Marley Castle: a novel ... Edited by Sir G. W

Chapter I

Majoe Vere, in succeeding to Marley Castle and part of the property thereunto appertain ing, obtained a very goodly heritage. But as a rule Fortune only sells the favours she seems to bestow — so manifold are the draw backs with which they are attended, and so high is the price we have oftentimes to pay for them. And this case was no exception to the rule ; for the recipient of the favours in question, though he by no means undervalued them, felt that they had come too late so far as his power of enjoying them was concerned, VOL. II. B and he proved that he did so by bidding adieu to all his fair possessions as soon as he possibly could, and going abroad. How true it is that the mind is its own place, and can make a hell of heaven, a heaven of hell ! The mind is as stained glass, and colours all things.

When we are sorrowful we see life through that glass darkly, but when the heart rejoices, the bright and many-hued light which emanates from it, renders the world fair and beautiful, and tinges everything that comes within the sphere of our vision with rose, and purple, and golden gleam. It is a melancholy thought that go where we may, and do what we will, we can never forget that troublesome entity called self, or lose the sense and consciousness of our own identity even for a moment. In Schiller's well-known words : "Man can never from himself divide." They are therefore blessed and fortunate who can travel untrammelled by any burden heavier than their baggage, and who have consequently the power of radiating perpetual sunshine from the warmth of their own light hearts wherever they go. For with the wretched, though they may drag their bodies far from the scene of woe and misery, the spirit remains there still, nor can it be torn thence, until time, not distance, has interposed with its healing power to wean it from the past.

Major Vere travelled in turn through most of the countries of southern Europe. He crossed steep passes, scaled high mountains, shivered amid glaciers, wandered through sunny valleys, sailed over summer seas and shining lakes, and lastly even visited all the " cities of the plain," and that their name is legion every weary wanderer along the dusty highway and beaten track of the continent must admit. But with him all was barren, from Dan to Beersheba ; nor was it surpris ing that it should be so. Tithonus found his perpetual life a very worthless boon when youth was fled, and all power of enjoyment had departed. Cassandra, too, no doubt derived but small satisfaction from her gift of prophecy when she could never have the pleasure of seeing her predictions credited or believed in. And so, in like manner, for those from whom hope has passed away, and to whom happiness has become an impossibility — as was the case with Major Vere — the world is fair in vain, at least until time has so to speak rendered them accustomed to their sorrow.

But besides that, it is with travel as with everything else ; when it becomes the business of life, and the staple amusement, after a while it very generally ceases to amuse altogether. And Major Vere was not slow to discover this truth. For though he had often previously longed for means to enable him to gratify to the full his desire for con tinental travel, now when those means were placed at his disposal, and he could and did wander about unceasingly whithersoever his fancy led him, he frequently found him self admitting that it was possible to get too much even of so pleasant a thing as travelling, and wishing that something would occur to necessitate his return home. But nothing did occur, and so he remained abroad. Apropos of this subject — what an eloquent discourse might be preached on the subject of abstinence ! not from spirituous liquors, but from pleasure and amusement, and all the best things life has to offer — travelling amongst the number — which if partaken of in moderation are all right, but when indulged in too freely, clog the appetite, and deprive it of the power of relishing the good things provided for it.

" S'abstenir pour joiur" says Rousseau, " c'est Vepicurisme de la raison." And he had reason in saying so. For he who knows how to abstain, and does it with a view to prolonging and husbanding his power of enjoying any given pleasure, possesses the true secret of the continuance of that enjoyment. The chances are ten thousand to one that meat never appears so finely flavoured to the Roman Catholic palate as on Friday, whenever by reason of recent illness or other causes, it is obtainable on that day ; everybody knows that food is more keenly relished after a fast ; and surely " kisses never seem so sweet as when long parted lovers meet." On the other hand, why is it that the honeymooning system MAELET CASTLE. usually proves such a failure, and so often engenders weariness and other unpleasant feelings ?

