CHAPTER XVII.
Lady Etherton sincerely and deeply deplored the loss of her husband, for she really loved him; to her, his faults were in a measure hidden. But, alas, this was not the case with his daughters. A show of grief and an elaborate display in mourning was paraded before the world, but in their hearts they felt themselves emancipated from a restraint they styled tyranny. The girls fancied they would now be permitted to mix more with the world, and that after a time Etherton Hall would be filled with gay guests, and that their brother Howard would let them do as they liked. But a very short time proved to the five girls that they had woefully miscalculated. The new baronet was a man of an infinitely worse temper and disposition than his sire, and, for one so young, was penurious to a degree; and so haughty and arrogant in manners and words, that the domestics, in comparing notes, really found that they had been very unjust towards the deceased baronet, who, compared to his son, was really an amiable man.
The late baronet had kept up a handsome establishment, and, though particular and careful in his expenditure, he lived as became his rank and wealth. His successor diminished the establishment. Lady Etherton had a handsome jointure, but her daughters were, strange to say, left almost to the mercy of the brother. They each had a female attendant, and the two eldest had saddle-horses kept for their special use. Sir Howard having deliberately dismissed three of the female attendants, and sold the saddle-horses, and clipped various other sinecures, as he styled them, on the plea that the estate was greatly encumbered by the extravagance of his elder brother, told his sisters that if they expected fortunes, they would be very small ones, unless they economised at home. Lady Etherton remonstrated, and, after six months’ trial of her son’s mode of management, left Etherton Hall, and went with her favourite daughterto Bath; where, having an income of twelve hundred a-year, she lived remarkably well, and enjoyed society.
Sir Howard Etherton, having got rid of his mother and eldest sister, established his sister Jane as mistress of his establishment. This young lady, the plainest of the five, greatly resembled her brother in disposition, and, finding it was useless to complain, adopted the plan of coinciding with him in all his ideas and projects. The three younger girls had henceforward two tyrants instead of one.
Sir Howard Etherton was quite the reverse of his brother Philip, who loved hunters and race-horses, women and wine. The baronet cared for none of these agreeable modes of dissipating a fortune. He had no objection to females, certainly, but they must be encumbered with large fortunes, of which he was extremely willing to take charge; but Miss Jane Etherton was in no hurry that her brother should find a wife until she had found a husband—a thing her youngest sister, Mary, who was a very pretty girl, told her, in a fit of passion at being thwarted in some wish, she would never get, as no man in his senses would marry a woman with such a nose.
Miss Jane’s prominent organ was a serious feature in her face, and troubled her very much. It was marvellously long, fearfully thin, and the point awfully red, whilst her face was extremely pale. Mary had good reason to repent her remark, for it was never forgotten.
One morning Sir Howard Etherton looked very troubled and serious at breakfast, and, as soon as he was alone with his sister Jane, she remarked it.
“Yes,” returned the Baronet, “what I heard yesterday is enough to make me look serious, and, in fact, to make us all look so.”
“What can it be?” said Miss Jane, the tip of her nose betraying her anxiety by increasing in colour. It seemed as if this organ alone betrayed her emotions, for her cheeks remained always colourless.
“You remember, of course, going to London with your father to see a young lady who styled herself his niece. He was to hear the contents of some papers contained in a casket, which that officious, proud fellow—who now, forsooth, claims to be Sir Oscar de Bracy—had the care of; a most confounded piece of imposture, depend upon it. But no matter about that now.”
“Dear me!” interrupted Miss Jane, “I remember about this Mabel Arden, as she called herself. Yes, we went to London, but it all turned out a hoax—there were nothing but shavings in the casket. My poor father was most vilely treated by a horrid Irish seaman, who used violent language. If he hadbeen a gentleman my father intended horse-whipping him; but, on inquiry, he learned that he was nobody, so of course he never took any further notice of him, or the pretended Mabel Arden.”
