Aveline

“ You do not understand these things, my dear Aveline. Not at present, but let us hope you will do so in good time.”
“I confess I do not,” she answered, sadly.
“Well, my darling, you are not required to suffer in a like degree. You have but to leave a man whose tastes, habits, and manners do not and cannot possibly accord with your own.”
“I have never had any reason to complain of my husband,” she answered quickly.
“Bah!” he ejaculated, “do not offend me by laudatory encomiums on one who is so far beneath you; but enough of this. You must think this matter seriously over, my dear Aveline. ”

“ But when am I to claim Aveline? when shall I make her mine?"
"You shall claim her to-morrow, and wed her as soon after as you list."
"Nay, there shall be no delay on my part, Sir Giles. I am all impatience. When such a dainty repast is spread out before me, I am not likely to be a laggard. But now, to the all-important point on which the whole affair hinges! How am I to assert my claim to her hand—how enforce it when made? Explain that to me, Sir Giles, I beseech you." ”

“ He has long worked towards it; and I myself, am to be an humble instrument towards the great end."
"You astonish me!" cried Aveline, greatly surprised at the change in the damsel's manner as well as by what she said.
"Do not perplex yourself, fair mistress," pursued Gillian. "All will be speedily made known to you. But now, no more time must be lost, and we must each assume the character we have to enact. As I am to be the bride, and you the tire-woman, you must condescend to aid me in putting on these rich robes and then disguise yourself in my rustic attire. ”

“ You know, I suppose, that Aveline and myself are separate and apart. We are strangers. It is no fault of mine that we are so—​it is her wish that we should be so. She has left me, Charlie, left me for wealth, position, and rank. I am not good enough for her now—​now that she is a lineal descendant of an earl.”
“Are you separated, then? Are you divorced?” cried Peace. ”

“ Aveline and Miss Jamblin were both delighted with her. No wonder, seeing that they had never heard her equal.
When the first act was over, Aveline said—
“She’s grand—​truly magnificent!”
“Yaas,” drawled Oxmoor, “very good, indeed. A most delightful creature—​a child of impulse.”
“And cultivation,” suggested Lady Marvlynn.
“Oh, of course, she has cultivation—​that’s generally admitted.”
“Nature has something to do in forming a singer, and art also. It is the union of the two that helps to form a great artiste.” ”

“ So Aveline made her preparations accordingly, and began by arranging that the equerry should lose himself in the forest, after which she took away the king’s sword and his horse while he lay asleep under a tree. Her reason for this was that she felt persuaded that, finding himself suddenly alone and robbed of everything, the king would hide his real birth, and would have to fall back on his powers of pleasing, like other men, which would be much better for him. ”

“ Haveloc.
"Ah! my mother. Shall I not break her heart," said Aveline, with a sudden burst of tears.
"Never; you are in ill-health, and attach a meaning to words you would laugh at, if you were stronger. I do believe the worst suffering in illness is the dejection it causes. You should not allow yourself to be so weighed down."
"But if I die—"
"But do not think so. The woman saw you looked delicate, and thought she could turn her warning to a good account. I wish I—" [Pg 125] Aveline seized his hand. A gipsy woman was advancing towards them from the other end of the terrace. ”

“ It is quite like a woman to be trusted—is it not Jane?"
The children stole gently away hand in hand; and Aveline, after a pause, during which she struggled in vain to calm her feelings, burst into a passion of tears and convulsive sobs. Her mother had so carefully concealed from her all suspicions of her danger; so scrupulously hidden her fears of the result of her illness; that Aveline always looked forward to the warm weather as the infallible cure for her cough, and ascribed to accidental causes the different symptoms which revealed too well to others the nature of her complaint. To die. ”

“ Serious illness generally weakens the mind; and in the case of Aveline, it some-what dimmed her perceptions. She did not attach the exact meaning to Mr. Haveloc's constant visits, that she could not fail to have done in health. She had mourned his absence, she was contented in his society, and it seemed as if she felt no desire to penetrate the future, or to anticipate a time when they must part.
"He is late, mamma," said Aveline one day. "He is certainly later this morning; something has happened. That yacht—you know it was very windy last night." ”

