Chapter IX: V. Chevillere to B. Randolph

"Baltimore, 18--.

"You will have learned by the previous letters[A] of Lamar and
myself, every interesting circumstance which has occurred to us,
together with our _sage_ observations upon men and things as they
were presented.

[A] These letters are omitted, of course, as the same
information has been already given to the reader.

"Lamar spends more than half his time with the Kentuckian,--he
declares that he will never rest satisfied until he persuades him
to remove to the high hills of the Santee, where he can have him
for a neighbour. He has found a new source of amusement to-day, in
the supposed discovery that Damon is in love with the pretty
country girl, on whose account, you will recollect, he got into
the affray at the circus. Her father invited him to pay them a
visit, and Lamar has been trying to persuade him to take advantage
of it immediately, and has even offered to accompany him. I have
no doubt he would succeed, had not the Kentuckian's idol, Pete
Ironsides, been sent into the country 'to board,' as he calls it.
As it is, he has determined upon accepting the invitation as he
returns.

"My own affairs are assuming too sombre a hue for me to enjoy
Lamar's foolery as I used to do, when we three lived together, and
when you and I were made joint partakers of his animal spirits;
_I_ in fact lived upon his stock in trade in that respect, while
you added no little to the joint concern; I was always, I fear,
but a sullen companion for such merry fellows. But have you never
observed that the most lasting and ardent friendships are formed
of such materials? Even in married life, you will, in nine cases
out of ten, see the most opposite qualities form the most durable
and happy connexions. This is running, I know, right in the teeth
of the romantic twaddle of the day, about congenial sentiments,
and the like; but is it not true? Look around you, and see in
every instance if the lively woman has not chosen a serious
husband; the man of genius, a dull drone; the bigot and fanatic, a
romp; the pious lady, a libertine. These observations, however,
like most others of the college stamp, may be destined to give
place to others of a very different character. When I look back
upon all the various revolutions of opinion which the mind
undergoes, before it arrives even at our present state of
maturity, I am dismayed, and almost afraid to look forward.

"Nor is it in matters of abstract opinion alone, I fear, that we
are destined to undergo changes. Our hopes _must_ be in some
measure paralyzed, our hearts made colder, and our youthful
friendships broken asunder! Look what sad havoc a single year has
already made in our own catalogue. Where now is that noble band of
young and generous spirits, who but a single twelvemonth ago were
all the world to each other? Two of them have surrendered the
bright hopes of young life upon its very threshold, and the others
are scattered abroad over land and sea. But I have wandered from
the subject of our adventures, which we have promised faithfully
to record.

"Is it not strange how fate seems to play with us, when once we
are fairly embarked upon life's great current? I am now completely
wound up in perplexities and embarrassments, which, a week ago, I
never once thought of. The actors in this new drama in which I am
confessedly entangled, were then perfect strangers to me; and how
handsomely has providence, or fate, or whatever you may choose to
call it, paved the way for my more complete introduction into
these new mysteries? The lady becomes intimate with my mother,
though coming from opposite ends of the Union. She travels home
again and is taken ill on the road, at the very time when Lamar
and I strike into the same road. It seemed, too, as if I was
placed at the table where our acquaintance commenced, in the very
position where I could not avoid making a tender of my services;
and now that I have become almost a part of their little family
here, I find that they have been afflicted in some way beyond
measure. They seem to be surrounded with mysteries and strange
connexions; more than once have I gone specially to break the
spell, and clear away the trammels which render this most strange
and interesting young lady miserable. Various methods have I
devised to acquire the secret, but they have always ended in
awkwardness and embarrassment. It is no easy matter to initiate
one's self into the midst of family secrets, when one is
comparatively a stranger; yet it must be done, and that shortly. I
feel that it is necessary to my own peace; indeed it is necessary
in order that I may see my own way clearly, to have these cruel
doubts solved. Every hour but adds to my entanglement, and if
there is a shadow of foundation for the phantasies of the lunatic,
the sooner I make the plunge the better. Yet how simple I become;
if I had now the decision of character for which I once had credit
in college, I should not long suffer the dreams of a maniac to
disturb my good opinion of this most lovely and interesting girl.
You may talk of your embarrassments and difficulties with Bell's
untamable humour; they are all child's play,--mere romping,--but
the case is not so easy of adjustment here; the old gentleman has
just announced, that he shall resume his journey early to-morrow
morning; so that something must be effected this afternoon or
evening. If there is no other way, I will formally seek an
interview with the lady, and, however painful it may be to her, I
will ask her to explain her strange fear of the lunatic; of
course I must avow the reason; you shall hear the result.

"P.S. _12 o'clock at night_--I have broken the ice, my dear
fellow, and no doubt you will think I have got a cold bath for my
pains.

