THE POOR GENTLEMAN. 

by

HENDRIK CONSCIENCE

Author of _The Curse of the Village_, _The Happiness of Being Rich_, _Veva_, _The Lion of Flanders_, _Count Hugo of Craenhove_, _WoodenClara_, _Ricketicketack_, _The Demon of Gold_, _The Village Inn-Keeper_, _The Conscript_, _Blind Rosa_, _The Amulet_, _The Miser_, _TheFisherman's Daughter_, etc. 

Translated Expressly for this Edition. 

Preface to the American Edition. 

The story of "THE POOR GENTLEMAN, " now given in our language for thefirst time, is one of the series in which M. Conscience has delineatedvarious grades of female character in positions of trial. In "TheVillage Innkeeper" he has shown the weaker traits of woman distractedbetween an inborn sense of propriety and a foolish ambition for high, life. In the "Conscript" his heroine displays the nobler virtues ofuncorrupted humble life; and, with few characters, taken from the lowestwalks, he shows the triumph of honest, straightforward earnestness andpertinacious courage, even when they are brought in conflict withauthority. "The Poor Gentleman" closes the series; and, selecting aheroine from the educated classes of his country-people M. Consciencehas demonstrated how superior a _genuine woman_ becomes to all themishaps of fortune, and how successfully she subdues that imaginary_fate_ before which so many are seen to fall. 

It would be difficult to describe this remarkable work without analyzingthe tale and criticizing its personages. This would anticipate theauthor and mar the interest of his story. We must confine ourselves, therefore, to general remarks on its structure and characteristics. 

_Pontmartin_, the distinguished French _feuilletonist_, says, in one ofhis "Literary Chats, " that these simple stories are "pearls set inFlemish gold, --a gold which alchemysts seek for in alembics andfurnaces, but which Conscience has found in the inexhaustible veins ofnature. " "The Poor Gentleman, " he remarks, "is a tale of not more than ahundred and fifty pages; but I would not give its shortest chapter forall the _romances_ I ever read. The perplexed De Vlierbeck--who ought tohave had Caleb Balderstone for a servant--is one of those charactersthat engrave themselves indelibly on our memory. " In every trait anddetail the author has attained a photographic minuteness; which, whileit is distinct and sharp, never interferes with that motion, breadth, and picturesque effect that impart life and reality to a story. Nor canwe doubt that it will be read and re-read as long as there is a particleof that feeling among us which installed the Vicar of Wakefield, Pauland Virginia, the Crock of Gold, the Sketch-book, and the Tales of aTraveller, among the heirlooms of every tasteful household. The "Talesof Flemish Life" are additions to that rare stock of home-literaturewhich is at once amiable and gentle, simple and affectionate, familiarand tender, and which meets a quick response from every honest heart andearnest spirit. 

If it be objected that the stories are too short and sketchy for thepraise that has been bestowed on them, it may be answered that in theirtranslation we have had the best opportunity to observe the skill, power, and perception of character which constitute their real merit. Simple as they seem, they are written with masterly art. In design, elaborateness, tone, and finish, they resemble the works of the FlemishSchool which have made us familiar with the Low Countries and theirpeople through the pictures of Ruysdael, Teniers, and Ostade. There isscarcely a leaf that does not display some of those recondite orevanescent secrets of human nature which either escape ordinary writers, or, when found by them, are spread out over volume instead of beingcondensed into a page. 

Baltimore, August, 1856. 

THE TRANSLATOR. 

CHAPTER I. 

Near the end of July, 1842, an open _calèche_ might have been seenrolling along one of the three highways that lead from the frontiers ofHolland toward Antwerp. Although the vehicle had evidently been cleanedwith the utmost care, every thing about it betokened decay. Its jointswere open, discolored, and weather-beaten, and it swung from side toside on its springs like a rickety skeleton. Its patched leathers shonein the sunshine with the oil that had been used to freshen them, but theborrowed lustre could not hide the cracks and repairs with which theywere defaced. The door-handles and other parts of the vehicle that weremade of copper had been carefully polished, and the vestiges ofsilver-plating, still visible in the creases of the ornaments, denoted aformer richness which had been almost entirely worn out by time and use. 

The _calèche_ was drawn by a stout, heavy horse, whose short andlumbering gait intimated very clearly that he was oftener employed inthe plough and cart than in carrying his owner toward the capital. 

A peasant-boy of seventeen or eighteen was perched on the driver's seat. He was in livery; a tarnished gold band adorned his hat, and brassbuttons glistened on his coat; but the hat fell over his ears, and thecoat was so large that the driver seemed lost in it as in a bag. Thegarments had been worn by many of the lackey's predecessors on the box, and, in a long series of years, had doubtless passed from coachman tocoachman till they descended to their present possessor. 

The only person in the vehicle was a man about fifty years old. He wasunquestionably the master of both servant and cabriolet, for his lookand deportment commanded respect and consideration. With head depressedand moody air, he sat motionless and dreamy in his seat till he heardthe approach of other vehicles, when, suddenly lifting his eyes, hewould salute the strangers graciously and then instantly relapse intohis former attitude. A moment's glance at this person was sufficient toexcite an interest in him. His face, though hard and wrinkled, was soregular and noble in its contour, his look so mild and yet so earnestand penetrating, his broad brow so clear and lofty, that the mostcareless observer could not doubt that he was endowed with the bestqualities of human nature. Besides this, there were unquestionableindications that he had been a sufferer. If a simple glance at hisfeatures did not impress one with a conviction of this fact, it wasconfirmed by the fringe of silvery hair that straggled over his temples, and the sombre, melancholy fire that glimmered in his eyes like the lastrays of expiring hope. 

His dress was in perfect keeping with his physiognomy. It was of thatneat and simple style which always characterizes a man of the world whois governed by refined and elegant tastes. His linen was spotlesslywhite, his cloth extremely fine, and his well-brushed hat shone smartlyin the sunshine. Occasionally, as some one passed on the road, he mightbe seen to draw forth a handsome gold snuff-box and inhale a pinch withso graceful an air that an observer would be convinced he belonged tothe highest classes of society. A malicious eye, it is true, might havediscovered by close inspection that the brush had been too familiar withhis coat and worn it threadbare, that his silk hat had been doctored topreserve its lustre and smoothness, and that his gloves were elaboratelydarned. If an inquisitive critic could have pried into the bottom of thevehicle, he would have detected a large crack in the side of the leftboot, beneath which a gray stocking had been carefully masked with ink. Still, all these signs of poverty were so artfully concealed, and hisdress worn with so careless an air of opulence and ease, that every bodymight have supposed the traveller did not put on better clothes onlybecause he had a whim for bad ones. 

The _calèche_ had rolled along rapidly for about two hours, when thedriver suddenly drew up at a small inn on the dike outside of the cityof Antwerp. The landlady and groom instantly sallied forth, and by theirprofound salutations and civility exhibited their marked respect for awell-known stranger. 

"It's a fine day, Monsieur Vlierbeck, isn't it?" said the dame; "yetit's a trifle warm, however. Don't you think it would be well for thehigh-grounds if we had a sprinkle more of rain, Monsieur Vlierbeck?Shall we give the horse some hay, Monsieur Vlierbeck? But stay: I see, now, your coachman has brought his hay with him. Will you take anything, Monsieur Vlierbeck?"

While the hostess was pouring forth this torrent of questions, MonsieurDe Vlierbeck got out of the vehicle, and, entering the house, addressedthe most flattering compliments to the dame about her good looks, inquired as to the health of each of her children, and finished byapprizing her that he was obliged to be in town instantly. Thereupon, shaking her cordially by the hand, yet with a condescending air thatmarked and preserved the distance between them, he gave his orders tohis lackey, and, with a farewell bow, walked toward the bridge leadinginto the city. 

At a solitary spot on the outer rampart Monsieur De Vlierbeck stopped, looked round as if to see if any one was observing him, dusted hisgarments, brushed his hat with a handkerchief, and then passed onthrough the Porte Rouge into the city of Antwerp. 

As he entered a town where he was likely to find himself constantly anobject of notice, he assumed a lofty carriage and self-satisfied air, which might have deceived any one into the belief that he was thehappiest man on earth. And yet--alas, poor gentleman!--he was a prey tothe profoundest agony! He was, perhaps, about to suffer_humiliation_, --a humiliation that would cut him to the very heart! Butthere was a being in the world whom he loved better than his life orhonor, --his only child, his daughter! For her--how frequently had healready sacrificed his pride, how frequently had he suffered the pangsof martyrdom! Still, so great a slave was he to this passionate lovethat every new endurance, every new trial, raised him in his ownestimation and exalted his pain into something that ennobled andsanctified his very nature!

His heart beat violently as he entered deeper and deeper into the heartof the city and approached the house he was about to visit. Soon afterhe stopped at a door, and, as he pulled the bell, his hand trembledviolently in spite of extraordinary self-control; but as soon as aservant answered the summons he became master of himself again. 

"Is the notary in?" inquired the old gentleman. The servant repliedaffirmatively, and, showing the visitor into a small room, went toapprize his master. 

As soon as Monsieur De Vlierbeck was alone, he put his right foot overthe left to hide the rent in his boot, drew forth the gold snuff-box, and made ready to take a pinch. 

The notary came in. He was a spare, business-looking man, and waspreparing to salute his guest graciously, but no sooner did he perceivewho it was than his face grew dark and assumed that reserved air withwhich a cautious man arms himself when he expects a request which he ispredetermined to refuse. Instead, therefore, of lavishing on Monsieur DeVlierbeck the compliments with which he habitually welcomed hisvisitors, the notary confined himself to a few cold words of recognitionand then sat down silently in front of him. 

Wounded and humbled by this ungracious reception, poor De Vlierbeck wasseized with a chill and became slightly pale; still, he managed to rallyhis nerves, as he remarked, affably, --"Pray excuse me, sir; but, pressedby imperious necessity, I have come once more to appeal to your kindnessfor a small service. "

"What is it you wish of me?" answered the notary, tartly. 

"I wish you to find another loan of a thousand _francs_ for me, --or evenless, --secured by a mortgage on my property. I do not want all the moneyat once, but I have especial need of two hundred _francs_, which I mustask the favor of you to lend me to-day. I trust you will not deny methis trifling loan, which will extricate me from the deepestembarrassment. "

"A thousand _francs_, on mortgage?" growled the notary; "and who, pray, will guarantee the interest? Your property is already mortgaged for morethan it is worth. "

"Oh! you are mistaken, sir, " exclaimed Monsieur De Vlierbeck, anxiously. 

