CHAPTER XV.
A goodly apple rotten at the heart; O what a goodly outside falsehood hath!
--SHAKESPEARE'S "MERCHANT OF VENICE."
In mental power, education, good looks, courtly manners, and generalinformation Mr. Egerton was decidedly superior to any of the young menresident in Lansdale; and of this fact no one was better aware than,himself. He did not confine his attentions to Elsie, and soon foundhimself a prime favorite among the ladies of the town. No femalecoquette ever coveted the admiration of the other sex more than he,or sought more assiduously to gain it. He carried on numerous smallflirtations among the belles of the place, yet paid court to Elsiemuch oftener than to any one else, using every art of which he wasmaster in the determined effort to win her affection and to makehimself necessary to her happiness.
He had read many books and seen much of life, having travelled allover our own country, and visited both Europe and South America; andpossessing a retentive memory, fine descriptive powers, a fund ofhumor, and a decided talent for mimicry, was able, when he chose, tomake his conversation exceedingly amusing and interesting, and veryinstructive. Also, he seemed all that was good and noble, and she soongave him a very warm place in her regard; much warmer than she herselfat first suspected.
According to his own account--and probably it was the truth--BromlyEgerton had had many hair-breadth escapes from sudden and violentdeath. He was telling of one of these in which he had risked andnearly lost his life from mere love of adventure. Elsie shuddered, anddrew a long breath of relief, as the story reached its close.
"Does it frighten you to hear of such things?" he asked, with a smile.
"Yes, it seems to me a dreadful thing to risk the loss of one's life,when there is no good to ourselves or others to be gained by it."
"Ah, if you were a man or boy you would understand that more than halfthe charm of such adventures lies in the risk."
"But is it right, or wise?"
"A mere matter of taste, or choice, I should say--a long dull life, ora short and lively one."
Elsie's face had grown very grave. "Are those really your sentiments,Mr. Egerton?" she asked, in a pained, disappointed tone. "I hadthought better of you."
"I do not understand; have I said anything very dreadful?"
"Is it not a sin to throw away the life which God has given us to beused in His service?"
"Ah, perhaps that may be so; but I had not looked at it in preciselythat way. I had only thought of the fact that life in this world isnot so very delightful that one need be anxious to continue it for ahundred years. We grow tired of it at times, and are almost ready tothrow it away; to use your expression."
"Ah, before doing that we should be very sure of going to a betterplace."
"But how can we be sure of that, or, indeed, of anything? What isthere that we know absolutely, and beyond question? how can I be sureof even my own existence? how do I know that I am what I believemyself to be? There are crazy men who firmly believe themselves kingsand princes, or something else quite as far from the truth; and how doI know that I am not as much mistaken as they?"
She gave him a look of grieved surprise, and he laughingly asked,"Well, now, Miss Dinsmore, is there anything of which you really areabsolutely certain? or you, Miss King?" as Lottie drew near the log onwhich the two were seated.
They had taken a long ramble through the woods that morning, andEgerton and Elsie had some ten minutes before sat down here to restand wait for their companions, who had wandered a little from the paththey were pursuing.
"Cogito, ergo sum," she answered gayly, "Also I am sure we have had avery pleasant walk. But isn't it time we were moving toward home?"
"Yes," Elsie answered, consulting her watch.
"That's a pretty little thing," observed Egerton. "May I look at it?"And he held out his hand.
"One of papa's birthday gifts to his petted only daughter," she said,with a smile, as she allowed him to take it. "I value it very highlyon that account even more than for its intrinsic worth; though it isan excellent time-keeper."
"It must have cost a pretty penny; the pearls and diamonds alone mustbe worth quite a sum," he said, turning it about and examining it witheager interest. "I would be careful, Miss Dinsmore, how I let it beknown that I carried anything so valuable about me, or wore it intolonely places, such as these woods," he added, as he returned it toher.
"I never come out alone," she said, looking slightly anxious andtroubled; "papa laid his commands upon me never to do so; but I shallleave it at home in future."
"Riches bring cares; that's the way I comfort myself in my poverty,"remarked Lottie, lightly. "But, Elsie, my dear, don't allow anxiousfears to disturb you; we are a very moral people at Lansdale; I neverheard of a robbery there yet."
"I believe I am naturally rather timid," said Elsie, "yet I seldomsuffer from fear. I always feel very safe when papa is near to protectme, and our Heavenly Father's care is always about us."
