Chapter 1

INHERITANCE,

Cl)apter j.

Strange is it, that our bloods

Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together, Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off In differences so mighty.

AWs IVdl that Ends Well.

IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that there is no passion so deeply rooted in human nature as that of pride. Whether of self or of family, of deeds done in our own bodies, or deeds done in the bodies of those who lived hundreds of years before us — all find some foundation on which to build their Tower of Babel. Even the dark uncertain future becomes a bright field of promise to the eye of pride, which, like Banquo's bloody ghost, can smile even upon the dim perspective of posthumous greatness.

As the noblest attribute of man, family pride had been cherished time immemorial by the noble race of Rossville. Deep and incurable, therefore, was the wound inflicted on all its members by the marriage

I. A

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of the Honourable Thomas St Clair, youngest son of the Earl of Rossville, with the humble Miss Sarah Black, a beautiful girl of obscure origin and no fortune. In such an union there was every thing to exasperate, nothing to mollify the outraged feelings of the Rossville family ; for youth and beauty were all . that Mrs St Clair had to oppose to pride and ambition. The usual consequences, therefore, were such as always have, and probably always will accompany unequal alliances, — viz., the displeasure of friends, the want of fortune, the world's dread laugh, and, in short, all the thousand natural ills that flesh is heir to when it fails in its allegiance to blood. Yet there are minds fitted to encounter and to overcome even these — minds pos- sessed of that inherent nobility which regard honour as something more than a mere hereditary name, and which seek the nobler distinction, open to all, in the career of some honourable profession. But Mr St Clair's mind was endowed with no such powers ; for he was a man of weak intellects and indolent habits, with just enough of feeling to wish to screen himself from the poverty and contempt his marriage had brought upon him. After hanging on for some time in hopes of a reconciliation with his family, and finding all attempts vain, he at length consented to banish himself and the object of their contumely to some remote quarter of the world, upon condition of receiving a suitable allowance so long as they should remain abroad. The unfortunate pair, thus doomed to unwilling exile, retired to France, where Mr St Clair's mind soon settled into that state which acquires its name from the character of its pos- sessor, and, according to that, is called foititude, resignation, contentment, or stupidity. There, too, they soon sunk into that oblivion which is sometimes the portion of the living as well as the dead. His father's death, which happened some years after, made

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no alteration in his circumstances. The patrimony to which he expected to succeed was settled on his children, should he have any, and a slender life annuity was his only portion.

The natural wish of almost every human being, the weakest as well as the wisest, seems to be to leave some memorial of themselves to posterity — something, if not to tell how their fathers thought or fought, at least to show how they talked or walked. This wish Mr and Mrs St Clair possessed in common with others ; but year after year passed away, and it still remained un- gratified, while every year it became a still stronger sentiment, as death seemed gradually clearing the way to the succession. At the time of his marriage Mr St Clair had been the youngest of five sons ; but three of his brothers had fallen victims to war or pestilence, and there now only remained the present Earl and himself, both alike childless.

At length, when hope was almost extinct, Mrs St Clair announced herself to be in the way of becoming a mother ; and the emigrants resolved upon returning to their native land, that their child might there first see the light. Previous to taking this step, however, the important intelligence was communicated to Lord Rossville, and also their intention of immediately pro- ceeding to Scotland, if agreeable to him ; at the same time expressing a wish that he would favour them with his advice and opinion, as they would be entirely guided by him in their plans.

Lord Rossville was a man who liked to be consulted, and to overturn every plan which he himself had not arranged ; and as Mr St Clair had spoken of taking shipping from Bordeaux, where they then were, and going by sea to. Scotland, Lord Rossville in his answer expressed his decided disapprobation of such a scheme, in Mrs St Clair's situation, and in stormy winter

