CHAPTER XII.
Mr. Fairfax was borne to his own dwelling upon a litter, amidst theuniversal regrets and lamentations of the people. The condition of hisown immediate family may be more easily imagined than described. Themost heart-rending shrieks pierced the air when it was announced to thefemale part of it that the amiable and generous head of their house hadbeen basely shot,--by whom he knew not, nor could he form a conjecture.The deed was perpetrated a few moments after he had himself shot thebuck. He immediately fell from his horse and was for a time perfectlyunconscious of his condition. When he revived he found his horse goneand himself so weakened from loss of blood that he was unable to stand.His only resource was his trumpet, upon which he made repeated effortsto summon his companions, but even the sound of his horn was so feeblethat it could not have been heard more than a few rods from the spot.While he was in this helpless condition he chanced to discover three menfishing at the base of the river bank, whom he attempted to summon tohis aid, but the sound of the water prevented them from hearing him.With great difficulty and suffering he was at length enabled to crawldown the hill to such a distance that he might be heard, and was thenceborne to the city in their boat, as the reader has already beeninformed.
The surgeon, after examining his wound, pronounced it to be of the mostalarming character, and assured Bacon, apart from the family that he hadlittle hopes for the life of his patron, who after the exhaustion of hispainful journey and the succeeding intense pain caused by the probing ofhis wounds had fallen into a deep sleep.
Sometime during the morning which has been described in the precedingchapter, and while the hunting party were yet enjoying themselvesundisturbed by any untoward accident, Bacon had invited Virginia toaccompany him in his first stroll through the garden since his illness.She complied with more alacrity than had been usual with her of late,hoping that the refreshing sweets of a summer morning and the cheeringsight of birds and flowers, would dispel the gloomy misanthropy whichhad settled upon his countenance since his disappointment at not beingable to join the chase.
After a silent promenade through the shady walks, they seated themselvesin the little summer house already mentioned, and Bacon thus broke theembarrassing silence.
"Virginia, the current of events seems to be hurrying us on to a painfulcrisis! It is impossible for me to shut my eyes to such of them atleast, as relate more particularly to myself. My position in thesociety in which I now move, is daily becoming more painful to me. I amconstantly subjected to the impertinence of those who imagine that theyhave, or perhaps really have, some reason to complain of the protectionand countenance afforded to me by your noble father."
"Trust then, Nathaniel, to his and our continued confidence and esteem,and less to the morbid sensibility which disturbs you, and all will soonbe well again."
"Not so, Virginia. If we were in a little community by ourselves, Icould indeed give my whole mind and soul to such enjoyments as thesociety of your family has already afforded to me, forgetting all theworld besides, and never listening for a moment to ambitious hopes andaspiring thoughts. But in this proud and aristocratic circle, I mustsoon be either more or less than I am at present."
"Why must you be more or less than you are, Nathaniel?" said Virginia,with unaffected and bewitching _naivete_.
"Is it possible, Virginia, that you do not see the reason why? Have youwitnessed the fierce struggles contending at my heart and never formed asurmise as to the real cause?"
"Except the morbid sensitiveness to which I have already alluded, andits very insufficient cause, I declare that I know of none."
"Is it possible. Good Heavens! and must I at last break through therestraints which I had imposed upon myself? Must I trample upon thegenerous hospitality of the father to lay my heart open before hisdaughter?" Her countenance underwent an instantaneous change, and whilehe continued, her eyes fell beneath his ardent gaze, and her head sankupon her bosom in confusion.
"I will indeed trust to the flattering delusion which hope whispers inmy ear, that perhaps your father himself knows enough of me and of myorigin to absolve me from these restraints. It must be so,Virginia--else he had never trusted a heart, young and susceptible likemine, to the constant influence of beauty like yours," and he took herunresisting hand, "joined with such perfect innocence and such childlikesimplicity as never till this moment to be conscious of its power. Oh,Virginia, I would fain believe, that he foresaw and approved of theresult which he could not but anticipate. What he approves will hisdaughter's voice confirm?--No answer! Will you not vouchsafe one littleword to keep my sinking hopes alive!--You are offended; your countenancespeaks the language which your tongue is unaccustomed to utter!"
