The Rose and the Key, etc

Chapter I

A LETTER. The invalid came slowly in now, and the little party, roared for by the gong, as I said, went away together to luncheon very merrily. When this sociable meal was ended, Maximilla said to Maud, as they were going through the door, side by side : " Some letters have come here from the Her mitage, and one among them that concerns you. Come up to my room with me, and we can read it." VOL. II. B " Who is it from?" asks Maud, with excusable impatience. " You shall see when we get up-stairs — come." " But what is it about V " You." And the agile old lady ran up the stairs before her, laughing. " Come in and shut the door," says Miss Max, as Maud reached the threshold ; " bolt the door ; it is no harm. Come here, to this window, and nobody can hear." She recollected the dressing-room door, and turning the key in it, rejoined Maud, whose curiosity was a good deal piqued by these pre cautions.

" Well, who is it from ?" said Miss Max, with a provoking smile, as she raised it by the corner. " If you don't tell me this moment, I'll push you into your chair, and take it by force." " Well, what do you say to Mr. Marston ? I don't know a more exemplary lover ; the letter is from him. You shall hear," answered Miss Max, as she opened it, and adjusted her glasses, smiling all the time a little mysteriously. Maud looked grave, and a brilliant colour dyed her cheeks. " Listen," said Maximilla, very unnecessarily, and began. " Dear Miss Medwyn, — You have been so extremely kind to me that I venture to write a very short note, which I can no longer forbear, although I scarcely know myself what it is going to be. Miss Maud Guendoline, as I still call her, although she told me that I still have to learn her surname, imposed a command upon me, when taking my leave on that happy and melancholy Sunday evening, which I can never forget, a com mand which I need hardly assure you I have im plicitly obeyed.

I am, therefore, as entirely in the dark as ever respecting all I most ardently long to hear. Every day that passes makes me long more intensely for the hour when I may again see that one human face which alone of all others has ever interested me " " Mine, of course," suggested Miss Max, raising her eyes for a moment. " Well :" " — Has ever interested me. Are you aware that the ball at Wymering is to come off nearly a fortnight earlier this year than usual ? I have n2 been so miserable lest the change of time should in any way endanger the certainty of Miss Maud Guendoline's attendance at it. Your nature is so entirely kind, that 1 know you will pardon my entreating you to write two or three words, only to reassure me, and tell me my misgivings are groundless. Till I shall have heard from you that your beautiful friend is to be at Wymering on the evening of the ball, I cannot know an hour's quiet."

" Poor thing ! I can't bear to keep him in suspense another hour," said Miss Max. Maud said nothing — neither " Yes" nor " No," not even " Read on." Miss Max, however, went on diligently, thus : " I am going, if you allow me, to make a con fidence, and implore a great kindness. If you think you can do what I ask, and will kindly under take it, I cannot describe to you how grateful I shall be. I am tortured with the idea that your young friend has undertaken too much. From some things she said, I fear that her life is but a dull and troubled one, beset with anxieties and embittered by conditions, for which she is utterly unfitted. You are our friend — hers and mine — and do, I implore, permit me to place at your disposal what will suffice to prevent this. You must not think me very coarse. I am only very miserable as often as I think of her troubles and vexations, and entreat you to intervene to prevent them, acting as if entirely from yourself, and on no account for another.

If I were only assured that you would undertake this, I could wait with a lighter heart for the moment when I hope to meet her again. You can understand what I suffer, and how entirely I rely upon your kind secrecy, in the little commission I so earnestly implore of you to undertake." " And see how religiously I keep his secret !" said Miss Max. " But, poor fellow ! doesn't it do him honour? He thinks, at this moment, that you are living by the work of your fingers, and he not only lays his title and his title-deeds, with himself, at your feet, but he is miserable till he rescues you from the vexations of your supposed lot in life. I know very well that you think him an arrant fool. But I think him a hero — I know he's a hero." " Did I say I thought him a fool!" said Maud. " I don't know who is a fool and who is a sage in this world ; and if he is a fool, I dare say I'm a greater one.

I believe, Max, we are wise and foolish where we least suspect it. I think we are most foolish when we act entirely from our heads, and wisest when we act entirely from our feelings, provided they are good. I said so to Dr. Malkin, and he agreed ; but, indeed, it is a dreadful life. I don't know where there is happiness. I was thinking if I were really the poor girl he believes me, how wild with happiness all this would pro bably have made me." " It ought, as you are, to make you just as happy," said Maximilla. " It ought, perhaps, but it doesn't. If I were that poor girl, gratitude and his rank would make me like him." " And you don't like him?" No, I don*t like him." " Well. How inexpressibly pig-headed ! How ungrateful !" exclaimed Miss Max, almost with a gasp. " There is everything ! Such kindness, and devotion, and self-sacrifice.

