CHAPTER VIII.
"Look to't, think on't, I do not use to jest. Thursday is near; lay hand on heart, advise; An' you be mine, I'll give you to my friend; An' you be not, hang, beg, starve, die i' the streets."
ROMEO AND JULIET.
Wychecombe Hall, had most of the peculiarities of a bachelor's dwelling,in its internal government; nor was it, in any manner, behind, or, itmight be better to say, before, the age, in its modes and customsconnected with jollifications. When its master relaxed a little, theservants quite uniformly imitated his example. Sir Wycherly kept aplentiful table, and the servants' hall fared nearly as well as thedining-room; the single article of wine excepted. In lieu of the latter,however, was an unlimited allowance of double-brewed ale; and thedifference in the potations was far more in the name, than in thequality of the beverages. The master drank port; for, in the middle ofthe last century, few Englishmen had better wine--and port, too, thatwas by no means of a very remarkable delicacy, but which, like those whoused it, was rough, honest, and strong; while the servant had his maltliquor of the very highest stamp and flavour. Between indifferent wineand excellent ale, the distance is not interminable; and Sir Wycherly'shousehold, was well aware of the fact, having frequently institutedintelligent practical comparisons, by means of which, all but the butlerand Mrs. Larder had come to the conclusion to stand by the home-brewed.
On the present occasion, not a soul in the house was ignorant of thereason why the baronet was making a night of it. Every man, woman, andchild, in or about the Hall, was a devoted partisan of the house ofHanover; and as soon as it was understood that this feeling was to bemanifested by drinking "success to King George, and God bless him," onthe one side; and "confusion to the Pretender, and his mad son," on theother; all under the roof entered into the duty, with a zeal that mighthave seated a usurper on a throne, if potations could do it.
When Admiral Bluewater, therefore, left the chamber of his friend, thesigns of mirth and of a regular debauch were so very obvious, that alittle curiosity to watch the result, and a disinclination to go off tohis ship so soon, united to induce him to descend into the rooms below,with a view to get a more accurate knowledge of the condition of thehousehold. In crossing the great hall, to enter the drawing-room, heencountered Galleygo, when the following discourse took place.
"I should think the master-at-arms has not done his duty, and dowsed theglim below, Master Steward," said the rear-admiral, in his quiet way, asthey met; "the laughing, and singing, and hiccupping, are all upon avery liberal scale for a respectable country-house."
Galleygo touched the lock of hair on his forehead, with one hand, andgave his trowsers a slue with the other, before he answered; which hesoon did, however, though with a voice a little thicker than was usualwith him, on account of his having added a draught or two to those hehad taken previously to visiting Sir Gervaise's dressing-room; and whichsaid additional draught or two, had produced some such effect on hissystem, as the fresh drop produces on the cup that is already full.
"That's just it, Admiral Blue," returned the steward, in passinggood-humour, though still sober enough to maintain the decencies, afterhis own fashion; "that's just it, your honour. They've passed the wordbelow to let the lights stand for further orders, and have turned thehands up for a frolic. Such ale as they has, stowed in the lower hold ofthis house, like leaguers in the ground-tier, it does a body's heartgood to conter'plate. All hands is bowsing out their jibs on it, sir,and the old Hall will soon be carrying as much sail as she can staggerunder. It's nothing but loose-away and sheet-home."
"Ay, ay, Galleygo, this may be well enough for the people of thehousehold, if Sir Wycherly allows it; but it ill becomes the servants ofguests to fall into this disorder. If I find Tom has done any thingamiss, he will hear more of it; and as your own master is not here toadmonish _you_, I'll just take the liberty of doing it for him, since Iknow it would mortify him exceedingly to learn that his steward had doneany thing to disgrace himself."