"That reminds me that you have not answered my question," remarkedEgerton, switching off the head of a clover-blossom with his cane. "Isthe care you speak of one thing of which you feel certain?"
"Yes, and there are others."
"May I ask what?"
She turned her sweet, soft eyes full upon him as she answered in low,clear tones, "'I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth nogood thing.' 'I know that my Redeemer liveth.' 'I know that it shallbe well with them that fear God.'"
"You are quoting?"
"Yes, from a book that I know is true. Do you doubt it, Mr. Egerton?"
"Why, Miss Dinsmore, you do not take me for an infidel, surely?"
"No, until to-day I had hoped you were a Christian."
Her eyes were downcast now, and there were tears in her voice as shespoke. He saw he had made a false step and lowered himself in heresteem, yet, remembering his talk with Arthur, he felt certain hecould more than retrieve that error. And he grew exultant in thethought of the evident pain the discovery of his unbelief had causedher. "She does care for me; I believe the prize is even now almostwithin my reach," he said to himself, as they silently pursued theirway into the town, no one speaking again until they parted at MissStanhope's gate.
Elsie, usually full of innocent mirth and gladness, was very quiet atdinner that day, and Aunt Wealthy, watching her furtively, thought shenoticed an unwonted shade of sadness on the fair face.
"What is it, dear?" she asked at length; "something seems to have gonewrong with you."
The young girl replied by repeating the substance of the morning'stalk with Mr. Egerton, and expressing her disappointment at thediscovery that he was not the Christian man she had taken him to be.
"Perhaps what you have taken in earnest, was but spoken in jest, mychild," said Miss Stanhope.
"Ah, auntie, but a Christian surely could not say such things evenin jest," she answered, with a little sigh, and a look of sorrowfulconcern on her face.
Half an hour later, Elsie sat reading in the abode of the vine-coveredporch, while her aunt enjoyed her customary after-dinner nap. Shepresently heard the gate swing to, and the next moment Mr. Egerton washelping himself to a seat by her side.
"I hope I don't intrude, Miss Dinsmore," he began, assuming a slightlyembarrassed air.
"Oh, no, not at all," she answered, closing her book; "but aunt islying down, and--"
"Ah, no matter; I wouldn't have her disturbed for the world; and infact I am rather glad of the opportunity of seeing you alone. I--Ihave been thinking a good deal of that talk we had this morning,and--I am really quite shocked at the sentiments I then expressed,though they were spoken more than half in jest. Miss Dinsmore, I amnot a Christian, but--but I want to be, and would, if I only knew how;and I've come to you to learn the way; for somehow I seem to feel thatyou could make the thing plainer to me than any one else. What must Ido first?"
Glad tears shone in the soft eyes she lifted to his face as sheanswered, "'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt b
e saved.'Believe, 'only believe.'"
"But I must do something?"
"'Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts,and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, andto our God, for He will abundantly pardon.'"
The man was an arrant knave and hypocrite, simulating anxiety abouthis soul's salvation only for the purpose of ingratiating himselfwith Elsie; but "the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God,"pricked him for the moment, as she wielded it in faith and prayer.What ways, what thoughts were his! Truly they had need to be forsakenif he would hope ever to see that holy city of which we are told"There shall in no wise enter it anything that defileth, neitherwhatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie."
For a moment he sat silent and abashed before the gentle, earnestyoung Christian, feeling her very purity a reproach, and fearing thatshe must read his hypocrisy and the baseness of his motives in hiscountenance.
But hers was a most innocent and unsuspicious nature, apt to believeothers as true and honest as herself. She went on presently. "It is sobeautifully simple and easy,--God's way of saving us poor sinners:it is its very simplicity that so stumbles wise men and women, whilelittle children, in their sweet trustfulness, just taking God at Hisword, understand it without any difficulty." She spoke in a musingtone, not looking at Egerton at all, but with her eyes fixedmeditatingly upon the floor.
He perceived that she had no doubts of his sincerity, and rallyingfrom the thrust she had so unconsciously given him, went on with therole he had laid down for himself.
"I fear I am one of the wise ones you speak of, for I confess I do notsee the way yet. Can you not explain it more fully?"
"I will try," she said. "You believe that you are a sinner deservingof God's wrath?"
"Yes."
