Lady Adelaide ... Twenty-first thousand

Front matter

LADY ADELAIDE a Nobel. EY MRS. HENRY WOOD, AUTHOR OF "EAST LYNNE," " THE CHANNINGS," ETC. Œfotntiwfirst Œ&ousan&. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON, ■Publisfjcrs in ©rtinarg tn ftjrr fHajrsrg the Queen. 1889. [All rights reserved.) London : PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CUOS9. CONTENTS. CHAITEE rAGK i. harry dane ...... 1 ii. turned out . . . . . .17 hi. the fall from the cliff .... 31 iv. ravensbird's arrest ..... 40 v. taking the oath . . . . .53 vi. another phase of the night's storv . . 70 vii. mortality ...... 83 viu. margaret bordillion . . . . .97 ix. brought in by the fishing-boat . . .111 x. the lease of the sailors' rest . . .123 xi. unexpected . . . , . .136 xii. Margaret's cup pretty full . . .150 xm. CHANGES ....... 165 XIV. -WILFRED LESTER COMES TO GRIEF . . .177 XV.

LORD DANE HOME AGAIN . . . .193 XVI. RUMOURS ....... 208 XTTI. THE SHIPWRECK ...... 220 XVIII. AT THE SAILORS' REST . . . . .235 XIX. THE BOX THAT THE SEA CAST UP . . . 250 XX. VANISHED ! ...... 261 XXI. SEARCHING DANE CASTLE . . . .276 XXH. APPLYING TO INSPECTOR BENT . . . 288 XXIH. A BATTLE ROYAL ..... 298 XXIV. A DISCLOSURE TO WILFRED LESTER . . . . CONTENTS. IV CHAPTEK _AG_ XXV. THE RENDEZVOUS IN THE WOOI3 . . . 325 XXVI. A DOSE FOR TIFFLE ..... 339 XXVII. LORD DANE IN THE CHAPEL RUINS . , . 349 XXVIII. THE LONDON BANKER ..... 361 XXIX. THE NIGHT ATTACK . . . . .373 XXX. MADE PRISONER ...... 385 XXXI. THE DEAD IN LIFE ..... 398 XXXII. IN THE TRESTLE-CLOSET . . . .412 XXXIII. SOWING AND REAPING ..... 424 XXXIV. A MAN MAY NOT MARRY HIS GRANDMOTHER . 436 XXXV. SALLY'S STEP-UNCLE ..... 450 XXXVI. WRONGS MADE RIGHT .....

Chapter I. Harry Dane

On a somewhat wild part of the coast of England, between one and two hundred miles distant from the metropolis, lies a small town or village called Danesheld. The land on either side of it rises high, and overlooks the sea, whilst the descent of the rocks, in places perpendicular, is not so in all. There are parts where they slope back so gradually that a sure foot may descend with ease : and in such places the hard nature of the rock appears to have softened with time, for grass, and even wild flowers, grow upon the surface. In ancient times it was a settlement of the Danes : and the name now corrupted into Danesheld, was formerly written Danes' Hold. To the right of the village, as you stand facing the sea, the land is wild and rugged, and without a sign of human habitation. To the left, towards the east, may be seen some scattered houses of a superior description, two or three of them handsome mansions ; and behind, lies quite a colony of poor cottages and fishermen's huts, older than the mansions, older even than the village.

It should be noticed that all these houses face the sea, the high road running immediately before some of them ; and the green heights extending between the road and the rocks. Beyond all, still towards the east and about a mile distant from the village, rise the conspicuous towers of Dane Castle ; a long, but not high building, its red stone dark with age. There is a tower at either end, and a square turret sur mounts the great gateway in the middle : from which turret Lldy Adelaide. a flag is always floating when the chief, Lord Dane, is sojourning at the castle. Like the rest of the dwellings, it faces the sea, a narrow strip of greensward intervening between the gates and the high road. Beyond the road, which has neither hedge nor boundary wall, the grassland stretches oiit smooth and flat to the edge of the heights.