I never heard of such a lover — and no possible objection !" " I don't like him. I mean I don't love him." " And I suppose you won't go to the ball ?" said Miss Max, aghast. " I will go to the ball." " Do you know, Maud, I'm almost sorry I ever saw that poor young man. I'm sorry I ever be held his face. One thing I am certain of, we must not go on mystifying him. I'll write to him instantly, and tell him everything. I'll not let him suppose I take a pleasure in fooling him ; I like him too well for that. I don't think, in this selfish world, I ever met any one like him. I shall wash my hands of the whole business ; and I'm very sorry I ever took any part in practising this unlucky trick upon him. I must seem so heartless !" " If you write any such letter I'll not go." " Not go to the ball !" cried Maximilla.

" Well, certainly, that will seem good-natured — that is the climax !" " I say to the ball I'll not go if you write him any such letter," said Maud. " And you will go if I don't?" persisted good natured Miss Max. " Certainly," said Maud, decisively. " I don't see why he should be mystified," said Maximilla, after a considerable pause. " He shall be mystified as long as I like. It is the only way by which we can ever know any thing of him. What could you have known of him now, if it had not been that he was all in the dark about us ? No ; you shall write to him to day, if to-day it must me, and tell him, in whatever way you like to put it, that you can't think of accepting his offer of money, as I and my mother have, one way or other, quite enough." And at this point these two wise ladies, looking in one another's eyes, laughed a little, and then very heartily, and Miss Max said : " It is a great shame.

I don't know how we can ever look him in the face again when he discovers how we have been deceiving him !" " You have much too mean an opinion of your impudence, Max. At all events, if we can't we can't, and so the acquaintance ends." " Well ? What more ? What about your going to the ball ?" says Maximilla. " Say that we shall certainly be there — you and I. You know you must stay for it." " I suppose I must." " And, let me see, it will be on Friday week?" " Yes ; I'll tell him all that." " But wait a moment. I haven't done yet. The ball begins at ten exactly. Yes, ten, and you and I shall be in the gallery at nine precisely." " In the gallery !" " Yes, in the gallery," repeated Miss Maud. " Why, my dear Maud, no one sits in the gallery but townspeople, and musicians' wives and dress makers.

I don't know I'm sure what on earth you can mean." " You shall know, of course, everything I mean." " And, you know, I object to our having any more of that masquerading — remember that." " Perfectly ; I'll do nothing but exactly what you like. I promise to do nothing unless you agree to it. You shall know all my plans — isn't that fair?" " Yes ; but what are they ?" " I have only a vague idea now ; but we can talk them over when you have written your letter ; recollect, in little more than half an hour the servant takes the letters to the post. But write on your own paper with the Hermitage at the top of the sheet, and — yes — if you can be very quick, I'll send the letter to the post-office at Dalworth ; it will be better than the Roydon postmark." " Yes, Roydon might set him thinking, if you don't want to tell him now."

"No, nothing, except what I have said. I'll never see him more if you do — you promise me that?" " Certainly, you shall read the letter when it is written." " There now, you are a good girl, Max ; I'll stay here for it ; and I'll get Lexton to send a man riding to Dalworth." u Now you mustn't talk, or make the least noise," said Miss Max, as she opened her desk. " I must not make a mistake." And soon the scraping of her industrious pen was the only sound audible in the room. In the mean time, Maud took Mr. Marston's letter to the window, and leaning lightly with her shoulder to the angle of the wall, she looked it over, and thought what a gentleman-like hand it was, and then she read and re-read it, and with a pretty glow in her cheeks, and her large eyes fired and saddened, she laid it on the table beside Maxi milla, just as that romantic accomplice, having written the address on the envelope, turned round to place it in her hand.

" No, there isn't time to read it. Shut it up now, and let me have it. Lexton will put a stamp on it." And with these words Maud kissed her with a fond little caress, and ran away with the note in her hand.

Chapter II. Drifting

And now people begin to obseive and whisper something strange. Now, in fact, begins an amaz ing infatuation. It shows itself in the cold, proud matron, Lady Vernon, at first covertly, afterwards with less disguise. The young officer, Captain Vivian, is to make a stay of some weeks. For a day or two Lady Vernon appears to take no particular interest in him. But gradually by the third day of his sojourn her manner, either dis closing a foregone liking, or indicating the growth of a new passion, changes. DRIFTING. It changes at first covertly ; afterwards the signs that excite general comment show themselves with less disguise. As Miss Max remarks to Maud, with a little pardonable exaggeration, u She can't take her eyes off him, she can hear no one else speak, while he is talking in the same room to any one.