"Not the least in the world! By order of the persons who have alreadyaccommodated you with money, I caused your property to be appraised atthe very highest rates; and the consequence is that your creditors willnot get back their loans unless it shall sell for an extraordinaryprice. Permit me to say, sir, that you have acted very foolishly: had Ibeen in your place, I would not have sacrificed all my fortune, and mywife's too, to save a worthless fellow, even though he had been mybrother!"

De Vlierbeck frowned, as a painful recollection shot through his mind, but said nothing, though his hand grasped the golden snuff-box as if hewould have crushed it. 

"By that imprudent act, " continued the notary, "you have plungedyourself and your child into absolute want; for you can no longerdisguise it. For ten years--and God knows at what cost--you have beenable to keep the secret of your ruin; but the inevitable hour isapproaching, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, when you will be forced tosurrender every thing!"

De Vlierbeck riveted a look of doubt and agony on the notary as thelatter continued:--

"I must tell you frankly the condition of your affairs. Monsieur deHoogebaen died during his journey in Germany; his heirs found your bondfor four thousand _francs_, and have directed me _not_ to renew it. IfMonsieur Hoogebaen was your friend his heirs certainly are not. Duringten years you have failed to cancel this debt, and have paid twothousand _francs_ interest; so that, for your own sake, it is time thetransaction should be closed. Four months are still left, MonsieurVlierbeck, before the expiration of--"

"_Only_ four months!" interrupted the poor gentleman, in a distressedtone; "_only_ four months, and then--oh, God!"

"Then your property will be sold according to law, " said the notary, dryly, finishing the sentence. "I can well understand, sir, that this isa painful prospect; but, as it is a decree of fate that no one cancontrol, you have nothing to do but prepare to receive the blow. Let meoffer to sell your estate as if you 'were leaving the country. ' By thatmeans you will escape the mortification of a forced sale. "

For several moments Monsieur De Vlierbeck remained silent, his faceburied in his hands, as if crushed by the notary's advice andcallousness. At length he replied, calmly but humbly, --

"Your counsel is, perhaps, wise and generous; yet I will not follow it. You know that all my sacrifices, my painful life, my constant agony, have been patiently endured for the sake of my only child. You aloneknow that all I do has but, one purpose, --a purpose which I hold sacred. I have reason to believe that God is about granting the earnest prayer Ihave daily offered for ten years. My daughter is beloved by a richgentleman, whose character I think I may confide in, and his familyappears to sympathize in all his views. _Four months!_ it is but a shorttime, alas! yet, ought I, by anticipating the legal period of a sale, todestroy all my fond hopes? Ought I instantly to welcome misery formyself and my child when I see the chance of sure relief from all wehave suffered?"

"Then you want to _deceive_ these people, whoever they may be? Do younot suppose that by such a course of conduct you may make your daughterstill more wretched?"

At the word "_deceive_" the poor gentleman winced as if stung by anadder, while a nervous thrill ran through his limbs and suffused hisface with a blush of shame. 

"_Deceive!_" echoed he, bitterly; "oh, no! but I dare not, by a rashavowal of my want, stifle the love that is growing up mutually. Wheneverit becomes necessary to be decided, I will make a loyal disclosure of mycondition. If the declaration ruin my hopes I will follow your advice. Iwill sell all I have; I will quit the country and seek in some foreignland to maintain myself and my beloved child by teaching. " He stoppedfor a moment, as if swallowing his grief, and then continued, in a lowertone, half speaking to himself, "And, yet, did I not promise my dearwife on her death-bed--did I not promise it on the holy cross--that ourchild should not undergo such a fate? Ten years of suffering--ten abjectyears--have not sufficed to realize my promise; and now, at last, afeeble ray of hope struggles into my sombre future--" He grasped thenotary's hand, looked wildly but earnestly into his eyes, and added, insuppliant tones, "Oh, my friend, help me! help me in this last andtrying effort; do not prolong my torture; grant my prayer, and as longas I live I will bless my benefactor, the savior of my child!"

The notary withdrew his hand as he answered, with some embarrassment, "Yet, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, I cannot comprehend what all this has to dowith the loan of a thousand _francs_!"

De Vlierbeck thrust his rejected hand into his pocket as he replied, "Yes, sir, it _is_ ridiculous, is it not, to fall so low and to seeone's happiness or misery depend on things about which other persons maylaugh? And yet, alas! so it is! The young gentleman of whom I spoke toyou is to dine with us to-morrow in company with his uncle, --the uncleinvited himself, --and we have absolutely _nothing to give them!_ Besidesthis, my child needs some trifles to appear decently before the guests, and it is probable that the civility will be returned by an invitationfrom them. Our isolation cannot long conceal our want. Sacrifices of allkinds have already been made to prevent our being overwhelmed withmortification. " As he uttered these last words he drew forth his handfrom his pocket with about two _francs_ in small change, which he heldexposed on his palm before the notary. "And now, behold, " continued he, with a bitter smile, --"behold every cent I have in the world; andto-morrow rich people are to dine at my house! If my poverty is betrayedby any thing, farewell to my child's prospects! For God's sake, my goodfriend, be generous, and help me!"

"A thousand _francs_!" muttered the notary, shaking his head; "I can'tdeceive my clients, sir. What pledge can you give to secure the loan?You possess nothing which is not already mortgaged beyond its value. "

"A thousand! five hundred! two hundred!" cried De Vlierbeck. "Lend me, at least, _something_ to relieve me from this cruel difficulty!"

"I have no disposable funds, " replied the notary, coldly. "In afortnight perhaps I may have some; but even then I could promise nothingpositively. "

"Then, for the sake of friendship, I beseech you, lend me some moneyyourself!"

"I could never expect that you would return what I might lend, " saidthe notary, contemptuously; "and so it is an _alms_ you ask of me?"

Poor De Vlierbeck trembled on his chair and became pale as ashes; hiseyes flashed wildly and his brow knotted with frowns. Yet he quicklycurbed the unwonted agitation, bowed his head, and sighed, resignedly, "ALMS! Alas! so be it! let me drink the very dregs of this bitter cup:_it is for my child_!"

The notary went to a drawer and took from it some five-franc-pieces, which he offered to his visitor. It is difficult to say whether the poorgentleman was wounded by the actual receipt of charity, or whether thesum was too small to be useful; but, without touching the money, heglanced angrily at the silver and fell back in his chair, covering hisface with his hands. 

Just at this moment a servant entered, announcing another visitor; and, as soon as the lackey left the apartment, Monsieur De Vlierbeck sprangfrom his chair, dashing away the tears that had gathered in his eyes. The notary pointed to the money, which he laid on the corner of thetable; but the mortified guest turned away his head with a gesture ofrepugnant refusal. 

"Pardon my boldness, sir, " said he, "but I have now only one favor toask of you"

"And it is--?"

"That you will keep my secret for my daughter's sake. "

'Oh, as to that, make yourself easy. You know me well enough to beaware of my discretion. Do you decline this trifling aid?"

"Thanks! thanks!" cried the gentleman, pushing away the notary's hand;and, trembling as if seized by a sudden chill, he rushed from the roomand the house without waiting for the servant to open the door. 

Utterly overcome by the terrible blow to his hopes, beside himself withmortification, with his head hanging on his bosom and his eyes bentstaringly on the ground, the poor fellow ran about the streets for aconsiderable length of time without knowing what he was about or whitherhe was going. At length the stern conviction of want and duty partiallyaroused him from his feverish dream, and he walked on rapidly in thedirection of the gate of Borgenhout, till he found himself entirelyalone among the fortifications. 

He had no sooner reached this solitary quarter than a terrible conflictseemed to begin within him; his lips quivered and muttered incoherently, while his face exhibited a thousand different expressions of suffering, shame, and hope. After a while he drew forth from his pocket the goldensnuff-box, looked long and sadly on the armorial engravings that adornedit, and then fell into a reverie, from which he suddenly aroused himselfas if about taking a solemn resolution. With his eyes intently fixed onthe box, he began to obliterate the arms with his knife, as he murmured, in a voice of tremulous emotion, --

"Remembrancer of my dear and excellent mother, protecting talisman thathas so long concealed my misery and which I invoked as a sacred shieldwhenever poverty was on the eve of betraying me, last fragment of myancestry, I must bid thee farewell; and--alas! alas!--my own hand mustprofane and destroy thee! God grant that the last service thou wilt everrender me may save us from overwhelming humiliation!"

A tear trickled down his wan cheek as his voice became still; but hewent on with his task of obliteration till every trace of the crest andshield disappeared from the emblazoned lid. After this he returned tothe heart of the town and passed through a number of small and lonelystreets, glancing eagerly, but askance, at the signs as he passed onwardin his agitation. 

An hour had certainly elapsed in this bootless wandering, when heentered a narrow lane in the quarter of Saint André and uttered a suddencry of joy as he caught a glimpse of the object for which he was insearch. His eye lighted on a sign which bore the simple but ominousinscription--"SWORN PAWNBROKER. " He passed by the door and walkedrapidly to the end of the lane; then, turning hastily, he retraced hissteps, hastening or lingering as he noticed any one passing in hisneighborhood, till at length he crept along the wall to the door, and, seeing the thoroughfare almost empty, rushed into the house anddisappeared. 

After a considerable time De Vlierbeck came forth from themoney-lender's and quickly gained another street. There was a slightexpression of satisfaction in his eyes; but the bright blush thatsuffused his haggard cheeks gave token of the new humiliation throughwhich the sufferer had passed. Walking rapidly from street to street, hesoon reached a pastry-cook's, where he filled a basket with a stuffedturkey, a pie, preserves, and various other smaller equipments for thetable, and, paying for his purchases, told the cook that he would sendhis servant for the packages. Farther on he bought a couple of silverspoons and a pair of ear-rings from a jeweller, and then proceeded onhis way, probably to make additional acquisitions for the proposedentertainment. 

CHAPTER II. 

In our wild and thorny region of the North a brave and toilsomepeasantry have long been engaged in victorious conflict with the barrensleep to which nature seemed to have condemned the soil. They havestirred up the sterile depths and watered them with their sweat; theyhave summoned science and industry to their aid, drained marshes, diverted the streamlets that descended toward the Meuse from thehighlands and put them in circulation through innumerable arteries tofatten and enrich the land. What a glorious fight it was of man againstmatter! What a magnificent triumph it has been to convert the unthriftyCampine[A] into a fruitful and luxurious region! Indeed, our descendantswill hardly believe their own eyes when in future times they shallbehold grass-covered plains, flowery meadows, and fields waving withgrain, where the lingering patriarchs of our day may point out the sitesof burning sand-pits and barren moors!

