Maidenhood

Front matter

MAIDENHOOD. MAIDENHOOD. BY MRS. SARA ANNA MARSH, AUTHOR of "CHRONICLES OF DARTMOOR," &c, &c. " Maidens sliould be mild and meek, Swift to hear and slow to speak." IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN, 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1867. The right of Translation is reserved LONDON : PRINTED BY MACDONALD AND TUGWELL, BLENHEIM HOUSfi, BLENHEIM STREET, OXFORD STREET. TO MY DEAR NIECES- CATHARINE JANE AND MARA' GRACE CHRISTIAN ; AND ALSO TO MY DEAR GODCHILDREN- AMY SOPHIA, KATHARINE ALEXANDRA, AND MILDRED. INTRODUCTORY. " TO A YOUNG LADY ABOUT TO AVRITE A NOVEL." " T^O> my gW> try and giye us a story without VJ a A'illain. I assure you I never saw a villain. I am bound to believe such creatures exist, but I am as sure as I am that I hold this pen, that the greatest amount of real suffering in life is not produced by villainy.

Life is made up of two elements — an element of will and an ele ment of fatality. The misery which is struck out in the conflict, or rather the interaction of the two, has usually for its apparent and efficient excuse the misunderstandings of people of average — and sometimes more than average — goodness. " Let me earnestly dissuade you from Avriting a novel of the detective order. A long sensation story, Avhose movement is carried forward stage by stage, puzzle after puzzle, in the manner of a detective officer playing the novelist, and to leave on the mind, even of any one who has been en tertained by it, a strong emotion of disgust. It must do so if it makes its way for any length of time among the domesticities," &c. — From Henry Holbeach, Student in Life and Philosophy. VOL. I. B

Chapter I

" CELLS CALL OTHERS TO CHURCH, BUT GO NOT TIIL.M SELVES." WE will not Avrite a chapter on bells, and the impressions they make on susceptible or even on passionless natures ; we shall content ourselves by saying that the bells rang merrily from the old church-tower of Prellsthorpe, and the listeners thereto were very variably influenced thereby. " Our time will be taken up Avith dinners, balls, visitings here and there, and goodness only knows for what!" murmured the learned Rector of Prells thorpe, as he paced with his hands behind him, backwards and forwards through the shrubberies. " And I do not think those very SAveet bells ever sounded so wearisome or so discordant to mine ear." There Avere at the same time tAvo fair girls in the floAver-garden, and they also made their re marks on the same subject.

" How glad and playful the bells are to-night," said Brenda Cheetham, the Rector's daughter. MAIDENHOOD. 3 "How merry and joyous!" said the Lady Grel Stuart. " I loA-e bells, Brenda, they are almost like human beings, they seem to tell us so much — and they are indeed jocund and exultant noAv. Listen, Brenda, listen !" The girls stood for a moment or two in motionless silence, then the stillness was broken by the Lady Grel, Avho said : " Yet sometimes, Brenda, these same bells weep — positively weep." " That is pure nonsense, Grel. They are always glad, and happy-sounding, and mirthful to me," said Brenda Cheetham — " only excepting the lugubrious time of ' tolling, tolling.' " " Hush, Brenda ! — do not mingle a sorrowful omen with joy-bells." Brenda Cheetham did not reply. She was oc cupied in tiying to bring into order the vigorous aud lengthy trailing shoots of choice Ayrshire roses that grew in that part of the garden, and the Lady Grel walked on alone.

"I cannot quite restrain my delight at the knowledge that my relatives are indeed at Prells thorpe Park — even in Brenda Cheetham's presence this joyfulness on my part will peep out ; gladness — gladness and joy of heart make me an ticipate a future happy career — that I shall noAv enter the world — that I shall not always live here in this quiet Rectory." And, in spite of some reproach of conscience as b2 MAIDENHOOD. to her desire to leave a place that had always been a home and a haven of rest to her, she moved rapidly from one path to another, skipping now here now there, in a pleasurable state of excite ment, now touching this flower, now that, gather ing here one and there one, inhaling their com bined sweetness, and still listening — listening to the bells pealing merrily on. " I could dance — positively dance gleefully at the ever-recurring chime of those gay joy-bells !