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weather. But he enclosed a route by way of Paris, which he had made out for them with his own hand ; and directed them, upon their arrival there, to signify the same to him, and there to remain until he had re- solved upon what was next to be done, as he had by no means made up his mind as to the propriety, or at least the necessity, of their returning to Scotland. The packet also contained an order for a sum of money, and letters to some friends of his own at Paris, who would be of service to Mrs St Clair. So far all was kind and conciliating ; and the exiles, after much delay, set forth upon their journey, according to the rules prescribed by the Earl — but, within a day's journey of Paris, Mrs St Clair was taken prematurely ill, and there, at an obscure village, gave birth to a daughter, which, as Mr St Clair sensibly remarked, though not so good as a boy, was yet better than nothing at all. As the salique law was not in force in the Rossville family, the sex of the child was indeed a matter of little con- sequence, save in the eyes of such as are sturdy sticklers for man's supremacy. Its health and strength were therefore the chief objects of consideration ; and, al- though prematurely introduced into life, it was a remark- ably fine thriving baby, which Mrs St Clair, contrary to the common practice of mothers, ascribed entirely to the excellence of its nurse.

They had been fortunate enough to meet with a woman of a superior class, who, having recently lost her husband and her own infant, had readily adopted this one, and as readily transferred to it that abundant stock of love and tenderness which those dealers in the milk of human kindness always have so freely to bestow on their nursling for the time. Mrs St Clair's recovery was tedious, and her general health she declared to be so much impaired that she could not think of encounter- ing the severity of a northern climate. Instead of

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prosecuting their journey, therefore, they retired to the south of France, and, after moving about for some time, finally settled there. This was not what the Earl had intended ; for, although pride still opposed his brother^s return to Scotland, he had, at the same time, wished to have the family somewhere within the sphere of his observation and control, — the more especially as, having lately separated from his lady, his brother's child might now be regarded as presumptive heiress to the family honours. He had purposed, and indeed pressed, to have the little Gertrude transmitted to him, that she might have the advantage of being trained up under his own eye ; but to this Mrs St Clair would not consent. She declared, in the most polite but decided manner, her determination never to part with her child ; but promised that, as soon as her health was sufficiently re- established, they would return to Britain, and that Lord Rossville should have the direction and superintendence, if he pleased, of the young heiress's education. But some obstacle, real or pretended, always arose to prevent the accomplishment of this plan, till at length Mr St Clair was struck with a palsy, which rendered it impossible for him to be removed. Dead to all the purposes of life, he lingered on for several years, — one of those melancholy mementos, who, with a human voice and human shape, have survived every thing human besides.

At length death claimed him as his own, and the widow lost no time in announcing the event to the Earl, and in craving his advice and protection for herself and daughter. A very polite, though long-winded reply, was received from Lord Rossville, in which he directed that Mrs and Miss St Clair should immediately repair to Rossville Castle, there to remain until he should have time and opportunity fully to digest the plans he had formed for the pupilage of his niece. This invitation

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was too advantageous to be refused, even although the terms in which it was couched were not very alluring either to the mother or daughter. With a mixture, therefore, of pleasure and regret, they hastened to exchange the gay vineyards and bright suns of France for the bleak hills and frowning skies of Scotland.

Cljaptcr tj*

Hope well to have, hate not past thought ; For cruel storms fair calms have brought : After sharp showers the sun shines fair, Hope comes likevsrise after despair.

Richard Alison.

MANY years had elapsed since Mrs St Clair had left her native land, and those who had known her then could scarcely have recognised her now, so completely had the tout ensemble changed its character. The blooming hoyden, with her awkward habits and provincial dialect, had been gradually trans- formed into the beautiful woman, graceful in her move- ments, and polished, though elaborate in her manners. Though now long past her meridian, she was still hand- some, and to superficial observers could be captivating ; but the change was merely outward, proceeding from no innate delicacy of thought or ennobling principle of action. It was solely the result of nice tact, know- ledge of the world, and long intercourse with foreigners. The mind remained the same, although the matter had been modified.

In her early days her pride and ambition had been excited by making what was considered a splendid alliance ; and it was not till her understanding was thoroughly ripened, that she made the mortifying dis-

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covery that high birth, when coupled with personal insignificance, adds no more to real distinction than a showy sign does to an ill-kept inn. It was this dis- appointment which, operating on a naturally proud and violent temper, had brought into play all the worst qualities of her nature, and made her look upon the world as indeed a stage, where all the men and women were merely players. To act a grand and conspicuous part, and regain the station her husband's pusillanimity had lost, was therefore now her sole aim.

