Works of Ellen Wood, page 690
Mrs. Elrington suffered her to weep on in silence, and some minutes elapsed ere Amy raised her head, and, smiling through her tears, took Mrs. Elrington’s hand and led her to the door of the room she had just quitted and calling her sister, left the friends together.
An hour afterwards, when Amy entered the room, her mother was alone, Mrs. Elrington was gone.
The widow’s head rested on her hand, and tears were falling fast upon a small miniature of Amy that her husband had had taken, for he had been proud of his daughter’s beauty.
She heard not Amy’s light step, and the daughter bent softly over her mother, and pressed her lips gently to her forehead. “My child.” “My mother.” And they were folded in one long, mournful embrace.
It was the first — the last time Amy ever gave way before her mother; she felt she must have strength for both; and nobly she bore up against her own sorrowful feelings, smothered every rising emotion of her heart, and prayed that her widowed mother might be comforted and supported during her absence, and her own steps guided aright in the new path which lay so gloomily before her.
Mrs. Elrington was now almost constantly with them; Amy had begged it as a favour, for she felt she could not do without the kind old lady, who was ever ready with her cheerful voice and pleasant, hopeful words to cheer her mother’s drooping spirits.
How fast the days flew by! It was Amy’s last evening at home; in a few short hours she would be far away from all those she loved.
A heavy cloud seemed to hang over the little party assembled round the tea table, and scarce a word was spoken.
As the tea things were being removed, Mrs. Elrington went softly out, and the widow, drawing her chair near her daughter’s, clasped her hand in hers, and in a low voice spoke long and earnestly words of love and advice, such as only a mother knows how to speak.
Often in after years did Amy call to remembrance the sad, sweet smile, the gentle, earnest voice with which her mother’s last words of love were uttered.
CHAPTER II.
A PROUD LADYE.
Spring by Spring the branches duly
Clothe themselves in tender flower;
And for her sweet sake as truly
All their fruit and fragrance shower:
But the stream with careless laughter,
Runs in merry beauty by,
And it leaves me, yearning after
Lorn to weep, and lone to die.
In my eyes the syren river
Sings and smiles up in my face;
But for ever and for ever,
Runs from my embrace.
Massey.
As we shall have occasion to speak of Mrs. Elrington often in these pages, some description of her is necessary, though a very slight one will suffice.
She lived in the large house called the Manor, before described, and had lived there for years in lonely solitude. She was a widow, and although the widow’s cap had long ago been laid aside, yet in other respects her dress had altered little since the day she had first worn widow’s weeds; it was always black; even the bonnet was of the same sombre hue, the cap, collar, and cuffs alone offering any relief to it. Her features were very handsome, and her figure tall, upright, and stately. Her hair was perfectly snow white, drawn off the high broad forehead, under a simple cap; she was greatly beloved, as also held in some slight awe; her voice was peculiarly soft, and when she spoke a pleasant smile seemed to hover about her face which never failed to gladden the hearts of those whom she addressed; but in general the expression of her features when in repose was sad.
Mrs. Elrington and Mrs. Neville were old friends, which accounted perhaps for the latter’s choice of Ashleigh as a home on her husband’s death. They had both been severely tried with this world’s sorrows; the one years ago, the other very recently, so that Amy’s earnest entreaty that Mrs. Elrington would come and cheer her mother was comparatively an easy task to one who so well knew all the doubts, fears, and desponding feelings existing in the mind and harassing the thoughts of the widow, so lately afflicted, now so sorely tried. Early in the morning of the day on which Amy was to leave her home, Mrs. Elrington was at the cottage, encouraging the daughter, and speaking hopefully to the mother; the return, not departure, being what she dwelt on to both, but it was a painful task after all, and everyone looked sad. As Mrs. Neville left the room to see if everything was satisfactorily prepared for the coming departure, Amy drew near her old friend, and said — — “Dear Mrs. Elrington, I do hope mamma will not fret much after I am gone; she seems very downhearted now, and full of sadness. I am keeping up as well as I can, but I dare not look in her tearful face.” “I make no doubt she will feel your absence much, Amy; but she knows all is for the best and as it should be, and that, in time will help to make her happy again. After all it is but a temporary parting from one she loves. How many have had to bear a more lengthened, and in this world an eternal separation! Your mother has still one child left to love. I lost my only one — all I had.” “It was a hard trial to you, and still harder to bear,” replied Amy, as Mrs. Elrington’s voice faltered — — “Very, very hard to bear: God alone knows how I did bear it. But He who dealt the blow alone gave the strength. I fear my stricken heart murmured sadly at first; it would not be comforted nor consoled. The thought of my poor boy’s broken heart was dreadful. Amy, child, do not trust too soon in the man who seeks your love; and oh! be very wary of an ambitious one. Ambition sunders, breaks many hearts, the coveting either rank or riches, whichever leads on to the one darling object of life only to be obtained by possessing either one or both of these, and thereby sacrificing your love or perhaps breaking your heart in the act of stepping over it to reach the goal he longs for; and which, when attained, must, under these circumstances bear its sting, and make him look back regretfully to the time gone by for ever; or, perhaps worse still, to days too painful to recall.
