The heiress of Somerton

Chapter I

"Weave we the woof; the thread is spun." — Gray. " Mabel, my love," said Mrs. Abney to her niece, Mabel Somers, " pray do come and find out where the mistake lies in this Avork of mine : I have taken out and put in again several times, and cannot make it right, alter as I may." Mrs. Abney looked quite heated and ha rassed as she lifted up her face from her em broidery. The young girl she had addressed put doAvn her book, arose from the low otto man she Avas occupying at the open Avindow, and approached her with a smiling face. "Ah! Auntie dear; I told you how tedious you would find this Arabesque pattern. One stitch wrong, and you are wrong altogether; but let me try what I can do with it." VOL. I. B So Mabel sat doAvn to the frame, and at once commenced a scrutinizing examination ; counting here, counting there and everywhere, to detect where the mischief lay.

" I have found it — I have found it ; what avUI you give me for it ! see, this is where you are wrong, Auntie ; you have turned this scroll too soon ; there are seven stitches to be taken across, and you have got four only ; so it has thrown you quite out of your pattern." " What an inexplicable mystery that sort of work seems ! " said a gentleman Avho had been conversing with Mr. Somers in another part of the spacious draAA'ing-room, but who had now approached them, and was peering at the embroidery from under his spectacles ; "I could understand that there would be a certain de gree of pleasure in making baby -linen, or slrirts, or gowns, or, indeed, any article of utdity to be worn ; but in what the delight consists of taking stitch upon stitch for no earthly purpose, is to me a marvel and a wonder."

" WiU you try to find out for yourself ivhere the pleasure lies, doctor ? " asked the young Mabel, with a merry laugh ; "U you aa'UI, I will commence a piece of work for you to practise on, and initiate you into aU the needful par ticulars." " I cannot myself see Avhy the ornamental shoidd not be esteemed as AveU as the useful," observed Mrs. Abney, " especially when the pursuit of it ansAvers a highly beneficial purpose, as it very often does. Sir Robert Ingram showed me, the other day, a most beautUul hearth-rug of his OAvn working ; and he said, ' no one could credit the pleasure, and, indeed, benefit, he had derived from working it; it was more than he could riave deemed possible.' And you knoAv yourself, Doctor, that our Dean has quite mastered that distressing attack on the nerves, solely from setting about and completing an altar-cloth."

" Exactly; but do you not see the morale of these instances — the nut that lies within the sheU — that it is giving people something to do that benefits them ?" asked Dr. Merridan ; "and if their capacities rise no higher than wool-work ing, why it is not only justifiable, but com mendable that they should practise it; but I should have thought that a printing-press, or turning-lathe, or wood engraving, or any thing in fact that would bring into exercise a somewhat higher faculty, might have been tried to remove the tædium vitæ ; employment more mentaUy elevating than that of boring stitches through canvass might surely be found." b " It is something akin to Hercules throwing down his club, and taking up the distaff; is it not, Merridan?" said Mr. Somers, with an amused smde ; " but a dull expedient to hit on, for bringing bubble and sparkle to Use's wine-cup, I should have thought."

"Dud for duU people, perhaps," returned Mrs. Abney, Avith a pertinacious air; "but nevertheless, very agreeable occupation, and I do not wonder at gentlemen taking to it. Are you quite sure, Mabel, that one little error is all that needs rectifying?" " Quite sure, Auntie ; shaU I take it out for you?" " Do, love ; I am quite weary of it." Patiently, stitch by stitch did Mabel take out the wrong portion, and make it ad ready for Mrs. Abney proceeding with. Whilst she is so doing, suppose we glance round the noble room in which they were as sembled ; spacious, lofty, its fine coved ceding was painted in exquisite design and colour ; its walls glowing with gems which a king's ransom could scarce purchase ; no harsh or inharmonious subjects, nor yet vivid, startling contrasts ; but forms and delineations of beauty Avere they aU — refined and cultivated the taste, masterly the eye of him who had brought them together.