"You have broken His law, and His justice demands your punishment; butJesus has kept its requirements, and borne its penalty in yourstead, and now offers you his righteousness and salvation as a freegift,--'without money and without price.'"
"But what am I to do?"
"Simply take the offered gift."
"But how? I fear I must seem very obtuse, but I really do notcomprehend."
"Then ask for the teachings of the Spirit; ask Jesus to give yourepentance and faith. 'Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and yeshall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for every onethat asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him thatknocketh, it shall be opened."
Elsie's voice was low and pleading, her tones were tremulous withearnest entreaty, the eyes she lifted to his face were half filledwith tears; for she felt that the eternal interests of her hearer weretrembling in the balance.
He looked at her admiringly, and, lost in the contemplation of herbeauty, had almost betrayed himself by his want of interest in whatshe was saying. But just then Miss Stanhope joined them, and shortlyafter he took his leave.
From this time Egerton played his part with consummate skill,deceiving Elsie so completely that she had not the slightest doubt ofhis being an humble, penitent, rejoicing believer; and great were herjoy and thankfulness when he told her that she had been the means ofleading him to Christ; that her words had made the way plain to him,as he had never been able to see it before. It seemed to her a verytender, strong tie between them, and he appeared to feel it to be soalso.
She was not conscious of looking upon him in the light of a lover, buthe saw with secret exultation that he was fast winning her heart; heread it in the flushing of her cheek and the brightening of her eye athis approach, and in many other unmistakable signs. He wrote to Arthurthat the prize was nearly won; so nearly that he had no doubt of hisultimate success.
"And I'll not be long now about finishing up the job," he continued;"it's such precious hard work to be so good and pious all the time,that I can hardly wait till matters are fully ripe for action. I'min constant danger of letting the mask slip aside in some unguardedmoment, and so undoing the whole thing after the world of trouble ithas cost me. It's no joke, I can assure you, for a man of my tastesand habits to lead the sort of life I've led for the last threemonths, I believe I'd give her up this minute, fortune and all, if thewinning of them would lay me under the necessity of continuing it forthe rest of my days, or even for any length of time. But once the knotis tied, and the property secured, there'll be an end of this farce.I'll let her know I'm done with cant, will neither talk it nor listento it."
Arthur Dinsmore's face darkened as he read, and in a sudden burst offury he tore the letter into fragments, then threw them into the emptygrate. He was not yet so hardened as to feel willing to see Elsie inthe power of such a heartless wretch, such a villain as he knew TomJackson to be. Many times already had he bitterly repented of havingtold him of her wealth, and helped him to an acquaintance with her.His family pride revolted against the connection, and some latentaffection for his niece prompted him to save her from the life ofmisery that must be hers as the wife of one so utterly devoid of honoror integrity.
Yet Arthur lacked the moral courage to face the disagreeableconsequences of a withdrawal from his compact with Jackson, and aconfession to his father or Horace of the wretch's designs upon Elsieand his own disgraceful entanglement with him. He concluded to take amiddle course. He wrote immediately to Jackson, somewhat haughtily,advising him at once to give up the whole thing.
"You will inevitably fail to accomplish your end," he said. "Elsiewill never marry without her father's consent, and that you will findit utterly impossible to gain. Horace is too sharp to be hoodwinked ordeceived, even by you. He will ferret out your whole past, lay barethe whole black record of your rascalities and hypocrisies, and forbidhis daughter ever again to hold the slightest communication with you.And she will obey if it kills her on the spot."
"There's some comfort in that last reflection," muttered Arthur tohimself, as he folded and sealed his epistle; "no danger of the rascalgetting into the family."
Two days later, Egerton took this letter from the post-office inLansdale. He read it with a scowl on his brow. "Ah! I see your game,young man," he muttered with an oath, "but you'll find that you've gothold of the wrong customer. My reply shall be short and sweet, andquite to the point."
It ran thus: "Your warning and advice come too late, my young friend;the mischief is already wrought, and however unworthy your humbleservant may be deemed by yourself or others of its members to becomeconnected with the illustrious D---- family, they will find theycannot help themselves; the girl loves me, and believes in me, and Idefy all the fathers and relations in creation to keep us apart." Thenfollowed some guarded allusions to various sums of borrowed money, andso-called "debts of honor," and to some compact by which they were tobe annulled, accompanied by a threat of exposure if that agreementwere not kept to the very letter.