“I would far rather it would be so; than that a man should love me for either my rank or riches, but having neither, perhaps no one will think me worth having, or take the trouble to fall in love with me.”
Mrs. Elrington smiled as she looked at the lovely, almost scornful face now lifted to hers, and thought what a stumbling block it would prove in many a man’s path in life.
“You are laughing at me,” exclaimed Amy, as she caught the smile on the old lady’s face. “Do let us talk of something else; of Mrs. Linchmore, for instance; I do so want to know what she is like, only you never will tell me.”
“Because I cannot Amy; it is years since we met,” replied Mrs. Elrington, in a hard tone; “so that what she is like now I cannot describe; you will have to do that when next we meet.”
“But then,” persisted Amy, “in that long ago time what was she like?”
“Very beautiful. A slight, tall, graceful figure, pliant as a reed. Eyes dark as jet, and hair like a raven’s wing. Are you satisfied, Amy?”
“Not quite. I still want to know what her character was. I am quite satisfied that she must have been very beautiful.”
“She was as a girl more than beautiful. There was a charm, a softness in her manner that never failed to allure to her side those she essayed to please. But in the end she grew vain of her loveliness, and paraded it as a snare, until it led her to commit a great sin.”
“She may be altered now,” exclaimed Amy, “altered for the better.”
“She must be grievously altered. Grief and remorse must have done their work slowly but surely, for I never will believe that her heart has been untouched by them.”
“I am afraid I shall not like her,” replied Amy, “and I had so made up my mind that as your friend I should like her at once.”
“We are not friends, Amy! Never can be now! Did we meet to-morrow it would be as strangers. Let us speak of her no more. I cannot bear it,” exclaimed Mrs. Elrington in an agitated voice, but after a moment her face grew calm again, and she moved away looking more sorrowful than angry; but Amy could not help wishing with all her heart that her journey that day were miles away from Brampton Park; but there was scarcely time for thought, for in another moment the coach was at the door, and although bitter tears were shed when the last kiss was given, Amy tried to smile through her tears and to be sanguine as to the future, while Mrs. Neville was resigned, or apparently so, and little Sarah — the only one who gave way to her grief unrestrained — sobbed as if her heart would break, and when old Hannah took her by force almost, from her sister’s arms, she burst into a perfect passion of tears, which lasted long after the coach was out of sight which conveyed Amy partly on her road to her future home.
The morning was hot and sultry, one of those warm spring days, when scarcely a breath of air disturbs the hum of the bee, or interrupts the song of the birds; not a leaf stirred, even the flowers in the garden scarcely lent their sweet perfume to the light wind; and the rippling noise the little stream made gently gliding over the pebbly ground could be distinctly heard from the cottage.
In the lane just outside the gate were collected a number of men, women, and children; some out of curiosity, but by far the greater number to bid farewell to, and to see the last of their beloved Miss Amy; for although so recent an inhabitant, she was a general favourite in the village, and numberless were the blessings she received as she stepped past them into the coach, and with a fervent “God bless you,” from Mrs. Elrington, she was gone.
It was evening before she reached Brampton Park, her future home, and the avenue of trees under which she passed were dimly seen in the bright moonlight.
It was a long avenue, much longer than the elm tree road at Ashleigh, yet it bore some resemblance to it; the trees as large and stately, and the road as broad; but instead of the fragrant flowers in the little lane at one end, Amy could discern a spacious lawn stretching far away on one side, while the house, large, old fashioned, and gloomy rose darkly to view on the other; but within a bright lamp hung in the large, old handsome hall, illuminating a beautifully carved oak staircase. Pictures of lords and ladies, in old fashioned dresses, were hanging on the walls; Amy fancied they gazed sternly at her from out their time worn frames, as she passed by them, and entered a large handsome drawing-room, where easy couches, soft sofas, luxurious chairs of every size and shape, inviting to repose and ease, seemed scattered about in happy confusion. Crimson silk curtains hung in rich heavy folds before the windows; a carpet as soft as velvet covered the floor; alabaster vases and figures adorned the many tables; lamps hung from the ceiling; in short everything that taste suggested and money could buy, was there.
At the further end of this room, or rather an inner room beyond, connected by large folding doors, sat a lady reclining in a large arm chair; one hand rested on a book in her lap, the other languidly on the curly head of a little girl, kneeling at her feet; her dark hair lay in rich glossy bands, on either temple, and was gathered in a knot at the back of her small, beautifully shaped head, under a lace cap; a dark silk dress fitted tight to her almost faultless figure, and fell in graceful folds from her slender waist; a little lace collar, fastened by a pearl brooch (the only ornament she wore), completed her attire, which was elegant and simple. Her eyes were dark and piercing, the nose and chin well-shaped, but perhaps a little too pointed; and the mouth small and beautiful. Such was Mrs. Linchmore, the mother of two of Amy’s pupils. She was generally considered handsome, though few admired her haughty manners, or the scornful expression of her face.
Mrs. Elrington had sent Mrs. Linchmore a slight sketch of Amy’s history, and had also mentioned that she was very young; yet Mrs. Linchmore was scarcely prepared to see so delicate and fragile a being as the young girl before her. A feeling of compassion filled her heart as she gazed on Amy’s sweet face, and her manner was less haughty than usual, and her voice almost kind as she spoke.