The bronzes, and models in silver, the nameless and numberless objects of vertu, scattered upon the marble tables ; the costly mirrors and hangings; the delicate white carpet, with its warmly tinted bouquets, giving tone to the luxurious simplicity which distinguished the whole array and furnisliing ; all bore testimony to the presiding taste of one, whose eye required elegance of form, perfection of colour — demanded beauty for its aliment. He, the owner of the mansion of Somerton, whose taste had thus stamped itseU, sat some- Avhat apart, at a table littered over with books; quietly turning over the pages of one, and ex amining its Ulustrations with critical attention. Very distinguished was his appearance ; not alone a finely developed person, and unusually handsome face made it so ; but there was the impress of the " heart of courtesy " in addi tion to physical symmetry of form and feature ; the innate courtesy which, the wide world over, stamps the gentleman; wlricri no rank or position can ensure, no training call into life.

We see it occasionally in the cottager of low degree; we do not ahvays find it clothed in purple and fine linen. But, unmistakeably did Adrian Somers possess it ; as unmistakeable also was the evidence of intellectual power and vigorous thought in the expansive brow, and in the firm, but benignant gaze of the large dark eyes ; their expression told of one earnest and composed, Avho could rule others, from the power of habitual command and seU command which in him lay. In the full vigour of life was Mr. Somers ; with his mind most master of and conscious of its poAvers ; with its perceptions stiU widely open to the new and beautiful; Avith the affections yet warmly quickening; with the blossom and fruit on the same bough. Of an age when man hath not yet felt his mor tality, nor the evil days drawn nigh, when he saith, " I have no pleasure in them."

Early had he married; early become a widower. Mrs. Abney, his sister, some ten years older than himself, had for a considerable period presided as the mistress of his household. Quite a Lady Bountiful Avas she in the vdlage of Somerton ; possessing the country gentle- Avoman's penchant for dabbling in medicine for ad the ailing people around her : she had noAv pinned her faith to homœopathy, which caused her and Dr. Merridan to assume a very anta gonistic position, and also to hold many lengthy arguments, in Avhich the lady's pertinacity made up for what she lacked in knowledge ; no faidt could be found with her zeal in the cause; the brighter did it seem to burn for the Doctor's opposition. The arguments generally ended in a little snappishness on his part ; always did he buckle on his armour for the occasion, and took no thrust that he did not return one for it.

But they Avere excellent friends on the Avhole, spite of these little jars and disagree ments. Both a beauty and a beUe had Mrs. Abney been, but she had, with much good sense, for gotten aU about it ; though now and then, when looking at her young niece, she wondered whether she had herself ever been so fair. Then, the echoes of sweet flattering words would faU again upon her ear, and the language of deUcious homage, addressed to her in her days of youth and beauty, Avould be heard once more. She recaUed them with mingled smdes and tears, for true love had early come, and, Avith its honied breath, extinguished aU other fancies ; aU desire for any voice, save the one Avlricri had awakened responsive music in her own young heart. She had passed from Somer ton a very girl, but adorned with loveliness, and passing rich in love.

A feAv short years, and, tracking Love's footsteps, came Death. She was a widow ; and a widoAv she remained. When Mr. Somers lost Iris voung wife, he wrote to his sister : " There need not, dearest Anna, be two desolate hearths ; come to me. As the home of your youth, this place wUl be endeared to you ; you can take from its deep sadness to me ; you can be a mother to my chUd — " She came; and had not again left Somerton, acting as its undisputed mistress, making it cheerful to her brother, and caring, AAitri almost maternal love, for his one idolized chdd. Mabel, now about sixteen, was on the border land of womanhood, and growing up most beau tifrd; a fairer, lovelier presence none ever saw. Trie only other person of the group in the draAvhig-rooni of Somerton Had Avas the Doctor. Aud Dr. Luke Merridan must by no means be passed by without an introduction to om* reader.

