No little art and management had been necessary to make the admiral
auxiliary to the indirect plan proposed by his friend to bring George and
Isabel together. This, however, effected, the general turned his whole
strategy to the impression to be made on the heart of the young gentleman.
Sir Frederick Denbigh had the same idea of the virtue of management as the
Dowager Lady Chatterton, but he understood human nature better.
Like a prudent officer, his attacks were all masked, and, like a great
officer, they seldom failed of success.
The young couple were thrown in each other's way, and as Isabel was
extremely attractive, somewhat the opposite to himself in ardor of
temperament and vivacity, modest, and sensible, it cannot be expected that
the association was maintained by the youth with perfect impunity. Within
a couple of months he fancied himself desperately in love with Isabel
Howell; and, in truth, he had some reason for the supposition.
The general watched every movement of his son with a wary and vigilant
eye--occasionally adding fuel to the flame, by drawing his attention to
projects of matrimony in other quarters, until George began to think he
was soon to undergo a trial of his constancy, and in consequence he armed
himself with a double portion of admiration for his Isabel, in order to
enable himself to endure the persecution; while the admiral several times
endangered the success of the whole enterprise by volunteer contributions
to the hopes of the young man, which only escaped producing an opposite
effect to that which was intended, by being mistaken for the overflowings
of good nature and friendship.
After suffering his son to get, as he thought, sufficiently entangled in
the snares of Cupid, Sir Frederick determined to fire a volley from one of
his masked batteries, which he rightly judged would bring on a general
engagement. They were sitting at the table after dinner, alone, when the
general took the advantage of the name of Miss Howell being accidentally
mentioned, to say--
"By the by, George, my friend the admiral said something yesterday on the
subject of your being so much with his daughter. I wish you to be
cautious, and not to give the old sailor offence in any way, for he is my
particular friend."
"He need be under no violent apprehensions," cried George, coloring highly
with shame and pride, "I am sure a Denbigh is no unworthy match for a
daughter of Sir Peter Howell."
"Oh! to be sure not, boy, we are as old a house as there is in the
kingdom, and as noble too; but the admiral has queer notions, and,
perhaps, he has some cub of a sailor in his eye for a son-in-law. Be
prudent, my boy, be prudent; that is all I ask of you."
The general, satisfied with the effect he had produced, carelessly arose
from his seat, and joined Lady Margaret in her drawing-room.
George remained for several minutes musing on his father's singular
request, as well as the admiral's caution, when he sprang from his seat,
caught up his hat and sword, and in ten minutes rang at Sir Peter's door
in Grosvenor Square. He was admitted, and ascending to the drawing-room,
he met the admiral on his way out. Nothing was further from the thoughts
of the veteran than a finesse like the general's; and, delighted to see
George on the battle-ground, he pointed significantly over his shoulder
towards the door of the room Isabel was in, and exclaimed, with a
good-natured smile,
"There she is, my hearty; lay her aside, and hang me if she don't strike.
I say, George, faint heart never won fair lady: remember that, my boy; no,
nor a French ship."
George would have been at some loss to have reconciled this speech to his
father's caution, if time had been allowed him to think at all; but the
door being open he entered, and found Isabel endeavoring to hide her
tears.
The admiral, dissatisfied from the beginning with the tardy method of
despatching things, thought he might be of use in breaking the ice for
George, by trumpeting his praises on divers occasions to his daughter.
Under all circumstances, he thought she might be learning to love the man,
as he was to be her husband; and speeches like the following had been
frequent of late from the parent to the child:
"There's that youngster, George Denbigh: now, Bell, is he not a fine
looking lad? Then I know he is brave. His father before him, was good
stuff and a true Englishman. What a proper husband he would make for a
young woman, he loves his king and country so; none of your new-fangled
notions about religion and government, but a sober, religious churchman;
that is, as much so, girl, as you can expect in the guards. No Methodist,
to be sure;--it's a great pity he wasn't sent to sea, don't you think so?
But cheer up, girl, one of these days he may be taking a liking to you
yet."
Isabel, whose fears taught her the meaning of these eloquent praises of
Captain Denbigh, listened to these harangues in silence, and often
meditated on their import by herself in tears.
George approached the sofa on which the lady was seated before she had
time to conceal the traces of her sorrow, and in a voice softened by
emotion, he took her hand gently as he said,--
"What can have occasioned this distress to Miss Howell. If anything in my
power to remove, or which a life devoted to her service can mitigate, she
has only to command me to find a cheerful obedience."
"The trifling causes of sorrow in a young woman," replied Isabel,
endeavoring to smile, "will hardly require such serious services to remove
them."
But the lady was extremely interesting at the moment. George was goaded by
his father's caution, and urged on by his own feelings, with great
sincerity, and certainly much eloquence, he therefore proffered his love
and hand to the acceptance of his mistress.