She is quite rapt up in him." As Miss Jones, Maud's maid, phrases it in her confidential talk, she is " light on him," meaning thereby, under the in fluence of a craze. People who come in upon her solitude in her room, suddenly, say they find her agitated, and often in floods of tears. All agree that she has grown silent and absent and seems never happy now but when she is near him. It was one of those mysterious cases which honest Jack Falstaff would have accounted for by the hypothesis, " I'm bewitched with the rogue's company. If the rascal have not given me me dicines to make me love him, I'll be hanged ; it could not be else ; I have drunk medicines." I suppose she guarded her language very care fully, and even her looks, in actual conversation with Captain Vivian, for that which appeared plain enough to other people seemed hidden from him.

It was discussed in the servants' hall and in the housekeeper's room. The unanimous opinion was that Captain Vivian had only to speak and that the new year would see him the chosen of the handsome widow and lord of Roydon Hall. People wondered, indeed, how he could be so stupid as not to see what was so plain to every one else. But they could not know how cautious Lady Vernon was in her actual conversation with him, not, by sign or word, to commit herself in the least degree. It was clear enough, however, to the household of Roydon in what direction all this was tending, and a general agitation and uneasiness trembled through every region and articulation of that huge and hitherto comfortable body. Such was the attitude of affairs when Maud Vernon, with her cousin Maximilla, drove over to the Grange to pay the Tinterns a visit.

Mr. Dawe had taken his departure after a day or two with a promise, made upon consideration, as one might conjecture, for undivulged reasons of his own, to return in less than a week. The prominent brown eyes and furrowed, in flexible face removed, a sense of liberty seemed to visit Captain Vivian suddenly. His spirits im- DRIFTING. proved, and he evidently began to enjoy Maud Vernon's society more happily. They took walks together; they talked over books; they compared notes about places they had visited, and she began to think that the intellectual resources of Roydon were improved, since the time when she used to insist that Dr. Malkin alone redeemed that region of the earth from darkness. 11 Take care, my dear, that our plaintive invalid doesn't turn out instead a very robust lover," said Miss Max, in one of her nocturnal conferences with Maud.

" There will be a pretty comedy !" " How can you like to make me uncomfortable ?" said Maud. " Upon my word, if I don't, I think Barbara will," replied Maximilla. " Don't you see how she is devoted to him?" " I can't understand her. Sometimes I think she is, and sometimes I doubt it," said Miss Vernon. "Well — yes. She is, perhaps, in a state of vacillation — a state of struggle ; but she thinks of nothing else, and, it seems to me, can scarcely hear, or even see, any other human being." " You may be very sure I shan't allow him to make love to me," said Maud, with proper dignity. "Unless you wish to come to pulling of caps with your mamma, for the amusement of the rest of the world, you had better not, I think," an swered Miss Max, with a laugh. " But, I tell you, I should not permit it, and he never has made the slightest attempt to make love to me," repeated Maud, blushing.

" Well, it is rather a good imitation. But Bar bara does not seem to see it — I don't think, indeed, she has had an opportunity — and if she's happy why should I interfere ?" said Mss Max. And so that little talk ended. Coming out of church on Sunday, the three ladies from Roydon and Captain Vivian, who felt strong enough for one of Mr. Foljambe's sermons, and sat in the corner of the great Vernon pew, stood for a moment on the step of the side porch, while the carriage drove up to receive them. The grenadier footmen in blue and gold opened the door and let down the steps, and Lady Vernon, following Miss Max, stepped, lightly as a girl, into her carriage. The Tinterns, Mr., Mrs., and Miss, at the same moment emerged from the holy shadow under the stained and grooved Gothic arch with a similar intent.

Lady Vernon from the carriage DRIFTING. 17 bowed to them with her cold, haughty smile, which Mr. Tintern answered with his hat in his hand, high above his head, in the ceremonious old fashion, and with a countenance beaming all over with manly servility. The chocolate and gold liveries, standing at the flank, awaited the departure of the blue and gold to do their devoir by the more ponderous carriage of the humbler Grange family. While Mr. and Mrs. Tintern made their smiling salutations, and answered the remark which Maxi milla Medwyn called out to the effect that it was a charming day, Maud thought she remarked from pretty Ethel Tintern a quick and odd glance at Captain Vivian, who, not having been presented to the Tintern ladies, was industriously poking a tiny stalk of groundsel from a chink in the old worn step, at the flank of which he stood.