[Footnote A: The Flemings have given the name of _Campine_ to the vastuncultivated spaces extending in the north of Belgium from the vicinityof Antwerp to Venloo. The improvement of the _Campine, _ undertaken on alarge scale within some years, has already produced the happiestresults. ]

North of the city of Antwerp, toward the frontiers of Holland, there arebut few traces of this gradual improvement. It is only along highroadsthat the traveller begins to observe the effect of liberal agricultureon the sandy soil, while, farther on toward the heart of the region, every thing is still bare and uncultivated. As far as the eye canpenetrate, nothing is to be seen in that quarter but arid plains thinlycovered with stunted vegetation, while the horizon is bounded by thatblue and cloudy line which always marks the limit of a desert. Yet, aswe journey over these vast spaces, it is impossible not to observe, fromtime to time, that a clear and slender rivulet meanders here and thereover the moor, and that its verdant banks are studded with vigorousplants and thrifty trees; while in many places the hardy sons of toilwho took advantage of the neighboring water, have opened their lonelyfarms, built comfortable houses, and frequently gathered themselvestogether in neat and thrifty villages. 

In one of these spots, where meadow-land and pasturage have madeagriculture profitable, and by the side of an unfrequented road, thereis a farm of considerable size and value. The massive trees which spreadtheir thick shade on every side attest that the spot has been occupiedand cultivated for several generations. Besides, the ditches whichsurround it, and the stone bridge that leads to the principal gate, justify the belief that the estate has some right to be considered alordly demesne. In the neighborhood it is known as GRINSELHOF. Theentire front of the property is covered by the homestead of the farmer, comprising his stables and granges; so that, in fact, every thing intheir rear is concealed by these edifices as well as by dense thicketsand hedges which are growing in all the wild luxuriance of nature. Indeed, the dwelling of the proprietor was a mystery even to the farmerwho worked the soil; for its surrounding copses were an impenetrableveil to his eyes, beyond which neither he nor his family were everallowed to pass without special permission. 

Within this lonely and sacred precinct, buried in foliage, was a largehouse, called THE CHÂTEAU, inhabited by a gentleman and his daughter, who, without a single servant, companion, or attendant, led the lonelylives of hermits. The neighbors said that it was avarice or ill-humorthat induced a person possessed of so beautiful an estate to buryhimself in such a solitude. The farmer who worked on the propertycarefully avoided all explanations as to the conduct or purpose of theproprietor, and sedulously respected the mysterious habits and fanciesof his master. His business prospered; for the soil was fertile and therent low. Indeed, he was grateful to his landlord, and, every Sunday, lent him a horse, which carried him and his daughter, in theirweather-beaten _calèche_, to the village church. On great occasions thefarmer's son performed the duty of lackey for the proprietor. 

It is an afternoon of one of the last days of July. The sun has nearlyfinished his daily course, and is declining rapidly toward the horizon;still, his rays, though less ardent than at noontide, are hot enough tomake the air close and stifling. At Grinselhof the last beams of thesetting luminary play gayly over the foliage, gilding the tree-tops withsparkling light, while, on the eastern side of the dense foliage, thelong, broad shadows begin to fall athwart the sward, and prepare thegroves for the gentle and refreshing breeze that springs up at twilight. 

Sadness and gloom hang over the sombre château and its grounds; adeathlike silence weighs like a gravestone on the desolate scene; thebirds are songless; the wind is still; not a leaf stirs; and light aloneseems to be living in that dreary solitude. No one could observe theentire absence of noise, motion, and vitality, without being impressedwith the idea that nature had been suddenly plunged in a deep and magicsleep. 

Suddenly the foliage at the end of a thicket in the distance is seen tostir, while a cloud of twittering birds, frightened from the herbage, flies rapidly across the little path, which is immediately occupied by ayoung female dressed entirely in white, who dashes from between thebranches with a silken net in pursuit of a butterfly. The beautifulapparition, with loose and streaming hair, seemed rather to fly thanrun, as her light and rapid steps, full of eagerness and animation, scarcely touched the earth while darting after the gaudy insect. Howgraceful she is, as, halting for an instant beneath the coquettish moth, she looks up to behold its gold-and-purple wings dancing round her head, mocking and playing with its gay pursuer! She thinks she has caught it;but, alas! the edge of her net only touched the butterfly's wings, andaway it dashes, over hedge and copse, far, far beyond her reach! Howbeautiful she is, as, in that golden light, warmed with exercise andexcitement, her eyes glistening, her lips parted, her graceful armsstretched upward, she stands gazing, half pleased, half disappointed, after the departing insect, till it is lost in the evening sky! Wind andsunshine have slightly tanned her delicate cheeks, but their roses areonly heightened into the glow of perfect health. Beneath her high andpolished brow, coal-black eyes shine through long and silken fringes, while a chiselled mouth discloses rows of faultless pearls between lipswhich shame the coral! Her stately head is framed in masses of long, curling hair; and, as the locks are floated over her ivory shoulders byrapid motion, the proud and arching lines of her swan-like neck arefully displayed in all their splendor. Her form is lithe and supple, andits graceful contour is modestly marked by a snowy dress. As she liftsher head and gazes at the sky, a poet might easily fancy her to be somefanciful "being of the air, " and convert her into the fairy queen of thesolitary realm!

For a long while this beautiful woman wandered about the paths of thelonely garden, seemingly absorbed in reveries of various kinds. At timesshe was gay, at times sad. At length she approached a bed of violets, which, from the training of the plants, had evidently, been carefullytended, and, observing that they languished under the intense heat ofthe past day, began to grieve over them. 

"Alas! my dear little flowers, why did I neglect to water you yesterday?You are very thirsty, are you not, my charming pets?"

For a moment or two she was quiet, still gazing at the violets, andthen continued, in the same dreamy tone:--

"But then, alas! since yesterday my mind has been so disturbed, sohappy, so--" Her eyes fell, and a blush crimsoned her cheeks, as shemurmured, softly, "GUSTAVE!"

Motionless as a statue, and absorbed in her enchanting dream, she forgotthe poor little violets, and, probably, the whole world. 

"His image ever, ever before me! his voice ever ringing in my ears! Whytry to escape their fascination? Oh, God! what is this that is passingwithin me? My heart trembles; sometimes my blood bounds wildly throughmy veins, and then again it creeps and freezes; and yet how happy I am!what inexpressible joy fills my very soul!"

She was silent; then, seeming suddenly to rouse herself, she raised herhead and threw back the thick curls, as if anxious to disembarrass hermind of a haunting thought. 

"Wait, my dear flowers, " said she, smiling, to the violets; "wait amoment: I will comfort and refresh you. "

With this she disappeared in the grove, and, in a short time, broughtfrom it a few twigs and leaves, which she arranged in a little trellisover the flower-beds, so as to shadow the violets completely from thesun. After this she took a small watering-pot and ran across the grassto a basin or tank in the middle of the garden, around which a numberof weeping-willows drooped their branches into the water. On her arrivalits surface was perfectly smooth; but hardly had her image beenreflected in the tank when it appeared to swarm with living creatures. Hundreds of gold-fishes, of all colors, swam toward her with theirmouths gaping from the water, as if the poor little animals were tryingto speak to her. Holding on by the trunk of the nearest willow, she bentgracefully over the pond and tried to fill her watering-pot withouttouching the gold-fish. 

"Come, come; let me alone just now, " said she, as she carefully avoidedthem; "I haven't time to play with you; I will bring you your dinnerafter a while. "

But the fish fluttered around the watering-pot until she withdrew itfrom the tank; and, even after her departure, continued to crowd towardthe bank she had touched with her foot. 

The young lady watered her flowers and replaced the pot gently on theground; then, retiring slowly to the solitary house, she returned aftera while at the same slow pace, and, throwing some crumbs to the fish, began to saunter slowly about the garden-paths, inattentive to everything but her own absorbing thoughts. At length she reached a spot wherea gigantic catalpa-tree overarched the garden and bent its branchesalmost to the earth. A table and a couple of chairs stood beneath thefresh and fragrant shade, and a book, inkstand, and embroidery-frame, gave token that the retreat had not long been abandoned by the ladyherself. She seated herself in one of the chairs, took up the book, thenthe embroidery, let them fall one after another, and finally leaned herbeautiful head on her hand, like one who is weary in spirit and anxiousfor rest. 

For a while her large dreamy eyes were vaguely fixed, as if gazing intospace; at intervals a smile played around her mouth, and her lips movedas if talking with a friend. Occasionally her drooping eyelids closedentirely; but the lashes quickly reopened, only to fall more heavilythan before, till at last a profound sleep or intense reverie seemed toget possession of her mind and body. 

But did she sleep? There is no doubt that her spirit watched and washappy; for a pleasant expression constantly played over her features, and, if sometimes it became serious, the joyous look quickly returnedwith all its radiance. She had long been plunged by this happy dreaminto complete forgetfulness of real life, when a noise of wheels and theneigh of a horse was heard at the gateway, disturbing the silence ofGrinselhof. Still the maiden was not aroused. 

The old _calèche_ returned from the city, drew up near the stable, andthe farmer and his wife ran out to salute their master and put up thehorse. While they were thus engaged, Monsieur De Vlierbeck got out ofthe vehicle and spoke to them kindly, but in a voice so full of sadnessthat both looked at him with astonishment. In fact, the gravity of thissingular person never abandoned him even in his most affable moods; butat that moment his physiognomy indicated a degree of intense depressionwhich was by no means habitual. He seemed altogether worn out withfatigue, and his eyes, which were commonly so vivacious, drooped, dulland languishing, beneath their heavy lids. 

The horse was quickly put in the stable, and the young lackey, who hadalready divested himself of his livery, took several baskets and packetsfrom the vehicle, carried them into the farm-house, and placed them onthe table of the antechamber. 

"And now, Master John, " said De Vlierbeck, approaching the farmer, "Ishall have need of you. There will be company to-morrow at Grinselhof. Monsieur Denecker and his nephew dine here. "

The farmer, perfectly stupefied by the announcement and scarcely able tobelieve his own ears, looked at his master with staring eyes and gapingmouth, and, after a moment's hesitation, stammered forth, --

"That large, rich gentleman, sir, who sits near you every Sunday at highmass?"

"The same, John. Is there any thing surprising in it?"

"And young Monsieur Gustave, who spoke to _mademoiselle_ in thechurchyard when church was over?"

"The same!"

"Oh, sir, they are such rich people! They have bought all the landaround Echelpoel. They have at least ten horses in the stable at their_château_, without counting those they have in town. Their carriage issilver from top to bottom. "

"I know it; and it is exactly on that account that I desire to receivethem in a becoming manner. You must be ready; your wife and your sonalso. I shall call you to-morrow morning very early. You will willinglylend a hand to help me, won't you?"

"Certainly, certainly, sir; a word from you is enough. I am always happyto be able to serve you in any way. "

"Thank you for your kindness, John. We understand one another, my worthyfellow; and so farewell till to-morrow. "

Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the farm-house, gave some orders to theyoung man in relation to the things he had taken from the vehicle, and, passing through the screening grove, walked on to Grinselhof. 

