Married in Haste. A story of every day life

Chapter I. Twelve Years Ago

It has often been my wish that I had been bortn during that fierce state of excitement, about which our fathers would talk so jactantly, when,, as they urged, there were giants in the land. Think of that awful period from 1805 to 1812, until the tide slowly began to turn in favor of England, and a prospect of an ultimate release, became dimly visible in the horizon. And, in spite of income tax, and bread at war prices, our fathers must have had a jolly life of it; at any rate their predilections, as handed down to us by the Leech of the day, shew that they did not suffer from any lack of animal spirits. They ate and drank in a way which would give us poor degenerates VOL. I. B a month of indigestion. They swore by tawny port, and laughed at the idea of Mounseer win ning battles, while nourished on vinegary claret and frogs' legs.

Times, I am not sorry to say, have changed all this : those gallant fellows who turned the Russian flank at the Alma, owed their thews and sinews to claret, and the defenders of old port and our institutions were routed from the field. Nor were our officers worse because they no longer drank their two bottles of loaded Carbonell after mess, and retired with scarce a pint of Chateau-Margaux under their waistbelt. We did not derogate from our national chivalry on the blood-stained plateau of Sebastopool ; and though they might consider the whole affair a bore, our officers proved that, if strong men lived before Agamemnon, others equally strong came after him. It was natural that our progenitors should be fond of fighting; with their mothers' milk they sucked in a wholesome detestation of Boney, and believed that they were sent into the world to exterminate the French, and sink, burn, and destroy their fleets.

All credit to them for carrying out their fancied duty so thoroughly, and in so practical a spirit ; for, had it not been for them, England would not now be the nation she is. They contested for the world's supremacy, in a Titanic struggle, which paled the lustre of the Roman and Carthagi nian wars, but they had the greater merit that in the hour of victory they mercifully stayed their hand. Our Scipio was contented with occupying the Capital of the departed foe, and loathed the idea of levelling it with the ground. Satisfied with teaching the French the power we possessed, we were gracious victors, and combined with our late foes to repair the ra vages which war had produced. The following generation, while equally martial, was at the same time wiser ; recognizing the evils of internecine warfare, they strenuously avoided those irritimenta malorum which had hitherto exasperated, so easily aroused a nation as the French ; and the Milennium of peace was hoped for.

It was not the fault of England that it was not achieved ; and if 1860 bear a suspicious resemblance to 1805 with its chan nel fleet and its volunteers, the true reason is because history, so fond of repeating itself, is reproducing those Continental phases, which excited alarm and perturbation on our coast, at the commencement of the century. Still, I would not assert that we have not had quite sufficient fighting to satisfy any moderate nation : with India and the Cape as schools of war for our army, we have had since 1848 a time of turmoil which we accept as nor mal, but which will, I hope, prove as astounding to those who follow us, as the long war does to ourselves. In that annus mirabilis a great change was instituted : dynastic warfare went out of fashion, while that illomened word " na tionalities" became a household term amongst us.

The Continent was convulsed as if by magic ; old institutions collapsed like a child's house of cards ; absolutism was found to be rot ten at the core ; and of the whole European family, England alone rode out the storm with out serious damage. But we were fated to be roughly shaken by the reflux of the revolutionary tide, and in the Crimean war we experienced our share of the great national tornado. The causes of that war have not yet oozed out, for, of course, the mo tive alleged was not the true one — had it been so, we should not have broken it off so unsatisfac torily. The real truth seems to be that the Peace-at-any-price party required a formal de menti, and received it, at an ample expense to the rest of the nation. The bill has been paid, and the accounts relegated to the deepest pigeon holes, with a sincere hope on the part of the Authorities, that they may never be dug out of their dustbed, to be used as evidence of the cri minality of the government, and the folly of the nation.

Although the story I have to tell is in some measure dependent on the events of 1848, and I am consequently compelled to inflict on my readers some observations probably prosy enough, I will be as merciful as I can. My hero and heroine, however, were destined to meet in con sequence of the insurrectionary movements of the hour, and to elucidate my story, I am com pelled to devote a few, very few pages to the condition of the country in which the first scene of my drama is laid. There was, perhaps, some excuse for that popular upheaving of the Germans in 1848, when the astounding news flashed along the wires, that the poor old Napoleon of peace had been hurled from his throne, by a nation outraged by the bribery and corruption he had instituted as the surest supporters of his throne. The condition of France in 1847 was fearful ; a huge ulcer was corroding at the people's vitals, and the State Doctors tried to hide its progress be neath gold-beaters' skin.