"Lord bless your dear soul, Admiral Blue, take just as many liberties asyou think fit, and I'll never pocket one on 'em. I know'd you, when youwas only a young gentleman, and now you're a rear. You're close on ourheels; and by the time we are a full admiral, you'll be something like avice. I looks upon you as bone of our bone, and flesh of ourflesh,--Pillardees and Arrestees--and I no more minds a setting-downfrom your honour, than I does from Sir Jarvy, hisself."
"I believe that is true enough, Galleygo; but take my advice, and knockoff with the ale for to-night. Can you tell me how the land lies, withthe rest of the company?"
"You couldn't have asked a better person, your honour, as I've just beenpassing through all the rooms, from a sort of habit I has, sir; for,d'ye see, I thought I was in the old Planter, and that it was my duty tooverlook every thing, as usual. The last pull at the ale, put thatnotion in my head; but it's gone now, and I see how matters is. Yes,sir, the mainmast of a church isn't stiffer and more correct-like, thanmy judgment is, at this blessed moment. Sir Wycherly guv' me a glass ofhis black-strap, as I ran through the dining-room, and told me to drink'Confusion to the Pretender,' which I did, with hearty good-will; buthis liquor will no more lay alongside of the ale they've down on theorlop, than a Frenchman will compare with an Englishman. What's youropinion, Admiral Blue, consarning this cruise of the Pretender's son, upin the Highlands of Scotland?"
Bluewater gave a quick, distrustful glance at the steward, for he knewthat the fellow was half his time in the outer cabin and pantries of thePlantagenet, and he could not tell how much of his many privatedialogues with Sir Gervaise, might have been overheard. Meeting withnothing but the unmeaning expression of one half-seas-over, hisuneasiness instantly subsided.
"I think it a gallant enterprise, Galleygo," he answered; too manly evento feign what he did not believe; "but I fear as a _cruise_, it will notbring much prize-money. You have forgotten you were about to tell me howthe land lies. Sir Wycherly, Mr. Dutton, Mr. Rotherham, are still at thetable, I fancy--are these all? What have become of the two younggentlemen?"
"There's none ashore, sir," said Galleygo, promptly, accustomed to givethat appellation only to midshipmen.
"I mean the two Mr. Wychecombes; one of whom, I had forgot, is actuallyan officer."
"Yes, sir, and a most partic'lar fine officer he is, as every body says.Well, sir, _he's_ with the ladies; while his namesake has gone back tothe table, and has put luff upon luff, to fetch up leeway."
"And the ladies--what have they done with themselves, in this scene ofnoisy revelry?"
"They'se in yonder state-room, your honour. As soon as they found howthe ship was heading, like all women-craft, they both makes for the bestharbour they could run into. Yes, they'se yonder."
As Galleygo pointed to the door of the room he meant, Bluewaterproceeded towards it, parting with the steward after a few more words ofcustomary, but very useless caution. The tap of the admiral was answeredby Wycherly in person, who opened the door, and made way for hissuperior to enter, with a respectful obeisance. There was but a singlecandle in the little parlour, in which the two females had taken refugefrom the increasing noise of the debauch; and this was due to a piousexpedient of Mildred's, in extinguishing the others, with a view toconceal the traces of tears that were still visible on her own and hermother's cheeks. The rear-admiral was, at first, struck with thiscomparative obscurity; but it soon appeared to him appropriate to thefeelings of the party assembled in the room. Mrs. Dutton received himwith the ease she had acquired in her early life, and the meeting passedas a matter of course, with persons temporarily residing under the sameroof.
"Our friends appear to be enjoying themselves," said Bluewater, when ashout from the dining-room forced itself on the ears of all present."The loyalty of Sir Wycherly seems to be of proof."
"Oh! Admiral Bluewater," exclaimed the distressed wife, feeling,momentarily, getting the better of discretion; "_do_ you--_can_ youcall such a desecration of God's image enjoyment?
"
"Not justly, perhaps, Mrs. Dutton; and yet it is what millions mistakefor it. This mode of celebrating any great event, and even ofillustrating what we think our principles, is, I fear, a vice not onlyof our age, but of our country."