It is broad too just here, nearly a quarter-of-a-mile intervening between the castle and the sea. Opposite the extreme end of the castle, and very near to the brow of the heights, are the ruins of what was the chapel in the days of the monks. Its walls still stand, and its casements, from which the glass has long since gone, are sheltered by prolific ivy, a darker screen than any glass could be. The lords of Dane would cause this ivy to be trimmed occasionally, but it grows in clustering profusion. Traces of the altar and of ancient gravestones may be seen inside still, but no roof remains : it is open alike to the calm and the stormy sky. A picturesque sight does that old ruin present in the beams of the rising and the setting sun ; still more so in the pale, mystic beauty of a moonlit night.

In this part the rocks are perpendicular, and not very high ; somewhat farther on they recede greatly, and some rude steps are cut in them to the beach below. The young Danes in their boyhood, the present lord's two sons, would run up and down these steps with impunity, to get to their boat, which they kept moored below them. Behind the castle there is a small garden ; flowers and fruit do not seem to flourish here ; and between the castle and the village may be seen the signs of husbandry — ploughed fields, grass-lands, with here and there a farm house, surrounded by its ricks and barns ; all, or nearly all, belonging to Lord Dane — village, houses, lands ; the various tenants paying rent for their occupancy. It was a sunny day in spring. Perched upon a gate that led into a clover field, within view of the castle windows at the end facing Danesheld, within view also of the high road and the green plain before it, there sat a gentleman doing something to a fishing-rod.

He looked about eight-and twenty; a tall, slender man, with good, though somewhat thin and sharp, features, and with dark eyes. His velveteen shooting-coat was thrown back, for the day was really warm ; and he was whistling softly at his work. Hearing footsteps, he lifted his eyes, and saw advancing from the direction of the village, a middle-aged man, a stranger, who wore the attire of a gentleman-sailor. As the stranger neared the gate he lifted his glazed hat from his head ; but, whether in courtesy, or whether merely to wipe his brow with his handkerchief, was not clearly obvious. " Is that Dane Castle ? " asked the stranger. "Yes." " I thought it must be," was the comment of the sailor spoken in an undertone. " Are the family at the castle now ? " The gentleman with the fishing-rod pointed towards the flag.

" There is the sign. When his lordship of Dane is at home you see the flag waving there ; in his absence it does not show." "But why so?" The young man shrugged his shoulders ; his manner of speaking was idle, characterized by a certain equanimity almost bordering on ridicule ; not ridicule of the stranger, but of the Danes he was speaking of. " Because it's one of the old Dane customs. They have some queer ones. Those scrolls and crosses you see on the flag are the Dane arms." "Are both the sons at home? Pardon my questions," continued the stranger ; " I made acquaintance with one of them abroad, some years ago." " The younger one is at home — the ex-captain," replied the young man, equably, as though to answer questions on the Dane family were as much his business in life just then as splicing the fishing-rod.

" The heir is in Paris. He is a fast man, and a continental life suits him." " Are the brothers still at variance ? " " They are, and always will be." " Some dispute about fortune, is it not ? " " Some ill-blood, but no dispute. There might be dispute if that would alter the existing state of things, but it won't. Not that the ill-blood is on the captain's side ; I'll give him his due there : the fault is the heir's." « Is there not a young lady staying at the castle resumed the stranger, after a pause. " I forget her name. " Adelaide Errol," was the answer, given with the same coolness of tone and manner; but this time the young man lifted his eyes, and scanned the sailor. "A wild Scotch lassie is what Danesheld styles her." « I have heard her called an angel," returned the sailor ; " nothing less laudatory."