Simply because the young couples, when left to solitude a deux, in nine cases out of ten learn by experience what they often heard before but never believed in, namely that too much of one thing is good for nothing. The fair bride's eyes may be quite as blue and beautiful as they were antenuptially, but after having indulged in the no doubt infinitely sweet occupation of gazing into them all day long for some time, the bridegroom naturally begins to feel that a little variety might be an improvement, and the gleam of brown eyes, or even green by way of change, would not be amiss. The lips of his partner too may be quite as full and as red as when he first pressed them, but somehow if it be a fact that the stinted supply makes the article dear, the converse of that proposition is equally true, and after an unlimited amount of kisses which are to be had with, or without the asking, a feeling of toujours perdrix will steal over him in spite of himself, and he sighs in vain for the old sweetness which in reality is there still, it being merely his own power of relishing it which has departed.

But the antidote for this evil is not far to seek, abstinence or absence, as the case may be, being the best possible tonic for quicken ing and restoring the lost appetite for any enjoyment. Therefore all married lovers who are desirous' that their zest for each other's society should continue, must learn to separate for a while daily ; and all lovers of any pleasure or luxury, be it what it may, whether travel, or truffles, or Trente et quarante — whist only excepted — must learn to partake of that pleasure in moderation, else after a while it will cease to be such. For unfortunately the power of enjoying is not an inexhaustible spring, but will certainly run dry if too constantly drawn upon. Proof positive — humiliating though the fact may be — that it behoves us to be as careful and economical of our inward and spiritual pos sessions, as we are of tangible and material treasure.

It was about two years after Major Vere first set out on his travels, that having gone through the length and breadth of Belgium, he at last found himself in the prettly little town of Spa. Now if Spa happened to be anywhere else but where it is, namely in the ugliest, as well as — fortunately — the smallest kingdom in Europe, it would hardly seem to merit the flattering epithet which has been bestowed upon it. But when after having travelled for some time in the surrounding country you suddenly come upon it, it appears by force of contrast a perfect little oasis of loveliness, although its claims to beauty when analysed will be found to consist merely in a general aspect of verdure ; pretty undulations of the ground, by courtesy termed hills; a wood called the Bois de la Geronsterre, and a very fair sprinkling of tall richly foliaged trees.

Major Vere on first arriving there put up at the Hotel de Flandre, which is so close to the Maison de jeu, that he used generally to stroll over to the latter every evening after dinner. Now the first thing that struck him at the tables at Spa, as well as at other places of the same kind, was the expression of careless unconcern on the countenances of the players generally. What everybody says is not always true, one's own experience very often differs widely from the world's verdict. And as a case in point, Major Vere found that instead ofthe despairing haggard faces he had been led to expect, those he saw surrounding the tables at every place he visited, looked for the most part rather jolly than otherwise, cheerful, unanxious, and by no means either crushed or hopeless, even when fate seemed most against them.

At Spa, however, there was one exception to this rule — a young Italian not only singularly handsome, but even striking in appearance, who watched the turns of the game each night with breathless interest, and with such intense eagerness that it always appeared as though he were venturing his all upon each stake. One night Major Vere remarked that he was playing higher, and so to speak, more desperately than usual. His manner seemed peculiarly excited, and the stakes he put down were sometimes recklessly large — larger than those of any one else at the table. But luck was so determinately against him, that each time he lost. At last, in a state almost bordering upon frenzy, he took his purse from his pocket — he was playing roulette — and having emptied it out upon the table with trembling fingers, he placed the whole contents upon impair.

The next minute the pea fell into 20 — the fatal rake which looks exactly like the wand of destiny, was advanced, and the large, shining heap of gold, swept away, leaving him penniless ! He started up from the table like one who had been suddenly bereft of reason, and without even repossessing himself of his now empty purse, he snatched up his hat, which was at his feet — crushed it down over his brows, and rushed out of the room. Major Vere, who saw the dreadful purpose which was written in his face, hurried out after him, and laying his hand detainingly on his arm, he said in Italian, " Excuse me, but I have been watching your ill-luck with regret, and as we are both strangers here, perhaps you will allow me to offer you part of the contents of my purse, until you can replenish your own."

Major Vere of course had not the slightest idea of lending him a large sum ; but he felt interested in the young man, and anxious to save him if possible, and he rightly judged that to offer to do him some tangible kindness, was the most effectual means of getting him to listen to him. The young Italian started when Major Vere thus addressed him, and looked at first as though he imagined his ears must have deceived him. But he quickly recovered his self-possession, and said in reply — " You are very good — indeed, I don't know MARLET OASTLE. how to thank you sufficiently ; but I must not borrow what I could not repay. It is too late, sir, for even part of what I lost to-night was not my own. There is but one course for me now, and that is — " " And that is — " said Major Vere, when the young man paused.