"What should I say?" answered Virginia; "would you have me promise areturn of love whose indulgence is dependent on contingency? Is it kind,is it proper to urge me upon this subject under existing circumstances?"
"By heavens, Virginia, there shall be no contingency of my making! Ihave crossed the Rubicon, and you shall have the knowledge as you havehad possession of my whole soul from the days of our infancy. 'Tisyours, Virginia, wholly yours; soul, mind and heart, all yours. Mouldthem as you will, reject me if you must, they are still yours. I swearnever to profane the shrine of this first and only love by offering themup on any other. They are offered now, because my destiny so wills it.We are the creatures of circumstances. I have vainly struggled againstthe overwhelming tide which has borne me to this point. I am goadedonward by insult--beset with menaces, and torn by the storms of such apassion as never man before encountered. Can you, dear Virginia,vouchsafe to me some measure of relief from these distracting emotions?Say that you would have been mine under other circumstances! Say thatyou will never wed that proud and imperious Beverly! Say any thing,Virginia, which shall calm the tumults of my bosom, and feed my hopesfor the future." While he thus spoke, the blushing maiden was evidentlylabouring under emotions little less powerful than his own. Her previousair of offended feminine dignity was fast melting into sympathy, withthe impassioned feelings of the excited youth. She felt for his peculiargriefs and cares, and shared his warmer sentiments. The youth perceivedthe softening mood, and continued.
"Speak, I pray you, Virginia, I am in your hands. Speak me intoexistence, or banish me from your presence!"
"I do not know, Nathaniel," said Virginia, after many attempts to giveutterance to her thoughts, "whether it is proper at all times to speakthe truth, but I will not deceive you now. There does indeed seem to bea peculiar concurrence of circumstances around us, and more perhaps thanyou are yourself aware of. I did not intend to deceive you, or lead youastray; when I told you a few moments since that I knew nothing of anyother struggle than that arising from your own excited feelings, I spokethe truth, but perhaps not the entire truth;" and as she spoke, a lovelyblush suffused her neck and downcast face; "I knew of other strugglesindeed, but not your's, Nathaniel."
"Were they yours, Virginia, and of the same nature? say they were, andheaven bless for ever the tongue that utters it."
"That you have to ask, does more honour to my discretion, than I haveascribed to it myself of late. I have had painful fears that I shouldhave little to tell on an occasion like the present, should it evercome, with my father's approbation. And if I have now overstepped thebounds of that proviso, it was in the hope of calming your troubledspirits, and preventing a catastrophe upon which I have looked withdreadful anticipation, since the night of the insurrection."
"And will you indeed be mine?"
"I will, Nathaniel, whenever you gain my father's approbation; butwithout it, never."
At this moment the garden gate was heard to creak upon its hinges, (mostunmusically to Bacon's ears,) and Harriet Harrison came tripping overbeds and flowers, all out of breath, her cheeks glowing with theheightened colour of exercise, and her eyes sparkling with mischief justready to explode.
"Oh, Virginia! Virginia! such news!" was her first exclamation; "Butshall I tell it before Mr. Bacon?"
> "Yes, if it is of the usual kind."
"Well, upon your own head be the consequences. I have accidentallyoverheard such a secret! You must know that your Aunt Berkley has beenat our house this morning, and I overheard her tell my mother that therewas to be a great wedding immediately, and that I was to be one of thebrides-maids. What! no tell-tale guilty blush? Well, who do you think isto be the bride-groom, and who the bride?"
"Indeed, Harriet, I cannot even guess."
"The blissful man, then is Beverly--but can you name his bride?"
"I should not go far hence for an answer, if you had not announced yournomination for a secondary office."