" Then," and the dark eyes were fixed on the stranger as though they would read him through and through, " if you have°heard that, I'll wager it was from no other than Harry Dane." " From William Dane." " William Henry, it is all one ; we club him Harry here. The old peer is fond of the name, so also is my lady ; and they have rarely called him anything else." " And the name of the elder one is Geoffry, I remember. He " "You wouldn't find the heir to Dane named anything but Geoffry," came the interruption. " Another of their super stitions." " Indeed ! Is William Dane to marry Adelaide Errol ? " The gentleman raised his eyebrows. " Well, people say so. The captain, gallant son of Mars though he be — or was — has singed his wings in the brightness of her fascinations. He " " I wish you'd talk plain English, sir," cried the stranger, a little testily : upon which the other accorded him a pro longed stare.

" What else am I talking ? Dutch ? " " Bhapsody : and it is a language I never understood. Is Captain Dane to marry the young lady, or is he not ? " " What a very unreasonable man you seem to be ! " was the rejoinder, accompanied by a half laugh. " Don't I tell you it is said that he will ? Captain Harry worships the very ground she treads on. You'll call that rhapsody again perhaps ; but it is fact." " And she '? " The young man drew down his lips with an air that seemed to intimate that it was no business of his. " How do I know ? there's no answering for women. Perhaps she returns his love ; perhaps she does not. My Lady Dane impresses upon her the fact that the Honourable William Henry, although he may be getting on towards middle-life, is no bad match for a portionless damsel." " William Dane is rich," remarked the stranger.

" I wish I were a tithe as rich. Some arrangement exists in the Dane family by which the younger branches step into their fortune as soon as they are of age ; and Harry, who comprised all the branches in his own person, took possession of his. It was fifty thousand pounds. To that there was another fifty thousand ; more — for it had been accumulating some few years — left him by his uncle, William Henry Verner. And the captain can't be spending half his income. Just now, visiting at home, he is spending nothing." " How long does he intend to remain at home ? " " You had better ask that of Adelaide Errol. When he arrived at home, he said he had come for a week or two " " You mean when he landed from the States ? " " I mean when he landed from the States. And what the deuce brought him wandering so long in the States has always been a mystery to me.

He must have turned into an American ! He came home, saying he should remain a week or two : that's six months ago : and he's here still, fooled by this mad passion for the But it's no business of mine," broke off the young man. " He once talked of repurchasing into the army ; for my part, I can't think why he sold out of it." " Why do you call it a mad passion ? " The young man took out his penknife, and leisurely scraped a spot off the fishing-rod. " Random figures of speech slip from us at times which frequently have little meaning." " I beg your pardon. That may be the Dane family." The young man turned his head. A group had appeared on the greensward near the chapel, the most prominent object amidst it being an invalid chair, in which reclined a fine-looking old man, whose gray hair was fast turning to white.

It was propelled by a man-servant in the Dane livery— purple velvet waistcoat and breeches, and a white coat laced with silver. A tall, fine, very handsome old lady accompanied the chair. Behind came a man of noble features, who might be approaching his fortieth year, up right and stately, slender still, and far above the middle height. A fair girl of nineteen walked by his side ; now before him, now behind him, chattering to him, and putting forth all her attractions, as it was in her nature to do. She had a very brilliant complexion, blue eyes, and a profusion of fair hair — a lovely vision undeniably, taken altogether ; but tho features were not especially good, and the eyes roved about too much for true ones. Behind all, came another footman in the same livery. " You are right," was the answer ; " it is the Dane family.

They have been taking my lord for his morning airing. The two servants relieve each other in wheeling the chair." " Is Lord Dane an invalid ? " " An invalid ! " echoed the young man, as he hastily put his fishing-rod together. "It is to be hoped neither you nor I will ever be such a one. Lord Dane had a dreadful fall with his horse last autumn, when out hunting, and has become paralyzed in the lower limbs. There is no cure for him, the doctors say ; it will only go on from bad to worse. And now, sir, I must wish you a good-morning." " I thank you for your courtesy in answering my questions," said the sailor. "Sir," rejoined the young man, in deliberate tones, "I have told you nothing that you might not have heard from any man, woman, or child within the dominions of my Lord Dane. The politics of the family, so far, are patent to the world."