"And yet, neither you, nor Sir Gervaise Oakes, I see, find it necessaryto give such a proof of your attachment to the house of Hanover, or ofyour readiness to serve it with your time and persons."
"You will remember, my good, lady, that both Oakes and myself areflag-officers in command, and it would never do for us to fall into adebauch in sight of our own ships. I am glad to see, however, that Mr.Wychecombe, here, prefers such society as I find him in, to thepleasures of the table."
Wycherly bowed, and Mildred cast an expressive, not to say grateful,glance towards the speaker; but her mother pursued the discourse, inwhich she found a little relief to her suppressed emotion.
"God be thanked for that!" she exclaimed, half-unconscious of theinterpretation that might be put on her words; "All that we have seen ofMr. Wychecombe would lead us to believe that this is not an unusual, oran accidental forbearance."
"So much the more fortunate for him. I congratulate you, young sir, onthis triumph of principle, or of temperament, or of both. We belong to aprofession, in which the bottle is an enemy more to be feared, than anythat the king can give us. A sailor can call in no ally as efficient insubduing this mortal foe, as an intelligent and cultivated mind. The manwho really _thinks_ much, seldom _drinks_ much; but there arehours--nay, weeks and months of idleness in a ship, in which thetemptation to resort to unnatural excitement in quest of pleasure, istoo strong for minds, that are not well fortified, to resist. This isparticularly the case with commanders, who find themselves isolated bytheir rank, and oppressed with responsibility, in the privacy of theirown cabins, and get to make a companion of the bottle, by way of seekingrelief from uncomfortable thoughts, and of creating a society of theirown. I deem the critical period of a sailor's life, to be the first fewyears of solitary command."
"How true!--how true!" murmured Mrs. Dutton. "Oh! that cutter--thatcruel cutter!"
The truth flashed upon the recollection of Bluewater, at this unguarded,and instantly regretted exclamation. Many years before, when only acaptain himself, he had been a member of a court-martial which cashiereda lieutenant of the name of Dutton, for grievous misconduct, while incommand of a cutter; the fruits of the bottle. From the first, hethought the name familiar to him; but so many similar things hadhappened in the course of forty years' service, that this particularincident had been partially lost in the obscurity of time. It was nowcompletely recalled, however; and that, too, with all its attendantcircumstances. The recollection served to give the rear-admiral renewedinterest in the unhappy wife, and lovely daughter, of the miserabledelinquent. He had been applied to, at the time, for his interest ineffecting the restoration of the guilty officer, or even to procure forhim, the hopeless station he now actually occupied; but he had sternlyrefused to be a party in placing any man in authority, who was thevictim of a propensity that not only disgraced himself, but which, inthe peculiar position of a sailor, equally jeoparded the honour of thecountry, and risked the lives of all around him. He was aware that thelast application had been successful, by means of a court influence itwas very unusual to exert in cases so insignificant; and, then, he had,for years, lost sight of the criminal and his fortunes. This unexpectedrevival of his old impressions, caused him to feel like an ancientfriend of the wife and daughter; for well could he recall a scene he hadwith both, in which the struggle between his humanity and his principleshad been so violent as actually to reduce him to tears. Mildred hadforgotten the name of this particular officer, having been merely achild; but well did Mrs. Dutton remember it, and with fear and tremblinghad she come that day, to meet him at the Hall. The first look satisfiedher that she was forgotten, and she had struggled herself, to bury inoblivion, a scene which was one of the most painful of her life. Theunguarded expression, mentioned, entirely changed the state of affairs.
"Mrs. Dutton," said Bluewater, kindly taking a hand of the distressedwife; "I believe we are old friends; if, after what has passed, you willallow me so to consider myself."
"Ah! Admiral Bluewater, my memory needed no admonisher to tell me_that_. Your sympathy and kindness are as grateful to me, now, as theywere in that dreadful moment, when we met before."