Isabel heard him in painful silence. She respected him, and dreaded his
power over her father; but, unwilling to abandon hopes to which she yet
clung as to her spring of existence, with a violent effort she determined
to throw herself on the generosity of her lover.
During her father's late absence Isabel had, as usual, since the death of
her mother, been left with his sister, and had formed an attachment for a
young clergyman, a younger son of a baronet, and the present Dr. Ives. The
inclination had been mutual; and as Lady Hawker knew her brother to be
perfectly indifferent to money, she could see no possible objection to its
indulgence.
On his return, Ives made his proposals, as related; and although warmly
backed by the recommendations of the aunt, he was refused. Out of delicacy
the wishes of Isabel had not been mentioned by her clerical lover, and
the admiral supposed he had only complied with his agreement with the
general, without in any manner affecting the happiness of his daughter by
his answer. But the feelings which prompted the request still remained in
full vigor in the lovers; and Isabel now, with many blushes and some
hesitation of utterance, made George fully acquainted with the state of
her heart, giving him at the same time to understand that he was the only
obstacle to her happiness.
It cannot be supposed that George heard her without pain or mortification.
The struggle with self-love was a severe one, but his better feelings
prevailed, and he assured the anxious Isabel that from his importunities
she had nothing to apprehend in future. The grateful girl overwhelmed him
with thanks, and George had to fly ere he repented of his own generosity.
Miss Howell intimated, in the course of her narrative, that a better
understanding existed between their parents than the caution of the
general had discovered to his unsuspecting child, and George was
determined to know the worst at once.
At supper he mentioned, as if in remembrance of his father's injunction,
that he had been to take his leave of Miss Howell, since he found his
visits gave uneasiness to her friends. "On the whole," he added,
endeavoring to yawn carelessly, "I believe I shall visit there no more."
"Nay, nay," returned Sir Frederick, a little displeased at his son's
obedience, "I meant no such thing. Neither the admiral nor myself, has the
least objection to your visiting in moderation; indeed, you may marry the
girl with all our hearts, if you can agree."
"But we can't agree, I take it," said George, looking up at the wall.
"Why not? what hinders?' cried his father unguardedly.
"Only--only I don't like her," said the son, tossing off a glass of wine,
which nearly strangled him.
"You don't," cried the general with great warmth, thrown entirely off his
guard by this unexpected declaration "and may I presume to ask the reason
why you do not like Miss Howell, sir?"
"Oh! you know, one never pretends to give a reason for this sort of
feeling, my dear sir."
"Then," cried his father with increasing heat, "you must allow me to say,
my dear sir, that the sooner you get rid of these sort of feelings the
better. I choose you shall not only like, but love Miss Howell; and this I
have promised her father."
"I thought that the admiral was displeased with my coming to his house so
much--or did I not understand you this morning?"
"I know nothing of his displeasure, and care less. He has agreed that
Isabel shall be your wife, and I have passed my word to the engagement;
and if, sir, you wish to be considered as my son, you will prepare to
comply."
George was expecting to discover some management on the part of his
father, but by no means so settled an arrangement, and his anger was in
proportion to the deception.
To annoy Isabel any further was out of the question; to betray her, base;
and the next morning he sought an audience with the Duke. To him he
mentioned his wish for actual service, but hinted that the maternal
fondness of Lady Margaret was averse to his seeking it. This was true, and
George now pressed his uncle to assist him in effecting an exchange.
The boroughs of the Duke of Derwent were represented by loyal members of
parliament, his two brothers being contemporary with Mr. Benfield in that
honor; and a request from a man who sent six members to the Commons,
besides having a seat in the Lords in his own person, must be listened to.
Within the week George ceased to be a captain in the guards, and became
lieutenant-colonel of a regiment under orders for America.
Sir Frederick soon became sensible of the error his warmth had led him
into, and endeavored, by soothing and indulgence, to gain the ground he
had so unguardedly lost. But terrible was his anger, and bitter his
denunciations, when his son acquainted him with his approaching
embarkation with his new regiment for America. They quarrelled; and as the
favorite child had never, until now, been thwarted or spoken harshly to,
they parted in mutual disgust. With his mother George was more tender; and
as Lady Margaret never thought the match such as the descendant of two
lines of dukes was entitled to form, she almost pardoned the offence in
the cause.
"What's this here?" cried Sir Peter Howell, as he ran over a morning paper
at the breakfast table: "Captain Denbigh, late of the guards, has been
promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the ---- Foot, and sails to-morrow
to join that regiment, now on its way to America."
"It's a lie, Bell!--it's all a lie! not but what he ought to be there,
too, serving his king and country; but he never would serve you so."
"Me?" said Isabel, with a heart throbbing with the contending feelings of
admiration for George's generosity, and delight at her own deliverance.
"What have I to do with the movements of Mr. Denbigh?"
"What!" cried her father in astonishment; "a'n't you to be his wife,
a'n't it all agreed upon--that is, between Sir Frederick and me, which is
the same thing, you know--"
Here he was interrupted by the sudden appearance of the general himself,
who had just learnt the departure of his son and hastened, with the double
purpose of breaking the intelligence to his friend, and of making his own
peace.