Ho sauntered away as he spoke with that indolent languor we are apt to associate with the idea of a gentleman ; per haps because it belongs so exclusively to the upper classes. The sailor looked at the distant group ; he had no difficulty in divining that the tall old lady must be Lady Dane ; the young and pretty one Adelaide Errol. Captain Dane he know. At that moment another person came up, walking along the road from the direction of the village ; a dark, short, thick-set man, dressed in the plain black attire of an upper servant. The sailor — as we have been calling him, though he was nothing of the sort — went forward and accosted him. " Can you tell me who that gentleman is ? " he inquired, pointing to the one with the fishing-rod. " It is Mr. Herbert Dane." " Not a son of Lord Dane ?

" cried the other, seeming puzzled. The man threw back his head. " Oh dear, no ; he is nothing but a relative. That is Lord Dane's son, the Honourable Captain Dane." He was moving on, after speaking, but the sailor once more arrested him. " Ravensbird, I think you have forgotten me.' The man turned and stared, and then touched his hat with respect. " Colonel Moncton ! Indeed, sir, I beg your pardon. I don't think I had looked at you ; I was watching the family. We often see strange sailors about here, and I took you for one of them." " Tell your master I am here, Ravensbird. Stay ; don't say who it is before them all. I have no time to call at the castle. Tell Captain Dane that a strange gentleman wishes to speak to him." The servant touched his hat and hastened forward. Herbert Dane had joined the party then : they were just entering the castle gates.

Ravensbird spoke to Captain Dane, whose servant he was, and the latter turned. " A gentleman wants me ? What gentleman, Ravensbird '? Where is he ? " " Down there, sir. He wishes to see you very particularly." Captain Dane felt annoyed, and walked away impatiently. That fair girl by his side was more to him than all the gentlemen in the world. She looked after him, and then threw her eyes — rather self-willed eyes, and not always pleasant in expression, in spite of their bright azure— on the servant. " Who is it, Ravensbird ? " " A stranger, my lady." " And a Yankee," added Herbert Dane, " as I'll protest, by his accent." They were under the great gateway now, and the young lady at once put her arm within Mr. Herbert Dane's, and began to pace it with him, whilst the servants were occupied in taking Lord Dane home.

Herbert told her of the stranger's questioning, and they laughed together. The account given by Herbert Dane of the family was a correct one, so far as it went, and was patent, as he had observed, to the world — that is, the world of Danesheld. Lord and Lady Dane had only two sons, no other children ; and since the two grew up, had not derived much comfort from either. The heir, Geoffry, was a spendthrift, passing his time chiefly away, and when at home, making it disagreeable by reason of his temper. Nevertheless he was the favourite, and had been indulged to excess. He was envious of his younger brother ; envious of his popularity, his good looks, and, above all, of his fine income — a far larger one than he enjoyed, for Lord Dane had heavy expenses, and could not give him an exorbitant allowance.

An enmity grew up between the brothers—" bitter blood," Danesheld called it— and there seemed every prospect that it would be lasting. The chief offender was undoubtedly Geoffry. He flung scorn and insult upon Harry ; and Harry, hot-tempered, retorted in kind. Nor could there be a doubt that Harry Dane in his heart resented the love and favour lavished at home on his brother. When Captain Dane was three-and-twenty, he accom panied his regiment to Canada, from which, after a few years' stay there, he came home an invalid, and then sold out. After a year or so of home sojourn, he went again to America ; and from that period he had chiefly lived in the New World, travelling about to different parts of it, and paying a visit to England only on rare occasions. Now his stay in the old home promised to be a longer one, for he had fallen in love with the Lady Adelaide Errol.