"And I had the pleasure of seeing this young lady, more than once, onthat unpleasant occasion. This accounts for a fancy that has fairlyhaunted me throughout the day; for, from the instant my eye fell on MissMildred, it struck me that the face, and most of all, its expression,was familiar to me. Certainly it is not a countenance, once seen, easilyto be forgotten."
"Mildred was then but a child, sir, and your recollection must have beena fancy, indeed, as children of her age seldom make any lastingimpression on the mind, particularly in the way of features."
"It is not the features that I recognize, but the expression; and that,I need not tell the young lady's mother, is an expression not so veryeasily forgotten. I dare say Mr. Wychecombe is ready enough to vouch forthe truth of what I say."
"Hark!" exclaimed Mrs. Dutton, who was sensitively alive to anyindication of the progress of the debauch. "There is great confusion inthe dining-room!--I hope the gentlemen are of one mind as respects thisrising in Scotland!"
"If there is a Jacobite among them, he will have a warm time of it; withSir Wycherly, his nephew, and the vicar--all three of whom are raginglions, in the way of loyalty. There does, indeed, seem something out ofthe way, for those sounds, I should think, are the feet of servants,running to and fro. If the servants'-hall is in the condition I suspect,it will as much need the aid of the parlour, as the parlour canpossibly--"
A tap at the door caused Bluewater to cease speaking; and as Wycherlythrew open the entrance, Galleygo appeared on the threshold, by thistime reduced to the necessity of holding on by the casings.
"Well, sir," said the rear-admiral, sternly, for he was no longerdisposed to trifle with any of the crapulous set; "well, sir, whatimpertinence has brought you here?"
"No impertinence at all, your honour; we carries none of _that_, in theold Planter. There being no young gentlemen, hereabouts, to reportproceedings, I thought I'd just step in and do the duty with my owntongue. We has so many reports in our cabin, that there isn't an officerin the fleet that can make 'em better, as myself, sir."
"There are a hundred who would spend fewer words on any thing. What isyour business?"
"Why, sir, just to report one flag struck, and a commander-in-chief onhis beam-ends."
"Good God! Nothing has happened to Sir Gervaise--speak, fellow, or I'llhave you sent out of this Babel, and off to the ship, though it weremidnight."
"It be pretty much that, Admiral Blue; or past six bells; as any one maysee by the ship's clock on the great companion ladder; six bells, goingwell on to seven--"
"Your business, sir! what has happened to Sir Gervaise?" repeatedBluewater, shaking his long fore-finger menacingly, at the steward.
"We are as well, Admiral Blue, as the hour we came over the Planter'sside. Sir Jarvy will carry sail with the best on 'em, I'll answer forit, whether the ship floats in old Port Oporto, or in a brewer's vat.Let Sir Jarvy alone for them tricks--he wasn't a young gentleman, fornothing."
"Have a moment's patience, sir," put in Wycherly, "and I will go myself,and ascertain the truth."
"I shall make but another inquiry," continued Admiral Bluewater, asWycherly left the room.
"Why, d'ye see, your honour, old Sir Wycherly, who iscommander-in-chief, along shore here, has capsized in consequence ofcarrying sail too hard, in company with younger craft; and they're nowwarping him into dock to be overhauled."
"Is this all!--that was a result to be expected, in such a debauch. Youneed not have put on so ominous a face, for this, Galleygo."
"No, sir, so I thought, myself; and I only tried to look as melancholyas a young gentleman who is s
ent below to report a topgallant-mast overthe side, or a studding-sail-boom gone in the iron. D'ye remember thetime, Admiral Blue, when you thought to luff up on the old Planter'sweather-quarter, and get between her and the French ninety on threedecks, and how your stu'n-sails went, one a'ter another, just like somany musherrooms breaking in peeling?"