Every stratum of so ciety was infected by the virus, and the odious trial of the Due de Praslin dealt a fearful blow to the Government, which was the final cause of such outrages on humanity. I will not assert that the present condition of France is one whit better than it was in 1848; indeed, to believe the Parisian Moralists (if I may apply such a title to gentlemen who incul cate a scrap of good advice in a sack of lubri cious sentimentalism) the present state of the French nation is worse than the first — but que faire ? The omnipotent director of 600,000 bayonets has, wisely for himself, imbued his pupils with a taste for gambling, and they have given security for good behaviour by investing their capital in stocks, whose value is dependent on the stability of the throne. The only differ ence between Louis Philippe and Louis Napoleon is that, while both place great reliance in cun ning, the latter is equally of opinion that le Bon Dieu est toujours a cote des gros bataillons.

Looking at matters, though, philosophically, the Germans were asses ; if they intended revolt against the constituted authorities, they ought to have carried it out thoroughly. Instead of that, they allowed their Regnants to place them selves at the head of the popular movement, and were thus disarmed, for insurrection once legalized, is rendered innocuous. The glittering bauble of Germanic unity was once more hung up just without their grasp, and they wasted all their energies in leaping up at it. To fool them to the top of their bent, they were allowed to summon a Germanic Parliament, and the members, true to their native instincts, spent their time in word-splitting, which might have been much more profitably devoted to the in terests of the country. At length the time arrived when the Rulers could try a fall with the people, and the example of Windischgratz's Jedburgh law encou raged them.

He, no respecter of persons, and thirsting for a bitter revenge for the murder of his wife, read the revolution an exemplary lesson in the execution of Robert Blum, who fancied his parliamentary position would prove an ægis for encouraging revolt. The people took horrid reprisals for the death of their darling, in the murder of Lichnowsky and Awerswald in the streets of Frankfort, and the death-knell of liberty, or license, whichever you like to call it, was rung. In point of fact, Hecker was the only sensi ble man of the whole revolutionary party ; he would make no compact with regents, whose interest it was to reculer pour mieux sauter, and he seceded from the Frankfort parliament, when he found in what direction matters were tending. He retired on Switzerland, and sollowed by a chosen band of hot-headed patriots, bided the moment when matters should be ripe enough for armed intervention in Baden.

The Grand Duchy had always taken an honourable place in the vanguard of constitutionalism, and the second chamber displayed a spirit which was certainly an excellent example for Germany — so long as the Regent held the helm. Prior to 1848, the position of the chambers to the Regent, much resembled that of our Charles I. with his Parliament, when he was feeling his way to absolutism ; and if the Dukes and Electors did not appeal to the ultima ratio, it was because they had a very wholesome respect for their own, otherwise, worthless necks. There was a continual squabbling going on, which, however, was healthy to the country ge nerally : the Regent was pulled up short, if he attempted to be guilty of any extravagance, and his way of evincing his displeasure was by not inviting the recalcitrant deputies to his evening parties — a privation for which they consoled themselves by holding radical speeches in their favourite beer houses.

When, however, the crash came, these depu ties kicked over the traces to an alarming ex tent, and this was specially the case in Baden. Owing to their contumacious relations to republican France, the people were greatly agitated, and it was proposed to expel the Grand Duke, who was, by the way, perfectly ready to go. The only difficulty was whom to put in his place, and, until that was settled, he was allowed to remain, as it were on sufferance. Matters turned out exactly as Hecker had foreseen ; he had the makings of a great man in him, but, as is too often the case, was before his time. Prompted partly by his love of his Fatherland, for which he saw no salvation save in a republic, and partly by the ambitious hope of becoming President of the South Germanic Re public ; he determined on entering the country in arms, feeling sure that he would be supported by the population.

But " the best-laid schemes of mice and men oft gang agee," and this was the case with Heck er's little plan ; the time he selected for his inroad was the merry month of May, and the inhabit ants had something more important to attend to than rebellion. Had it been the winter, they might have tried their hands at a little fighting, as a pleasing relaxation ; but the sea son had begun — the summer birds of passage must not be frightened away. I think I may fairly say that nine-tenths of the population of the Grand Duchy live on foreigners. From May to November, an almost unusual swarm of visitors pours in from Mann heim on one side, and Strasburg on the other ; and though the two streams converge at Baden- Baden, they contrive to leave very agreeable jetsam along the high road. The Lake of Constance, too, is becoming with every year more visited by the English and Americans, and it would never do to scare away the profitable guests by musket-shots.

