Sir Hubert Marston. A novel

Chapter I

The wedding was over, or perhaps it Avould be more correct to say, the marriage ceremony, for with the word " wedding " are associated ideas of festivity and rejoicing, of Avhich, on the present occasion, there Avas a lamentable deficiency. Escorted by the beadle, avIio for his services received from the bride the munificent donation of one shilling, William Ashford entered a cab Avith his new-made wife and his daughter, and returned to his own house, a dingy looking tenement in one of the streets near the NeAV Road. Some twenty years be fore, he had been a model of health and activity, pulling a good oar, handling a bat like the man VOL. i. l who had invented it, singing a good song, en joying life Avithout an ache or pain, without a care 'or sorrow. Now, at forty-five years of age, he was a decrepit old man, with Avatery eye, trembling hand, and vacillating purpose.

William Ashford's father had been private secretary to one of the members of the Ad dington Administration, and tAvo years before his death had obtained for his son — at that time a youth of eighteen years of age — a clerkship in one of the public offices, Avhere his polished manners and attention to his duties soon Avon for him the regard and confidence of his superiors. Before many years elapsed, when an increase of salary allowed him to indulge in such a luxury, to took unto himself a Avife. The young lady whom he selected Avas Miss Mary Baines, the orphan daughter of Archdeacon Baines, a man of good family, and who, had he lived, Avould in all probability have been pro moted to the episcopal bench. She was a pretty, amiable girl, with a small fortune of her own, and some of her friends hinted to her that she might do much better for herself in the matrimonial market.

But both her parents were dead, she had no near relations, she was her OAvn mistress, she was in love, and. she persevered in the choice she had made. Nor for some time had she any reason to repent it. Two children Avere born, a boy, and a few years later a girl, and the happy mother was congratulated by all her acquaintance, and con gratulated herself, upon affording a specimen of perfect domestic happiness. Their income, without being large, was quite sufficient for all the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. Mrs Ashford Avas an excellent manager, and her husband even contrived to insure his life for a small sum. But alas ! this happiness was not destined to be of long duration. William Ashford, Avho during his bachelor days had never knoAvn Avhat it Avas to pass an evening at home, avIio was naturally of a convivial turn, Avhose tender ditties and comic songs made him the enfant gate of the society in which he lived, began to grow Aveary of domestic pleasures, and to sigh for the old scenes of his social triumphs .

Invitations AArere given and accepted. Mrs Ashford Avas not in strong health, and she found that she had too much to do Avith her children and her household duties to be able often to accompanyhim. Soon she got the repu tation of being a moping, poor-spirited, unsocial being, and it not unfrequently happened that her husband Avas asked out without her. Poor William Ashford Avas universally pitied, par ticularly by the ladies of his acquaintance, for being tied to so uncongenial a companion, a delusion which I am afraid he did not discourage. It is so pleasant to be the object of female commiseration, and every one felt him, or her, self bound to make him all possible amends for his unhappy fate. Mrs Ashford made no complaints, not even Avhen some good-natured friend informed her of a surreptitious Avhite-bait dinner given by her husband to a select party at BlackAvall, from AA'hich the said friend had, to her great indig nation, been excluded.

It is true,' Mary Ash ford could not very Avell have joined the party, being in close attendance upon little Harry, Avho Avas dangerously ill Avith the hoopino-. cough. But Avhen she found that monev was every day more difficult to obtain for her house hold expenditure, when the servants were unpaid, and tradesmen grevv clamorous for the settlement of their "little accounts," she thought herself justified in remonstrating. But not Avith much success. Her husband felt, or at all events professed, surprise at the embarrassed state of his affairs, and could not understand hoAv it had all happened. It must be Mary's mismanagement. The first day he had time he Avould look into it, and put things to rights. Unfortunately he never had time, and things, instead of being put to rights, went from bad to Avorse.