"See here, Denbigh," exclaimed the admiral, pointing to the paragraph,
"what do you say to that?"
"Too true--too true, my dear friend," replied the general shaking his head
mournfully.
"Hark ye, Sir Frederick Denbigh," cried the admiral fiercely; "did you not
say that your son George was to marry my daughter?"
"I certainly did, Sir Peter, and am sorry to say that, in defiance of my
entreaties and commands, he has deserted his' home, and, in consequence, I
have discarded him for ever."
"Now, Denbigh," said the admiral, a good deal mollified by this
declaration, "have I not always told you, that in the army you know
nothing of discipline? Why, sir, if he was a son of mine, he should marry
blindfolded, if I chose to order it. I wish, now, Bell had an offer, and
dared to refuse it."
"There is the barber's clerk, you know," said the general, a good deal
irritated by the contemptuous manner of his friend.
"And what of that, Sir Frederick?" said the sailor sternly; "if I choose
her to marry a quill-driver, she shall comply."
"Ah! my good friend," said the general, willing to drop the disagreeable
subject, "I am afraid we shall both find it more difficult to control the
affections of our children than we at first imagined."
"You do, General Denbigh?" said the admiral, with a curl of contempt on
his lip; and ringing the bell violently, he bid the servant send his young
lady to him.
On the appearance of Isabel, her father inquired with an air of settled
meaning where young Mr. Ives resided. It was only in the next street, and
a messenger was sent to him, with Sir Peter Howell's compliments, and a
request to see him without a moment's delay.
"We'll see, we'll see, my old friend, who keeps the best discipline,"
muttered the admiral, as he paced up and down the room, in eager
expectation of the return of his messenger.
The wondering general gazed on his friend, to ascertain if he was out of
his senses. He knew he was quick to decide, and excessively obstinate, but
he did not think him so crazy as to throw away his daughter in a fit of
spleen. It never occurred to Sir Frederick, however, that the engagement
with himself was an act of equal injustice and folly, because it was done
with more form and deliberation, which, to the eye of sober reason, would
rather make the matter worse. Isabel sat in trembling suspense for the
issue of the scene, and Ives in a few minutes made his appearance in no
little alarm.
On entering, the admiral addressed him abruptly, by inquiring if he still
wished to marry that girl, pointing to his daughter. The reply was an
eager affirmative. Sir Peter beckoned to Isabel, who approached, covered
with blushes; and her father having placed her hand in that of her lover,
with an air of great solemnity he gave them his blessing. The young people
withdrew to another room at Sir Peter's request, when he turned to his
friend, delighted with his own decision and authority, and exclaimed,
"There, Fred. Denbigh, that is what I call being minded."
The general had penetration enough to see that the result was agreeable
to both the young people, a thing he had long apprehended; and being glad
to get rid of the affair in any way that did not involve him in a quarrel
with his old comrade, he gravely congratulated the admiral on his good
fortune and retired.
"Yes, yes," said Sir Peter to himself, as he paced up and down his room,
"Denbigh is mortified enough, with his joy, and felicity, and
grand-children. I never had any opinion of their manner of discipline at
all; too much bowing and scraping. I'm sorry, though, he is a priest; not
but what a priest may be as good a man as another, but let him behave ever
so well, he can only get to be a bishop at the most. Heaven forbid he
should ever get to be a Pope! After all, his boys may be admirals if they
behave themselves;" and he went to seek his daughter, having in
imagination manned her nursery with vice and rear admirals in embryo by
the half dozen.
Sir Peter Howell survived the marriage of his daughter but eighteen
months; yet that was sufficient time to become attached to his invaluable
son-in-law. Mr. Ives insensibly led the admiral, during his long
indisposition, to a more correct view of sacred things, than he had been
wont to entertain; and the old man breathed his last, blessing both his
children for their kindness, and with an humble hope of future happiness.
Some time before his death, Isabel, whose conscience had always reproached
her with the deception practised on her father, and with the banishment of
George from his country and home, threw herself at the feet of Sir Peter
and acknowledged her transgression.
The admiral heard her in astonishment, but not in anger. His opinions of
life had sensibly changed, and his great cause of satisfaction with his
new son removed all motives for regret for anything but for the fate of
poor George. With the noble forbearance and tenderness of the young man to
his daughter, the hardy veteran was sensibly touched; and his entreaties
with Sir Frederick made his peace with a father already longing for the
return of his only hope.
The admiral left Colonel Denbigh his blessing, and his favorite pistols,
as a remembrance of his esteem; but he did not live to see the reunion
with his family.
George had soon learnt, deprived of hope and in the midst of novelty, to
forget a passion which could no longer be prosperous; and two years from
his departure returned to England, glowing in health, and improved in
person and manners by a more extensive knowledge of the world and mankind.