Galleygo, who was apt to draw his images from his two trades, might havetalked on an hour, without interruption; for, while he was uttering theabove sentence, Wycherly returned, and reported that their host wasseriously, even dangerously ill. While doing the honours of his table,he had been seized with a fit, which the vicar, a noted three-bottleman, feared was apoplexy. Mr. Rotherham had bled the patient, who wasalready a little better, and an express had been sent for a medical man.As a matter of course, the _convives_ had left the table, and alarm wasfrightening the servants into sobriety. At Mrs. Dutton's earnestrequest, Wycherly immediately left the room again, forcing Galleygo outbefore him, with a view to get more accurate information concerning thebaronet's real situation; both the mother and daughter feeling a realaffection for Sir Wycherly; the kind old man having won their hearts byhis habitual benevolence, and a constant concern for their welfare.
"_Sic transit gloria mundi_," muttered Admiral Bluewater, as he threwhis tall person, in his own careless manner, on a chair, in a darkcorner of the room. "This baronet has fallen from his throne, in amoment of seeming prosperity and revelry; why may not another do thesame?"
Mrs. Dutton heard the voice, without distinguishing the words, and shefelt distressed at the idea that one whom she so much respected andloved, might be judged of harshly, by a man of the rear-admiral'scharacter.
"Sir Wycherly is one of the kindest-hearted men, breathing," she said, alittle hurriedly; "and there is not a better landlord in England. Thenhe is by no means addicted to indulgence at table, more than iscustomary with gentlemen of his station. His loyalty has, no doubt,carried him this evening farther than was prudent, or than we could havewished."
"I have every disposition to think favourably of our poor host, my dearMrs. Dutton; and we seamen are not accustomed to judge a _bon vivant_too harshly."
"Ah! Admiral Bluewater, _you_, who have so wide-spread a reputation forsobriety and correct deportment! Well do I remember how I trembled, whenI heard your name mentioned as one of the leading members of thatdreadful court!"
"You let your recollections dwell too much on these unpleasant subjects,Mrs. Dutton, and I should like to see you setting an example of greatercheerfulness to your sweet daughter. I could not befriend you, _then_,for my oath and my duty were both against it; but, _now_, there existsno possible reason, why I should not; while there does exist almostevery possible disposition, why I should. This sweet child interests mein a way I can hardly describe."
Mrs. Dutton was silent and thoughtful. The years of Admiral Bluewaterdid not absolutely forbid his regarding Mildred's extreme beauty, withthe eyes of ordinary admiration; but his language, and most of all, hischaracter, ought to repel the intrusive suspicion. Still Mildred wassurpassingly lovely, and men were surpassingly weak in matters of love.Many a hero had passed a youth of self-command and discretion, toconsummate some act of exceeding folly, of this very nature, in thedecline of life; and bitter experience had taught her to be distrustful.Nevertheless, she could not, at once, bring herself to think ill of one,whose character she had so long respected; and, with all therear-admiral's directness of manner, there was so much real and feelingdelicacy, blended with the breeding of a gentleman-like sailor, that itwas not easy to suppose he had any other motives than those he saw fitto avow. Mildred had made many a friend, by a sweetness of countenance,that was even more winning, than her general beauty of face and form wasattractive; and why should not this respectable old seaman be of thenumber.
This train of thought was interrupted by the sudden and unwelcomeappearance of Dutton. He had just returned from the bed-side of SirWycherly, and now came to seek his wife and daughter, to bid themprepare to enter the chariot, which was in waiting to convey them home.The miserable man was not intoxicated, in the sense which deprives a manof the use of speech and limbs; but he had drunk quite enough to awakenthe demon within him, and to lay bare the secrets of his true character.If any thing, his nerves were better strung than common; but the winehad stirred up all the energies of a being, whose resolutions seldomtook the direction of correct feeling, or of right doing. The darknessof the room, and a slight confusion which nevertheless existed in hisbrain, prevented him from noticing the person of his superior, seated,as the latter was, in the dark corner; and he believed himself once morealone with those who were so completely dependent on his mercy, and whohad so long been the subjects of his brutality and tyranny.