" Death ! " was the almost whispered rejoinder. Major Vere perceived that the unfortunate young man was very nearly beside himself; he therefore thought it better not to evince any surprise or horror, but merely to reason with him calmly and quietly ; so he said — " And has life no charms for you, that you can talk so coolly of quitting it ? " " Not one ; but you mistake, sir, I am not cool, and I shall feel bitter regret in dying. I have a sister who — " " Then would it not be better and kinder to live for her sake ? If you are dear to her, as I'm sure you must be, think what she would suffer at losing you, and in such a way ! Besides you are so young still, that you have plenty of time to begin anew, and retrieve the past if you choose." " No, it's quite too late for that. Besides my mind has been fully made up since yester day.

I thought I would try my luck once more to-night ; if I gained, I could live, but if I lost I would die ; and I will die ! " he added, becoming more and more excited every moment ; and as he spoke, he lifted his hat off his head, and pressed his hands tightly on his burning forehead, as though to still its throbbing. Major Vere never felt so much at a loss in his life as to how he ought to act, and for a few moments he stood both silent and irreso lute. At last he said— " I can hardly account for the great interest I have taken in you from the first, and now I would do anything to save you. Will you not let me help you in some way ? Can nothing be done for you ? " The young Italian turned and looked at him earnestly. " Thanks — a thousand thanks sir ! " he said. " You pity me, I see, because I am about to die ; but you English look upon death very differently from what we do.

What is life ? And what is death ? Life is but an unpleasant dream — a nightmare to some ; and to die is merely to fall asleep, and to forget : both of which I have often longed to do. We can contemplate death quite calmly, because we know that by a moment's pain a never ceasing immunity from sorrow can be purchased. And that is all I want. I only wish for rest, and to escape the disgrace which must fall on me, if I continue to live." " And do you believe in nothing after death ? " enquired Major Vere. " There is nothing to believe in," was the reply, and soon after it was uttered — they had been walking on during the latter part of this colloquy — they reached one of those maisons meublees so indigenous to the soil of Spa, at the door of which the Italian stopped. " This is my home," he said bitterly, " but I will not ask you to enter, sir, because some unpleasantness might arise if you did so.

You will have been the last person seen with 5 ) me. The thoughtfulness evinced by this speech was not lost upon Major Vere — the young man could, think of even so small a matter as saving him trouble at such a time — but without making any comment upon it, he merely said — VOL. il. c "I am not afraid of trouble, and if you will allow me, I should like to go in ! " Upon which the young Italian, havingopened the hall door by a latch key, led the way into a small, poorly furnished apartment, which however contained one object beautiful enough to arrest the attention, and satisfy the taste of even the most fastidious — a tall, dark-eyed girl, who sat reading by the light of a dim lamp, which stood on a tiny round table in the centre of the room. " Giulia, dearest ! this gentleman has befriended me, and he will therefore be welcome to you, I'm sure — That is my sister, sir — our name is Lusani."

The girl bent her beautiful head in acknow ledgment of Major Vere's bow, and she then rose, and placing a chair for him, requested him to sit down. " Your brother has been good enough to say that I have befriended him," said Major Vere, as soon as he was seated, " but that is not quite true — he would not let me. You must therefore please join your entreaties to mine, and beg him to consent to allow me to do so." The girl looked from Major Vere to her brother with so puzzled an air, that the latter hastened to explain matters to her. " I was playing again to-night, Giulia, as you know, and again I was unfortunate, seeing which this gentleman, whose kindness you must never forget, generously offered me the contents of his purse." " Oh, sir, how good of you ! " cried the girl, tears starting to her bright eyes as she spoke, " Indeed I shall ever remember your kindness ; but alas ! we have no way of showing our gratitude except by words — we are not only poor but friendless."