The fact is, his position was materially al tered from Avhat it had been before his marri age. From being the entertained he found that he Avas now expected to be the entertainer, and even in joint affairs he Avas generally called upon to pay the score of some two or three thoughtless individuals avIio had forgotten their purses. It Avas no wonder therefore that Avith a Avife and two children, notAvithstanding the addition to his income from Mary's little fortune, he should be perpetually in Avant of ready money, and shrank from the sorroAving face which greeted him on his return home. His hours became more irregular, or rather more regular in their irregularity, and Avhen he did make his appearance it was generally in a state of semi-intoxication. He had culled many choice aphorisms from his favourite bards, inculcating the doctrine that good liquor is the best antidote for dull care, and he certainly did his best to prove his faith in its efficacy.

More than once had he thrown himself on his bed, after stumbling up-stairs, dressed as he was, and snored away the hours of night in the feverish slumber of the drunkard, while his wife, with the tears trickling down her face and heavy forebodings in her heart, tried to catch a few moments' rest in the arm-chair by his side. It is but justice to say that the first time this disgusting exhibition took place, he was greatly shocked on waking, gave signs of deep and sincere penitence, and promised amendment on his knees. ' But what are promises, what are vows or oaths, to the victim of a dom inant passion. Before a week had passed the same thing occurred again, and this time, in stead of penitence, was succeeded by a fit of sulkiness. Mrs Ashford, finding that she had no assist ance to hope for except from herself, did her best to counteract the evils with which she was beset.

Her only brother, much older than herself, had emigrated many years before to Australia, and, as he had not been heard of since his departure, it was very generally supposed that he was dead. Her other relations, disgusted Avith her husband's conduct — some of them even insulted by him for what he termed impertinent interference — had gradually ceased to frequent his house. Thus, she stood alone in the Avorld, Avith no one to support her, no one of whom she could ask advice. But she had to provide, if possible, for the welfare of her two children, and she did not shrink from the task. She began by introducing the strict est economy into her household. One of their two servants was dismissed, and she undertook without a murmur her share of the house-work. The clays were past when she could take a pride in the appearance of her darlings, but at least by her care their dress was still decent and scrupulously clean.

All their early education came from her, and well she thought herself repaid by their affection for the atten tion she lavished upon them. Of their father they saAv but little, and desired to see less, for he hardly noticed them, except to utter a re primand or a drunken curse. But even this made less impression on them than the taunts and abuse with Avhich he loaded his helpless Avife, whenever he came home in an ill-humour, and of which they were but too frequently the witnesses. For he no longer thought it neces sary to put the slightest restraint upon himself in his own house, and was fast sinking into the loAvest depths of degradation. The only person of whom he seemed to stand the least in awe was Sarah, their solitary servant, a strapping north-country Avench, who gave him plainly to understand that, though he might bully Avife and children with impunity, he had better attempt nothing of the same sort Avith her.

She was certainly not a servant that Mrs Ashford would have selected in her palmy days, but it was not easy to find a maid-of-all-work for such an establishment as theirs ; and Sarah Penge, though coarse and rough in manner, and not distinguished by any particular devotion to cleanliness, appeared to be honest, professed a certain amount of attachment to "the Missus," and Avas undoubtedly hard working. The most frequent subject of contention betAveen William Ashford and his Avife Avas, naturally, money. The interest of Mrs Ash ford's fortune, amounting to about one hun dred and eighty pounds a year, had fortunately been settled entirely upon herself, to her separate use during her life. If she died before her husband, he had a life-interest in it, and then it was to go to her children. This was all that she had had of late years to keep the house going, for the Avhole of her husband's salary was spent on his OAvn pursuits, generally before it AA*as due, and consequently he made repeated but ineffectual onslaughts on his wife's little horde.