As soon as he was out of the farmer's sight his physiognomy assumed amore serene expression, and there was a smile on his lips as he cast hiseyes around in search of some one in the solitude of the garden At aturn of the path his eye fell suddenly on the sleeping girl. Howbeautiful she was in her calm repose! The golden twilight covered herwith its bright reflection, and threw a rosy tint on every thing abouther. Thick curls strayed in beautiful disorder over her cheeks, andsnowy flowers, shaken from the catalpa's branches by the evening breeze, had fallen around her in profusion. She still dreamed, and the happysmile yet rested on her features. De Vlierbeck gazed earnestly at hissleeping child, and raised his eyes to heaven as he said, tremulously, --"Thanks, Almighty Father! she is happy! Let my martyrdombe prolonged; but may all my sufferings render thee compassionate forher!"

After this short and ardent ejaculation he threw himself into a chair, leaned his arm carefully on the table, and, resting his hand on it, remained still as a statue. For a long time he watched his sleepingchild, while his face seemed to reflect each emotion that flitted acrossthe delicate features of the maiden. Suddenly a modest blush overspreadher brow, and her lips began to articulate. The old gentleman watchedher narrowly, and, although she had not spoken in connected sentences, he caught one of those stray words which often betoken what is passingin a dreamer's mind. 

"'GUSTAVE!' She dreams of Gustave. May God be propitious to us! Ah, yes, my child, " exclaimed her father, "open thy heart to hope! Dream, dream;for who knows what is in store for us? Yet, no!--let us not destroythese happy moments by cold reality! Sleep, sleep! let thy soul enjoythe heavenly enchantment of love which it is awakening!"

Monsieur De Vlierbeck continued for a while his quiet observation of thesleeper, and then, rising, passed behind her chair and imprinted a longkiss on her forehead. 

Still half-dreaming, the sleeper slowly opened her eyes; and, the momentshe perceived who had awakened her, she sprang into her father's armswith a bound, and, hanging round his neck, overwhelmed him withquestions and kisses. 

Vlierbeck gently disengaged himself from his daughter's embrace, as heremarked, in a tone of raillery, --

"It seems altogether unnecessary, Lenora, to inquire what new beautiesyou have discovered in Vondel's 'Lucifer. ' You have not had time, I takeit for granted, to begin the comparison between this masterpiece of ournative tongue and Milton's 'Paradise Lost'?"

"Ah! father, " murmured Lenora, "my mind is indeed strangely troubled. Ido not know what is the matter with me; I cannot even read withattention. "

"Come, Lenora, my child, don't be sad. Sit down: I have something ofimportance to tell you. You do not know why I went to town to-day, doyou? It was because we are to have company to dinner to-morrow!"

Lenora gazed at her father with an earnest and questioning look. 

"It is Monsieur Denecker, " continued he:--"the wealthy merchant, youknow, who sits near me at church and lives at the _château_ ofEchelpoel. "

"Oh, yes! I remember him, father; he always speaks to me so kindly, andnever fails to help me from the carriage when we go to church. "

"But your _eyes_ ask, I see, Lenora, whether he is coming _alone_. _Another_ person will accompany him, my girl!"

"_Gustave!"_ exclaimed the maiden, involuntarily and blushing. 

"Exactly! Gustave will be here, " replied Monsieur De Vlierbeck. "Don'ttremble on that account, Lenora; and don't become frightened becauseyour innocent heart may find itself opening to the dawn of newsensations. Between us, my child, there can be no secret that my lovewill not discover. "

His daughter's eyes looked inquiringly into his own, as if asking anexplanation of the enigma. But all of a sudden, as if a ray had dartedunexpectedly into her soul, she threw her arms around the old man's neckand hid her face in his bosom. 

"Oh, father! beloved father, " murmured she, "your kindness isunbounded!"

For some moments the old gentleman did not put aside the affectionatecaresses of his child; but by degrees his expression became gloomy;tears started into his eyes, and he said, in broken tones, --

"Lenora, whatever may happen to us in life, thou wilt always love thyfather thus, wilt thou not?"

"Always, always, father!'

"Lenora, my child, " continued he, with a sigh, "thy tender affection ismy only recompense and happiness here below: never deprive my soul ofits consolation!"

The sad tone in which these words were uttered touched the maiden'sheart so deeply that she took her father's hands, without saying asyllable, and wept in silence with her head in his bosom. 

For a long time they remained thus motionless, absorbed by a feelingwhich was neither joy nor sorrow but seemed to acquire its power andmastery by the mingling of these opposite sentiments. 

Monsieur De Vlierbeck's expression was the first to change. His featuresbecame severe as he bent his head downward reproachfully. In truth, thestrange words that started the tears into his daughter's eyes hadexcited the reflection in his own mind that another person was, perhaps, about to share his Lenora's love and probably to separate him from herforever. He was ready for every sacrifice, were it even infinitelygreater, provided it contributed to the happiness of his child; yet thevery idea of separation caused his heart to bleed at every pore. Bydegrees he stifled this selfish anxiety, and, striving to controlhimself, raised his daughter with a kiss. 

"Come, Lenora, " said he, "be gay again! Isn't it a happy thing that ourhearts can sometimes get into the shade after they have been too much inthe sunshine? Let us go into the house. We have many arrangements tomake in order to receive our guests becomingly. "

Lenora obeyed her father in silence, and followed him slowly, while thetears still dropped from her beautiful eyes. 

Some hours afterward Monsieur De Vlierbeck might have been seen seatedin the principal saloon of Grinselhof, near a little lamp, with hiselbows on the table. The apartment was dark and dreary, for the feeblerushlight illuminated but a single spot and cast the distant and loftyceiling into vague obscurity. The flickering flame threw long and sombreshadows over the wall, while a line of old portraits in the panelsseemed to fix their stern and immovable eyes on the table. Amid thegloom nothing came out with distinctness but the calm and noble face ofthe poor old gentleman, who sat there, absorbed in his reflections, fixed as a statue. 

At length, rising from his chair and cautiously walking on tiptoe to theend of the room, he stopped and listened at the closed door. "Shesleeps, " said he, in a low voice; and, raising his eyes to heaven, added, with a sigh, "may God protect her rest!" Then, returning to thetable, he took the lamp, and, opening a large safe which was imbedded inthe wall, he went down on his knees and drew forth some napkins and atable-cloth, which he unfolded carefully to see whether they were tornor stained. As he refolded the articles one after the other, a smilebetokened that he was pleased with his examination. Rising from thistask, he went back to the table, from the drawer of which he took apiece of buckskin and whiting. Mashing the latter with a knife-handle, he began to rub and polish several silver forks and spoons which were ina basket. The salt-cellars and other small articles of table-service, which were mostly of the same metal, were all subjected to a similarprocess, and soon glittered brightly in the feeble lamplight. 

While he was engaged in this strange work, the soul of the poor old manwas busy with a thousand conflicting thoughts and recollections. He wasconstantly muttering to himself; and many a tear escaped from his lidsas he dreamed over the past and repeated the names of the loved andlost!

"Poor brother!" ejaculated he; "but one man alone in the world knowswhat I have done for thee, and yet that man accuses me of bad faith andingratitude! And thou, poor brother, art wandering in the icy solitudesof America, a prey perhaps to sickness and suffering, while for monthsno kindly look is fixed upon thee in that wilderness where thou earnestthy miserable wages! Son of a noble race! thou hast become a slave tothe stranger, and thy toil serves to amass the fortunes which others areto enjoy! My love for thee has made me suffer martyrdom; but, as God ismy judge, my affection has remained entire, --untouched! May thy soul, Obrother, feel this aspiration of mine even in the isolation where thouart suffering; and may the consciousness of my love be a balm for thymisery!"

The poor gentleman was absorbed for some time in painful meditation; butafter a while his dream seemed over, and he betook himself again towork. He placed all the silver utensils side by side on the table, and, after carefully counting and examining them, resumed his soliloquy:--

"Six forks! eight spoons! We shall be four at table: it will benecessary to be careful; else it will easily be seen something iswanting. I think, however, it will do. I must give very preciseinstructions to John's wife, for she is a clever woman, and knows whatshe is about!"

As be uttered the last words he replaced the silver in the basket andlocked it in the safe; after which he took the lamp, and, leaving thesaloon on tiptoe, descended through a little door into a large vaultedcellar. Here he hunted about for a considerable time amid stacks ofempty bottles, and at last succeeded in finding what he was in searchof; but his face became extremely pale as he drew three bottles from thesand. 

"Good heavens! _only three bottles!_" exclaimed he; "three bottles of_table_-wine! and Monsieur Denecker is such a connoisseur of vintages!What shall I do if they ask for more when these three bottles are empty?I have it! I do not drink, and Lenora drinks very little; so there willbe _two_ bottles for Monsieur Denecker and _one_ for his nephew! But, even at the worst, what is the use of anxiety? Let _luck_ settle it!"

With this De Vlierbeck went into the corners of the cellar, where hegathered from the walls a quantity of cobwebs, which he woundartistically around the bottles and covered with dust and sand. 

On reaching the saloon he went to work with paste and paper to mend somerents in the tapestry on the wall; and then, after passing nearly halfan hour in brushing his clothes and disguising their threadbare spotswith water and ink, he came back to the table and made preparations fora task which was still more singular than any he had hitherto beenengaged in. Taking from the drawer a silk thread, an awl, and a bit ofwax, he put his boot on his knees and began to mend the rents in theleather with the skill of a cobbler! It will readily be supposed thatthis odd occupation stirred a variety of emotions in the heart of thepoor gentleman; violent twitches and spasms passed over his face; hischeeks became red, then deadly pale; till at last, yielding to apassionate impulse, he cut the silk, threw it on the table, and, withhis hands stretched toward the portraits, cried out, with strugglingpassion, --

"Yes! behold me, --behold me, --ye whose noble blood runs in my veins!You, brave captain, who, fighting at the side of Egmont, at St. Quentin, gave your life for your country, --you, statesman and ambassador, who, after the battle of Pavia, rendered such eminent services to the EmperorCharles, --you, benefactor of your race, who endowed so many hospitalsand churches, --you, proud bishop, who, as priest and scholar, defendedso bravely your faith and your God, --behold me, all of you, not onlyfrom that senseless canvas, but from the bosom of God where you are atrest! He whom you have seen at the wretched task of mending his boots, and who devotes his life to the concealment of his poverty, --he is yourdescendant, your son! If the gaze of his fellow-men tortures him, beforeyou at least he is not ashamed of debasing toil! glorious ancestry! youhave fought the foes of your native land with sword and pen; but I, --Ihave to contend with unmerited shame and mockery, without a hope ofultimate triumph or glory; my weary soul sinks under its burden, and theworld has nothing in store for me but scorn and contempt! And, yet, haveI ever stained your noble escutcheon? All that I have done is generousand honest in the sight of God;--nay, the very fountain-head of my wo islove and compassion! Yes, yes!--fix your glittering eyes on me;contemplate me in the abyss of poverty where I am fallen! From thebottom of that pit I lift my brow boldly toward you, and your silentglance does not force me to grovel in the earth with shame! Here, in thepresence of your noble images, I am alone with my soul, with myconscience;--hero, no mortification can touch the being who, asgentleman, Christian, brother, and father, has sacrificed himself toduty!"