"I hope Sir Wycherly is better, Dutton," the wife commenced, fearfulthat her husband might expose himself and her, before he was aware ofthe presence in which he stood. "Admiral Bluewater is as anxious, as weare ourselves, to know his real state."
"Ay, you women are all pity and feeling for baronets and rear-admirals,"answered Dutton, throwing himself rudely into a chair, with his backtowards the stranger, in an attitude completely to exclude the latterfrom his view; "while a husband, or father, might die a hundred deaths,and not draw a look of pity from your beautiful eyes, or a kind wordfrom your devilish tongues."
"Neither Mildred nor I, merit this from _you_, Dutton!"
"No, you're both perfection; like mother, like child. Haven't I been,fifty times, at death's door, with this very complaint of SirWycherly's, and did either of you ever send for an apothecary, even?"
"You have been occasionally indisposed, Dutton, but never apoplectic;and we have always thought a little sleep would restore you; as, indeed,it always has."
"What business had you to _think_? Surgeons think, and medical men, andit was your duty to send for the nearest professional man, to look afterone you're bound both to honour and obey. You are your own mistress,Martha, I do suppose, in a certain degree; and what can't be cured mustbe endured; but Mildred is my child; and I'll have her respect and love,if I break both your hearts in order to get at them."
"A pious daughter always respects her parent, Dutton," said the wife,trembling from head to foot; "but love must come willingly, or, it willnot come at all."
"We'll see as to that, Mrs. Martha Dutton; we'll see as to that. Comehither, Mildred; I have a word to say to you, which may as well be saidat once."
Mildred, trembling like her mother, drew near; but with a feeling offilial piety, that no harshness could entirely smother, she felt anxiousto prevent the father from further exposing himself, in the presence ofAdmiral Bluewater. With this view, then, and with this view only, shesummoned firmness enough to speak.
"Father," she said, "had we not better defer our family matters, untilwe are alone?"
Under ordinary circumstances, Bluewater would not have waited for sopalpable a hint, for he would have retired on the first appearance ofany thing so disagreeable as a misunderstanding between man and wife.But, an ungovernable interest in the lovely girl, who stood trembling ather father's knee, caused him to forget his habitual delicacy offeeling, and to overlook what might perhaps be termed almost a law ofsociety. Instead of moving, therefore, as Mildred had both hoped andexpected, he remained motionless in his seat. Dutton's mind was tooobtuse to comprehend his daughter's allusions, in the absence, of ocularevidence of a stranger's presence, and his wrath was too much excited topermit him to think much of any thing but his own causes of indignation.
"Stand more in front of me, Mildred," he answered, angrily. "More beforemy face, as becomes one who don't know her duty to her parent, and needsbe taught it."
"Oh! Dutton," exclaimed the afflicted wife; "do not--do not--accuseMildred of being undutiful! You know not what you say--know not herobliga--you cannot know her _heart_, or you would not use these cruelimputations!"
"Silence, Mrs. Martha Dutton--my business is not with _you_, at present,but with this young lady, to whom, I hope, I ma
y presume to speak alittle plainly, as she is my own child. Silence, then, Mrs. MarthaDutton. If my memory is not treacherous, you once stood up before God'saltar with me, and there vow'd to love, honour, and _obey_. Yes, thatwas the word; _obey_, Mrs. Martha Dutton."
"And what did _you_ promise, at the same time, Frank?" exclaimed thewife, from whose bruised spirit this implied accusation was torn in anagony of mental suffering.
"Nothing but what I have honestly and manfully performed. I promised toprovide for you; to give you food and raiment; to let you hear my name,and stand before the world in the honourable character of honest FrankDutton's wife."
"Honourable!" murmured the wife, loud enough to be heard by both theAdmiral and Mildred, and yet in a tone so smothered, as to elude theobtuse sense of hearing, that long excess had left her husband. Whenthis expressive word had broken out of her very heart, however, shesucceeded in suppressing her voice, and sinking into a chair, concealedher face in her hands, in silence.
