Chetwynd

“ Once in the Club a young fellow to whom Chetwynd was personally unknown stretched himself behind a newspaper and muttered, "Bella Blackall Wasn't that the name of Dr. Somebody's wife who ran away with another fellow?"
"Yes, Bella Blackall was my wife," John Chetwynd answered with unruffled equanimity, picking up the paper which the other had thrown down. "She used to be rather a clever dancer, too." ”

“ Chetwynd was educated at Westminster, from which he was elected to Christ Church, Oxford, in 1708, and was appointed resident at Genoa in 1708, through the influence of his brother Walter, who was a member of the whig administration and had powerful parliamentary connections after his succession to the great estate of Ingestre. In 1712, after the accession of Harley and St. John to power, Chetwynd was recalled from Genoa, but in 1714 he was elected M.P. for Stafford, again through the influence of his brother, and in 1717 he became a junior lord of the admiralty in the whig administration. ”

“ At this instant Chetwynd and Mildred returned from the further end of the garden, and joined the party on the lawn.
Captain Danvers thought Mildred's manner colder to him than it had been before, but he soon received an explanation of the change from Chetwynd, who took him aside and said:
“I have had some conversation about you with my sister, and have ascertained her sentiments. It will be useless to propose to her. You will be refused.” ”

“ Mildred could scarcely repress a cry.
“I thought as much,” said Mrs. Calverley. “Your fair inconstant was the beautiful Annabella Chetwynd, my husband's first wife.”
“Exactly so,” said Sir Bridgnorth. “I never beheld her since her marriage,” he added, to Mildred. “No wonder, therefore, your appearance produced such an effect upon me. For a moment I thought she had come to life again. I shall always take an interest in you, and shall always be delighted to serve you. Since I cannot be your husband, you must allow me to be a friend.” ”

“ Week after week passed, and she heard nothing from England. Again and again she wrote: there was no answer. But at length there arrived at Thun his lordship's man of business, Mr. Chetwynd, who brought with him all the news for which she had sought.
She was seated at the window overlooking the lake, oppressed and almost terrified by the strange shadows which the sunset was weaving among the mountains opposite. The sun had so far sunk that only the peaks of the splendid hills burned like tongues of fire ”

“ Do you think this marriage with Mrs. Calverley and Lord Courland will really take place?”
“I believe it will, Norris,” replied Chetwynd. “I see nothing to prevent it. I don't know whether all the preliminary arrangements are settled; but his lordship appears perfectly satisfied. And so he ought to be, if what I hear is true.”
“It will be more advantageous to you than to him,” said Norris.
“I don't understand you,” rejoined Chetwynd, regarding him fixedly.
“When I say advantageous to you, sir, I mean to your sister,” observed the butler. “But it cannot fail to be beneficial to you. ”

“ I'm perfectly well able to act for myself and I intend to do so now and always. I'm sick of your eternal fault-finding, and the sooner you know it the better. If it's not one thing it's another. Nothing I do is right and I'm about tired of it."
John Chetwynd sat perfectly silent under this tirade. He was a shrewd man, and he knew that Bella had been spending the evening with her own people, and jumped at once to the conclusion that in defying him she was acting by their advice, and his brow grew black and lowering. ”

“ I am weary of life; sick of the hollowness, the ingratitude, the perfidy of the world! Timon of Athens did not hate mankind more bitterly than I do. I would consent to live if I felt certain of revenge on some of those who have wronged me; but on no other condition. This is not likely to happen; so it is best I should go!”
“Alas, poor Chetwynd!” exclaimed Mildred. “His fancied wrongs have driven him to the verge of madness!”
“He seems extraordinarily sensitive, and to feel most acutely the slights shown him by his ungrateful associates,” said Emmeline. ”

“ And he moved to a little distance with Rose.
“What would you with me, dearest sister?” asked Chetwynd, “Any injunctions you may give me shall be strictly fulfilled.”
“I wish to see Mrs. Calverley,” she said.
“Better not,” he replied.
“I think so, too,” added Emmeline. “Her presence will only disturb you.”
“I must see her before I die,” said Mildred. “Bring her to me, if you can. She is in her own room.”
Chetwynd made no further remonstrance, but proceeding to Mrs. Calverley's chamber, which was on the same floor, and at no great distance, tapped at the dressing-room door. ”