His voice ceased; and for a few moments he stood still in the midnightsilence, looking at the antique portraits as the last echoes died awayin the lofty apartment, with his arms stretched toward the pictures asif invoking the beings they represented. 

"Poor, senseless creature, " continued he, after a while, clasping hishands and lifting them anew to heaven, "thy soul seeks deliverance indreams! Yes; it is, perhaps, a dream, an illusion! Yet, thanks, thanksto the Almighty that allows even a dream to fortify me with courage andendurance! Enough: reality once more stares me in the face; and yet Idefy the mocking spectre which points to ruin and misery!"

"And then to-morrow, --to-morrow!" continued he; "wilt thou not tremblebeneath the glance of those who seek the secret of thy life? Yes; studywell thy part; have ready thy mask; go on bravely with thy cowardlyfarce! And now begone; thy nightly task is done;--beg, beg from sleepthe oblivion of what thou art and of thy threatening future! _Sleep!_ Itremble at the very thought of it! Father in heaven, have mercy on us!"

CHAPTER III. 

At daybreak next morning everybody was busy at Grinselhof. John's wifeand her serving-maid scoured the corridor and staircase; the farmercleaned his stable; his son weeded the grass from the garden-walks. Veryearly in the day Lenora set matters in order in the dining-room andarranged with artistic taste all the pretty things she could find on themantel-piece and tables. There was a degree of life and activity aboutGrinselhof that had not been seen in that solitude for many a year, andeverybody went to work with alacrity, as if anxious to dispel the gloomthat hung so long over the lonely dwelling. In the midst of theindustrious crowd Monsieur De Vlierbeck might be seen moving about withwords of encouragement and expressions of satisfaction; nor did hemanifest the slightest symptom of the anxiety that was secretly gnawinghis heart. A pleasant smile flattered his humble dependants, as he gavethem to understand that their labors would be greatly honored by theapproval of his expected guests. 

The farmer and his spouse had never seen De Vlierbeck so pleasant and sogay; and, as they sincerely loved their master, they were as muchdelighted by his joy as if they had been preparing for a village fair inwhich they were to take part. They never dreamed of pay for theirgenerous toil, but derived their most grateful recompense from thepleasure they imparted to the hermit and his child. 

As soon as the principal preparations were completed, De Vlierbeckcalled his daughter and gave the necessary instructions for the dinner. Lenora was to confine herself to drilling the farmer's wife in servingthe dishes with which she was not familiar. The old cooking-apparatuswas lighted; wood kindled and crackled in the chimney; coals glistenedin the grate; and high above the roof-tree, clouds of smoke betokenedthe good cheer that was to adorn the tables. Baskets of game wereopened; stuffed poultry, savory pasties, and choice viands, were broughtforth; dishes of green peas, beans, and other vegetables, appeared; andthe women were speedily in a turmoil of stringing, shelling, cutting, washing, and stewing. 

Lenora herself did not shun her part in these humble duties, and amusedher companions by the pleasant chat with which she whiled away thehours. The rustics, who had rarely enjoyed an opportunity of seeing herso closely or of enjoying a familiar conversation with the beauty, wereof course delighted with her gay and affable manners; nor could theyavoid expressing their pleasure when a few notes of a popular songhappened to drop from Lenora's lips. 

The servant-maid instantly rose, and whispered, loud enough to be heardby Lenora, --

"Oh, pray, do beg _mademoiselle_ to sing a verse or two of that song! Iheard it at a distance the other day; and it was so beautiful that, foolas I am, I blubbered like a baby for half an hour behind therose-bushes. And yet I think it was rather her sweet voice than thewords that made me cry. "

"Oh, yes! do sing it for us; it would give us so much pleasure! Yourvoice is like a nightingale's; and I remember too, that my poormother--alas! she is long ago in heaven--used to sing me to sleep withthat blessed song. Pray, sing it for us, _mademoiselle_. 

"It's very long, "' said Lenora, smiling. 

"But if you only sing averse or two; it is a holiday with us, you know, _mademoiselle!_"

"Well, " returned Lenora, musingly, "if it will make you happy why shouldI refuse? Listen:--

 "Beside a deep and rapid stream A lonely maiden sat; With sighs her snowy bosom heaved, And tears bedewed the ground!

 "A noble walked along the bank And saw her bitter grief; And, as her tears overflowed his heart, It melted for the maid!"

 'Speak, maiden, speak!' the wanderer cried! 'Why moan you here alone?'-- 'Ah, sir, an orphan-child am I, Whom God alone can save!

 'Ah! seest thou not yon grassy mound There sleeps my mother dear. Behold yon rock, above the flood; There fell my father down!

 'The whirling torrent bore him on; He struggled long in vain; My brother leaped to help his sire, And both together sank!

 'And now I fly our silent hut, Where desolation dwells, To mourn upon this dreary bank, And watch the wave and grave!'

 'No longer grieve, ' the stranger said, 'Thy heart shall ache no more; A father and a brother too To thee, poor lonely girl, I'll be!'

 "He took her hand; he led her off; In garments rich he clad the maid; Before the altar promised love, And blessed her life in happy home!"[A]

[Footnote A: This simple and popular ballad, known in the Campine as_The Orphan_, is sung by all classes to an air which is full of touchingmelody. ]

As Lenora was about beginning the last verse of her song De Vlierbeckappeared on the sill of the kitchen door, and the peasants instantlyrose in alarm at the freedom with which they were sitting in thepresence of their young mistress, listening to her songs; but the poorgentleman at once understood the meaning of her action, and with agesture of approval signaled them to be quiet. As the last words died onhis ear, --"I'm glad to see you amusing yourselves, " said he; "but, nowthat the song is ended, I want your services in another quarter, my goodwoman. "

Followed by Bess, the farmer's wife, he ascended to the dining-room, where the table-cloth was already laid and every thing in order for thereception of the dishes. Bessy's son was already there in livery, with anapkin over his arm; and De Vlierbeck immediately began to assign themtheir several tasks during the service of dinner, and to repeat anddrill them in their tasks till he was perfectly satisfied with theirperformances. 

The hour for dinner was at length near at hand. Every thing was ready inthe kitchen, and all were at their posts. Lenora, in full dress and witha palpitating heart, lingered in her chamber; while her father, with abook which he appeared to be reading, sat beneath the _catalpa_ in thegarden. 

It was about two o'clock when a splendid equipage, drawn by a pair ofsuperb English horses, entered the demesne of Grinselhof and drew up infront of the portal. De Vlierbeck welcomed his guests courteously, andMonsieur Denecker gave orders to the coachman to return precisely atfive o'clock, as matters of importance required his presence in Antwerpbefore nightfall. 

Denecker was a large, stout person, dressed rather extravagantly, but ina style of studied carelessness which he evidently regarded as stylish. The expression of his face, it must be owned, was rather vulgar, andexhibited a compound of cunning and good-nature tempered byindifference. But Gustave, his nephew, belonged to an entirely differentclass of persons. His tall figure was graceful and easy, his countenancefrank and manly, and his whole demeanor denoted refined manners and highcultivation. Blue eyes and blonde hair imparted a poetic air to hishead; but an energetic glance and lofty brow took from it everyexpression of sentimental weakness. 

No sooner had De Vlierbeck presented his guests to Lenora, in thesaloon, than Denecker broke forth in exclamations of undisguisedadmiration--

"How charming, how beautiful she is! and yet so hidden in thisGrinselhof of yours, Monsieur de Vlierbeck! What a shame, sir! what ashame!"

In the mean time Gustave and Lenora had moved off to a short distancefrom the old gentlemen, and were busy in a chat of their own, inaudibleto the rest but evidently interesting to themselves, for they wereobserved not only to blush but tremble. Denecker, in fact, could nothelp observing the young people's emotion; and, as De Vlierbeck passeddown the saloon with him, remarked that the young beauty was evidentlyturning his nephew's head. "He talks of her constantly, " said he, "and Idon't know what may come of it; but I give you fair warning, Monsieur DeVlierbeck, if you are unwilling to see something more than complimentsbetween these children you had better take time by the forelock. It willsoon be too late to reason with them; for my nephew, with all his calmgentleness, is not the man to retreat before difficulties. "

De Vlierbeck was secretly delighted by the merchant's counsels, but wastoo wise to display anxiety. 

"You are joking, Monsieur Denecker, " said he: "I can't think there is aparticle of danger. They are both young, and there is nothing surprisingin mutual attraction under such circumstances. There can hardly be anything serious in their intercourse. But, come, " added he, aloud; "Iperceive that dinner is served; and so let us adjourn to the table!"Gustave led in the blushing girl, and the elders followed admiringly intheir rear, while the merchant shook his finger coquettishly at hisgallant nephew. De Vlierbeck placed Monsieur Denecker opposite him attable, and made Gustave the _vis-à-vis_ of Lenora. 

Bess brought in the dishes, while her son waited on the guests. Theviands were prepared with considerable skill, and Denecker took frequentoccasion to express his satisfaction with their exquisite flavor. Intruth, he was rather surprised at the sumptuousness of the repast; forhe had been prepared to expect lenten fare in a household which wasrenowned throughout the neighborhood for its austere economy. 

In a short time the conversation became general; and Lenora astonishedMonsieur Denecker by the extent of her information and the admirablestyle in which she expressed herself and did the honors of the table. But, notwithstanding her ease and freedom while conversing with theuncle, an observer could not help detecting that she was shy, if notabsolutely embarrassed, when obliged to reply to some casual remark ofthe nephew. Nor was Gustave more at ease than the maiden. In fact, theywere both happy at heart because fate had thrown them together; but theywould have been quite willing to enjoy that delicious silence which inlove is often more eloquent than in language. 

In the mean while De Vlierbeck rattled away, with the ease of a man ofthe world, on all subjects that might interest his guests; yet helistened, with equal good manners, to Denecker's conversation, and nowand then adroitly threw in such hints as allowed him to speak learnedlyupon commercial matters. The merchant was gratified by his deferentialcivility, and was drawn toward his entertainer by a stronger bond thanthat of mere social politeness. 