An excellent creature was he, and the most dreamy and absent that well could be ; doing the oddest, strangest things at times, when imder the pressure of an absent fit, that man coidd do : this, perhaps, in a dilettante, was not unusual, and those who kneAv him weU were prepared for his oddities and whimsies ; ready to remind him of time, place, and circumstance, or to repeat a question several times over, if need were. Notwithstanding this dreaming in broad daylight, he was a most shrewd, clever person, devoted to, and very skriful in his profession ; and had the kindest heart in the world, testy and snappish though he was. His means Avere ample; and he liked nothing better than giving — as the sick and the needy soon found, to their great comfort. The Doctor was always busy, — people might encroach upon anything but his time ; let a non-professional demand upon that come, and he snarled at once.

" Idlers had no right to fasten themselves upon workers ! " he said, with perfect truth. Between him and Mr. Somers there had existed a twenty years' friendship, AA'hich had commenced at Heidel berg. When the young candidate for diplomas was studying at the far -famed university, and Mr. Somers was travelling through Germany, they accidentady met ; and some hidden sym pathy drew them into liking, and to after correspondence. When Mr. Somers married, he Avas anxious to have a medical man at Somerton ; and the Doctor, Avho had in the meantime graduated with honours, was persuaded to come and settle amongst them — a step he had never regretted, though, of course, it effectuady haired him froni what is so captivating to most voung, energetic, ardent minds, the ambition of name and fame ; whoUy did he lay it aside, and set before himseU oue higher stUl — the ambition of usefulness.

Some scarce understood link, or tie, did there seem to exist between himseU and Mr. Somers. For him alone would he sacrifice his time unniurniuringly ; for him only thrust aside his microscope to which he was usuaUy a most patient slave ; to him, ungrudgingly, devote the leisure which his membership of some half-dozen learned societies, (from the Royal Society downwards,) loudly demanded for their own especial use and benefit. To him, and for him, woidd he give time, and trouble, and thought — nay, to judge from his countenance occasionady, when the two were conversing, you might feel sure that he Avould uot halt at lUe itseU, to do Adrian Somers service. Years had not particularly chronicled them selves upon the Doctor's face and figiue, he had probably never looked very youno- ; but now, the glasses which he ahvays wore, and the furroAvs, ploughed by deep thought in his forehead, would make a boy cad him " an old feUoAv, enough," a young man say, " he was of middle age."

In reality, he was someAvhat younger than Mr. Somers ; dressed in professional black, ahvays, and rejoiced in the most unimpeachable shirt collars, folded doAvn to a nicety over the neckerchief, and in the deepest wristbands, of the finest linen and of immaculate wriiteness. " There, Auntie," at length said Mabel, " I have made your embroidery all ready for your going on with again." Mrs. Abney thanked her heartily ; and Mabel rose and walked to a window, of which there were four, all thrown open to a broad terrace. The richly embroidered transparent curtains, underneath the drapery of pale blue brocade, rose and fell with the fresh soft breeze of that April evening ; redolent it was of the breath of floAA'ers, — of primrose, violet, and hyacinth. Into the lap of May was April sinking, and their tender daUiance was delightful to sight and sound.

The many-voiced birds Avere gaily calling to each other, and carolling their love songs ; the blackbird and mavis were pouring out gushes of woodland minstrelsy ; tbe cuckoo, with its soft, musical monotone, was heard, now near, anon farther off; and over all, showered down the golden sun-tints, deck ing earth in smiles, as for her bridal. The young girl stood admiring the scene, her eye kindling Avith pleasure as it rested on the distant masses of finely disposed timber, and then reverted to nearer groups of mag nificent horse-chestnuts, Avith tbeir blooms of lamp-like lustre. The Avide-spreading, undu lating park Avas studded Avitri them ; its rich, fresh tone of verdure finely contrasting with the delicate yet glowing beauty of the coned flowers. Long she stood, Avith a look of intense enjoyment upon her fair young face, as she scanned glade and grove ; but she at length left the window, and approached her father, who was still occupied in his examination of the engravings.