It rarely happens that one artificial mind can succeed in forming another — we seldom imitate what we do not love. There is something in human nature which recoils from an artificial character even more than from a faulty one ; and where the attempt fails, the revulsion generally produces a character of a totally different stamp. Mrs St Clair had spared no pains to render her daughter as great an adept in dissimulation as she was herself; but all her endeavours had proved unsuccessful, and Miss St Clair's mind remained pretty much as nature had formed it — a mixture of wheat and tares, flowers and weeds. There existed no sort of sympathy or con- geniality of mind between the mother and daughter — there seemed little even of that natural affection which often supplies the want of kindred feeling or similar tastes, and which serves to bind together hearts no human process ever could have brought to amalgamate. Without any point of resemblance in their characters or ideas, there was consequently little interchange of thought ; and when Gertmde did address her mother, it was more from the overflowings of an open heart and buoyant spirits than from any reciprocity of feeling.

" How I wish I had Prince Houssain's glass," ex- claimed she, as they drew near the borders of Scotland, 1/ " that I might take a peep at the people I am going amongst — a single glance would suffice to give me some

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idea of them, or at least to show whether they are the sort of persons it will be possible for me to love."

"You have formed very high and somewhat pre- sumptuous ideas of your own powers of discrimination, it seems," said Mrs St Clair with a disdainful smile ; " but I should humbly conceive that my knowledge and experience might prove almost as useful as your own observations or theories are likely to do."

" I beg your pardon, mamma, but I did not know you had been acquainted with the Rossville family."

" I am not personally acquainted with any of them — I never was — T never would have been, but for you. It is upon your account I now stoop to a reconciliation, which otherwise I would have spurned as I have been spurned." She spoke with vehemence ; then in a calmer tone proceeded, " It is natural that you should wish to know something of the relations with whom you are henceforth to associate, since there is nothing more desirable than a previous knowledge of those whom it is necessary we should please. It is only from report I can speak of the Rossville family, but even from report we may form a tolerably accurate idea of people's general character. Report then says, that Lord Ross- ville is an obstinate, troublesome, tiresome, well-behaved man ; that his sister. Lady Betty, who resides with him, is a harmless, dull, inquisitive old woman : then there are nephews, sisters' sons, to one of whom you are pro- bably destined : there is Mr Delmour, a weak, formal, parliamentary drudge, son of Lord Somebody Delmour, and nephew to the Duke of Burlington ; and his brother, Colonel Delmour, a fashionable unprincipled gamester ; and Mr Lyndsay, a sort of quake rish, methodistical, sombre person, — all, of course, brimful of pride and prejudice. Nevertheless, beware how you contradict prejudices, even knowing them to be such, for the generality of people are much more tenacious of their

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prejudices than of any thing belonging to them ; and should you hear them run out in raptures at such a pro- spect as this'' (pointing to the long bleak line of Scottish coast), " even this too, you must admire ; even this cold y shrubless tract of bare earth and stone walls, and yoni,/^ dark stormy sea, you will perhaps be told (and you must assent), are fairer than the lilied fields and limpid waters of Languedoc."

Miss St Clair remained silent for a few moments contemplating the scene before her ; at last she said, " Indeed, mamma, I do think there is something fine in such a scene as this, although I can scarcely tell in what the charm consists, or why it should be more deeply felt than scenes of greater beauty and grandeur ; but there seems to me something so simple and majestic in such an expanse of mere earth and water, that I feel as if I were looking on nature at the beginning of the creation, when only the sea and the dry land had been formed."

" Rather after the fall, methinks/' said Mrs St Clair with a bitter smile, as she drew her cloak round her ; " at least, I feel at present much more as if I had been expelled from Paradise, than as if I were entering it."

The scene was indeed a dreary one, though calculated to excite emotions in the mind true to nature in all her varied aspects ; and more especially in the youthful heart, where novelty alone possesses a charki sufficient to call forth its admiration. The dark lead-coloured ocean lay stretched before them ; its dreary expanse concealed by lowering clouds, while the sea-fowl clamouring in crowds to the shore announced the coming storm. The yet unclothed fields were black with crows, whose discordant cries mingled with the heavy monotonous sound of the waves, as they advanced with sullen roar, and broke with idle splash. A thick mist was gradually spreading over every object — an in-

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describable shivering was felt by every human thing which had bones and skin to feel — in short, it was an east wind ; and the effect of an east wind upon the east coast of Scotland may have been experienced, but cannot be described.