Indeed, all went on swimmingly, and all were pleased with themselves. De Vlierbeck was especially gratified to find that Bess and her boyperformed their tasks so well, and that the spoons and plates were soquickly washed and brought back that it was impossible to notice thedeficiency of their number. One thing alone began to worry him. He sawwith pain that while Denecker was busy with his food and chat he wasequally busy with the wine, and that glass after glass disappeared withmore rapidity than was agreeable to his supply. Besides this, Gustave, who was probably anxious for some excuse to have a word with Lenora uponany pretext, constantly asked permission to fill her glass; so that, very soon after the soup and meat had been disposed of, the first bottlewas entirely emptied. 

Civility required that it should be immediately replaced; and, as DeVlierbeck observed that the more Monsieur Denecker talked the more hedrank, he thought he might try whether less conversation would notmoderate the merchant's thirst. But, alas! he was disappointed; for atthat moment Denecker introduced the topic of wine, and, lauding thegenerous juice of the grape, expressed surprise at the extraordinarysobriety of his host. With this he redoubled his attack on the bottle, and was in some degree, though less vigorously, seconded by Gustave. DeVlierbeck's agony became more and more intense as he saw the rosy fluidsink and sink in the second bottle, until at length the last drop wasdrained into the merchant's glass. 

"Yes, " said Denecker, "your wine is both old and good; but I havealways found, in tasting liquors, that if we don't change them we losetheir flavor. I take it for granted that you have a first-rate cellar, if I may judge by your first samples; so I propose that we now try abottle of your _Château-margaux_; and, if we have time, we can finishwith a bottle of _hochheimer_. I never drink _champagne_: it is a badliquor for wine-drinkers. "

As the last words fell from Denecker, poor De Vlierbeck grew deadlypale, as his frightened spirit went rummaging through the cracks andcrannies of his brain for some inspiration or expedient which mightextricate him from his deep perplexity. 

"_Château-margaux?_" inquired he, with a calm smile. "Certainly, sir, ifyou wish it. " And then, turning to the lackey, --"John, " said he, "bringa bottle of _Château-margaux_: you will find it in the third cellar onthe left-hand side. "

But the rustic stared at his master with gaping mouth, as if he had beenaddressed in one of the dead languages. Seeing the predicament, andmastering it rapidly, --

"Excuse me, " said De Vlierbeck, rising; "he would not find it, I fear. Iwill be back in a moment. "

Rushing into the kitchen, he seized the third and last bottle anddescended to the cellar, where he stopped to draw breath and composehimself. 

"_Château-margaux! hochheimer! champagne!"_ exclaimed poor DeVlierbeck, "and not another drop of wine in my house but what is in thislast bottle of claret! What _shall_ I do? what _can_ I do?" continuedhe, as he held the cobwebbed bottle in one hand and stroked his chinwith the other. "But no matter: there's no time for reflection: the dieis cast, and may God help me in my need!"

He ascended the stair, entered the dining-room with the corkscrew in thelast cork, and found that during his absence Lenora had ordered freshglasses on the table. 

"This wine, " said De Vlierbeck, holding the bottle knowingly to thelight, "is at least twenty years old, Monsieur Denecker, and I sincerelyhope it will please your palate. " So saying, he filled the glasses ofuncle and nephew, and gazed anxiously in their faces for the verdict. 

Denecker tasted the wine, drop by drop, like an epicure, and, shakinghis head disappointedly, --

"There's a mistake, doubtless, " said he; "for it's the identical wine wehad before. "

De Vlierbeck feigned surprise admirably, tasted the wine in turn, andreplied, --

"I _believe_ you are right, and that I _have_ made a mistake; yet, asthe bottle is opened and not bad, suppose we drink it before I makeanother descent to the cellar' There's abundance of time. "

"I've no objection, " answered the merchant, "provided you help us, so asto get through it the quicker. " And so the column in the third and lastbottle diminished more rapidly than its predecessors, till two or threeglasses alone remained at the bottom to crown the festival. 

Poor De Vlierbeck could no longer conceal his agitation. He tried tokeep his eyes off the fatal bottle; but a sort of fascination drew himback to it, and each time with increased anxiety. That dreadful word'_Château-margaux_' rang in his ears. His face blushed and grew pale, and a cold, clammy sweat stood in big beads on his forehead. Yet he feltthat he had not entirely exhausted his resources, and resolved to fightthe battle of humiliation to the end. He wiped his brow and cheeks, coughed, and turned aside as if about to sneeze. By dint of thesemanoeuvres he continued to conceal his nervousness till Denecker graspedthe bottle to pour out its last drop. As he clasped the neck, a chillseized the hysterical frame of the poor gentleman, a deadly palenessoverspread his features, and his head fell with a groan against the tallback of the chair. Was it in truth a fainting-fit, or did the sufferertake advantage of his emotion to play a part and escape theembarrassment of his situation?

In a moment the whole party were on their feet, while Lenora screamedand ran to her father. 

"It's nothing, " said De Vlierbeck, striving, after a minute or two, torally himself. "I am faint; the confined air of this room overcame me. Let me walk a while in the garden and I will soon be better. "

As he said this he staggered to his feet, and, supported by Lenora andGustave, moved toward the garden, followed by Denecker with anexpression of the deepest concern. A short rest in the open air beneaththe shade of a noble chestnut-tree quickly restored a faint color to DeVlierbeck's cheek and enabled him to tranquillize their anxiety abouthis sudden attack. 

"I will rest here a while out of doors, " said he, "for fear the fitmight return; and perhaps a slow walk in the garden might hasten myrecovery. "

"It will do both of us good, " answered Denecker; "and, besides, as Ihave to quit you at five o'clock, I don't want to leave Grinselhofwithout seeing its garden. Let us take a turn through your walks, andafterward we shall have time enough to finish another bottle. "

As he said this he passed Lenora's arm within his own, and, casting acoquettish glance at Gustave, began their promenade. By degrees DeVlierbeck rallied sufficiently to take part in the chat; and gardening, agriculture, sporting, and a hundred different country topics, werefully discussed. Lenora recovered her spirits and charmed theircommercial guest by the mingled charms of her intellectual clevernessand innocent gayety. Wild as a deer, she dared him to run a race withher, and danced along the paths by his side full of mirth andsportiveness. In truth, Denecker was altogether captivated by theingenuous girl, and, as he looked on her radiant face, could not helpthinking that the future had some happy days in store for his gallantnephew. After a while Lenora strayed off in advance with Gustave, whilethe two elders lingered lazily along the path. Gustave was charmed withthe flowers, the plants, the gold-fish, which Lenora pointed out to him;nor was he at all desirous to shorten their delicious flirtation byreturning to the table. This chimed precisely with the anxiety of DeVlierbeck, who employed every stratagem he could conceive to keep hisguest in the open air. He told stories, repeated jokes, appealed toDenecker's commercial knowledge, and even quizzed him a little when hefound their conversation beginning to flag. In fact, he was rejoicingthat five o'clock, and, of course, the carriage, were rapidlyapproaching, when Denecker suddenly recalled his nephew from a distantquarter of the garden where he was strolling with Lenora. 

"Come, Gustave; come, " said he; "if you wish to drink a parting glasswith us let us get in, for the coach will be here in a moment. "

De Vlierbeck instantly became pale as a sheet, and, trembling from headto foot, stared silently at Denecker, who could no longer restrain hissurprise at these exhibitions. 

"Are you ill, sir?" said he. 

"My stomach is a singular one, Monsieur Denecker, and I suffer spasms ifyou even mention _wine!_ It is a strange malady; but--Oh, I hear yourcoach, Monsieur Denecker; and there it is, drawing up, I see, at thegateway. "

Of course Denecker spoke no more of wine; but, as he could not helpnoticing the alacrity with which De Vlierbeck hailed the prospect of hisdeparture, he would have been deeply mortified, if not offended, had notthe previous hospitality of his host satisfied him of their welcome. Hethought, perhaps, that he ought to attribute his entertainer's conductto some singular nervous disease which he masked under an antipathy forwine; and accordingly he took leave with a warm and friendly farewell. 

"I have passed a delightful afternoon with you, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, "said he. "We have found ourselves, I am sure, extremely happy in yourand your daughter's charming society. It is a pleasure added to my lifeto have made your acquaintance; and I hope that further intimacy mayassure me your friendship. In the mean while, let me thank you from thebottom of my heart for your kind reception. "

As he finished the sentence, Lenora and Gustave joined them. 

"My nephew, " continued Denecker, "will confess, as I have done, that hehas spent few happier hours than those that are just gone. I hope, Monsieur de Vlierbeck, that you and your charming daughter will returnour visit and dine with us. Yet I shall have to ask your pardon forpostponing the pleasure it will afford us till I return from Frankfort, where I am summoned, the day after to-morrow, on urgent business. It isprobable I may be detained away a couple of months; but if my nephewshould be allowed to visit you in my absence let me hope he will bewelcome. "

De Vlierbeck reiterated his professions of delight at the newacquaintance; Lenora was silent; and Denecker moved off toward thecoach. 

"But the parting glass, uncle!" exclaimed Gustave. "Let us go in for amoment and drink it. "

"No, no, " said Denecker, interrupting him tartly. "I believe we wouldnever get hence at all if we listened to you. It is time to be off, andI can delay no longer. Adieu!"

Gustave and Lenora exchanged a long and anxious look, full of regret atseparation and of hope for speedy reunion. In a moment the uncle andnephew were in the vehicle and the spirited horses in motion; but, aslong as the group was in sight at the gate, a couple of white-glovedhands might have been seen waving farewells from the coach-window. 

CHAPTER IV. 

A few days after the departure of his uncle, Gustave paid a visit toGrinselhof. He was received by Monsieur De Vlierbeck and his daughterwith their usual kindness, passed the greater part of an afternoon withthem, and went home at nightfall to the _château_ of Echelpoel full ofdelightful recollections and hopes. Either from a fear of disturbing thereserved habits of the old gentleman, or from a sense of politeness, Gustave did not at first repeat his visits too frequently; but after acouple of weeks the extreme cordiality of Vlierbeck dispelled all hisscruples. The ardent youth no longer resisted an impulse that drew himtoward the bewitching girl, nor did he allow a single day to roll bywithout passing the afternoon at Grinselhof. The happy hours flewrapidly on the wings of love. He strolled with Lenora through the shadywalks of the old garden, listened to her father's observations onscience and art, drank in the delicious notes of his loved one's voiceas it was breathed forth in song, or, seated beneath the flowery andspreading catalpa, dreamed the dream of happiness that was in store forhim with her who was probably soon to become his betrothed. 