“ She may be a blighter in some things, but she doesn’t funk!”
“No more do I,” declared Aveline, suddenly assuming an air of dignified abandon, reminiscent of the heroes of coral-island stories. “I’m ready to brave anything, especially for the sake of old Wilkinson. Don’t tip the thing so hard at your end! You’ve made me trap my fingers!”
They launched their craft from the water-garden, treading ruthlessly on Linda’s irises and Hermie’s cherished forget-me-nots. It seemed to float all right, so they crawled on, and squatted on the cross-beams on either side of it to preserve its balance. ”

“ I hope so," echoed Aveline. "He must be such a delightful old man."
"He is delightful," said Mr. Haveloc warmly. "But I cannot say much for his health; yet these sickly people often outlive stronger ones."
"That is very true," said Mrs. Fitzpatrick, with a satisfied air.
As they passed the place where Aveline had been sitting, Mr. Haveloc started forward and picked up a book. ”

“ SCHILLER.
"There is no one in the verandah," said Mr. Haveloc, coming back to the side of Aveline. "It was your fancy. You have not yet forgotten the gipsy."
Aveline smiled, and signed to him to take a chair close to the sofa.
"I am easy now," she said. "I will not move again." ”

“ I have one favour to ask.”
“What is it?”
“That you let him go about his business. Do this for my sake. I cannot explain all the circumstances which lead up to this, but I say again let him go.”
“You must be mistaken, my dear. It cannot possibly be the man to whom you allude.”
“I am not mistaken,” said Aveline. “I saw his face distinctly as he stood in the greenhouse. Time has not improved its expression ”

“ By fair means or foul you shall be the bride of Sir Francis Mitchell. I have sworn it, and I will keep my oath!"
"As I am a true gentleman, it will infinitely distress me to resort to extremities, fair mistress," said the old usurer, "and I still trust you will listen to reason. If I have put in practice a little harmless stratagem, what matters it? All is fair in love. And if you knew all, you would be aware that I have already paid so dearly for you that I cannot afford to lose you. Cost what it will, you must be mine."
"Never!" exclaimed Aveline, resolutely. ”

“ Fitzpatrick that sent a thrill of pleasure through her heart. It was evident that Farfallo's master could not be far off. It was equally evident that Aveline had not forgotten him; all her illness might arise merely from depression of spirits, from that protracted hope, which while it makes sick the heart, seldom altogether spares the body. Doctors did make such extraordinary mistakes in people's complaints. Mr. Lindsay, though a very judicious man, was not infallible; and Mr. Haveloc once more thrown in Aveline's way. ”

“ But have no fear. Though employed by him, I am devoted to you, and will effect your deliverance—ay, and avenge you upon your persecutors at the same time—if you follow my instructions exactly. Raise the goblet to your lips again. Quaff its contents without apprehension—they are perfectly harmless. Force smiles to your features—give tenderness to your tones, and softness to your glances—and all will be won."
And with a grin, which, though intended to encourage her, somewhat alarmed Aveline, he took up the flask of wine and departed. ”

“ In the first place, I do not think you would be justified in opposing Earl Ethalwood’s expressed wishes, and in the next”—​he paused——
“And in the next,” cried Aveline.
“You are quite justified in getting rid of a man who has brought such discredit on you and yours.”
Aveline rose from her seat, her eyes flashing with indignation, and her whole manner was indicative of the most violent emotion.
“And pray, Mr. Chicknell,” said she, “who has deputed you to make such a statement? In what way has my husband brought discredit on me and mine? ”

“ Two or three merry peasant children were playing on the beach—urging each other closer and closer to the rippling water, and running back with shouts and laughter as the foam broke over their feet. When they came nearer to Aveline, their voices sank; they whispered to each other that it was the sick lady, and stole quietly one by one along the sand. But Aveline caught sight of them as they were passing, and beckoned [Pg 65] them to her side.
"Come to me, Jane," said she "I wish to speak to you, I want to hear how your mother does?" ”