"Soon after dark I knocked at the door, and waited some little
time with throbbing pulses, to hear that gentle and silvery voice
bid me '_come in!_' for I had seen the old gentleman go off in a
carriage, to the theatre, as I hoped. No summons came--I repeated
my knock with the same result. I do not know what prompted me to
an act so rude, but I mechanically pushed open the door before I
had reflected a moment. I was in the presence of the little fairy.
She held in her hand an open letter, which was wet with tears; her
head was leaning far back against the wall; her comb, carrying
with it the large rolls of her fair brown hair, was partly lying
on the window, and partly stuck into its place; the pearl of her
cheeks was still wet with recent tears. I did not know which was
now worst, to retreat or go forward. At first I thought she had
fainted, and would have sprung to the bell; but I soon saw that
she slumbered gently and peacefully. Randolph, there is something
heavenly in the slumbers of a young, innocent, and beautiful
female; but I will leave my reflections for another time. I was
about to retreat, and had so far closed the door as to hide my
person, when she suddenly awoke and said, 'Come in, dear father,
come in!' the lights had not yet been brought, but I could see the
crimson mantling her neck and cheeks as she discovered who the
visiter was, and replaced her hair at the same time.

"I felt confused and ashamed, and stammered some vague attempt at
an apology. She made light of my intrusion; but one thing
attracted my attention particularly. Just as the maid set the
lights upon the table in the centre of the room, I thought that I
recognised my mother's handwriting in the letter which she now
hastily folded up and thrust into her reticule. As I mentioned,
she had been weeping over it. This set my imagination to work; I
could not divine on what theme my mother could write to her; still
less what subject for grief they could have between them. I
inquired if she was well; she said 'yes, as well as usual, but
exhausted for want of sleep the previous night.' I instantly
connected her want of sleep and restlessness with my mother's
letter; and before I had sufficiently reflected upon the import of
the question, I asked her whether her first acquaintance with my
mother had not been formed during her late visit to the springs.
She answered in the affirmative. 'But why do you ask?' said she,
searchingly. 'For no particular reason, but the question occurred
to me, from seeing the handwriting of the letter you have just
folded up. I thought it strange that you should receive a letter
from my mother, when I have received none,' 'This letter,' said
she, 'was not received at this place; I was merely refreshing my
memory with its contents.' 'It is not often,' said I, 'that my
mother writes so as to bring tears into the eyes of her friends,
and if you would not consider the expression of the wish too
impertinent, and that too when I have little expectation of its
being granted, I would say that I never before had so much
curiosity to see one of her letters.'

"'Your curiosity,' said she, 'should be gratified immediately, but
this letter alludes to circumstances which would perhaps be
uninteresting to you; but even were they otherwise, it would
excite your curiosity still more to read the letter, when I am
unable to give such explanations _now_ as it requires.'

"'You labour under a most grievous error,' said I, 'if you suppose
there are any circumstances connected in any way with the present
distress of Miss Frances St. Clair, which would be uninteresting
to me. The express object of my visit to-night was to ask that
very explanation. It may seem strange and impertinent that I
should seek that which you evidently avoid; but my excuse is, and
it is the only one that I can plead, that this is your last
evening in the city; will Miss St. Clair be offended, if I
acknowledge that upon this explanation turns my happiness? I am
fearful of giving offence by acknowledging that any previous
history is necessary of one who carries in her countenance a
refutation of all calumnies.'

"I had ventured to seize her unresisting hand, but as I concluded
the sentence, she withdrew it, and covered her face with her
handkerchief, pressing it hard, and breathing short. At the same
time I noticed some confusion with her distress, though without
anger. This imboldened me to proceed.

"'It may appear like double presumption in me to ask an
explanation before I can proffer a suit, which may be instantly
and indignantly rejected, either with or without your history.'

"'I will not prudishly affect to misunderstand you, in either of
the prominent points of your remarks,' said she, her head sinking
in modest guise, 'but before I reply to them, will you tell me
whence you have ever heard any thing against me.'

"The question went straight to my suspicious heart, and rankled
there; insomuch that I coughed and hemmed at it several times
ineffectually; her eyes being riveted on me all the while, like a
judge's upon a detected thief--I felt that her pure and searching
gaze was far more honest than my own, and I should speedily have
begun an explanation if her father had not at that instant entered
the room. I thought he saw and disrelished the matter in hand, for
he seated himself in a chair, in a certain manner, by which one
understands a person to say, 'I'll stay all night, if you have no
objections.' I will be up by daylight in the morning, lest the old
gentleman steal a march upon me.

"Yours truly,

"V. CHEVILLERE."