If the noble and beautiful face of the maiden had won his eye andenlisted his feelings the moment he first beheld her in the villagechurchyard, _now_, that he had become familiar with her character, hislove grew so ardently absorbing that the world seemed sad and dead ifshe were not present to shed the light of her joyous spirit upon everything around him. Neither religion nor poetry could conjure up an angelmore fascinating than his beloved. Indeed, though God had endowed herperson with all those feminine graces that adorned the first woman inParadise, he had also lavished on her a heart whose crystalline puritywas never clouded, and whose generosity burst forth with every emotionlike a limpid spring. 

But in all his interviews, Gustave had never yet been alone with Lenora. When he visited her she never left the apartment where she commonly satwith her father, unless the old gentleman expressed a wish that theyshould unite in a walk through the garden; and, of course, he had neverenjoyed an opportunity to breathe the love that was rising to his lips. Still, he felt that it was altogether useless to express by words whatwas passing in their hearts; for the kindness, the respect, theaffection, that shone in everybody's eyes, betokened the feeling whichunited them in a mingled sentiment of attachment and hope. 

Though Gustave entertained profound veneration for Lenora's father andreally loved him as a son, there was something which at times came likea cloud betwixt himself and the old gentleman. What he heard outside ofGrinselhof of De Vlierbeck's extraordinary avarice had been fullyrealized since he became intimate at the house. No one ever offered hima glass of wine or beer; he never received an invitation to dinner orsupper; and he frequently observed the trouble that was taken by themaster of the house to disguise his inhospitable economy. 

Avarice is a passion which excites no other emotion than that ofaversion or contempt, because it is natural to believe that when sodegrading a vice takes possession of one's soul it destroys every sparkof generosity and fills it with meanness. Accordingly, Gustave had along and fearful conflict with himself in order to subdue thisinstinctive feeling and to convince his judgment that De Vlierbeck'sconduct was only a caprice which did not detract from the native dignityof his character. And yet, had the young man known the truth, he wouldhave seen that a pang was hidden beneath every smile that flitted overthe old man's face, and that the nervous shudders which at times shookhis frame were the results of a suppressed agony that almost destroyedhim. As he gazed on the happy face of Lenora and steeped his soul in theintoxication of her love, he never dreamed that her father's life was aprolonged punishment; that, day and night, a terrible future opened itsvista before him; and that each moment of his existence brought himnearer and nearer to a dreadful catastrophe. He had not heard theinexorable sentence of the notary:--"Four months more and your bondexpires, when all you possess in this world will be sold by the officersof justice to satisfy your creditors!"

Two of those fatal months had already expired!

If Monsieur De Vlierbeck appeared to encourage the young man's love, itwas not alone in consequence of his sympathy with his feelings. No: the_dénouement_ of his painful trial was to be developed within a definedperiod; and, if it proved inauspicious, there was nothing but dishonorand moral death for himself and child! Destiny was about to decideforever whether he was to come out victorious from this ten years'conflict with poverty, or whether he was to fall into the abyss ofpublic contempt! These were the feelings that induced him to conceal histrue position more carefully than ever, and, while he watched over thelovers like a guardian spirit, made him do nothing to check the rapidprogress of their passion. 

As the time of his uncle's return approached, the two months seemed toGustave to have flown by like a pleasant dream; and, although he feltsure that his relative would not oppose the union, he foresaw that hewould not be allowed hereafter to spend so much of his time away frombusiness. Indeed, the very idea that he might be obliged to passconsiderable periods without seeing Lenora made him look for hisuncle's return with any thing but delight. 

One day he contrived to whisper his fears and anticipations to Lenora, and, for the first time since their acquaintance, saw tears gathering inher eyes. The girl's emotion touched his heart so sensibly that heventured timidly to take her hand, and held it in his for a long timewithout uttering a word. De Vlierbeck, who had overheard the remark, tried to comfort him, but his words did not seem to produce the desiredeffect; and, after a short time, Gustave rose abruptly and took leave, though his usual time of departure had not yet arrived. Lenora read inhis expression that some sudden revolution had occurred in her lover'smind, for his eyes glistened with extraordinary animation. She stroveeagerly to retain him by her side; but he resisted her appealpleasantly, and declared that nothing should unveil his secret till thefollowing day, when he would return to Grinselhof. De Vlierbeck, however, was more familiar with the world than his daughter; and, imagining that lie had penetrated the mystery of Gustave's conduct, manya pleasant dream hovered that night around his pillow. 

As the usual hour of Gustave's visit approached next day, De Vlierbeck'sheart beat high with hope; and when the visitor appeared, clad withunusual neatness and care, the old gentleman welcomed him with more thanordinary warmth. After the compliments of the day had been paid to hisladylove, Gustave expressed a desire for a few moments' conversationwith her father, who led him into an adjoining cabinet and seatedhimself by his side. 

"What is it you wish of me, my young friend?" said he, kindly. 

Gustave was silent for a moment, as if endeavoring to rally his ideas, and then spoke out in a manly way:--

"I am about, my dear sir, to speak to you in regard to a matter thatconcerns my happiness; and, no matter what may be your decision, I amsure, from your kindness upon all occasions, that you will pardon myboldness. I can hardly imagine that the feeling--the irresistiblefeeling--I have entertained for Lenora from the first moment I saw her, has escaped your penetrating eye. I ought probably to have asked yourconsent long ago, before she obtained so complete a dominion over myheart; but I have always secretly encouraged the belief that you read mysoul and wore not displeased with my motives. "

Gustave was silent, awaiting the hoped-for words of encouragement; butDe Vlierbeck only looked at him with a gentle smile, and gave no otherindication of his pleasure. A motion of the hand, as if he wished thelover to go on with his conversation, was the only sign he made inreply, Gustave's resolution began to ebb at this discouraging by-play; but, summoning all his energy for another attack, he continued:--

"Yes, sir, I have loved Lenora from my first sight of her; but what wasthen a spark is now a flame. Don't think it is her loveliness alone thatbewitched me. She might indeed enchant the most insensible of mankind;but I found a far more glorious treasure in the angelic heart of yourdaughter. Her virtue, the immaculate purity of her soul, her gentle andmagnanimous sentiments, --in a word, the prodigal gifts of mind and bodywhich God has lavished on her, --have increased my admiration to love, mylove to absolute idolatry! How dare I conceal my emotion from you anylonger? I cannot live without Lenora; the very thought of even a shorttemporary separation from her overwhelms me with despair. I long to bewith her every day, every hour; I long to hear her voice and read myhappiness in her eloquent eyes! I know not what may be your decision;but, believe me, if it shall be adverse to my hopes, I shall not longsurvive the blow. If your decree separate, me from my beloved Lenora, life will no longer have a charm for me!"

Gustave uttered his romantic rhapsody--the rhapsody of most lovers--withthat genuine emotion which bespoke his sincerity, and touched the heartof De Vlierbeck so deeply that he grasped his hand and implored him tobe calm. 

"Don't tremble so, my young friend, " said the old gentleman. "I knowvery well that you love Lenora, and that she is not insensible to youraffection for her. But what have you to propose to me?"

Gustave replied, dejectedly, --"If I still doubt your approval, after allthe marks of esteem you have given me, it is because I fear you do notconsider me worthy the happiness I have sought. I have no ancestral treewhose roots are buried in the past; the good deeds of my forefathers donot shine in history; the blood that runs in my veins comes from acommon stock. "

"Do you think, " said De Vlierbeck, interrupting him, "that I wasignorant of all this from the first day of our acquaintance? No Gustave;no matter what your lineage may be, your own heart is generous andnoble; and, had it not been so, I would never have esteemed and treatedyou as my son. "

"And so, " exclaimed Gustave, catching at the last words with a burst ofjoyous impatience, "you don't refuse me Lenora's hand?--you willinterpose no objection, provided my uncle gives his consent?"

"No, " replied De Vlierbeck; "I shall not refuse it to you. On thecontrary, it will give me unbounded happiness to intrust the fate of myonly child to your keeping. And yet there is an obstacle of which youhave no idea. "

"An obstacle!" exclaimed Gustave, growing pale;--"an obstacle betweenLenora and me?"

"Be silent a moment, " said De Vlierbeck, "and listen to the explanationI shall give you. You think, Gustave, I suppose, that Grinselhof andall its dependencies belong to us? It is not so: we are penniless. Weare poorer far than the peasant who rents our farming-land and livesyonder at the gate!"

Gustave looked doubtingly at De Vlierbeck, with so incredulous a smilethat the poor gentleman blushed, and trembled like an aspen. 

"I see you do not believe me, " continued he; "I see it in your smile andlook. Like the rest of them, you think me a miser, hiding my wealth andstarving my child and myself to amass riches, --a wretch who sacrificesevery thing for money, --a vagabond whom all ought to fear and despise!"

"Oh, pardon me, pardon me, sir!" interrupted Gustave, moved by theexcitement of the old man "I think nothing of the kind! My venerationfor you is unbounded!"

"Nay, don't be frightened at my words, young man, " continued DeVlierbeck, in a calmer tone. "I make no accusations against you, Gustave. I only saw in your incredulous smile that I had succeeded inmasking my poverty even from you, and in making you suppose that myeconomy was avarice. But it is needless for me to give you any furtherexplanation just now. Let it suffice you to know that what I say isstrictly, honestly true. I possess nothing, --nothing!"

"And now, " added he, after a moment's silence on both sides, "let megive you a piece of advice. Go home to-day without seeing Lenora;examine your soul calmly, and see whether there are no secret emotionsthat may make you change your present views; let a night pass, and if, to-morrow, Lenora, poor as you now know her to be, is still dear toyou, --if you still think you can be happy with her and can make herhappy, --seek your uncle and ask his consent. Here is my hand: if the dayshall ever come when I can offer it as a father's, it will be thehappiest of my life!"

Although the revelation made by Monsieur De Vlierbeck was astonishing toGustave, the solemn tone in which he announced it convinced the lover ofits truth. He was silent for a moment; but soon a spark of enthusiasmbegan to glisten in his eye and light up his face, as he exclaimed, --

"How can you ask me if I shall continue to love Lenora now that I knowher to be poor? It will be happiness enough for me to receive her as awife, to be bound to her by the eternal bonds of love, to be foreverwithin her reach, and to receive my happiness from her look and voice!What delight it will be for me to protect her and know that I have theprivilege of working for her! Palace or hovel; riches or poverty, allare equally indifferent to me, provided her presence animates the spot!A night's reflection, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, cannot change myresolution. Grant me Lenora's hand, and I will thank you on my knees forthe priceless gift!"

"And suppose I do, " replied the old gentleman; "generosity andconstancy are natural to the ardent character of youth:--but youruncle?"