How glad they are, nay, hoAv merrily clanging ; there is not a single tear — no, not one !" and again the Lady Grel paused and listened. Had she been as learned as ourselves Avho write her veracious history, perhaps she had not uttered the next sentence we have to record from her lips. We knoAv that moisture in the atmosphere pro duces an effect upon the sound of bells, in some instances and in some low localities, so to lo\A-er the tone of each bell as to make the peal sound more of a minor than a major octave ; and the unlearned, and, in this matter, superstitiously minded Lady Grel Stuart, records this fact in the following speech : " Why, the very last marriage-peal rung from that belfry was a weeping, weeping chime ! And where is the bride now V In some counties the old crones in the villages say, " The bells are crying — the marriage will not be a happy one."

We conclude the Lady Grel had been brought up in this lore. MAIDENHOOD. "I have no remembrance of my uncle and aunt," resumed she, " and but little of Irene and Danby — it must be some nine or ten years since AA-e met." Then, after a little pause, her thoughts again turned to the bells. "There again — there again," said she, " the joyously clamouring peal. Those SAA-eet bell3, those learned bells ! They foretell happy meetings, heartfelt greetings, dancing and song, hearths and homes, hope and love — I knoAv it and feel it — I feel it. Ye bells, oh ! ye bells, ye sportive bells, ye make me glad and merrie-hearted ! Ah ! I am formed for com panionship, not for isolation. " If anyone could read my thoughts," continued she, musingly — " if they could see into my desires, and look upon me thus elated, they might wrongly interpret my character.

I haA^e been happy here in this peaceful Rectory — I love and reverence my kind and excellent tutor and guardian, Mr. Cheet ham, and also I love and esteem Mrs. Cheetham. For Brenda, though I feel and know she and I are very different, yet Avhile we have been together we have agreed well enough — or per haps, I should say, we do not quarrel. It is rather change of companionship than actual distaste for my present position — rather a longing for novelty, and, also, rather a Avish to enter that far-off Avorld my cousin Irene describes so charm ingly in her letters, than a desire to forget these, my kind friends, under Avhose hospitable roof I have lived so peaceably." MAIDENHOOD. But the lady's further musings were interrupted by the appearance of Mrs. Cheetham, who said : " Hoav these bells do weary me !

" " Then, indeed, I do Avish they AA'ould stop," said Lady Grel, raising her eyes to the belfry ; and, to her amazement, suddenly, as she spoke, the clamour ceased. " Now, if every Avish of my dear ward's could be ansAvered as quickly and as favourably as this," said the Rector, avIio now joined the ladies. " You Avould consider it highly proper to coun sel me always to Avish for things good in them selves — ay, so good, that the attainment of them should neither do harm to me nor to others. Now, do not shake your head so mysteriously ; you know you consider it a duty to counsel me," said the Lady Grel, playfully. " A privilege — indeed, a privilege which, I fear, will soon be taken from me. We shall lose our sweet ward ; she longs for the grand and the gay. Already she " " Hush ! — hush !" said the Lady Grel, deprecatingly — " I know I Avish to see the world — I knoAv I rejoice that my own relatives will dwell so near to this Rectory, and I acknowledge my inward happiness, and my aspiring hopefulness.

But if you, my dear sir, or, indeed, if any here think I shall leave my present pleasurable and tranquil home without regret, they are mistaken. Indeed, as you know, I still intend to make this residence my real home, though I admit I Avish to know MAIDENHOOD. 7 more of the world at large. I pray you, think not ill of me," and here the young lady stepped back a little from the group, which now consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Cheetham and Brenda, and her figure dilated, and her eye kindled, as she continued, in eager and hurried tones : " Here the very stones speak to me of the past — the past, that delights me to remember, and to dwell upon ; there," and she raised her arm, and pointed in the direction of Prellsthorpe Park, " the ground is untrodden ; it may — and I trust it will — bring companionship, peace, and love, but it has no enduring past.