“ Chetwynd's sister, miss? Well, I don't see any great resemblance.”
“I never was considered very much like my brother,” observed Mildred, smiling.
“Ah, you might be proud of resembling him, miss; for he's a very fine young gentleman. Don't you agree with me, miss?” she added, turning to Emmeline.
“Yes; he is generally considered very good-looking,” replied the young lady, slightly blushing—a circumstance that Mrs. Hartley did not fail to remark, “Whoever gets Mr. Chetwynd for a husband will do well,” she said. ”

“ No one is in the dining-room. Please to go in there. I want to have a few words with you—to reason with you.”
And he tried to draw him towards the room in question; but Chetwynd resisted.
“Reason with me!” he exclaimed. “I know what you'll say, Norris. You'll advise me to make it up with my father, and bow the knee to my stepmother; but I'll die rather!”
“Mr. Chetwynd, it's a chance if your father is alive to-morrow morning. Think of that, and what your feelings will be when he's gone. You'll reproach yourself then, sir, for I know you've a good heart. ”

“ Looking round, they perceived the old chaplain, Mr.
Massey, who had followed them unseen into the chapel.
A venerable man, in age more than fourscore, with silver locks, and a most benevolent expression of countenance.
“Heaven bless your union, whenever it takes place, and though I may not live to see it!” he said.
“I trust you may unite us, reverend sir,” said Chetwynd. “But you ought to know who I am.” ”

“ Lady Thicknesse became Lady Bridgnorth, greatly to the delight of the excellent baronet. Chetwynd was made supremely happy by the hand of Emmeline. Nor had Charles Danvers less reason to be content, for in Mildred he obtained a treasure; while we doubt whether any one was happier than Harry Netterville, when he could really call Rose his own. ”

“ A messenger was immediately sent off to Mildred to prevent alarm, and Captain Danvers undertook that Chetwynd should be put to no inconvenience in regard to his toilette.
There was no difficulty about beds, for there was a superfluity at Brackley. A large chamber was assigned to Chetwynd, containing an antique canopied bedstead with twisted oak pillars, and heavy brocade curtains, the splendour of which was somewhat dimmed by years. There were a couple of old black cabinets in the room, and the dark oak panels were hung with sombre tapestry, or adorned with portraits. ”

“ Banpfylde listened attentively, his eyes still riveted upon the stone. Chetwynd took out a note-book, and jotted down the words as Sherwin uttered them.
“Now, what do you suppose this all means?” asked Chetwynd. “Have you heard any interpretation of that queer jargon?”
“Never,” answered Sherwin; “but I have made an interpretation for myself. Of that, however, I am not disposed to speak. What do you think of the legend, Mr. Banpfylde?”
“I think,” replied the dealer, “that the words are mere nonsense, invented to keep thieves from touching the gem. ”

“ Calverley observed to Sir Bridgnorth, “You see with what impracticable material I have to deal. Any friendly overture on my part is always scornfully rejected. Well, Chetwynd must take his own course; and if he suffers for his wilfulness, he has only himself to blame. Do you feel at liberty to tell me what he came about, Mildred?” ”

“ To whom do you suppose she is attached?—to Chetwynd?”
“No; it is only surmise on my part. But still I think I am right.”
“If she won't accept Lord Courland, it will be monstrously provoking after all my trouble. He has met her every day for nearly a fortnight, and the affair has not advanced a single step. She seems to like his society, but nothing more, and he appears just as much pleased with Mildred as he is with her.”
“Have you tried to bring him to the point? Have you spoken to him?”
“No; my nephew, Scrope Danvers, is strangely averse to such a course.” ”

“ After all, one can not wonder at his thoughtlessness and enthusiasm. Around Chetwynde all the associations of his life were twined. Until he had joined the regiment he had known no other home; and beyond this, to this high-spirited youth, in whom pride of birth and name rose very high, there had been from his earliest childhood a bitter humiliation in the thought that the inheritance of his ancestors, which had never known any other than a Chetwynde for its master, must pass from him forever into alien hands. ”