Coaxing and threats were equally unavailing. Upon the few pounds she could call her OAvn her children's bread de pended, and she guarded them Avith the most jealous care. But she felt her health gradually sinking in this continual strife, and she Avas filled with the most alarming apprehensions for the future fate of those Avhose only protector she was. She had ahvays been delicate, and noAV she noticed symptoms Avhich induced her to speak to Dr Scott, the medical man who at tended the family, and he thought so seriously of them that he persuaded her to consult an eminent physician, a friend of his own. The great man listened, and said but little. He gave her a prescription, advised her to live generously, to avoid all occasions of mental excitement, and to pass the ensuing winter in the south of France, or some mild climate.

He might as well have recommended her to pass it in the moon. She thanked him Avith a sickly smile, and returned home to prepare for death. She determined to make a last appeal to her husband, hoping that a knoAvledge of her clanger, and of the unprotected state in Avhich her children Avould be left by her death, might awaken him to some sense of Avhat he OAved to her and to them. She was destined to be grievously disappointed. That very evening. he burst into the room in Avhich she Avas sitting Avith her children, hearing little Harry his Latin lesson, for to teach her son she had learnt it herself, and frantic "with drink de manded money of her with more violent threats than he had ever before used. Her ansAver Avas a refusal couched in the gentlest terms she could select, but Avhich only served to inflame his passion.

In vain she entreated him, if not for her sake, at least for his own, to remain quietly at home for that one night. She might as well have argued Avith a madman . He seized her by the arm, and notwithstand ing her resistance dragged her keys from her pocket, opened her desk, and seized upon every farthing it contained. It was not a bad haul, for she had received her half-year's divi dend only a few days before. Fortunately, she had paid her few outstanding debts. Clinging to his knees in desperation, she en deavoured to prevent his leaving the room, Avhen Avith a fierce execration he struck her, and flung her off with a violence that left her lying half stunned upon the floor. Then rushing downstairs he left the house, and did not make his appearance for eight and forty hours. Slowly raising herself, Mary Ashford threw herself on the sofa in an agony of grief and tears.

Physically, the blow she had received was little or nothing ; morally, it Avas mortal, for it deprived her of her last hope. Harry and his little sister, almost stupefied by the scene they had witnessed, approached the sofa, and, as if guessing at the need she had for sympathy, endeavoured to attract her attention by their caresses. But for a time they were unheeded, although it was for them that her tears were flowing. At length she started up and, drawing them to her in a passionate embrace, kissed them, as if each kiss were to be the last. " Promise me, Harry," she said, " that you will never drink wine or spirits." " I never will, Mamma," he replied stoutly. "And I too, Mamma," interposed Susan. " Make me promise too." "And Harry," continued Mrs Ashford, " you will always love your sister.

She is the youngest, and will need your protection." From this time her health gave way altogether, though not rapidly. It seemed as if the intense love she felt for her children en abled her to contest the ground with the enemy inch by inch, but, though sIoav, his pro gress was sure, and the end came at last. At times, in some half sober intervals, her husband appeared to have a perception of the truth, and then in a fit of maudlin remorse he Avould throw himself on his knees, implore her pardon, and for the thousandth time promise amendment. Her death was rather sudden, and Avhen Sarah hurried off in search of her master she found him, Avith some little difficulty, occupying the president's chair of some convivial meeting of real good felloAvs like himself, singing one of his most rollicking drinking songs, and already considerably the worse for liquor.

Sarah did not find it by any means an easy matter to gain admittance, nor when she did, to make him understand the urgency of the case. Some of his companions declared that it was all a sham of his Avife's to get him home, that if he Avas such a milksop as to obey, they would never acknowledge him as their president again, and finally that they Avould not allow him to depart. But there were one or two' not quite so far gone, with a little more feeling, or at least with a stronger sense of decency, AATho insisted upon his going home, if it were only to ascertain the truth ; if it was a sham he could ahvays return, and it Avould be a Avarn ing to him for the future. At length a com promise Avas affected. On condition of his singing another song, and Sarah's drinking a glass of hot gin and Avater, a demand with which she very readily complied, she Avas al loAved to carry off her captive.