“You are extremely eloquent this morning, Jane,” said the Baronet, with a caustic sneer—for even his pet sister was subject to his fits of spleen; “but you are quite out, I fear, in your ideas respecting Mabel Arden. I will read you my solicitor’s letter, which I received yesterday evening;” and, putting his hand into his pocket-book, he pulled out a letter, which he read aloud:—
“My Dear Sir,“I havejust received a communication from Mr. Stanmore, solicitor, —— Square, that surprises me. He states that it is his intention to assert the claims of Miss Mabel Arden to the name of Etherton, and to the portion, with interest, that she became entitled to on the death of Sir Granby Etherton. This is serious, for I find, on looking over your lamented father’s papers, and reading some deeds and documents, that when your father succeeded to the title and estates, a sum of twenty thousand pounds ought to have been put aside at once as the future fortune of any daughters living at the time of his succession.“I always understood that your father’s elder brother died unmarried; consequently this twenty thousand pounds became a settlement to be divided between your sisters, each receiving a portion, with interest according to age, out of the estates. But now it appears, from Mr. Stamnore’s letter, that the late Mr. Granby Arden was married, and left two children, a son and daughter. The son it is supposed”—(“He marks the word ‘supposed,’” said Sir Howard, bitterly, looking up at his attentive sister)—“the son, it is supposed, perished at Lyons during the sacking of that city, but the daughter lives, and he declares Miss Mabel Arden to be that daughter. Now, if he can substantiate this to be the case, it will cost the Etherton estates a sum, with principal and simple interest, of nearly thirty-two thousand pounds. Pray let me see you as soon as possible, that I may know how to proceed and act.“Yours faithfully,“C. D. Thorpe.”
“My Dear Sir,
“I havejust received a communication from Mr. Stanmore, solicitor, —— Square, that surprises me. He states that it is his intention to assert the claims of Miss Mabel Arden to the name of Etherton, and to the portion, with interest, that she became entitled to on the death of Sir Granby Etherton. This is serious, for I find, on looking over your lamented father’s papers, and reading some deeds and documents, that when your father succeeded to the title and estates, a sum of twenty thousand pounds ought to have been put aside at once as the future fortune of any daughters living at the time of his succession.
“I always understood that your father’s elder brother died unmarried; consequently this twenty thousand pounds became a settlement to be divided between your sisters, each receiving a portion, with interest according to age, out of the estates. But now it appears, from Mr. Stamnore’s letter, that the late Mr. Granby Arden was married, and left two children, a son and daughter. The son it is supposed”—(“He marks the word ‘supposed,’” said Sir Howard, bitterly, looking up at his attentive sister)—“the son, it is supposed, perished at Lyons during the sacking of that city, but the daughter lives, and he declares Miss Mabel Arden to be that daughter. Now, if he can substantiate this to be the case, it will cost the Etherton estates a sum, with principal and simple interest, of nearly thirty-two thousand pounds. Pray let me see you as soon as possible, that I may know how to proceed and act.
“Yours faithfully,“C. D. Thorpe.”
“Dear me, I am astonished!” said Miss Jane, as her brother folded the letter, with a very gloomy brow. “What do you intend doing? Do you really believe this girl to be the daughter of our Uncle Arden?”
“I do,” returned the Baronet, sharply; “but I cannot seehow she or any one else can prove her right and title to the name of Arden. Sir Oscar de Bracy, the late Governor of ——, in India, has left her ten thousand pounds, perfectly satisfied that she was his niece. Curse that meddling coxswain’s son, or protegé, which you please, that now claims the title and property of the Governor of ——; but,” added the baronet, exultingly, “he’s a prisoner in France, or at the bottom of the ocean perhaps, for nothing certain is known of him. He it was that saved this girl’s life; at all events, he brought her and the casket out of Toulon; whereas, if he had not interfered, she would very likely have perished with her mother, who called herself the Duchess of Coulancourt.”
Miss Jane Etherton was evidently either not blessed with a woman’s heart, or she concealed her feelings—her nose only betraying some little sensation.
“What do you intend doing, Howard?” asked Miss Jane.
“Force her solicitor to produce proofs, of course;” and then, after a moment’s thought, he continued, “it would be a good speculation to make her my wife.”
Miss Jane’s prominent feature became so extremely red, that even her brother remarked, with a malicious laugh:
“Upon my word, Jane, your nose is quite a barometer; it states the effect of your feelings.”
Jane did not like the remark, and being quite as caustic as her brother, she replied:
“I am glad that in the midst of your troubles, and I think you will find them difficult to get over, that you have room for ridiculous remarks.”
