uft up. He said that the wolf had entered into the fold, and lacerated the sheep, while the evil shepherd was dancing to the sound of lutes in the tents of " Idolatrous Kedar."

But there is a voice that telleth how that the old days of the church's glory shall come again — that bonds shall be broken asunder — that in place of reviling shall be praise — instead of songs to the idol of uncleanness, a hymn poured out by aU, in laud of the fountain that washeth away sin. " And oh, do thou, our Lord," he added in a gentler spirit than was the characteristic of his sect, "temper justice with mercy — for the best of us have utterly fallen away — we have altogether become filthy ! Have mercy on the residue of the seed of Jacob, oh Lord, and slay not Israel because of backsliding! If in the idolatrous and unclean city ten righteous men be not found, oh, spare it — consume it not, but save, if five only may be found therein. Or if this accord not with thy inscrutable wisdom, let a Zoar — a city of refuge — be provided them, even as was provided for thy servant of the old time ; and let the wings of thy Providence overshadow this dwelling, and its inhabitants.

May the young branches of immortality that grow herein blossom and bring forth fruit — some sixty, some a hundred fold! Keep their feet from the tents of the ungodly; nor let them walk in the way that leadeth to death eternal. Let the youths and the maidens of this household flourish with thy bless ing ; and to them be restored our fields that the locusts have made bare. And the stranger that is ' within our gates,' may she be plucked as a brand from the burning ! Lead the gentle one to the fountain that washeth away sin ; and in her case in nowise visit the sins of the father upon the child." With much more in this strain, aspirations that the spirit of charity herself could not have blamed, mingled with bigoted denunciations of those who professed the tenets of the Anglican church, did the old man wind up the morning worship.

When it was concluded the party, waited on by an ancient domestic, sat down to break their fast. The old lady chatted kindly with the two girls ; but listened with something like displeasure to the account — for both were too guileless to dream of concealing it — of their morning's adventure. — Hubert, who had been conversing in an under tone with his grand-uncle, on matters apparently of importance, from the deep attention which both gave to their subject, turned hastily, as the names of the " King," uttered by Ellen, and the " Duke of Buckingham" by his sister, met his ear, and listened with evident vexation and uneasiness to their innocent remarks respecting the grace and courtesy of the royal and noble cavaliers. " These men spake not to ye, my children," remarked Mrs. Garnett, with much gravity of manner ; " save only one, and he but to bid ye good morrow, which is the idle phrase of such as the courtesy might seem to demand.

So far well ; but wherefore tarried ye an instant, maidens, when ye saw that strangers, men of the court too, were nigh ?" " Ellen would have fled on the instant, grandmother," replied Ruth, colouring deeply, and dropping her dark eye-lashes, "but that I — that is the King — forsooth, dear grandmother," she added, after a moment's embarrassed pause, " that we left not the meadow immediately was fault of none but mine." " Thy fault ! thine Ruth !" said Mrs. Garnett, in a tone of greater severity, " thou dost surprise and sorrow me greatly." " Thou wilt be more angry yet, dear grandmo ther," said the girl, " and yet, and yet, I must speak the verity. 'Twas very wrong, I know, but I felt so strangely in the presence of yonder Charles Stuart, whose father lost his life by the terrible axe, that, that — ye wiU chide, I wot well — but I was fain to tarry, and note if he him self looked as though destined to end his days upon the scaffold."

"I suspected thee of nought half so imprudent," answered Mrs. Garnett. " Thou must keep home, unless Hubert can accompany thee. Thou wottest not into what evil thou mightest have run head long, and also have led Ellen with thee." " Nay, Ma'am," said EUen, in a deprecating manner, and speaking very submissively, yet firmly, " No evil could have chanced to us, since the King was amidst those cavaliers. His gracious majesty is too knightlike and noble to — " " Speak of what thou dost understand, Ellen Godfrey," said the old man, harshly, and joining for the first time in the discussion. " So might the silly lamb declare that no harm could hap to it, if left to the mercy of the ravening wolf. I fear me thou art tainted with the follies of the ' Vanity Fair,' in which thou dost dwell somewhat deeper than I dreamed ; and if so, thou art no companion for Ruth Garnett."

The cheeks of the young girl became deeply dyed with the colouring of sorrow and indignation, as she answered, rising from the table at the same time, " My father's daughter should not have tarried in this place, or any other, until reminded that her presence was unwelcome." " Sit thee, Ellen !" " sit Ruth and Hubert ! " said Mrs. Garnett, as the two last rose simultane ously with EUen, " sit ye and listen to the words of counsel. It seemeth that thou, Ruth, art very, very blameful in this matter ; but for Ellen God frey — younger than thou, and more likely, from education and principles, to have erred — she, it seemeth, hath fallen into no error. Besides, Ruth, thou art called upon, in a greater degree than herself, to turn away thine eyes from these men of Belial ; beware, therefore, lest thou be made a scorn and hissing amongst the maidens of thy people, and bring down the grey hairs of thy father's mother to the grave with sorrow."