AVith some trouble she got him up-stairs, when throwing open the bed-room door — "Well, old woman," he exclaimed, "A\4iat's the rowiioav ? " "Silence, Sir," said Dr Scott, aa*1io had been summoned; "sflence; you are in the presence of death." And seizing him by the hand he dragged him forward to the bed, on which Mary Ashford's inanimate form re posed. She had died a quarter of an hour before, probably about the time when the cheers and encores Avhich greeted his last song Avere still ringing in his ears. The shock sobered him at once. He fell upon the bed, and gave vent in loud lamenta tions to his unavailing repentance. He stretched out his arm to his weeping children, but his children recoiled from the preferred embrace, and Harry, with a scoavI upon his countenance, drew his sister to the other side of the bed.

The doctor retired, and Sarah, partly by force, partly by persuasion, prevailed upon her master to leave the room. She then returned and carried off the children, who sobbed them selves to sleep in each other's arms. Well might they Aveep for the death of one Avhose loss was irreparable to both — to her daughter especially, AA'hose excitable and pas sionate temperament required the most judi ous management and the unremitting vigilance of a mother's eye. During the few days that elapsed before the funeral, Ashford remained at home, never stirring out of the house except when his brandy bottle required replenishing, passing his time in tears and bewailing his own misfortunes. Of his children he saw but little. BetAveen him and his son a sort of mutual antipathy seemed to have sprung up, awaiting only the occasion to break out into open dissension.

With Susan he got on better, but even she could scarcely conceal her repugnance, when he took her in his arms and kissed her, with lips reeking of spirits and bad tobacco. The day for the funeral arrived, but he was not in a state to leave the house. It Avas conducted on the most economical scale, and was attended by Dr Scott and the two children. Sarah, by dint of actual bullying, had extracted from her master money enough to put them into some thing like decent mourning. On occasion of his wife's death Ashford had obtained leave of absence from his office for a month, Avhich he took upon himself to prolong from day to day, till a peremptory or der summoned him back to his duties on pain of immediate dismissal. His irregularities for some time past had been the subject of very unfavourable comments, and Avhen he pre sented himself before the Chairman of the Board with blanched lips, trembling hands, and Avatery eye, that functionary eyed him Avith a look in Avhich there Avas a strong mixture of severity, contempt, and compassion.

He had knoAvn Ashford's father Avell, and it was through his influence that the young man had been introduced into the office. For some years he had prided himself upon the regularity and attention of his protege; but when his love of dissipation had become a habit, when day after day he made his appearance an hour or two later than the proper time, he remonstrated Avith him on his conduct in terms which gra dually became more severe. Latterly, finding that his forbearance was of no avail, he had administered some sharp reprimands to the offender, which for a day or two produced some slight amendment. On the present occasion he felt that the time for indulgence was past. Ashford had been ten days absent without leave, and even now was evidently not in a fit state to resume his duties. " Mr Ashford," he said, " I have sent for you to tell you that, on the very next occasion of neglect or violation of the rules of this office, you will be summarily dismissed.

The public has a right to expect the service for which it pays to be performed scrupulously and punc tually." Ashford Avhimpered out something about his recent affliction. VOL. I. " I am quite aware of the loss you have sustained," was the reply. " You had a month's leave of absence in consequence, which you have thought proper to extend to nearly six Aveeks. I shall not inquire into the manner in which that time has been spent. That is no business of mine, but it is my business to see that my subordinates do their duty. For that I am responsible, and it is quite clear to me that Avith the habits you have acquired you will never be again fit for yours. As I have already said, your next transgression will be your last, but I have no wish to be hard upon you. I had, as you know, a great regard for your father, and, as long as your conduct warranted it, for you too.