Here I have truth, nature, reality, kind friends, and affectionate hearts — these I have proved. There, I have relations and novelty, a new and unaccustomed routine of my daily life ; it is the untried freshness that brings the charm." " The dews are heavy — we Avill not remain longer in the open air," said the good Rector, approaching his Avard, taking her kindly by the hand, and drawing her arm through his own, as he left the garden, followed by Mrs. Cheetham and Brenda. The Reverend Charles John Cheetham had been tutor to the late Earl of Prellsthorpe, who, on coming to the title, had taken the earliest opportunity of bestowing one of the many livings in his gift upon his friend, and who was all the better pleased that the living of Prellsthorpe fell so opportunely, since it would be the means of continuing to him the society of a gentleman MAIDENHOOD. for whom he had a strong personal regard.

The late Earl was a man of letters. Left a Avidower with an only child, and mourning the loss of his Countess deeply, he retired prematurely from the world, in which he had hitherto lived with so much honour to himself, and took refuge in a life of quiet study in the country, his only companions his baby daughter and Mr. Cheet ham, then residing at the Rectory. If he ever felt a regret that this child Avas a girl, and, conse quently, could never succeed him in his titles, and the wealth belonging to them, he, at least, never expressed so much. He was ardently attached to her in her babyhood, and saw more of her infantine doings, and heard more of her childish sayings, than most fathers. Delighting in the literature of the day as well as in that of past ages, enjoying the society of learned men, and yet, by his early loss in his Countess, debarred for a time from entering the world, his great and well-stored mind turned for relaxation to the pretty sayings and doings of his little daughter, Grel.

At about the age of five years the little lady Avas consigned to the care of the first Mrs. Cheet ham for one hour each day, this lady undertaking her education jointly with that of her own daugh ter, Brenda. Lord Prellsthorpe had never been of a vigorous constitution, and whether from his great love of, and devotion to, literature, or his rather unwise and MAIDENHOOD. lengthened seclusion, or his grief for the loss of his lady, or for all these causes together, or for any other cause, certain it is his health gradually declined, and he became aware he should not live to see his little child grow to Avomanhood. He consigned her, in the event of his death — which happened shortly after — to the guardian ship and protection of his friend, Mr. Cheetham, to be brought up by him in the bosom of his own family, Avith his OAvn and only daughter.

The Earl AAras not an ambitious man. He did not sti pulate that at a given period his high-born child should enter the Avalks of fashion and take her place among her equals. She Avas under the entire control of Mr. Cheetham until her eigh teenth year. The Earl had only a moderate per sonalty to bestOAV upon her, and if at the time of his death, as the daughter of a nobleman of high rank, the young lady's portion was not large, in the strict integrity of her guardian, and her own somewhat long minority, her wealth had nearly doubled ; and on her coming of age at eighteen, she would not longer be regarded as a portionless, if those of her own rank did not consider her a rich young lady. At the opening of this chronicle the Lady Grel had passed her seventeenth birth day. Prellsthorpe Park had been uninhabited from the time of the death of the late Earl.

His brother, the present peer, after consigning his relative to the family vault, made over the dwell ing-house to the care of ser\-ants. His time since MAIDENHOOD. that period had been spent for the most part in occasional sojourns in the various capitals of Europe, though this was not so much by his own wish as by that of his lady, who was a great in valid, and dependent on a large circle of acquaint ance for her daily amusement, and who delighted in the change from one place to another. Early in the London season of the year 18 — , this lady had been recommended by her medical attendant to try the bracing air of Prellsthorpe, and to put herself under the care of a physician of repute in that neighbourhood, a Dr. Quinn. This advice she had very reluctantly folloAved, but life is dear to all, and, reassured by the promise that Lord Prellsthorpe and her son and daughter Avould leave London for her sake, and take up their residence in the country, she at length consented to abide by the opinions of her physicians.

And thus it happened that the Lady Grel Stuart was in expectation of meeting with her nearest relatives, and of having a change in the ordinary routine of her life. Another death caused a great sorrow for the time being at Prellsthorpe Rectory — Mrs. Cheet ham died soon after Lord Prellsthorpe. In the course of a year or tAVO her place was filled by the present Mrs. Cheetham, already introduced to the reader. It is true, as Ave have recorded, that Lord Danby and the Lady Irene Stuart had consented to ac company their invalid mother to Prellsthorpe MAIDENHOOD. Park, but their ideas of country life were widely at variance with such, as they very early discovered it to be at this season of the year. "The country " in their experience meant large baronial or ducal residences, filled Avith the nobility and gentry of the land, with a change in the usual routine of their amusements — riding to cover Avith a pleasant party instead of the Bois de Boulogne, &c. ; but to retire to the country to hear the cuckoo, Avhen London Avas fast filling, was almost too much for their patience.