He spoke already to her of marriage ; he spoke fondly of taking her out to America afterwards, to introduce her to his friends there ; and then he proposed to return to England and settle down for good. Herbert Dane was not far wrong when he said the captain worshipped the very ground she trod upon. The chief pleasure of his existence seemed that of being ever with her ; and there is no doubt that he imparted to her in confidence much of the history of his pastlife. And the Lady Adelaide? She was one of the veriest, vainest coquettes that ever secured the love of man. People, looking fondly on her winning ways, were apt to say what a warm-natured, sweet girl she was. They were entirely mistaken. Few girls were so innately selfish, though as yet she herself was unconscious of it. She had come to Dane Castle two years ago, and was the daughter of the deceased Earl of Irkdale, a very poor Scotch peer.

Adelaide Errol, on the death of her mother (sister to Lady Dane), found her self without a home ; for that of her brother, the wild young earl, was not a desirable one. So Lady Dane sent for her to Danesheld, where she arrived with her French maid, Sophie ; and had been turning the heads of the neighbourhood ever since. Captain Dane walked quickly up to the stranger, and their hands met in a warm clasp. Colonel Moncton was an American, and they had been close friends. They still corresponded, and it was in Captain Dane's recent letters that the colonel had read of Adelaide Errol. Nothing could exceed Captain Dane's astonishment ; he had supposed him to be safe in New York. " Where in the world did you spring from ? " he exclaimed. " Have you taken a tour through the bowels of the earth, and come up on this side ?

" Colonel Moncton laughed. " I was tempted into buying a yacht, and must needs try her at once, like a child with a new toy. The wind was fair and wafted us to England. We put in at Plymouth, and there " " And thence you came round to Danesheld, like the good fellow that you are ! " interrupted Captain Dane, in a glow of gratification. "I heard an hour ago there was a large clipper-built yacht in the bay, sporting the stars and stripes, but I never thought of you. I was going down to have a look at her ; the passion for yachting was a passion of my own once." " I was about to say," continued the American, gravely, " that when we reached Plymouth I found that the last mail had brought over letters for me. Dane, they are letters of recall. My wife has been seized with sudden illness, and we are putting back again with all speed."

" But you will surely stay a little time with me— at least a day or two ? " " I cannot, indeed. Pardon the seeming discourtesy, Dane. As the yacht had put in here, I would not leave without trying to see you, but " " Then you did not put in on purpose ? " cried Captain Dane, in tones of reproach. " The master of the yacht put in because he could not help himself. We ran foul of a stupid barge last evening, and received some slight damage ; nothing to speak of — a few hours will repair it. Walk down with me and look at her." " But you will come into the castle first, and be introduced to my family ? " " This afternoon," answered the American, as he linked his arm within his friend's, and led him towards the village, just beyond which was situated the small bay. " You have Ravensbird with you still, I see ?

" "Oh yes, he's a fixture. They don't like him at the castle ; he's too independent for them. He suits me ; and he is in my confidence, besides." "Who was that bright-looking girl you were walking with, just now ? " The red rose actually dyed the captain's cheeks, as though they had been a schoolgirl's. His love was powerful within him. " That was Adelaide Errol." " I thought so. And when are you to take possession of her ? as we say of other things." " It is impossible to know with certainty," answered the captain, his lips parting with a fond smile. " She is a capricious little beauty ; as capricious as your yacht, Monoton; and plays fast and loose. It will be some time this year." " And shall you never visit the New Country again ? ' " Once more ; and bring her with me, I hope. I must make arrangements, you know, for having my " At that moment Mr. Herbert Dane overtook them, his fishing-rod still in hand.

He strolled by their side, speaking a few idle sentences, but Captain Dane did not appear to encourage him, neither did he introduce him to his friend. So Herbert Dane walked on. " That gentleman is a relative of yours, I believe," observed Colonel Moncton. " A cousin. His father was the Honourable Herbert Dane, Lord Dane's brother ; but the Honourable Herbert got out of his money, and has left his son and daughter almost penniless. But for an income secured to Miss Dane, they wouldn't have enough to live on. I don't think it will be of much consequence to Herbert in the long run. He has the same talent for spending, and would inevitably have got through all, if his father had not done so before him. A mine of gold, more or less, would be nothing to him." " Does he live at the castle ? " " Certainly not.