" An' it please my Papa," she said, in a soft, most musical voice, as she stood beside him, " it is our time for going on the lawn." Mr. Somers neither turned nor spoke ; though the smile Avhich stole over his counte nance told plainly he had heard her. She laid one dainty hand caressingly upon his shoulder, and bent doAvn her sweet, laughing face till it Avas on a level with his oavii. " Do you know the time, Papa miynon ? look there," pointing to an or-molu clock as she spoke, " and see the long shadoAvs are falling." Very smUingly did she address him ; and he now rifted his head, and gave her back a smile as beaming as her own. " Then Ave wUl go out to our game, love," he said, as he rose from his chair, and fondly touched her sunny cheek with the sdver paper cutter he held in his hand.

" WiU you go with us, Doctor, or stay Avith my sister, and discuss this ever-verdant sub ject, homœopathy ? But come ; there are some new plants arrived to-day, — some heaths and orchids, I think you would like to see. WUl you not also go with us, Anna? the evening is very enjoyable." Mrs. Abney thought she would ; and all bent their steps to the greenhouse together. Mabel took her father's arm; and when thus near to each other, you saw what a vivid like ness she bore to him ; unmistakeably did riis blood flow in her veins ; yet was it so mixed up, and blended with beauty of a totaUy different order — a laughing, dimpling loveliness — that even as you traced the resemblance, you lost it ; and turning away for an instant, found it again. The plants were duly examined and ad mired ; the Doctor taking off his glasses, that he might observe them the better, which pro ceeding drew down upon him a gay jest from Mabel, and made him plead gurity to seeing better without them.

It was not only great nonsense, but a pity, that he should wear them, for though he was not at all good looking, he had, when you saw him without the spectacles, particularly pleasant, clear grey eyes, mdd enough in their expression generaUy, but when he got earnest and interested, such a deep, dark light (you might almost call it fire) flashed into them, and lit up and vivified riis whole face. The party left the greenhouse, and walked along the terrace, till they reached that part of the lawn Avhere Mr. Somers and his daugh ter usually played their favourite game of " La Grace." " Now, Papa, you must put forth aU your skid, for I am going to play my very, very best. Oh, Aunt, pray do not go in ! " exclaimed Mabel. " Do stay," added Mr. Somers, " here are plenty of sticks and hoops ; suppose you and the Doctor stand up together, and see how you can acquit yourselves."

Mrs. Abney smilingly shook her head, to put a negative on the proposal ; Avhilst the Doctor, as he drew a book out of his pocket, and esta blished himseU in a rustic seat, said, spitefully — " That he supposed the game Avas not put down in the list of permitted homœopathic recreations." It was a perfect picture, to watch the young girl's ligrit footsteps, as she bounded hither and thither, and her lithe figure, which bent with the most wUlowy grace to every requisite movement of the game. Her dress set off her ele gant, sinuous form admirably ; — of thin, gauzy material, she wore over it a black velvet jacket, open at the bosom, where a bouquet of rich cameUias was fastened; a slight net of sU ver thread confined the abundant hair at the back of her most graceful head. A wonderful spirit of joy possesses her, as she stands, gloAving with the exercise; her sweet, sdvery laughs ringing out constantly, in gay jesting with her aunt and the Doctor ; and in affected scoldings of the hoops, for their escapades from her, she is brimming o'er with youthful, most elastic gaiety, and in ex quisite delight of rife.

Heaven and earth had rained blessings on her young days; no chill, no care had ever yet drawn nigh. But beautiful as she is, and bright and sunny as is her look, stdl does an added lustre come, whenever she meets her father's eye, and smiles in answer to his smde; such a beamingness of love is written on it, as seems to angelize the face, and stamp it as something more than mortal, in its fresh, sparkling rose bud, rose-lipped beauty. " I shad send your bonnet, Mabel," said Mrs. Abney, at length rising to return to the house, " it is getting a little damp for you." " A handkerchief instead, please ; I cannot play Avith my bonnet on." The handkerchief was brought ; carelessly thrown over her head, and knotted under her chin. Scarcely could anything have set off the blooming face more. " I see you study the becoming, Miss Mabel," said the Doctor; for an instant lUting his eyes from his book.