Trade had been stag nant enough as it was, since the previous March, and a good many worthy Burghers in their hearts reviled a revolution, which, whatever its fate might be, was very certain to make a most un pleasant deficit in their trowsers pocket. Hence, when Hecker made his appearance in the upper part of the duchy, only a few benight ed peasants joined him armed with scythes fastened to long poles; who were very brave so long as danger was not imminent, but con trived to bolt at the real moment of risk. But none of the better class, who decide a popular movement in the end, joined him, and with the exception of a few hot-headed students, more anxious for excitement than really knowing what they intended, his fighting men consisted of the tag, rag, and bob-tail, who joined him in Switzerland — simply because the police were after them, and they did not like the prospect of the Bruchsal House of Correction.

The latter gentlemen, however, were earnest enough, for, having nothing to lose, they were perfectly prepared for a popular commotion which held out chances of loot. I need not say that there was a large number of Poles among the band, for those ubiquitous gentry always make their appearance like vultures whenever a barricade is built, and disappear again into mcdest retire ment so soon as the new state of things is con solidated. They never ask for any reward when the business is over ; perhaps they pay themselves with any unconsidered trifles they may come across ; at any rate, I know that one of those gentry stole from me a silver-mounted meerschaum when he forced himself into my quarters during the Republican retreat of 1849. I think it was that fact which rendered me the rabid Tory I now am.

The Regents, however much they might be disposed to pamper the popular mania for Con stitutionalism, thought it high time to put down master Hecker by the potent hint of canister. The example might be dangerous, and that little affair at Berlin did not turn out so satisfactorily as to encourage a renewal of the experiment. Hence, as the Badois troops could not be de pended on, his Serenity of Hesse Darmstadt at once placed two regiments of infantry and a battery at the disposal of his brother of Baden. Leopold was not a bad man, and I am sure deeply regretted the necessity of shedding blood ; but were an angel seated on a Germanic throne he would have recourse to extreme measures, in the hope of defending his own. Hence, the Grand Duke very philosophically allowed the use of his railway for the troops to be carried into the Oberland, and waited with royal patience for the news that the rebels were captured, that he might exercise his prerogative of pardon — always assuming that his brother regnants permitted it.

And, having thus cleared the ground, and introduced my readers to many great men, I will descend from my altitudes, and allow them to form the acquaintance of my hero, who, with truly British stupidity, managed to thrust his head into a business which did not concern him in the least, and could only trust to the thickness of that portion of his body to save him from a cracked sconce. But what would you have ? he was a boy, and an artist to boot ; he made an abstraction of bloodshed, and only looked at the picturesque effects of fighting. He did not, however, ex actly thrust himself in the way of it ; but as it came across him, why, he could not make up his mind to go only the way of it. Had he been older he would have probably been wiser ; but, in that case, he would not have met my heroine, and I should have been saved writing a very long story.

But there is a destiny in these matters, I fancy ; we come across the individual Her whom kind providence has specially sent into the world for us, and cannot escape. We kiss and we prattle with fifty fair maids, but the one who is to entwine us in the silken meshes of matrimony bides her time. How ungrateful, then, are some among us, who repine at our lot, and wish Providence had not taken quite so much trouble on our behalf.

Chapter II. Freyburg In The Breisgau

Precisely as the clock struck six from the tower of the Freyburg Minster, Matthies Kle inhiiber, grocer, and dealer in country wines, appeared on his threshold in slippers and dress ing-gown, and lcoked scientifically at the wea thercock. Now, there was no particular reason why Matthies should take the trouble to descend to the doorway — for his house faced on the Cathe dral Square, and every one of the windows commanded the weathercock — were it not that he was a German. He led the horse-in-the mill life of his countrymen, and it had been his father's habit before him, to stand exactly as he did, and exactly at the same hour, in the door way, and look at the weathercock. Matthies Mould have considered it an unpardonable sin to break through a custom which had all the merit of prescription.

The usual greetings in the market-place were interchanged, but it was plain that something considerably disturbed Matthies's mind. It might be that the sausages and sauerkraut on which he supped lay heavy on his soul — but no, it was not that, Matthies was much too phleg matic to suffer from indigestion. But something there must be ; for Matthies had positively allowed his pipe to go out, and did not shout to his wife to bring him a lighted spill. " I can't make it out," Matthies said to him self, as he scratched the place where his hair had once grown, for the tenth time ; but the gentle titillation produced no ideas. Now, what was it that troubled Matthies's mind so much ? It was very simple ; Matthies, like all Ger mans, was not averse from making money how and when he could, and he had just let his first floor to a young Englishman — a well-born sir, as he remarked to himself, after the first in terview had ended.