" This is dreadful ! " exclaimed Mrs St Clair, as her teeth chattered in her head, and her skin began to rise into what is vulgarly termed goose-skin.

"You do look ill, mamma — you are quite a pale blue, and I certainly feel as I never did before ; " and Miss St Clair pulled up the windows, and wrapped her roquelaure still closer. The French valet and abigail, who sat on the dicky, looked round with pitiful faces, as though to ask, " Quest-ce que cela P " Even the postillion seemed affected in the same manner; for, stopping his horses, he drew forth a ponderous many- caped great coat, and buttoning it up to his nose, with a look that bade defiance to the weather, he pursued his route. The air grew colder and colder — the mist be- came thicker and thicker — the shrieks of the sea-fowl louder and louder — till a tremendous hail shower burst forth, and dashed with threatening violence against the windows of the carriage, and the undaunted driver was compelled to bend his purple face beneath its pitiless pelting, while he urged his horses as if to escape from its influence.

" This is Scotland, and this is the month of May ! " exclaimed Mrs St Clair with a groan, as she looked on the whitened fields, and her thoughts recurred to the smiling skies and balmy vernal airs of Languedoc.

" Scotland has given us rather a rude welcome, I must confess," said her daughter ; " but, happily, I am not superstitious ; and, see, it is beginning to smile upon us already."

In a few minutes the clouds rolled away — the sun burst forth in all his warmth and brilliancy — the tender

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wheat glittered in the moisture — the lark flew exulting aloft — the sea-fowl spread their white wings, and skimmed over the blue waters — the postillion slackened his pace, and put off his great coat : such is Scotland's varying clime — such its varying scenery !

Cl)apter u|>

My father's house ! -Send me not thence

Dishonour'd, but to wealth, to greatness raised.

Sophocles.

IT was on a lovely evening that the travellers reached their destination near the western coast of Scot- land. The air was soft, and the setting sun shed his purple light on the mountains which formed the back-ground of the Rossville domains. The approach wound along the side of a river, which possessed all the characteristic variety of a Scottish stream — now gliding silently along, or seeming to stand motionless in the crystal depth of some shaded pool — now chafing and gurgling, with lulling sound, over its pebbly bed — while its steep banks presented no less changing features. In some places they were covered with wood, now in the first tints of spring — the formal poplar's pale hue and the fringed larch's tender green mingling with the red seared leaf of the oak and the brown opening bud of the syca- more. In others, grey rocks peeped from amidst the lichens and creeping plants which covered them as with a garment of many colours, and the wild rose decked them with its transient blossoms.

Farther on the banks became less precipitous, and gradually sunk into a gentle slope, covered with smooth green turf, and sprinkled with trees of noble size. The

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only sounds that mingled with the rush of the stream were the rich full song of the blackbird, the plaintive murmur of the wood pigeon, and the abrupt but not unmusical note of the cuckoo. Gertrude gazed with ecstacy on all around, and her heart swelled with delight as she thought this fair scene she was destined to inherit ; and a vague poetical feeling of love and gratitude to Heaven caused her to raise her eyes, swimming in tear- ful rapture, to the Giver of all good. But it was merely the overflowing of a young, enraptured, and enthusiastic mind ; no deeper principle was felt or understood — no trembling mingled with her joy — no dark future cast its shadow on the mirror imagination presented to her ; but visions of pomp and power, and wealth and grandeur — visions of earthly bliss — swam before those eyes which yet were raised from earth to heaven. She was roused from her reverie by a deep sigh, or rather groan, from her mother, who leant back in the carriage, seemingly overcome by some painful sensation either of mind or body. Miss St Clair was accustomed to hear her mother sigh, and even groan, upon very slight occasions, sometimes upon no occasion at all ; but, at present, there was something that be- tokened an intensity of suffering too sincere for feigning.

" You are ill, mamma ! " exclaimed she in terror, as she looked on her mother's pale and agitated countenance.

It was some moments ere Mrs St Clair could find voice to answer — but at length, in much emotion, she said,