“I fear, Miss Neville, you must have had a very unpleasant journey; the weather to-day has been more than usually warm, and a coach — I believe you came part of the way in one — not a very agreeable conveyance.”
“I was the only inside passenger,” replied Amy, seating herself in a chair opposite Mrs. Linchmore, “so that I did not feel the heat much; but I am rather tired; the after journey in the train, and then the drive from the station here, has fatigued me greatly.”
“You must indeed be very tired and depressed, one generally is after any unusual excitement, and this must have been a very trying day for you, Miss Neville, leaving your home and all those you love; but I trust ere long you will consider this house your home, and I hope become reconciled to the change, though I cannot expect it will ever compensate for the one you have lost.”
“Oh, not lost!” exclaimed Amy, raising her tearful eyes, “not lost, only exchanged for a time; self-exiled, I ought to say.”
“Self-exiled we will call it, if you like; a pleasant one I hope it will be. Mr. Linchmore and I have promised Mrs. Elrington we will do all we can to make it so. I hope we may not find it a difficult task to perform. The will will not be wanting on my part to insure success, if I find you such as Mrs. Elrington describes.”
“She is a very kind person,” murmured Amy.
“She was always fond of young people, and very kind to them, so long as they allowed her to have her own way; but she did not like being thwarted. Her will was a law not to be disobeyed by those she loved, unless they wished to incur her eternal displeasure. I suppose she is quite the old lady now. It is,” continued Mrs. Linchmore, with a scarcely audible sigh, “nine long years since I saw her.”
“She does not appear to me very old,” replied Amy, “but nine years is a long time, and she may have altered greatly.”
“Most likely not,” replied Mrs. Linchmore, in a cold tone. “Life to her has been one bright sunshine. She has had few cares or troubles.”
“Indeed, Mrs. Linchmore!” exclaimed Amy, forgetting in her haste her new dependent position. “I have heard Mamma say that the death of her husband early in life was a sore trial to her, as also that of her son, which occurred not so very long ago.”
“You mistake me, Miss Neville,” replied Mrs. Linchmore, more coldly and haughtily, “those may be trials, but were not the troubles I spoke of.”
Amy was silenced, though she longed to ask what heavier trials there could be, but she dared not add more in her kind friend’s defence; as it was, she fancied she detected an angry light in Mrs. Linchmore’s dark eyes as they flashed on her while she was speaking, and a proud, almost defiant curl of the under lip.
Amy felt chilled as she recalled to mind Mrs. Elrington’s words, that she and Mrs. Linchmore never could be friends; and wondered not as she gazed at the proud, haughty face before her, and then thought of the gentle, loving look of her old friend. No; they could not be friends, they could have nothing in common. How often had Mrs. Elrington expressed a hope that Amy would learn to love her pupils, but never a desire or wish that she might love their Mother also; and then the description which Amy had so often eagerly asked, and which only that morning had been granted her; how it had saddened her heart, and predisposed her to think harshly of Mrs. Linchmore.
There must be something hidden away from sight, something that had separated these two years ago. What was it? Had it anything to do with that dread sin Mrs. Elrington had lately touched upon, and of which Amy had longed, but dared not ask an explanation? If they had loved each other once, what had separated them now? Where was the charm and softness of manner which almost made the loveliness Mrs. Elrington had spoken of? Very beautiful Amy thought the lady before her, but there was nothing about her to win a girl’s love, or draw her heart to her at first sight.
How strange all this seemed now. She had never thought of it before. It had never occurred to her. Her thoughts and feelings had been too engrossed, too much wrapt up in regret at leaving her home, and arranging for her Mother’s comfort after her departure, to think of anything else; but now, the more she pondered, the more extraordinary it seemed, and the more difficult it was to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion, and the impression her mind was gradually assuming was a painful one.
A light, mocking laugh from her companion startled Amy; it grated harshly on her ears, and snapped the thread of her perplexing thoughts.
“I doubt,” said Mrs. Linchmore, as the laugh faded away to an almost imperceptible curl of the lip; while her head was thrown haughtily back, and she proudly met Amy’s astonished gaze; “I doubt if Mrs. Elrington would recognise me; nine years, as you wisely remark, may effect — though not always — a great change. It has on me; many may possibly think for the better; she will say for the worse. But time, however hateful it may be for many reasons, changing, as it does sadly, our outward appearance; yet what wonderful changes it effects inwardly. It has one very great advantage in my eyes, it brings forgetfulness; so that the longer we live the less annoying to us are the faults and follies of youth; they gradually fade from our vision. I could laugh now at Mrs. Elrington’s bitter remarks and sarcastic words; they would not cause me one moment’s uneasiness.”
Amy was spared any reply by little Alice suddenly rising, and claiming her mother’s attention.
“This is the youngest of your pupils, Miss Neville. Alice dear, put down my scissors, and go and speak to that lady.”
The little girl, who had been staring at Amy ever since she entered, now looked sullenly on the floor, but paid no attention to her mother’s request.