For the sake of old times, I Avill yet make an effort to save you. There is going to be a reduction in the number of clerks, aud if you choose to send in your resignation, I will undertake to obtain for you, in consideration of your service of twenty-five years, a retiring pension of two hundred a year. If you refuse this, and are dismissed in consequence of any complaint of your conduct, of course you will lose all claim to it." Again Ashford's tears began to flow, as he protested that he Avas the victim of the envy and jealousy of interested persons, but his chief did not give him time to enlarge on this topic. " Go home," he said, " think it over, and let me have your decision to-morroAV." He did go home, but as for thinking it over, that Avas an exertion of which he Avas in capable. He called Sarah into council, and by her advice accepted the proposal.

The arrangements were easily completed, and Wil liam Ashford Avas superannuated upon an al loAvance of tAvo hundred and fifty pounds per annum. The chairman had been better than his Avord. Since his wife's death, Sarah, or Mrs Penge as she noAV insisted upon being called, had acquired great influence over her master. As soon as Mrs Ashford's funeral Avas over, she had announced her intention of seeking another situation, a piece of intelligence Avhich in his helplessness struck Ashford Avith dismay. With tears in his eyes, which were now ahvays ready to Aoav upon the slightest occasion, he threw himself upon her mercy, entreating her not to desert him in his utmost need. She took pity on him, aud consented to remain, but upon her own terms, and if they Avere ex orbitant, they were, at all events, the only ones upon which the household could be maintained in anything like respectability.

His income was to be paid over to her as it came in, out of which he Avas to receive a weekly allowance ; the rest was to be devoted to the support of the family at her discretion. He undertook to contract no debt without her knowledge and consent, nor to admit any of his boon com panions into the house. All this he promised with a readiness which almost made it appear that he was receiving a favour, instead of giving up his independence. And yet this same man, who yielded so readily to the imperious exigencies of a coarse, resolute servant, had invariably rejected with something like scorn any suggestion of a similar nature coming from the lips of his unfortunate wife ! But if Sarah thus established a despotism as her form of government, it was a despotism tempered by gin and Avater. She never at tempted to insist upon her master's breaking off those habits which had become to him a second nature, but she did attempt and actually succeeded in making him pass his evenings at home.

Ashford had long since been rejected by the more respectable circles in Avhich he had begun his career of self-indulgence, and now, after passing through various stages of degradation, had sunk into the habitue of the tap-room. But this by no means suited Mrs Penge's ideas of gentility. Her pride revolted from the idea of keeping house for a fre quenter of the gin-palace or public-house, the associate of pugilists and dog-fanciers, and "them Ioav scum." The victory had not been Avon without a contest. Mr Ashford Avas fond of society of some sort or other, or rather he had a horror of his own, and in asserting his rights in this particular he shoAved more resolu tion than Avas usual to him. But at length he was forced to succumb. Sarah's first great success was depriving him of his latch-key, and this was the key of his position.

AVhen she had achieved this the rest Avas easy. The first night after this deprivation he returned home about twelve o'clock, and raised such an alarum that a policeman made his appearance, and insisted upon the door being opened to the truant. He cast a look of drunken tri umph on the baffled foe as he staggered up stairs, but on the next night his star set for ever. The knocker had been removed, and the bell was muffled. After nearly an hour spent in vain attempts to gain admittance to his own house he raised the siege, and was glad to find a bed for the night in the public house he had just quitted. When he returned home next day it Avas Avith a very penitent and sheepish look, and he subsequently acknoAV ledged his conversion to his housekeeper's creed, that the proper place for a gentleman to take his liquor in is in his own parlour.

And as, after all, drinking alone is but an uninteresting occupation, Mrs Penge by de grees allowed herself to be persuaded to bear him company — partly out of compassion, partly because she was not averse to a cheerful glass herself, though, to do her justice, it was ahvays in moderation — partly because it was useless to keep two fires burning in kitchen and parlour when one Avould suffice, and partly because her eyes Avere opening to more ambitious views. Her authority over the household was now paramount, established upon too firm a basis to be shaken. She had made the acquisition of a stout, red-haired girl from the workhouse, Avho did all the drudgery for half-a-crown a week and her food, Avhile Susan was employed all day long with her needle in darning, mend ing, and patching the linen and furniture.