" But how does it happen that you linger here in a foreign land away from your own beautiful country ? " asked Major Vere. " Surely it would be better if your brother could be withdrawn from the influences which surround him at present." " Our story is a very sad one, sir, but I will tell it to you if you will let me. When my mother, who was an opera dancer, died, she left us not only orphans but penniless. My dear brother had, however, such a magnificent voice, that he and I both hoped he would be enabled to live by it ; but unhappily he got a most serious illness on one occasion — in flammation of the lungs I think they called it — and though he recovered, when he got well he found to his utter dismay that his voice was gone. We had been living up to that time with a distant cousin of my father's, who had been kind enough to °-ive us a home; but when he found that all my brother's chances of earning a living were at an end, he gave him a small sum of money — the last he said which we could expect to get from him — and advised us to try our luck in Germany, where he assured us that large fortunes were sometimes made at the tables, by those who knew how to play discreetly.

My brother accordingly borrowed a little more from the only friend we had in the world, and on the strength of the two sums, we went first to Homburg, and then to Wies baden, where he played with fluctuating luck, but since we came here it seems to me that he has done nothing but lose. Were your losses very great to-night, dearest ? " The young man covered his face with his hands, and bent his head in assent, but made no reply. Major Vere, however, an swered for him. "Yes," he said, "I'm sorry to say his losses were very great to-night ; and what I am so anxious for you to do is, to persuade him to accept a small loan from me, just for the present, until we see what can be done." " A loan, sir ! but how can we hope to repay a loan ? Oh, what is to become of us ! " cried the poor girl in a despairing tone, as all the horrors of their ruined and desperate con dition forced themselves upon her mind.

" Do let me assist you in this emergency, and you can repay me at some future time ! " urged Major Vere in a voice full of kindness. " No circumstances are ever quite hopeless," he added, " and you may be certain that some means of extrication from your difficulties will be foundafter awhile. Your brother, for in stance, may obtain some employment. But you really must allow me to leave this here for the present" — placing his purse on the table as he spoke — " and now as it is growing late I will wish you good-night, signora ! I have something further to say to you," he con tinued, turning to the young man — " would you mind coming with me to my hotel ? it is not far from here." And the Italian having acquiesced, Major Vere, followed by him, hurried out of the room at once, glad to es cape the torrent of warm thanks which both brother and sister had begun to pour forth to him.

As soon as they were once more in the street, he said — " You must promise me now, before we part, that you will wait patiently for a few days. Remember I am not asking you to abandon your dreadful intention altogether. I only want you to wait. And short as our acquaintance has been, I feel that if you once give me your promise, you will keep it, and I may leave you without fear." Major Vere had unconsciously touched a right chord in the young man's heart, for he became visibly moved at this fresh proof of the unmistakably great interest which he had awakened in the breast of a stranger whom he had never seen before ; for when playing he had always been too much absorbed by the game to notice any one who happened to be looking on, either at or near the tables. " I don't know how to thank you suffi ciently, ': he cried, grasping Major Vere's hand as he spoke.

" But my case is such a desperate one ! I have not courage to face the disgrace of being unable to pay what I've borrowed, and to take pecuniary aid from you, a stranger, kind though you be, seems to me worse than death a thousand times." " You are too proud, " said Major Vere kindly but firmly. " Nothing could be worse than the death you contemplate. To me self destruction seems at once a cowardly and a selfish act." " Nay," said the Italian, "you wrong me. I have thought of my sister, and she would be better off if I wrere gone ; the old man she mentioned to you as being a distant relation, would, I am sure, offer her a home once 17 more. Major Vere and his companion walked on in silence for a few moments after this, but at last the former said — " I have often remarked that men who hold your opinions, set great store upon what they call their principles.

Now do these principles never suggest to you that some things are right, and some are wrong ? " " Most certainly they do." " Then is it possible that it has never occurred to you that existence is a precious boon, which we ought to value and preserve, and that life has duties which we cannot evade with impunity?" " It has ; but according to my code, the paramount duty is to avoid dishonour. I have apparently been guilty of a dishonour able act, but death will wipe out the stain, and by showing that I could not survive the disgrace, it will prove that it was more my misfortune than my fault." " Well," said Major Vere, " according to my views the duty that lies nearest to us is that which we should perform first. Excuse me for mentioning her, but your sister is one of the most beautiful young women I have ever seen.