The lady mourned over London lost to her for this season, at least ; and the gentle man wondered if the month of August would ever arrive, or if it could even be possible to live until grouse-shooting commenced, at which time he might hope to flee from the Avearisomeness and tameness of Prellsthorpe to better employment and more congenial society. "I yawn Avhenever I turn my eyes around this heavy saloon ; do not you, D. f" said the lady. "I do not so much care for the heavy and faded furniture as I do for faces — faces, Irene — human faces. If one had only some stupid girl to tease, or some pretty one to please, the house and its sombreness might do well enough. Heigho ! Ren — Ren, I say, what on earth shall I do with myself ?" "What shall / do, D.? Wood says there is not a living creature within twenty miles, excepting only the stupid old Rector and his Avife, AA'ho haA-e had our cousin Grel all these years ; and a Mr. MAIDENHOOD.

Hamilton, a recluse— a bookworm, a sort of dignified stolid old bachelor, who goes noAvhere, sees nobody, and — I daresay does nothing." " Then I will give him something to do. Where does he live, Ren ? Tell me, and I will play off upon him a feAV practical jokes, that may serve for the time being to amuse me, and— and help to enliven him. Ha ! ha ! — ha ! the very thought raises my spirits !" " You remember Prellsthorpe Abbey 1" " Yes, Ren. The old sinner lives there, does he 1 But your information is not entirely to be relied upon. There is a Avouderful old gentleman liA-ing at HeraldstOAve ; he is as old as the hills, and there are other marvellous human beings on that side of the Park. Let me explain to you, Ren. The village of Prellsthorpe and the Rectory are on one side of the Park ; the Abbey, Avith its grounds, on the other.

And on the same side as the Abbey, but some miles distant, dwell sundry neighbours of different degrees of rank. " Then we shall not have much to do with that stupid and stony village, D. 1" "Only to drive through it Avhen we wish to visit on that side of the county ; but the best people live on the other side." " And who are the best people ?" " The Barrymores of Heraldstowe ; the Fortes cues ; and the great Catholic Maynooths of Wolfs craig. When I Avas here some six or seven years ago, I became intimate with several first-rate speci- MAIDENHOOD. mens of dulness belonging to these families. We will look them up in due time, Ren, amuse our selves, and sharpen their wits somewhat." " They must look us up, D.," said the lady yawning. " But now that I look into that past, say seven years since, I recall my cousin Grel's sweet face.

Ren, suppose we go to the Rectory, and so take a peep at Grel. She Avill turn out a queer little countrified dot, no doubt. When I saw her last, Ren, she Avas groAving up after the pattern of the Cheethams, round, and dumpy, nothing of the Stuart in her ; her SAveet face soured by rustic learning, her high birth loAvered by consorting with strange individuals. A smile Avould be a boon to your features at this moment, Ren ; but we shall enjoy a hearty laugh if we only look up Grel : come, Irene, come ?" " Nonsense, D., the Rectory ought to come to the Park. And besides, I hate Avalking, and I could not Avalk so far if I made the attempt." " True, Ren, true. The Rectory ought to come to the Park ; but Rectories do not always as they ought, and in this instance it is a little too early to expect even a Rectory to make a call upon a Park.

Ah ! ah ! ah ! do you not knoAv, Ren, that the Rectory sent to inquire after the Park ? And a long reply was concocted betAveen the excellent butler and the gracious housekeeper belonging to this establishment here, to the purport, ' That my lady Avas very ill with the effects of the journey, MAIDENHOOD. that Dr. Quinn had desired her ladyship to keep her room ; that my young lord and my young lady Avere very tired, and quite unused to such trouble some journeys,' &c, &c. — and upon these crumbs the Rectory will naturally subsist for a day or two longer, if we do not break in upon their dreams. And so, Ren, if the Park goes to the Rectory at so critical a time, only imagine the astonishment of the natives ! How they will be taken aback ! How very wide they will open their surpassingly ugly eyes !