"O fie, fie, Virginia, I did not think you could play the hypocrite sowell. I will tell you who it is then, but you must not breathe it evento the winds, nor you, Mr. Bacon. It is a sly arch little damsel, aboutyour age and figure; by name Virginia Fairfax!" And with, these words,she burst into a loud laugh, pointing to her companion with her finger,and then tripped away again towards the gate without waiting to see theeffect of her communication; but stopping with the gate in her hand, shecried--"But remember, Virginia, Charles Dudley is not to stand up withme; we don't speak now." And then she flew away, her hat hanging by theriband round her neck, and her raven ringlets flying loose around hertemples. Virginia sat as one without life or motion, her face deadlypale, and her eye preternaturally clear and glassy, but without a tear.Her respiration was hurried and oppressed, and her countenanceexpressive of high and noble resolves in the midst of the keenest mentalsuffering. She knew whence her aunt obtained her information, and in itscommunication to others in the confidence of the Governor, before shehad been consulted, she saw the tyrannical determination of thatarbitrary old man to consummate this hated union without the leastregard to her wishes or her feelings.
As these convictions flashed upon her mind, they called up firm andresolute determinations, even in her gentle bosom! she was stung intoresistance by the tyrannical and high handed measures of her uncle, andresolved to resist upon the threshold. Bacon's physical frame was not sosteady, or his nerves in his present mood so well strung by highresolves of independent action. He too saw by whom the blow was aimed,and upon whose head it would principally fall, and he trembled for theconsequences to his gentle companion. He did not know the strength ofher independent mind, and the endurance and fortitude with which shewould carry her purposes into execution. He knew her to be gentle andkind and superlatively lovely, but as yet she had endured notrials,--her courage and fortitude had been put to no test. The veryamiable qualities which had won his affections, served only to increasehis doubts as to her capacity to resist and endure what he too plainlysaw awaited her. He had yet to learn that these are almost always foundunited in the female bosom with a signal power of steady and calmresistance to oppression. To this resolution had Virginia arrived, whenhis more turbulent and masculine emotions burst from his tongue as heseized her hand, "Swear to me, Virginia, before high Heaven, that youwill never marry this proud heir of wealth, and worldly honours."
"Upon one Condition."
"Name it! if it is possible, it is done!"
"That you from this moment give up all idea of a meeting with FrankBeverly, which I know has only thus long been delayed by your wounds andillness." He dropped her hand and writhed upon his seat in agony--thecold perspiration bursting from his pale forehead, as he covered itwith his hands. But presently standing up he exclaimed, "Great God! andcan you ask this of me, Virginia? Is my honour of so little value toyou, that you can ask me to betray it? You heard the insult! You saw thedagger aimed in the dark! Ay, and saw it strike upon a bare and woundednerve! Shall I not resist? Is an assassin to thrust the point of hissteel into the very apple of my eye, and meet with no resistance?Instinct itself would strike back the cowardly blow. Another mightforego the measure of his revenge for an ordinary insult, but placed asI am, an elevated mark for impertinence and malignity to shoot at, withnothing but my single arm to defend me; no line of noble and heroicancestors to support my pretensions, and my rank in the community; noliving relations to give the lie to his calumnies! Standing alone amidsta host of powerful enemies, shall I be stricken down by a cowardlymaligner, and never turn to strike one blow for my good name, mymother's honour, my father's memory, and my own standing in society? No,no, Virginia; you cannot, you will not, require me to promise this. Oneevidence I must and will give to the calumniator, that I come of nochurl's blood."
"But, Nathaniel, did you not resent and thus return his injury upon thespot?"
"Ay, truly, I did hurl defiance in the craven's teeth, but that onlythrows the demand for satisfaction upon his shoulders, so that when itis made, I may at once atone for his, and take ample reparation for myown deep wrongs."
"Promise me, then, that you will but act with Frank henceforth on thedefensive? Remember he is my kinsman."
"I do promise; and now promise me in your turn never to marry thiskinsman, unless I give my consent, or you should be absolved from yourobligation by my death, or some other irremediable barrier."
"I promise, Nathaniel."
Scarcely had the words issued from her lips, when the clanking ofstirrups and clattering of a horse's hoofs at full speed, were heardoutside the garden wall.
Into what a state of consternation and dismay the family was thrown bythe appearance of the bloody and panting charger at his stable doorwithout his master, the reader may already have imagined.