" A high-noble my lord," Matthies added, equally in soliloquy, when the Englishman handed him a bright louis d'or, to bind the bargain. But, in spite of the louis d'or, Matthies was not happy in his mind. For a German, he had sufficient cause for reflection. His lodger's first, and indeed chief stipula tion, was that a large tub of water should be conveyed into his room every morning by Babele. Now-, what could he want it for ? Matthies being; a German as I said, it never entered his head that the water could be em ployed for lavatory purposes — he would have thought such a thing a scandalous waste. A pie dish had served his father for ablution ; then, why should any one break through so holy a custom ? Besides, Babele, as she carried the tub up to the first floor, poised on her head, was careless, and allowed the water to drip, drip, in a most unwarrantable manner, inflicting; serious iniury on the well-waxed boards.

Still, the thought consoled him that Babele would have to clean them again. But, the waste of bees'-wax ! — bah ! the sir Englishman must pay for his whims ! But, on the morning when we visit Frey burg, Matthies had even more serious troubles on his mind. He had heard at his beer-house on the previous evening, of the Republican foray on the Oberland, and as a respectable Philistine, paying taxes, and holding the authorities in due reverence, he earnestly prayed for the arrival of the troops to put a stop to all that sort of thing. And Matthies began turning over the money in his pocket, and ruminated as to the best plan for digging a hole and hiding his florins. There was nothing like being prepared. His meditations were interrupted by a cheery voice, shouting from the top of the stairs, " Herr Kleinhiiber, corne kindly up !"

" Ha ! my lodger," said Matthies, and, duly impressed with the louis d'or, he hurried up the stairs, almost upsetting Babele as she staggered along under the tub, and receiving a refreshing douche down the nape of his neck. Still, he should get to his lodger's room before the tub — there was a chance of solving the mystery. Matthies and the tub, however, entered the room together, and the Englishman rushed at the water like a dolphin, and before the af frighted Matthies could prevent him from com mitting apparent felo de se, his head was sub merged, and he raised it dripping and spluttering ere Matthies had time to call for the police. So soon as the young fellow had thrust back his hair from his eyes, Matthies was enabled to vol. I. c gaze into a fresh, handsome face, sparkling with the glow of health.

" Ah ! respected host," he said laughingly, and in pretty lisping German, which betrayed his fatherland — " tell me is it true what I heard last night, that an armed popular meeting will be held here to-day?" " Forbid it !" said Matthies, crossing himself piously ; " but why ask the question, my noble sir ?" " Oh ! I hope it will, we shall have some fun, and I confess that your town is rather dull ; one can't be sketching the Minster every day in the week — and see, I have ten views already from every point." Matthies looked instinctively for the weathercock in the drawings. It was there, pointing due west, and his mind felt relieved. " I know nothing of armed meetings," he said, with considerable dignity, " but be assured that if the canaille come hither, the Burgerwehr of Freyburg will give them a warm reception.

At any rate I speak for myself, for I have the honour to be Lieutenant in that distinguished corps." " All right, old boy," the youth said, cheer ing; "1 think you'll have a chance of doin" something. But, hurk ! what is that?" Matthies listened, and his heart began pal pitating when he heard the alerte being tattooed through the streets. The Englishman was right, perhaps, and our worthy grocer began to feel a peculiar sensation of his epidermis, which we vulgarly term goose flesh. It was all very fine being an officer on galadays ; but fighting was not part of the contract — oh dear no ! However, Mr. Kleinhuber managed to wall out of the room with a martial swagger, and might soon be heard calling loudly to Babele to come and fasten his waistbelt, which offered him a personal difficulty, as, like a respectable father of a family, and well-to-do grocer, he had taken to stomach at the age of forty.

Meanwhile, our young Englishman having completed his toilet, and, I am sorry to say, made rare work for Babele by splashing, took a portfolio from his trunk and began writing the following letter. Let us peep over his shoulder, as it may afford us some useful information. " My dear Hal, " I can imagine you poring over law books, and anathematizing Coke on Blackstone, or whatever you call the diabolism, on receipt of this letter from your old pal, who, free as air, is c v spending his time profitably he hopes, but plea santly, as he knows. My only regret is that you are not with me, for with your partiality for music, you would be in Ælysium among these jzood Germans, who, whenever they are not smoking or eating, are singing. " For my part I feel as if I shan't come back to England at all, for I am so jolly.