"Mildred, come hither," resumed the brutalized parent. "_You_ are mydaughter, and whatever others have promised at the altar, and forgotten,a law of nature teaches you to obey me. You have two admirers, either ofwhom you ought to be glad to secure, though there is a great preferencebetween them--"
"Father!" exclaimed Mildred, every feeling of her sensitive naturerevolting at this coarse allusion to a connection, and to sentiments,that she was accustomed to view as among the most sacred and private ofher moral being. "Surely, you cannot mean what you say!"
"Like mother, like child! Let but disobedience and disrespect getpossession of a wife, and they are certain to run through a wholefamily, even though there were a dozen children! Harkee, Miss Mildred,it is _you_ who don't happen to know what you say, while I understandmyself as well as most parents. Your mother would never acquaint youwith what I feel it a duty to put plainly before your judgment; and,therefore, I expect you to listen as becomes a dutiful and affectionatechild. You can secure either of these young Wychecombes, and either ofthem would be a good match for a poor, disgraced, sailing-master'sdaughter."
"Father, I shall sink through the floor, if you say another word, inthis cruel manner!"
"No, dear; you'll neither sink nor swim, unless it be by making a bad,or a good choice. Mr. Thomas Wychecombe is Sir Wycherly's heir, and mustbe the next baronet, and possessor of this estate. Of course he is muchthe best thing, and you ought to give him a preference."
"Dutton, _can_ you, as a father and a Christian, give such heartlesscounsel to your own child!" exclaimed Mrs. Dutton, inexpressibly shockedat the want of principle, as well as at the want of feeling, discoveredin her husband's advice.
"Mrs. Martha Dutton, I can; and believe the counsel to be any thing butheartless, too. Do you wish your daughter to be the wife of a miserablesignal-station keeper, when she may become Lady Wychecombe, with alittle prudent management, and the mistress of this capital old house,and noble estate?"
"Father--father," interrupted Mildred, soothingly, though ready to sinkwith shame at the idea of Admiral Bluewater's being an auditor of such aconversation; "you forget yourself, and overlook my wishes. There islittle probability of Mr. Thomas Wychecombe's ever thinking of me as awife--or, indeed of anyone else's entertaining such thoughts."
"That will turn out, as you manage matters, Milly. Mr. Thomas Wychecombedoes not think of you as a _wife_, quite likely, just at this moment;but the largest whales are taken by means of very small lines, when thelast are properly handled. This young lieutenant would have youto-morrow; though a more silly thing than for you two to marry, couldnot well be hit upon. He is only a lieutenant; and though his name is sogood a one, it does not appear that he has any particular right to it."
"And yet, Dutton, you were only a lieutenant when _you_ married, andyour name was _nothing_ in the way of interest, or preferment," observedthe mother, anxious to interpose some new feeling between her daughter,and the cruel inference left by the former part of her husband's speech."We _then_ thought all lay bright before us!"
"And so all would lie to this hour, Mrs. Dutton, but for that one sillyact of mine. A man with the charges of a family on him, little pay, andno fortune, is driven to a thousand follies to hide his misery. You donot strengthen your case by reminding me of _that_ imprudence. But,Mildred, I do not tell you to cut adrift this young Virginian, for hemay he of use in more ways than one. In the first place, you can playhim off against Mr. Thomas Wychecombe; and, in the second place, alieutenant is likely, one day, to be a captain; and the wife of acaptain in His Majesty's navy, is no disreputable birth. I advise you,girl, to use this youngster as a bait to catch the heir with; and,failing a good bite, to take up with the lad himself."
This was said dogmatically, but with a coarseness of manner that fullycorresponded with the looseness of the principles, and the utter want ofdelicacy of feeling that alone could prompt such advice. Mrs. Duttonfairly groaned, as she listened to her husband, for never before had heso completely thrown aside the thin mask of decency that he ordinarilywore; but Mildred, unable to control the burst of wild emotion that cameover her, broke away from the place she occupied at her father's knee,and, as if blindly seeking protection in any asylum that she fanciedsafe, found herself sobbing, as if her heart would break, in AdmiralBluewater's arms.