It was very natural that the young lady should steal that quick glance at the unobservant stranger. It was the undefinable character of it that struck Maud. There seemed neither curiosity nor recognition. It was momentary — a dark look, pained and shrunken. It was gone, quite, in a moment, and VOL. II. C Ethel, as Maud with a hurried pressure of her hand was about to take her place in the carriage, said softly : " You must come to see me to-morrow or next day. You owe us a visit, you know. Do." "I will, certainly," promised Maud, smiling. And in a moment more she was in her place, and, followed by Captain Vivian, the door closed upon her ; and the smiling faces and stately liveries whirled away over the gritty gravel of the church yard road. " This has been your first Sunday at church since your illness.

It was rather longer than usual. Mr. Foljambe's sermons don't often exceed twenty minutes. I hope you are not doing too much ?" This question of Lady Vernon's, and Captain Vivian's polite disclaimer, were the only essays toward conversation which enlivened the little party as they drove home. " Mr. Mapleson told me that mamma said she would have the main street of the village watered every Sunday, and she hasn't given any order, I suppose, about it. See what a state we are in ! Covered with dust. I must ask Mr. Mapleson why," said Maud to Miss Max in the hall. DRIFTING. 19 " Well, it is a bore," she answered ; " we can't sit down in these things. Come up. I want to tell you I've just found a note on the table. No, it's not from the person you think. I see you're blushing." " Now, don't be a goose," said Maud, " Although it's not so bad a guess, as you shall hear when you come to my room.

I told you, you remember, that my gossiping maid said that Cap tain Vivian sent two letters to the Grange ; Captain Vivian's man told her, but she could make out nothing more. She has not an idea to whom they were written. He does not know Miss Tintern nor Mrs. Tintern, and I don't see what he could write to old Tintern about ; but the note I have got is from such a charming creature, younger than Barbara, and a widow — Lady Mardykes. She is a sister of Mr. Marston' s, and she has, besides her place at Golden Friars, such a pretty place about five-and-thirty or forty miles from this, and she is one of my very dearest friends. She asks me to go and see her immediately, and I must introduce you. You will be charmed with her, and she, I know, with you." " Is there any chance of Mr. Marston's being there ?

If there is, I certainly shan't go," said Maud. c2 "None in the world. He is to be with his father till Thursday, don't you recollect, he tells us all about it in his letter, and on Friday he will be at the ball at Wymering. Suppose we go and see her to-morrow. Do you know I have been sus pecting a little that Captain Vivian's letter was to her. But she could not be such a fool as to throw herself away upon him." " Very well, then, let us take the carnage, and go to the Grange to-morrow. So that's agreed." In pursuance of this plan they did actually drive over to the Grange next day. Artful Miss Max was rather anxious to induce Captain Vivian to accompany them. It would have amused her active mind to observe that gal lant gentleman's proceedings. But, as if he sus pected her design, he very adroitly, but politely, evaded the suggestion.

So she and Maud went alone. The Grange was a pretty house, a little later than the Tudor style. Driving up through the rather handsome grounds, they had hardly got a peep at the comfortable steep-gabled house, when Maud exclaims : " There is Ethel— who is that with her ?" DRIFTING. " Dear me ! That is Lady Mardykes, I'm sure. I'm so glad to see her ! They are looking at the flowers; suppose we get out." So down they got, and the ladies before the hall door, among the flowers, looked up, and came toward them with smiles.

Chapter III

A WARNING. A great kissing ensued upon the grass, and a shaking of hands, and Maud was introduced to Lady Mardykes, whom she liked instantaneously. A face that must have been very pretty, and was still interesting — gentle, gay, and frank — was before her. But she was much older than her brother : a daughter by an earlier marriage. This lady evidently took a fancy to Maud, and when they had talked a little, and began to grow to know one another better, after a short conver sation aside with Maximilla, during which Maud saw that good-natured old maid look once or twice at her, Lady Mardykes, coming over to her, began to talk to her again. "I should have gone to Roydon to see Lady Vernon," she said, " only that I had doubts as to her liking it ; and perhaps it is better to put it off to another time.