" Of course I do," she replied, with much laughing emphasis and glee. Again the hoops sped backwards and for wards. A favourite amusement was it with them; and they practised the graceful game almost dady. " What has become of the Doctor?" ex claimed Mr. Somers, as the evening growinodusk, they at length prepared to leave the lawn, and found that he Avas gone. " Spirited away by some wood-fiend or other, no doubt," said the gay Mabel with a laugh. " No, there he is, Papa." He had changed his seat for the advantage of more light ; so absorbed was he that he neither saw nor heard their approach; and Mabel went and playfuUy peeped over his shoulder. " Reading a novel, I declare. No, — oh ! what a dreary book. Somebody, upon some thing or other. Hoav can you, on such a sweet, bright evening as this, give yourself up to such horrid reading ?

Do you never read an ordinary book like other people ? " " Sometimes I indulge so far," said the Doctor, laughing ; " I read Bunch and the papers ■ and the Bible and Shakspere, — I keep him under my carriage cushions, — and that's sufficient Ust for mind and soul, too; isn't it, Miss Mabel ? But you are quite mis taken about my present book. Do you knoAv the work ? 'tis by the pen of a master," he said, as he handed it to Mr. Somers. ''Humboldt's Cosmos, I see. No — I do not; and I am not sufficiently master of the Ger man to read it as you do in the original. Is there any translation?" A'OL. I. C " Yes, — there is one, executed by a lady, very fair and literal, but of course not equal to the original." " It is all very weU for the Doctor to look down upon translations ; is not it, Papa?" said Mabel, with her clear sweet laugh ringing out like a silver bell.

" Oh, you are surely not thinking of going in ! " she exclaimed, as they turned and moved slowly to the house ; " it is such a soft warm evening ; do let us strod up and down and enjoy it." " But you must have something more on, my darling, if we remain out." " I wiU go and get a warm shawl and my bonnet immediately, dear Pa." " Aye, and thicker shoes too," said the Doctor. She hurried away ; soon returning, hoAvever, muffled in a warm wrapper ; a most symme trical foot did she hold up, that the Doctor might inspect her shoes, which he pronounced sensible enough. Slowly they paced up and down the double avenue of elms, for some time, sdently watch ing the serene stars coming out one by one ; and the waxing moon rise up to steep the world in solemn beauty. The night Avas hushed and tranquil ; the tender spring leaves stirring fitfudy with a soft, dallying breeze, which slumbered and then rose again in gentle Eolian murmurs.

A very pretty and endearing way had Mabel when walking with her father, altogether child-like though it was — that of clasp ing her two hands over his arm, so that her face was directed towards him. Thus was she walking now ; her eyes upraised to his ; and they were, and the whole face was, gush ing over with love. Intense pleasure was in the gaze which met her own ; yet sad memories or thoughts were surely mingling with that pleasure. It might be that she was too Uke her dead mother — so passionately loved, so early lost, — for him to look calmly on her; it might be, we know not what ; but her quick eye saAv and read, though she understood not, that mingled strUe of emotion ; and seeing it, she bent doAvn her gloving lips to his hand, and most fervently kissed it. " Papa, dear, dear Papa," she softly murmured, her voice thriUing vith feeling.

Less than most men was Adrian Somers liable to lose his self-command; yet surely that was a tear that feU, glistening in the bright moonlight. But soon was he calm c again, and in animated discussion with the Doctor, avIio Avas a bountiful talker. The young Mabel had been regarding the lady moon with a very sentimental gaze ; and she at length said, " What a pretty imagining it is, that there are nights when music-strains may be heard floating down from heaven ! " " Ah, indeed ! that's something new. Pray what may be the particular occasion of the harmonies, Miss Mabel?" " Have you never read of it ? It is one of the SAveetest fancies possible. They are faint echoes of blessed angels' songs, which rise when happy spirits reach their heavenly home." " Ah, it's rather a German idea, I tlrink," said the Doctor, sarcastically.