Do not say me nay, Irene ; I will drive you. It will be something to do." " It Avill surely turn out stupid, D." " It will surely release us from our present stupidity. Come, Irene, come, rouse yourself ; you will die of the malady of yawns, if I do not rescue you by this drive. I shall ring for my horses."

Chapter II

" FOLLY IS THE PRODUCT OF ALL COUNTRIES AND AGES." HAVE you seen Mr. Hamilton, mamma?" said Brenda Cheetham. " He called about half an hour ago, and said if he did not meet with you in the village he Avould call again." " No, love, I have not seen him. In all proba bility he wanted to make some arrangement for the school-feast. Was that it ?" MAIDENHOOD. " Oh ! no ! I ventured to hint as much, but he pooh-poohed me in his usual manner." " Nonsense, Brenda. He is an ex " "My dear mother, Mr. Hamilton will not be Avithout a supporter while you live, although he does pooh-pooh your daughter most abominably." " Is that the Mr. Hamilton Avho has lately arrived in this neighbourhood I" said the lady Grel. " Lately arrived, my dear," said Brenda mockingly. " He is an excellent well-meaning and gen tlemanly man, my dear," said Mrs. Cheetham, " and if he Avould only marry, there might be a nice lady companion at the Abbey for you and Brenda, as well as for our new comers at the Park."

" We must send again to inquire for your rela tiA-es, Grel," continued she :" I fear the journey has been very trying to the Countess." " And he is not married," said the lady Grel, referring to Mr. Hamilton ; "why, I really thought he was a staid father of a family." "Looks staid, Grel," said Brenda again mock ingly ; " and is not married, at least to the best of our knowledge in these parts. Only think, dear Grel, that very dignified, very excellent, very handsome, and certainly ' staid ' Mr. Hamilton has never loved ! — proof, not married !" " Never to love, and never to marry, are two things, Brenda ; not married is no proof of not loving," said Grel. MAIDENHOOD. Brenda elevated her eyebrows, and stooped her head in the attitude of listening. " And yet it is true, a man may love Avithout even intending to marry ; and also marry without being in love," said Grel, replying to Brenda's attitude.

" Is it possible ! — the base creature !" said Brenda, affecting to discredit Grel's remarks. " But I, as a woman," resumed Grel, not at all seeing that Brenda Avas drawing out her opinions on this subject — " I, as a Avoman, determine " Now the expression of Brenda's face arrested her attention, and she suddenly ceased speaking. " Determine what, Grel, dear ?" said Brenda, in a more agreeable tone and manner, Avhich together reassured Grel, and gave her courage to finish the sentence. " I determine, Brenda, that I will not marry unless I love most devotedly. I cannot say I will not love unless I marry, because, you see, it might happen that " Grel again paused, and blushed, and Brenda resumed : " Charmingly sentimental, my dear, and I only wish that ' staid ' Mr. Hamilton heard you." " Hush, Brenda ! — hush !" said Grel, her brow and cheeks crimsoning Avith annoyance — " I Avas only talking a little nonsense Avith you, and was not thinking of Mr. Hamilton."

" My dear girls, do not quarrel on such foolish matters," said Mrs. Cheetham, " and more espe- MAIDENHOOD. cially now, for is not that the Prellsthorpe livery?" •she pointed to the open window. The surprise and conjectures of the three ladies at the sight of a carriage from the Park were speedily put an end to by the announcement of Lord Danby and the Lady Irene Stuart. " My dear Irene ! — how very kind !" said Grel, approaching her cousin with empressement. " Kind ! — to be sure — very kind. Did we not know Mrs. Cheetham's kindness was perennial ?" said Lord Danby, purposely perverting the mean ing of his cousin's Avords. " Were we not sure she Avould receive old friends at any hour ?" continued he, as he retained Mrs. Cheetham's hand, and stooped to her in a friendly manner ; when she attempted to speak, he interrupted her by saying, "Not a word, my dear madam — your tongue is of no value to you," and he gently pressed her hand in a kind manner, " for your eyes are windows, by the means of which we read your heart, and AA-e there discover that we are welcome.