There have been so many unlucky vexations, and I know she and papa don't visit, so you will understand why I don't go to see you at Roydon. But you must promise to come to me for a few weeks to Carsbrook. I shan't be going to Mardykes till next year perhaps ; I should rather have had you there. All about Golden Friars is so very beautiful. But I think you will say that Carsbrook is a pretty place, and if I can persuade Maximilla Medwyn to come to meet you, I'm sure you will find it pleasant. I'll consult with her as to how best to arrange it all." Maud was very well pleased with this little plan ; and now old Mr. Tintern came forth upon the grass, with his agreeable greetings and chilly smiles, and Maximilla and he began to talk, and their talk grew gradually, it seemed, a little earnest. And when the gong summoned them to luncheon, he seemed still thoughtful now and then during that repast.

They walked out again through the glass-door after luncheon, and Mr. Tintern, in the same mood, accompanied them, and once more fell into talk with Miss Max. Ethel Tintern was now beside Maud, and the4 two young ladies sat down upon a rustic seat among the flowers. " We are forlorn damsels here ; our gentlemen have all gone off to fish at Dalworth. Papa wanted Lady Mardykes and me to go in the carriage, and I am so glad now we did not. We should have missed you. Do you know I think we girls have much more resource than men. They won't entertain themselves as we do, and it is so very hard to amuse them. You have a guest at present at Roydon ?" " Yes, Captain Vivian." " Yes ; and Miss Medwyn thinks he is a little taken with you ?"' " She divides him between me and Lady Mar dykes at present, and when you are acquainted, I dare say she'll give you a share."

Ethel laughed, and said suddenly : " By-the-bye, I was so near forgetting the pyra canth ! It is beginning to look rather passe ; it is the very last, but you can judge pretty well what it must be when it is in its best looks." So she got Miss Max to look at the flower, which she held up for inspection in its glass, and there ensued an animated bit of floral gossip, in which Mr. Tintern, who was skilled in flowers, and had won a few years since two or three prizes, one especially, which made a great noise, for his ranunculuses, took a leading part. Then Mr. Tintern withdrew, and Miss Max, Lady Mardykes, and Mrs. Tintern talked together, and Ethel, alone once more with Maud Vernon, said, as if the long parenthesis counted for nothing : "About that Captain Vivian — take my advice, and don't allow him to pay you the slightest attention." « Really " " Yes," says Miss Tintern, who is cruelly pluck ing a white rose, petal by petal, asunder, and watching the process intently.

" Yes, but I assure you he hasn't," said Maud. " Miss Medwyn thinks differently," said Miss Tintern, with gentle diligence continuing the pro cess of discerption. " I don't perceive it, if he does," answered Maud. " But why do you warn me ?" and she smiled a little curiously as she put her question. " Because I know certain things about him, and he is aware that I do, that ought to prevent him. You mustn't repeat a word I say, mind. Does he seem to wish to avoid me ?" " Quite the contrary. He talks as if he should like so much to make your acquaintance." " That I don't understand," said Ethel, plucking three or four leaves together from her dishevelled rose. " I understood him to wish that I should take the first opportunity of introducing him." " I should not like that at all," said Ethel, with a tone and look of marked annoyance, her eyes still watching the flower she was stripping.

" Is it anything discreditable ?" asked Maud. " No, not that, certainly not, but it might easily become so. You see, I'm talking riddles, but indeed, I can't help it. I can't say anything more at present than I have told you, and so much I had a right to say, and am very glad I have had an opportunity, and for the present, as I said, I can give you nothing but that, my earnest piece of advice. And take care of yourself, I counsel you, in this false, shabby, wicked world." With these words, Ethel Tintern got up, and broke what remained of the rose between her fingers, and crumpled it up and threw it away. She saw Miss Max walking quickly toward them, with the air of a chaperon in search of her charge, and she guessed that the hour had come for saying good-bye. " My dear Maud, I had no idea how late it was," said Maximilla, before she reached them.

" I'm so afraid we shall be late for our appointment with your mamma. It is twenty minutes past three now. Had not we better go ?" Maud was a little alarmed, for with her to be late for an appointment with her mother was a very serious matter indeed, so she consulted her watch, which, for a lady's timepiece, was a very fair one, being seldom more than twenty minutes wrong, either way, and finding, there, signs cor roborative of Miss Max's calculations, " there were sudden partings," and time for little more than a hurried inquiry whether Ethel was going to the Wymering ball. " Yes, she thought so ; that is, if her papa went: her mamma was not well enough." And so, kissing and good-byes, and a very friendly reminder from Lady Mardykes, who said she expected to be at home at Carsbrook in ten days, and that Maud would be sure to hear from her about that time.