“Tut,” laughed the Baronet, “you take a joke too seriously; but do you know, did you ever hear, what kind of girl this Mabel is; when a child, she was a puny, pale-faced, half-starved looking thing.”
“I know nothing about her,” returned Miss Jane, sharply. “I suppose you can get a look at her if you like; I heard Ellen Goodridge say, who knows the Volneys, and visits at Madame’s Villa, she was well enough, but very shy and serious.”
“So much the better; qualities I should admire in a wife. One of those Volney girls I understand is going to be married to that Irishman O’Loughlin, who has just been made a commander. He has impudence and brass enough for anything; but how a high family like the Volneys can tolerate a fellow, whom I myself heard say, he ‘never had a father or a mother, and that his huge fist was father, mother, and grand-mother to him, and a whole host of relations besides’—I can’t comprehend.”
“Horrid savage!” said Miss Jane. “What is he like? asedan-chair man, I suppose? All the sedan-chair men in London are Irishmen—they have such large legs.”
“Which is the reason they are selected by the fashionable ladies,” said the Baronet; “to sport behind their carriages, with calves to their legs like Swedish turnips.”
As the Baronet said these words, the door opened, and a domestic entered the room with a card on a silver salver.
“A gentleman below, sir, in the reception-room, wishes particularly to see you.”
Sir Howard Etherton took the card, gave a slight start, changing colour as he read aloud, “Captain O’Loughlin.”
Miss Jane sprang from her seat, as if it, and not her nose, was red hot, exclaiming:
“Bless me, how extraordinary! What can this horrid man want? You will surely not see him?”
The servant stared, for he could scarcely think that the tall and handsome man, in the undress uniform of a commander in the navy, could possibly be the horrid man Miss Jane alluded to.
Sir Howard, remembering of old the contempt that O’Loughlin held him in, and how he himself detested him, hesitated whether he would see him or not; but suddenly making up his mind he said:
“Show Captain O’Loughlin up.”
“Dear me!” ejaculated Jane; “I must be gone, I am in such déshabille.”
“Stay where you are,” said the Baronet, sharply; he preferred not being alone. “It is only that horrid Irishman we have been talking of.”
It was too late to retreat, for a firm, active step was heard without; the next moment Captain O’Loughlin entered the room, in his easy off-hand, but gentlemanly manner. He paused on seeing Miss Jane Etherton, but Sir Howard, in a cold, constrained manner, said:
“My sister, Captain O’Loughlin.”
The sailor bowed, and taking a chair, said:
“It is some years, Sir Howard, since we parted, and I must candidly say, I did not expect that we should meet again; but having a strong desire to be of service to a most amiable young lady, I was prevailed upon to wait upon you. Therefore, at the request of Miss Arden, whose generous nature shrinks from the prospect of law proceedings between near relations, and that her name should come before the public on a question of birth——”
“I confess,” interrupted the Baronet, “I do not quite understand you, Captain O’Loughlin; I have no near relations beyond my own family that I know of.”
“A very few words more,” observed O’Loughlin, haughtily,“will explain my meaning. Miss Arden, or rather Etherton, as she is entitled to bear that name, requests me to say that—provided there is no opposition to her claims, on your part, or to her assuming the rightful name, and no doubts raised about her birth—she is quite willing to resign all claims to her portion of the Etherton property you now hold.”
“In other words, Captain O’Loughlin,” interrupted the Baronet, in a cutting tone, “you offer me a bribe to acknowledge an impostor as my cousin?”
The eyes of the Irishman flashed dangerously, as the Baronet, who saw the coming storm, hastened to add: “Such may, I say, be the case; for who can tell? It would be against my conscience.”
“Oh! to the—then,” muttered O’Loughlin; seeing a lady present, he merely said, “Oh, do not distress your conscience, Sir Howard. When we two served on board the old Victory, you were not much troubled with that scarce commodity. Now——”
“I will thank you, Captain O’Loughlin,” interrupted Sir Howard, with a flush upon his cheek, rivalling the hue on the nose of his astonished sister, “to confine yourself to the object of your visit. All I have to say is, that I will never acknowledge the young person you speak of as relative of mine, till the very fullest proofs of her birth are furnished. There are no proofs of Mr. Granby Arden having contracted marriage with any lady; therefore, once for all, I tell you, I shall oppose the person calling herself Mabel Arden, claiming the name of Etherton, to the full extent of my power.”