As long as she has your protec tion she is all right, but without it how help less and defenceless she would be ! Have you thought of that ? " The Italian reflected for several minutes before he made any reply, but when he did answer, he confessed that the matter had never presented itself to him in that light before. " But," he added musingly, " I still think my sister would be better off without me. However, it would be making a very poor return for your great kindness if I per sisted in refusing to comply with your request. I will certainly wait, since you are so kindly anxious that I should do so ; you shall see me to-morrow without fail." He then begun to reiterate the thanks which his sister and himself had already expressed; but Major Vere stopped him, and almost immediately afterwards they parted.

Chapter II

When Major Vere called next day to look up his protege, he found he had gone out ; but the beautiful Giulia was at home and alone. She said that her brother went that morning to demand the sum which it is bank etiquette to give to those who lose their all at the tables ; and having found that one of the croupiers was just leaving for Baden Baden, he had sought and obtained permission to fill the vacant post; aud ignominious as the ap pointment was, he meant to hold it until something better offered. This intelligence pleased Major Vere so much that he determined to redouble the efforts he had intended to make on behalf of the young man, who thus evinced such a laudable determination to help himself if possible. But unfortunately the task of procuring any appointment which the Italian was qualified to fill, proved a more difficult one than he had imagined ; and the consequence was, that day after day when he called at his house, he had only tidings of fresh failure and disappointment to carry.

Undismayed by ill-success, however, he still persevered, and the very anxiety he felt did him a world of good, by turning his thoughts from himself into a perfectly different channel ; while as regai-ded his new friends, his visits formed the sole pleasure which each day brought forth to them, and were always anticipated both by brother and sister with the greatest possible eagerness and delight. Of course there was a considerable amount of hazard in an intimacy like this between a beautiful girl of seventeen and an attractive man like Major Vere, who was still so little past thirty. But his own" heartwounds were too green to admit of his feeling any fears for himself, and he was not vain enough to apprehend danger for the beautiful Italian. Besides, he was on benevolent thoughts intent. It was in his capacity of benefactor that he made such frequent visits, and so far from having any selfish end in view in paying them, it would have afforded him the sincerest pleasure to have seen the fair Giulia trans ferred to a position of safety and security, even though her being so should entail her complete withdrawal from the sphere of his influence.

Unhappily however, she, looking out upon life with the eyes of seventeen, saw things differently to what he did. And though quite conscious that a wide and impassable gulf separated this cold proud Englishman not only from the class of persons with whom she had been accustomed to associate, but from herself, she could not be insensible to the charm of his manner ; and this very natural admiration, coupled with the deep gratitude which, with reason, she had felt towards him from the first, having deepened day by day, at length ripened to a much warmer feeling. But she was still such a child in mind, so little given to self-analysis, and above all so dimly conscious of the attachment which had sprung up in her heart, that it is possible Major Vere might have been suffered to remain in ignorance of it — he had begun to think of leaving Spa — had not an event occurred which awakened her to a full percep tion of her own feelings ; and once aware of them herself — concealment being no part either of her nature or her policy — she was not slow to reveal the fact of their existence to the person who had called them into being.

One night Major Vere was returning home much later than usual, when just as he was about to enter the courtyard of the hotel, he saw, a few yards in advance of him, two persons— a gentleman and a lady, who at first appeared to him to be engaged in earnest conversation, but upon drawing nearer he found that the man had thrown his arm round his companion, and that she was struggling to free herself from his embrace. Major Vere's first impulse was to pass on, as it was no business of his ; but the words uttered in Giulia's well-known accents, " Let me go this instant ! I implore you ! " decided him at once to interfere; so going up to the man, who in dress at least looked like a gentleman, he laid his hand heavily and firmly on his arm, and desired him to desist at once, and let the young lady go.

" I should like to know by what right any stranger presumes to interfere with me ! " was the defiant rejoinder ; and directly it was uttered Major Vere perceived that however gentlemanly the stranger might be in appear ance, there was rather too much swagger in his manner to admit of his being quite up to the mark. " I don't want to have any altercation," he added, " but just be good enough, if you please, to move away, and leave me to act as I think proper." " I shall not stir from this spot," returned Major Vere, " until you have released this lady, whom, as her brother is my friend, I feel myself bound to protect from insult." " Oh, the brother is a particular friend, is VOL. II. D he ? And so no doubt is the sister ; and you are anxious for the pleasure of seeing her home tete-a-tete, is that it ?"