" Why, it is only the sick, or the dying, or holy minded persons, (in their very heart of hearts loving God,) who can hear hea ven's music, you knoAv. Often have I tried to catch these strains, to keep awake and listen intently; but I never heard angel voices, or aught more than the minstrel winds. Indeed, I always faU asleep. It is very vexing to sleep so readdy and soundly. The perfectly simple, naif way in which Mabel uttered the last sentence, made both Mr. Somers and the Doctor laugh ; the latter fairly chuckled again, tiU at length she, though looking someAvhat disconcerted, joined in the laugh against herself. " May your shadow never be less, Miss Mabel ; and may you long have the vexation of sound sleep," said the Doctor, Avhen he had recovered someAvhat of his gravity. A little chagrined though she was, Mabel returned once more to the subject, about which the disberieving Doctor again avowed himself most thoroughly incredulous : he sliould riave faitri iu them when he heard them, he said, — Mabel almost lost aU patience; and Mr. Somers changed the conversation by saying, " What is it, I wonder, that makes one serious, and almost sad in gazing at moon- Ut and starry skies, and which also stirs Avithin us that poetic element, so at one Avith our being, the mixture of the ideal with the positive and actual?

The human blent and mingling with the spiritual — the horse with wings ; — I knoAv you rather misdoubt the general existence of this poetic element, Mer ridan." " I believe he misdoubts everything, Papa," observed Mabel with considerable energy of voice and manner. The Doctor took another chuckle to himself ere he replied, " I think you must rift the weeds, before you find the violets." " And yet the violets are there, though the Aveeds may cover them from sight." " Take the world as we find it, men and women together, at least one-haU are clothed in the ' muddy vesture of indifference ;' only animals — only sensible in the duUer parts." " The world is very guilty in this respect, I grant you. Too many have never fed on the ' dainties ' that are bred in a book, but yet is the poetic element rife ; they can admire the golden clouds that gather about the departing sun, and the firmament sowed thick Avith stars lights up reverence, (which is high poetry,) in their hearts.

No, Avhrist man speaks gently to woman, and prizes her smde ; whdst he values his home, and loves his chddren ; the divinity within him is stirring, is quick, not dead." " All ! you look at this hand-to-mouth ex istence with a poet's eye, through a prismatic medium. I'm a practical sober-minded man, — light is light, and dark is dark, to me." " You err in what you say about your pro saic views. A higri appreciation of life's poetry you have. You both may and ought to plead guilty to the soft impeachment, Luke." " I do not, and ought not." " Well, no matter, the verdict ' proven ' is the same. I put aside your words, and appeal to your life for the truth of what I say. Human lUe is instinct and overfloAving with poetry ; it is ' in the words of Mercury and the songs of Apollo ;' in the wise experience of the aged, and the joyful hope of the young.

My little girl here can scarce converse without embody ing poetic sentiments and fancies." " Nay, dear Pa, you are quite wrong now." " I am quite right, my young daughter," said he, turning to her with a fond glance. " Poetry, ideality — call it what you will — is no vague imagination ; it is inmost truth. The higher and sublimer the truth, the more subtile and fine its poetry. It sparkles over life, mel lows and purifies it, shedding down light and Avarmth. It is about us from our birthtime, tUl we sink into the grave's rest. SorroAV makes us poetical ; joy developes it. It hovers and trembles on the lips of those who love. It is the very essence of religion and faith." " It may be true, perhaps," argued the Doctor, " that aU this fine-spun poetic sentiment is to be found in the lives and minds of those Avho, as it Avere, stand aside and let the Avorld SAveep past them; but life's work and business is wholly inimical to it."

" So think not I, and I coidd multiply in stances in favour of Avhat I say ; instances taken from the lives of those immersed in busi ness, nay, of toil for daily bread — hard-Avorking, hard-living men, Avith horny hands." " And how is a manual labourer to find time for aught beside sleeping, eating, working — the stern realities under which he lives ? He is oh a sort of treadmill, Avhere, if he waits a moment, he is certain to get a pretty smart rap upon the shins, by way of reminder." " Yet is he something more than mere eater, sleeper, worker. A golden thread is inwoven AA'ith his earth-chains : with all, I believe, it is to be found ; Avith many it gilds the Avhole. I am quite sure, Doctor, there is a marriage covenant between human life and the poetic or idealic sentiment ; and divorce you cannot, for 'tis a heavenly visitant, a spark or ray of that which is to come.