“By the powers of love, you are welcome to do so; I am glad to hear it;” his cheek flushing anger and contempt, as he rose from his seat. “You will be sorry for this, ere long. I was against making you the offer, because we know that Miss Arden’s mother, the Duchess of Coulancourt, is now in Paris, restored to her estates, and living under the protection of the Directory—”
The Baronet started, and evidently changed colour; but Captain O’Loughlin continued quite unconcerned. “Therefore, though there may be a little delay in communicating with Madame Coulancourt, and some caution, as the Directory are stringent respecting communication with England, we shall be able to obtain all the particulars of her marriage, and the birth of her two children. By-the-bye, it has been whispered that young Julian Arden, supposed to have perished at the siege of Lyons, escaped; or at all events there is no proof of his death. So now, having fulfilled the wishes of Miss Arden, and relieved her feelings of regret at proceeding against you in this case, without first amicably trying to settle it, I shall wish you goodmorning;” and with a cold bow to the stupefied Miss Jane, whose thin nose became purple, whilst her cheeks grew proportionately paler, Captain O’Loughlin walked out of the room, with a light and easy step, and as he descended the stairs, the confounded and bewildered Baronet caught the sound of his voice humming the air of “The girl I left behind me.”
Captain O’Loughlin, passing out from the house, mounted his horse, that a groom held, satisfied in his mind that he had left the honourable Baronet quite sufficient to employ his thoughts.
“Confound the fellow, I always disliked him,” he muttered, as he rode down the avenue; “every one gives him a worse character than his father.”
Captain O’Loughlin had undertaken this visit to Sir Howard Etherton at Mabel’s earnest request. Most important intelligence had reached Madame Volney from Paris relative to her own affairs. Her letters came through Hamburg. The correspondent mentioned, as a piece of news, that Madame Coulancourt, formerly Duchesse de Coulancourt, was living in Paris, and had had her estates restored to her, but that she was under strict surveillance. There was no other remark in the letter; but this was quite sufficient to fill Mabel’s heart with rapturous joy. Her beloved mother was living, and well; this knowledge seemed to her the greatest boon Providence could bestow upon her.
Mr. Stanmore was extremely anxious, when he heard the intelligence, that some mode of communication might be contrived with Madame de Coulancourt, so that Mabel’s birth could be clearly established, as this would be absolutely necessary to substantiate her claims to her uncle’s legacy. Mr. Stanmore, however, was made aware by Madame Volney that any attempt to correspond with Mabel’s mother would subject her to the utmost rigour of the French Government.
“At all events,” said the solicitor, “I will try a feeler to Sir Howard Etherton’s solicitor;” and he did: but Mabel, who could not bear to make her name and position a subject of public conversation by enforcing her claims, without having a single proof to bring forward, begged Captain O’Loughlin to try and bring Sir Howard Etherton to amicable terms. She was quite willing to relinquish all claim on the Etherton property, provided Sir Howard offered no opposition to her being publicly known as the niece of Sir Oscar de Bracy, and the daughter of Mr. Granby Arden.
Captain O’Loughlin undertook the embassy to Sir Howard Etherton; and knowing that gentleman’s penurious disposition, he thought he would eagerly grasp at the large sum of money he would gain by his compliance, though the Captain grumbled terribly at such a sacrifice on Mabel’s part. Mabel insisted that it would be a very hard case for Sir Howard to haveto pay that sum; so, to satisfy her, he rode over to Etherton Hall, and returned quite pleased at having failed, for he would not be persuaded that Mabel had any right to forego or abandon her natural rights. About fourteen or fifteen days after this interview Captain O’Loughlin was appointed to the command of a very handsome and dashing corvette, the Onyx and had orders to sail immediately and join the ship under Vice-Admiral Colboy, cruising off Brest.
After a most affectionate leave-taking with his betrothed and Mabel, Captain O’Loughlin proceeded to join his ship. In our next chapter we return to our hero and his attached follower Bill Saunders.