I see even more — I see that you not only forgive the rashness of this unearthly-houred intrusion ; but more still — even that you have forgotten and forgiven the boyish follies of your very devoted friend, Danby." " Indeed, I am truly glad to see you again," said Mrs. Cheetham. " I know j'ou are — say no more — say no more. Here, Irene," continued he, as he transferred the hand he had persisted in retaining to his sister — VOL. I. C MAIDENHOOD. " this is the Mistress Cheetham, the benevolent, of whom you have so frequently heard me speak. Take her to your heart — she is worthy thereof ;" and then, turning to Mrs. Cheetham, and chang ing his mockingly-playful manner to one of mock solemnity, he said : " This, madam, is my very beautiful sister, the Lady Irene Stuart, commonly called Ren." Mrs. Cheetham turned to the Lady Irene, and said all that was necessary on so auspicious an occasion.

When the two ladies had seated themselves, Lord Danby turned to Brenda Cheetham, who had been standing looking on, with an expression of astonishment in her countenance, and said : " I am Ren's brother, Danby — pray Avho are you ?" " Your long and eccentric speeches, and unusual mode of proceeding, have so terrified me, I sliall have a difficulty in remembering my own name, thus suddenly called upon," said Brenda, mockingly. " Then Ave will graciously alloAv your ladyship time to recover your self-possession," said Lord Danby, with a low bow, " and give our attention, for the time being, to our very charming cousin, Grel," continued he, as he approached Lady Grel, and offered his hand. " What a love Grel has grown !" said the Lady Irene to Mrs. Cheetham. " A love, Ren — a perfect love ! And now it is all up with me !" said Lord Dauby — " curious, MAIDENHOOD.

Ren, is it not?" continued he, as he retained the Lady Grel's hand, and turned to his sister. " I would come and see her. Bear Avitness, Ren, was I not eager to come ?" " Indeed you were," said Lady Irene, laughing. But she did not explain that Lord Danby's eager ness arose from the desire to have " some stupid girl to tease, or some pretty one to please." " Yes, I insisted upon breaking through all rules of etiquette, and following the dictates of our hearts ; and it turns out I came to take note of the Avondrous improvement these last few years have wrought," and Lord Danby seated himself by Grel's side, still retaining her hand. " I am glad you came so kindly," said Grel, with a smile and a bright blush. " To be sure you are. Always speak the truth, Grel, in spite of the example of fashion.

Perhaps you do. And you surely perceive that I am the very quintessence of plain-speaking ?" And then he stooped, and said, in soft, low tones — " I We you, Grel." Grel started and blushed, and turned aAvay Avithout speaking. " I love you, and I shall take you for my own," said he again, in low tones, which were only heard by Grel. Lord Danby Avas amusing himself with his cousin's simplicity. " You must haA-e my consent first," said Grel, with some spirit, blushing still more; and yet, in C MAIDENHOOD. spite of herself, feeling flattered by her cousin's attentions. " That is very easily gained, for no lady would dream of refusing me — Avould she, my Lady Thorhilda ?" Lord Danby had turned to Brenda Cheetham. "I say my cousin • Grel may go farther and fare Avorse. Noa\-, what say you to that, my Lady Thorhilda 1" said he, again addressing Brenda Cheetham.

" I quite agree with you, my lord," said Brenda, mimicking so exactly Lord Danby's manner, as to cause the lookers-on to smile. " You quite agree with me !" said Lord Danby in a tone of surprise, and fixing his eye on Brenda; " and I quite agree with myself, that I can bring back to your terrified-aAvay memory the knowledge of your own name ! I thought / had some recollection of you, though you were unable to remem ber yourself," said he, laughing. " You are Brenda Cheetham. Oh ! Brenda, Brenda, short memoried Brenda, recall the past ! — recall those days, nay, that day — that very day ! Why, Brenda, you pulled the rosy-cheeked apple from betAveen my very teeth, and said I had stolen it from the favourite tree in your favourite garden. And so I had. But, Miss Brenda, it is my turn now. I am come to make good my residence at Prellsthorpe Park.