“ VIII. HARRY NETTERVILLE AND TOM TANKARD APPEAR AT OUSELCROFT. |Mrs. Calverley found Chetwynd in the library with the two young men, who bowed very respectfully as she made her appearance.
“What has happened?” she said to Chetwynd. “I thought you were staying with Sir Bridgnorth?”
“I have only just come from Charlton,” he replied. “We have got a strange business on hand, as you will admit when you learn what it is. You have heard me speak of an infamous scoundrel named Romney. ”

“ He will leave all his property to Teresa—to his wife, I am certain of it.”
“Nothing of the sort, Chetwynd!” cried his sister. “Come into the house, and see him.”
“If he has made up his mind to commit this act of folly and injustice, all I can say won't prevent it. Ah, here is Carteret!” he exclaimed, as a mail phaeton entered the lodge gate, and drove up to the hall door.
The attorney and his clerk descended; and, leaving his carriage to the care of a groom, Mr. Carteret rang the bell.
“Come in at once, Chetwynd, and you will be able to see papa before Mr. Carteret is admitted. ”

“ His violence only proves the strength of his affection for you.”
“I would rather he didn't show his affection in this way,” she rejoined.
“Certainly he allowed his passion to carry him a great deal too far,” said Chetwynd. “But he will be very sorry to-morrow.”
“When he comes here again, he will find me gone; and I sha'n't write to him,” said Rose.
“Don't make resolutions you are sure to break,” said Chetwynd. “And now, adieu. Possibly I may see you to-morrow in Belgrave Square.” ”

“ In the end we came away, Chetwynd fully convinced that the wretched girl was a confirmed lunatic and full of pity for Kort, whom he considered a most indulgent and self-sacrificing husband.
“My hope is,” said Kort, after our consultation had come to an end, “that a long residence in the Davos suite, joined to absolute quiet and freedom from excitement, may gradually combat the worst symptoms from which my poor wife suffers. ”

“ Calverley. “But it is rather unlucky that Mildred should have been taken ill this morning, and Rose is obliged to be in attendance upon her.”
“She is not seriously ill, I trust?” inquired Chetwynd, anxiously.
“No; and Emmeline can stay with her, while Rose leaves her for a time,” said Mrs. Calverley.
“Nothing more will be needful,” said Chetwynd.
Then turning to Netterville, and pointing to the writing materials on the table, he added, “Sit down and prepare a note to Rose, and I will send it off a once by a groom to Brackley, together with another letter from myself.” ”

“ I also blame myself for not mentioning one or two circumstances that have occurred since your departure; but I really felt frightened.”
“Has Romney made an attempt to see you again?” asked Chetwynd.
“More than once,” she replied. “He annoys me dreadfully. When my father is with me, he keeps out of the way; but I cannot always have a protector at my side. This is one reason why I have resolved to go into service. I shall be secure from my tormentor.”
“I hope he won't trouble you much longer,” remarked Chetwynd.
Just then a knock was heard at the door. ”

“ Intoxicated by the power and wealth I had acquired, I contrived to stifle remorse. I kept Mildred constantly with me. Her presence seemed to shield me, and I sought to make some amends by befriending Chetwynd.
“But vengeance was pursuing me, though with slow feet. My punishment was accomplished in an unforeseen manner. Hitherto my heart had never known love, and I thought myself proof against the tender passion. But it was not so. I met Lord Courland at the house of Lady Thicknesse in London, and he at once won my affections and offered me his hand. ”

“ Bella liked carpets her feet could sink into, she had once said. There by the fireplace was the most luxurious easy chair he could purchase, upholstered in her favourite colour, pale blue. He pictured the dainty figure nestling in it, and a little glow stirred at his heart. After all, she was his wife, his fondly loved wife, and who could tell? Perhaps with the old life, old feuds would die out and with the new, joy and happiness dawn for them both once more.
John Chetwynd was not a religious man; he rarely went to church and he never prayed ”