Dutton followed the ungovernable, impulsive movement, with his eye, andfor the first time he became aware in whose presence he had beenexposing his native baseness. Wine had not so far the mastery of him, asto blind him to all the consequences, though it did stimulate him to apoint that enabled him to face the momentary mortification of hissituation.
"I beg a thousand pardons, sir," he said, rising, and bowing low to hissuperior; "I was totally ignorant that I had the honour to be in thecompany of Admiral Bluewater--Admiral Blue, I find Jack calls you, sir;ha-ha-ha--a familiarity which is a true sign of love and respect. Inever knew a captain, or a flag-officer, that got a regular, expressiveship's name, that he wasn't the delight of the whole service. Yes, sir;I find the people call Sir Gervaise, Little Jarvy, and yourself, AdmiralBlue--ha-ha-ha--an infallible sign of merit in the superior, and of lovein the men."
"I ought to apologize, Mr. Dutton, for making one, so unexpectedly tomyself, in a family council," returned the rear-admiral. "As for themen, they are no great philosophers, though tolerable judges of whenthey are well commanded, and well treated.--But, the hour is late, andit was my intention to sleep in my own ship, to-night. The coach of SirWycherly has been ordered to carry me to the landing, and I hope to haveyour permission to see these ladies home in it."
The answer of Dutton was given with perfect self-possession, and in amanner to show that he knew how to exercise the courtesies of life, orto receive them, when in the humour.
"It is an honour, sir, they will not think of declining, if my wishesare consulted," he said. "Come, Milly, foolish girl, dry your tears,and smile on Admiral Bluewater, for his condescension. Young women, sir,hardly know how to take a joke; and our ship's humours are sometimes alittle strong for them. I tell my dear wife, sometimes--'Wife,' I say,'His Majesty can't have stout-hearted and stout-handed seamen, and thewomen poets and die-away swains, and all in the same individual,' saysI. Mrs. Dutton understands me, sir; and so does little Milly; who is anexcellent girl in the main; though a little addicted to using theeye-pumps, as we have it aboard ship, sir."
"And, now, Mr. Dutton, it being understood that I am to see the ladieshome, will you do me the favour to inquire after the condition of SirWycherly. One would not wish to quit his hospitable roof, in uncertaintyas to his actual situation."
Dutton was duly sensible of an awkwardness in the presence of hissuperior, and he gladly profited by this commission to quit the room;walking more steadily than if he had not been drinking.
All this time, Mildred hung on Admiral Bluewater's shoulder, weeping,and unwilling to quit a place that seemed to her, in her fearfulagitation, a sort of sanctuary.
"Mrs. Dutton," said Bluewater, first kissing t
he cheek of his lovelyburthen, in a manner so parental, that the most sensitive delicacy couldnot have taken the alarm; "you will succeed better than myself, inquieting the feelings of this little trembler. I need hardly say that ifI have accidentally overheard more than I ought, it is as much a secretwith me, as it would be with your own brother. The characters of allcannot be affected by the mistaken and excited calculations of one; andthis occasion has served to make me better acquainted with you, and youradmirable daughter, than I might otherwise have been, by means of yearsof ordinary intercourse."
"Oh! Admiral Bluewater, do not judge him _too_ harshly! He has been toolong at that fatal table, which I fear has destroyed poor dear SirWycherly, and knew not what he said. Never before have I seen him insuch a fearful humour, or in the least disposed to trifle with, or towound the feelings of this sweet child!"
"Her extreme agitation is a proof of this, my good madam, and shows allyou can wish to say. View me as your sincere friend, and place everyreliance on my discretion."
The wounded mother listened with gratitude, and Mildred withdrew fromher extraordinary situation, wondering by what species of infatuationshe could have been led to adopt it.