Produced by Al Haines.
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CLARA VAUGHAN
_A NOVEL_
IN THREE VOLUMES VOL II.
R. D. Blackmore
London and Cambridge: MACMILLAN AND CO. 1864.
_The Right of Translation and Reproduction is reserved._
LONDON: R. CLAY, SON, AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS, BREAD STREET HILL.
CLARA VAUGHAN
BOOK II. (_continued_).
CHAPTER XVII.
Late in the evening of that same day, I sat in my room by the firelightonly (for I could not work) and tried to look into myself, and find outthe cause of my strange attraction or rather impulsion towards Isola.Somehow or other I did not wonder so much that she should be drawn quiteas strongly towards me, although an impartial observer would perhapshave wondered far more. Alter puzzling myself in vain with thisinquiry, my thoughts began to move, in their usual gloomy train.
Eight years had now elapsed, and what had I discovered? Nothing; but atlong dark intervals some impress of the deed itself, more than of thedoer. Had I halted in pursuit, or had my vengeance cooled? To theformer question my conscience answered "yes," to the latter "no."Gentle influences had been shed around me, sorrow had bedewed the trackof hate, intercourse with happy harmless people, and gratitude forunmerited kindness; it was not in human nature, however finelyconstitute for evil, entirely to repulse these powers.
I could not deny, that the religion of my heart, during the lasttwelvemonth, had been somewhat neglected. For my devotion to dearmother, no plea was required. But the time since that, what businesshad I with laughing children, and snug firesides, with dickybirds, andSandy the squirrel? Even sweet Isola caused me a pang of remorse; butno, I could not quite abandon her. But now, thank God, I was in theright road again, and plodding resolutely as my father could expect. Tohis spirit, ever present with me, I knelt down and poured out myremorse; and swore to make amends, whatever it might cost me. Yet eventhen, a gentle shadow seemed to come as well, and whisper the words thatcalmed the face of death.
My musings, if so mild a word may suit them, were roughly interrupted bya loud step on the stairs. Inspector Cutting, who could walk whenneedful like a cat, loved to redress this injury to the Goddess Echo, bymaking double noise when not on business. Farmer Huxtable, a man oftwice the weight, would have come up those stairs at half the expense insound.
When he entered the room, he found himself in a semi-official stateagain, and I saw that he was not come for nothing. In a few briefwords, he told me what he had done, which was not very much; or perhapsmy suspicion was right, that he only told me a part of it. Then he saidabruptly,
"Miss Valence, I know pluck when I see it."
"What do you mean, Mr. Cutting?"
"Excuse me, I forgot that you have been reared in the country. What Imean is, that I believe you possess an unusual share of courage."
"As to that, I cannot say, having never been severely tried; but in sucha cause as mine, I could go through a good deal."
"And not lose your presence of mind, even in real danger?"
"That again I cannot say, and for the same reason. But I am quite readyto make the trial."
I felt the colour mounting in my cheeks. How glad I should be to proveto myself that I was not ignoble. He observed me closely, and appearedquite satisfied.
"What I have to propose to you, is attended with no little danger."
"I will do my utmost not to be afraid. I am more impulsive perhaps thanbrave, but what is life worth to me? I will try to think of that allthe time. No doubt you have a good reason for exposing me to danger."
"Certainly I have, Miss Valence. For your own purpose it is mostimportant that you should be able to identify certain persons, whom Ishall show you to-night; that is, unless I am misinformed."
"To-night! so late as this?" And I began to tremble already.
"Yes, we must go to-night, or wait for another fortnight; and then itwould be no earlier, even if we got such a chance again. And for yoursake it is better than to be in a fright for a fortnight."
"Inspector Cutting, I am in no fright whatever. At least I mean no moreso than any other girl would be, who felt a vague danger impending. Ihope and trust that my father's memory and the justice of God will bewith me."
"Young lady, I see that I may safely venture it. If you had boasted, Ishould have hesitated, though I have had some proof already of yourdetermination. The chief, and indeed the only danger, is lest you loseyour presence of mind, and that most females would do, if placed as youwill be. Now I wish you to make deliberate choice, and not to becarried away by impulse vindictiveness, or the love of adventure; which,when the spirit is high like yours, too often leads young females intotrouble, from which it is not always possible even for the most capablemembers of the force to extricate them."
"Of course I know all that. How much longer are we to talk? Must Idisguise myself? When am I to be ready? And where are we going?"
"Now you are growing impatient. That is not a good sign. Remember, Ican easily procure another witness; but for your own sake I wish to giveyou the chance. Probably you will see to-night the man who killed yourfather."
As he spoke my flesh was creeping, and my blood ran cold, then suddenlyflushed through my system like electric fluid. He began again as coollyas if he were reporting a case of some one discovered "drunk andincapable." From force of habit, he touched his forehead, and stood atattention, as he spoke. "In consequence of information which I havereceived, I have been induced to make certain inquiries, which haveresulted in the conviction that the criminal I am in search of will bepresent at a certain place this night, at a certain hour. It istherefore my intention to embrace the opportunity of--"
"Catching him!" cried I in a breathless hurry.
"To embrace the opportunity," continued the Inspector, like a talkingoak, "of conducting my investigations personally, and in the presence ofa witness. The effect thereby produced upon my mind shall be enteredduly, the moral effect I should have said, and the cause of justice willbe promoted as rapidly as is consistent with the principles of ourglorious constitution."
"Do you mean to say that you will let him go?"
"No, I shall not let him go, Miss Valence, for the simple reason that Ishall not apprehend him. I see that you are inclined to take the lawinto your own hands. That will never do for me."
"Oh no, I am not. A year ago I would have done so. But I am older andwiser now."
I was thinking of dear mother; and began to feel already that mycharacter was changing.