It was a heaven-directed thought of aunt Percy's, when she proposed to allow me £150 a year, and let me pursue my studies on the continent. I shall make my way gradually to Rome ; but it is really impossible to say when I shall reach the Eternal City, for I cannot tear myself from this glorious land. But it is all the same wher ever I go. I fancied I could not quit the Rhine, but when I got to the Moselle, I fell in love with the scenery there, and it cost me a great effort to tear myself away. I have been away from England eighteen months, and at this rate, cannot hope to reach my true destination for five years. But no matter, my sketch-book is growing full, and I am in the rudest health. " The Don (as you wickedly christened aunt Percy, when we used to have those jolly days in Harley Street) is a wise woman in her way ; but she is mistaken in one point.

She fancied be cause I had been at everything in the ring, that I should not stick to painting long — but it has one irresistible attraction for me — I am my own master. It was that want of independence which made me leave Oxford, and throw up my commission in the Rifles. I really couldn't bear being ordered about. Now I inhale the de lights of independence, which is the sweeter to me from past experience. " I had a prospect here of some pleasing excite ment in a novel shape ; these beer-bemused Ger mans have got the idea into their heads that they should like to try a pocket Revolution, and of course, if there is to be any fighting I shall be there to see. But I don't think it will come to anything after all ; these worthy burgers are fond of talking, but when it gets to hard knocks I fancy they will fight shy.

" I have got on famously with my German, thanks to a certain Fraiilein (Stay, reader over the shoulder — the lad is beginning to talk of personal matters, which do not concern us — wait till he has turned the leaf). " Good bye, old fellow, then ; when you write next, direct to me at Schaffhausen, where I am bound, through the Black Forest. I shall have a glorious walk, and shall not hurry myself. So, if you have nothing very particular to say, you had better put off writing till this day six weeks. " Ever, dear Hal, thine in brotherly affection, " Shafto Thorncliffe." Harry Clavering, Esq. Devereux Court, Temple. There, I think we have learned enough about my hero, benevole lector : but, on behalf of the lectrice, I must add, that the writer was a very good-looking fellow, who had committed sad havoc on the hearts of the susceptible Fraii leins.

But all in good part, for he was a gentleman, both by birth and education, and though fond of fun, as every young fellow should be, he could not commit a mean action. He is very young yet, though . possibly time may make a change in him as in most things. Nor, had he been guilty of any self-de ception in writing to his friend that he found himself so jolly: for, if a fellow with nothing to disturb his conscience or his digestion, and with a sufficiency of Napoleons in his purse, cannot be happy in southern Germany, I should feel inclined to despair of humanity. One secret, however, he omitted to mention in his letter, and which I will hasten to supply, the real motive of his retirement from England. His mother's sister, Mrs. Percy, as she was called, though she had never married, had taken sole charge of him on the death of his parents, and reared him in every respect as her son.

Young Shafto was properly grateful, but he chafed in wardly at the assumed authority which Mrs. Percy exercised over his movements, and it was probably this which had prevented him sticking to any settled vocation. I must be just to Mrs. Percy : although she had a considerable income, it would hardly withstand the inroads Shafto had made on it at college, and when with his regiment. She was almost in despair as to what would become of him after all, and had only consented to this painting freak, because she thought it might steady him to live on a settled income. She allowed him £150 a year, and plainly told him that if he wanted more, he would have to earn it ; at which Shafto laughed impertinently, as if to say that he did not need the money at all, for his surpassing abilities would supply his modest wants.

Probably the old lady would have stretched a point in his favour after all, but they had a very serious quarrel just before his leaving Eng land. She had a strong affection for her nephew, and could hardly bear the thought of parting from him, but she felt it was for the best. There certainly was one solution — he might marry an heiress and settle down. As Mrs. Percy could not have been a woman unless she had a decided propensity for match-making, she had already selected a young lady, Clara Vaughan, on whom her Shafto would not be thrown away, for she was not only extremely pretty, but had the superior charms of blood, and a very decent dowry, as times go. But Shafto would not hear a word about marrying or giving in marriage ; he was de lighted at the thought that he was going to have his fling, and no persuasion on Mrs. Percy's part would induce him to defer his departure, and sit down before the heart of Miss Clara, simply from the fact Mrs. Percy hinted that the garrison was prepared to surrender at discretion upon the first summons.