I'll show you where he lives directly. The worst thing his father ever did for him was to bring him up to no profession. The Church, the Bar, the Civil Service, all are legitimate openings for a poor man of family. The Army scarcely so, because you can't get along in that without a private income. I'm sorry for Herbert, on the whole, though I don't like him." Turning down a green lane on the right as he spoke which led to three or four houses, Captain Dane halted before one of them ; a small, low dwelling, covered with ivy. It was a pretty place, though little larger than a cottage; a lawn in front, with beds of unpretending flowers. " That's his house, and there Herbert vegetates, doing no earthly thing in life except a little fishing or a day's sporting. The house is his, and he and his sister live there — a fond, foolish girl, who thinks him perfection.

She has three hundred a year of her own, and Herbert has about one, and so " A summary and was put to any further revelations Captain Dane might have made. A young lady, with a profusion of ringlets and very pink cheeks, came running down the garden path, threw open the little iron gate, and caught hold of his arm. She was in a thin, airy dress, and had the most childish manner in the world. " Oh, Harry, I'm so glad to see you ! I'm going away this afternoon, you know, for a week or two. You said you'd come last night and wish me good-bye." "But I was unable to come, Cecilia. — Colonel Moncton, Miss Dane." Miss Dane curtsied, and simpered, and blushed, and put her hands to the tips of her ringlets, and was altogether abashed at the sight of the stranger. But Captain Dane had no time to waste on her this morning.

He wished her a pleasant visit, and walked away. " Poor Cecilia ! " he laughed, as he put his arm within his friend's. " She's a good-hearted little soul, but has not a particularly large share of brains." They went on through the town and reached the small bay — so small as to be unavailable for large craft — where the yacht was lying. A beautiful vessel was this American yacht. She was named the Pearl, and was at the present moment the pride of Colonel Moncton's life. He was fond of fresh pastimes and new toys ; and, being a man of good fortune, could afford to indulge his fancies. Meanwhile, Mr. Ravensbird had entered the castle, and sought a companionship he was fond of, that of Lady Adelaide's French maid, Sophie Deffloe. He was a dark, sallow, stern-looking man, ugly at the first glance.

Never theless the face was an honest one, and there was a kindly expression in the penetrating black eyes. The castle wondered what pretty Sophie could see in Richard Ravens bird : but ugly men often find the greatest favour with women, as all the world knows. He had been into the town on an errand for her now, and she would only abuse him for it. " There's your commission, Mam'selle Sophie," said he, putting a small paper parcel on tho table. " I hope it's executed to your mind." Sophie unfolded the paper, and took out its contents, three or four yards of narrow ribbon. She was an exceedingly neat, trim damsel, dressed to perfection in her quiet attire. Her features were saucy, her eyes dark gray, and her head and hair might have made the fortune of any hair dresser's window. She stamped her foot petulantly as her eyes fell on the ribbon.

" If ever I saw the like ! " she exclaimed — and she spoke English with great fluency, though with a foreign accent. " I send you to buy me four yards of blue ribbon, and you bring purple ! I have told you, fifty times, that you have not the eye for colours." Ravensbird laughed. Her grumbling was sweeter to him than others' praise, and Mademoiselle Sophie knew that it was so, and presumed accordingly. " I did my best, Sophie ; won't it do ? " " Do ! It must do. If I order you back you might bring gray ; but don't think you are going ribbon-buying for me again. You need not expect it." " You sent me, Sophie." "And if I did? Did I expect that you would be more stupid than a camel ? Hand me my workbox, monsieur. It is on the table there. Who was that sailor-gentleman you were talking to, by the swing-gate ?