“ Fitzpatrick, unable to control her voice, rose and hurried out of the room. This was a most unusual instance of emotion with her, and had Aveline been in health, such a circumstance would have agitated her beyond measure.
"Poor mamma," said she, looking after her mother, "I do believe she worries herself sadly about my health, and no wonder; for at times, I almost despair of myself. I am better now, however." [Pg 145] Mr. Haveloc led the pony up to the window, and Aveline fed him with one slice of bread after another. ”

“ Haveloc," said Aveline, with something of her old playfulness, "he had better live to be thanked and admired for his good deeds: and having excelled others, he need not be concerned that he can no longer surpass himself."
"And what are you doing, and who have you surpassed in the arts?" said Mr. Haveloc, struck by her reply.
"Something wonderful is in progress," said Aveline laughing, "when I get better, I mean to astonish everybody." [Pg 85] Mr. Haveloc was surprised and pleased with her conversation. Pain, whether mental or bodily, lulls the faculties of some people ”

“ Night had come on, and Aveline was anxiously expecting the arrival of her lover, when a loud knocking was heard at the door of the cottage; and before the summons could be answered by Anthony Rocke, two persons entered, and pushing past the old serving-man, who demanded their business, and vainly endeavoured to oppose their progress, forced their way into the presence of his mistress. ”

“ They scarce are worth the scorn of disbelief.
ANON.
Aveline declared that she would not be defrauded of her ride when the evening came in all its freshness; but Mr. Haveloc said that he saw she was languid; that the morning was the proper time for exercise, and that Hakon Jarl should be his companion the next day, when he paid his respects to Mrs. Fitzpatrick.
"Ah! you will come to-morrow, that [Pg 118] is well," said Aveline, "but do not let me go quite without a ride this evening; let me take a turn just round the garden." ”

“ The alteration in Aveline's manner and deportment towards her persecutor, did not escape the notice of her attendants, and greatly perplexed them. Dame Sherborne ventured to remonstrate with her, hoping she could not be in earnest; and old Anthony Rocke bluntly told her he would rather see her in her grave than the bride of such a hoary reprobate as Sir Francis. Aware that her actions were watched, Aveline thought it best to dissemble, even with her attendants ”

“ Fitzpatrick. "What are we to do with Aveline?"
She looked really bewildered.
"Oh, my dear mamma, don't mind me," said Aveline; "Mrs. Grant's cottage is at the end of the lane; I will go in there till the fog is past."
"Let us make haste then, Mr. Haveloc," said Mrs. Fitzpatrick, mending her pace; "the fog travels fast. She will be wet. What will become of us?"
"Can you go faster?" asked Mr. Haveloc, who was urging the pony as fast as he could walk. ”

“ Fitzpatrick.
"But when one gets frightened," said he, laughing, "what is to be done? When my servant asks me what has become of my purse, I must say I was stopped by a foot-pad."
"Will your servant call you to account?" [Pg 128] asked Aveline, opening wide her large eyes at the idea of any one taking Mr. Haveloc to task.
"I should not wonder. He is a very old servant, and says and does pretty much what he pleases."
"How I should like to hear you go on together," said Aveline with a smile.
"Oh! it seldom amounts to a duet. He generally unburdens his mind at night ”

“ Fitzpatrick, taking a cake from her daughter's unsteady hand.
"Thank you, mamma. I am really very idle to let you do it for me," said Aveline, setting to work hurriedly. "I feel at home with my pencil. I wish I could model a little better. There is something so incomplete in all my busts; but that must be a consideration for the future. When I get strong, I shall delight in improving myself in sculpture." ”

“ During the performance he was most polite and attentive to both the females.
It was a source of great trouble to him, however, that the fair Aveline did not offer him any encouragement. On the contrary, he could not conceal from himself that she was cold and distant.
Nevertheless he did not despair. It is an old adage, “That faint heart never won fair lady.” Peace was mindful of this. Most assuredly his was not a faint heart at any period of his career. ”