She and her brother were tolerably fed, and warm ly, if coarsely, clad. On the subject of their material wants they had no great cause for complaint, but great was their indignation Avhen their father's housekeeper took upon her self to call them by their Christian names. Harry rebelled in all the dignity of sixteen, persisted in calling her Sarah, and Avas only reduced to silence, though not to submission, by having his ears soundly boxed by his father, to whom Mrs Penge had carried com plaints of his impertinence. Fortunately for the boy he found a friend when he most needed one. Dr Scott, pitying the forlorn condition of the two children, thus in a manner left orphans by the death of the only parent who felt an interest in their fate, did his best to befriend them. He had taken a great interest in the unhappy Avife who had borne her misfortunes with so much gentleness and resignation, and he extended it to her off spring.

To Susan it was not of much use. Backed by Mr Ashford's authority, Sarah refused to allow his daughter to accept any of the kind-hearted doctor's invitations. Susan Avas wanted in the house ; Susan had no time to Avaste in visiting about, she must learn to make herself useful. But Avith Harry it Avas different. Ashford had no wish to have per petually under his eye the son whom he inva riably designated as a mutinous scoundrel, AA'hose sullen looks and short answers were a constant source of irritation and reproach, and Avhose untimely fate at the hands of Mr Cal craft he would generally predict and deplore before the last tumbler was drained. Nor was Mrs Penge more anxious for his society. He treated her Avith a sort of contempt extremely offensive to her feelings, and she looked upon him in the light of a spy upon her actions.

Moreover, she made the discovery that Susan was much more amenable to her control in his absence. No opposition therefore Avas offered to Dr Scott's proposal to take him as an ap prentice Avithout a premium, and bring him up to his OAvn profession. He Avas still t.o sleep and take his meals at home. The field being thus clear, Sarah pursued her operations Avith as much skill as vigour, and, before the expiration of the second year after Mary Ashford's death, received and gra ciously accepted thedisconsolate AAidower's proposal to her to fill the vacant post. Harry had seen what was going] on for some time past, and had warned his sister of Avhat she might expect before long ; still Avhen Mr Ash ford screAved up his courage to make knoAvn his intention to his children, it sounded like the knell of the small portion of happiness Avhich they still enjoyed.

They remained silent, till their father, irritated at Avhat he justly considered as a sign of disapprobation, asked them sharply if they had nothing to say, instead of standing there like a couple of fools. " lAvishyou very happy, papa," said Susan, in a trembling voice. " And you, sir, what have you to say ? " asked Ashford of his son. "I think, sir, you cannot fail of being happy in so suitable a marriage." Ashford's pale face reddened at this reply, but as he had no retort at hand, and as Harry, avIio Avas now in his eighteenth year, was a little too old and a good deal too stout to have personal chastisement inflicted on him, he contented himself Avith dismissing them from his presence, with an injunction to treat Mrs Penge with the respect due to his future wife and their mother. " Our mother !

" exclaimed Harry, as soon as he was alone with his sister, " Sarah our mother ! Fancy our oavii mother replaced by such a woman as that ! " " Oh, Harry, try to be civil to her. You will only make things Avorse," said Susan. " I do not Avell see how that can be. But as far as I am concerned I shall be neither civil nor uncivil to her, for when once she is Mrs Ashford I will never set foot in this house again !" "Oh, brother, will you leave me?" cried poor Susan, bursting into tears. " My darling Susan, listen to me. AVhat I mean to do is for both of us. If I leave you for a short time noAV, it is that I may have it in my poAver to help you, for soon this house Avill be no home for you. You will see that Sarah — I beg her pardon, Mrs Penge — will fil 1 it with her own friends and relations.