"My uncle!" murmured Gustave, with evident grief; "that is true; I needhis consent. All I possess or ever shall possess in the world depends onhis affection for me. I am the orphan son of his brother. He adopted meas his child and has overwhelmed me with kindness. He has the right todecide my lot in life, and I must obey him. "

"And do you think that he, a merchant, who probably places a very highvalue on money, because experience has taught him its value, will say, like you, 'Palace or hovel, poverty or wealth, it makes no difference'?"

"Alas! I know not, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, " said Gustave, droopingly. "But my uncle is so good to me--so extraordinarily good--that I mayrightly hope for his consent. He will return to-morrow. When I embracehim I will declare all my wishes. I will say my comfort, my happiness, my life, depend on his consent. I know that he loves Lenora sincerely;for, before his departure, he even seemed to encourage my pretensions toher hand. Your disclosures will undoubtedly surprise him; but my prayerswill conquer: believe it!"

Monsieur De Vlierbeck rose, to put an end to the conversation. 

"Well, ask your uncle's consent, " said he; "and, if your hopes arerealized, let him come here and consult about the marriage. Whatevermay be the issue of this affair, Gustave, you at least have alwaysbehaved toward us with the delicacy of a generous youth. My esteem andfriendship shall always be yours. Go now; quit Grinselhof this timewithout seeing Lenora, for you ought not to meet her until this affairis settled. I will tell her myself whatever I think proper for her toknow. "

Half pleased, half sad, --his heart divided between joy andanxiety, --Gustave bade farewell to Lenora's father and returned toEchelpoel. 

CHAPTER V. 

On the afternoon of the following day Monsieur De Vlierbeck was seatedin his parlor, his head resting on his hand. He seemed plunged inprofound thought, for his eyes were fixed on vacancy and his faceexhibited by turns contentment and hope, inquietude and anxiety. 

Occasionally Lenora came into the apartment, and, seeming unusuallyrestless, wandered about from spot to spot, arranging and rearrangingthe little fancy articles upon the tables, looking out of the windowinto the garden, and at last running down-stairs suddenly as if she werepursued. No one who saw her could doubt that she was nervously anxiousabout something; yet her expression was one of joy and hope. Had shebeen able to penetrate her father's mind and behold the various emotionsthat excited it, she would not perhaps have been so gay and blithesome;but poor De Vlierbeck restrained himself with his habitual care in herpresence, and smiled at her impatience as if he too were confident ofapproaching happiness. 

At length, tired of running about, Lenora seated herself by her fatherand fixed her clear and questioning gaze on his face. 

"Don't be so excited, my good child, " said he. "We shall know nothingto-day; but we may, perhaps, to-morrow. Moderate your joy, my daughter;if it please Heaven to decide against your hope in this matter yourgrief will be more easily conquered. "

"Oh, no, father!" stammered Lenora; "God will grant my prayer; I feel itin my heart. Don't be astonished, father, that I am full of joy, for Ithink I see Gustave speaking to his uncle. I hear what he says, andMonsieur Denecker's replies; I see him embrace Gustave and give hisconsent! Who can doubt, father, that I ought to hope, when I know thatMonsieur Denecker loved me and was always kind?"

"Would you be very happy, Lenora, " asked De Vlierbeck, with a smile, "ifGustave were betrothed to you?"

"Never to leave him!" cried Lenora, --"to love him, --to be the happinessof his life, his consolation, his joy, --to enliven the solitude ofGrinselhof by our love!--ah! that, father, would be delight indeed; forthen there would be two of us to contribute to the pleasures of yourlife! Gustave would have more skill than I to chase away the grief thatsometimes clouds your brow; you could walk, talk, or hunt with him; hewould venerate and love you as a son and watch you with the tenderestcare; his only thought on earth would be to make you happy, because heknows that your happiness is mine; and I--I, father, will recompense himfor his devotion by the gratitude of my heart, and love. Oh, yes, dearfather! we shall live together in a paradise of contentment!"

"Ingenuous girl!" exclaimed De Vlierbeck, with a sigh; "may the Lordhear your prayer! But the world, my child, is governed by laws andcustoms of which you are altogether ignorant. A wife must follow herhusband wherever he goes. If Gustave shall select another residence youmust follow him and console yourself gradually at the separation fromyour father. Under other circumstances, parting might be painful; butsolitude will not sadden me if I know you are happy, my child. "

The startled maiden looked at her father with surprise as he utteredthese words; and, as he finished, her head fell heavily on her breastand tears streamed silently from her eyes. Monsieur De Vlierbeck tookher hand tenderly as he said, in faltering words, --

"I feared, Lenora, that I would make you sad; but you must becomeaccustomed to the idea of our separation. "

Lenora raised her head quickly as she replied, in a firm and resolutemanner, "What! could Gustave ever dream of our separation? To leave youat Grinselhof passing your days in seclusion while I and my husband werein the world in the midst of festivity? I should not have an instant'srest, wherever I might be; conscience would cry aloud in my heart, 'Ungrateful and insensible child, thy father is abandoned to sufferingand solitude!' Yes, I love Gustave; he is dearer to me than life itself, and I receive his hand as a blessing from God; but if he should say tome, 'Abandon your father!'--if he left me no choice except you orhim, --I would close my eyes and reject him! I should be sad; I shouldsuffer; perhaps even I should die; but, father dear, I would die in yourarms!"

She bent down her head for a moment as if oppressed by a dreadfulthought; but, raising her large eyes, liquid with tears, she fixed themon her father, as she added, --

"You doubt Gustave's affection for you; you imagine him capable offilling your life with sorrow, --of separating me from you! Oh, father, you do not know him; you do not know how much he respects and loves you;you do not comprehend the warmth of his generous and loving heart!"

De Vlierbeck bent over his child and impressed a kiss on her forehead, as he was about to utter some words of consolation, when suddenly Lenorasprang from his arms and pointed eagerly to the window, as if listeningto approaching sounds. 

The noise of wheels and the clatter of horses on the road soon gaveMonsieur De Vlierbeck to understand why his daughter had been sostartled. His face assumed a more animated expression, and, descendinghurriedly, he reached the door as Monsieur Denecker alighted from hiscoach. 

The merchant seemed in exceedingly good humor; he grasped De Vlierbeck'shand, expressing his delight at seeing him once more. "How goes it withyou, my old friend? It seems that rogue, my nephew, has taken advantageof my absence. " And, although De Vlierbeck ushered him into the saloonwith all the formality imaginable, Denecker slapped him familiarly onthe shoulder, and continued, --

"Well! well! we were good friends from the beginning; and now Iunderstand we are to be regular gossips:--at least I hope so. That scamphasn't bad taste, I must confess. He would have to make a long searchbefore he found a handsomer or more amiable woman than Lenora. Look you, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, we must have a wedding frolic that people willtalk of twenty years hence!"

By this time they had got into the saloon and taken their seats; but DeVlierbeck, nervous as he was, had considerable doubt as to the tone ofDenecker's remarks, and whether he was jesting or serious. 

"It seems, " continued Denecker, assuming a graver tone, "that Gustave ismadly impatient for this union, and begs me to hasten it. I have takencompassion on the young fellow and left all the business of our housetopsy-turvy to-day to arrange matters with you. He tells me you havegiven your consent. That was kind of you, sir. I thought a great deal ofthis affair during my journey, for I had observed that Cupid's arrowshad gone clean through and through the boy; yet I had fears about yourconsent. Inequality of blood, old-fashioned ideas, might perhapsinterfere. "

"And so Gustave told you that I consented to his marriage with Lenora?"said the old gentleman, paying no attention to Monsieur Denecker'sremarks. 

"Did he deceive me, sir?" said Denecker, with surprise. 

"No; but did he communicate something else to you, which ought to strikeyou as of equal importance?"

Denecker threw back his head with a laugh, as he replied, --

"What nonsense you made him believe! But, between us two, that passesfor nothing. He tells me that Grinselhof don't belong to you and thatyou are _poor_! I hope, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, you have too good anopinion of my sense to imagine I have the least faith in such a story?"

A shudder passed over the poor gentleman's frame. Denecker'sgood-humored familiarity had made him believe that he knew and creditedall, and nevertheless responded to his nephew's hopes; but the lastwords he heard taught him that he must again go over the sad recital ofhis misfortunes. 

"Monsieur Denecker, " said he, "do not entertain the least doubt, I begyou, in regard to what I am about to say. I am willing instantly toconsent that my daughter shall become your nephew's wife; but I solemnlydeclare that I am poor, --frightfully poor!"

"Come, come!" cried the merchant; "we knew long, long ago that you weremightily fond of your money; but when you marry your _only_ child youmust open your heart and your purse, my dear sir, and portion heraccording to your means. They say--pardon me for repeating it--that youare _a miser_; but what a shame it would be to let your only daughterleave your house unprovided for!"

Poor De Vlierbeck writhed on his chair as Denecker poured forth hisincredulous jokes. "For God's sake, sir, " cried he, "spare me thesebitter remarks. I declare, on the word of a gentleman, that I possess_nothing_ in the world!"

"Well!" cried the merchant, taking no heed of his remarks, and with amocking smile, "come; let us cipher the matter out on the table. Yousuppose, perhaps, that I have come here to ask some great sacrifice ofyou: but no, De Vlierbeck, thank God, I have no occasion to be so closein my calculations. Yet a marriage is a thing to which there are alwaystwo parties, and it is just that each should bring something into thecommon stock. "

"Oh, God! oh, God!" muttered the poor gentleman, as he clenched hishands convulsively. 

"I propose to give my nephew one hundred thousand francs, " continuedDenecker; "and if he wants to continue in business my credit will beworth as much more to him. I have no wish that Lenora's portion shallequal his. Your high birth, and especially your character, will make upwhat is wanting in her fortune; but what say you to the half, --fiftythousand francs? You will consent to that, or I am much mistaken. Whatsay you? Is it a bargain?"

Pale and trembling, De Vlierbeck sat riveted to his chair; but at last, in a low, melancholy voice, --

"Monsieur Denecker, " said he, "this conversation kills me. I beg you tostop this infliction. I repeat that I possess _nothing_; and, since youforce me to speak before you apprize me of your own intentions, knowthat Grinselhof and its dependencies are mortgaged beyond their value!It is useless to inform you of the origin of these debts. Let it sufficeto repeat that I tell the truth; and I beg you, without going further, now that you are informed of the state of my affairs, to declare franklywhat are your designs as to your nephew's marriage. "

Although this declaration was made with that feverish energy which oughtto have satisfied Denecker of its truth, it nevertheless failed toconvince him. A degree of surprise displayed itself on the merchant'sface; but he continued his observations in the same incredulous tone:--

"Pardon me, De Vlierbeck, but it is impossible to believe you. I did notthink you were so hard in a bargain. Yet be it so: every man has hisweakness; one is too miserly, another too prodigal. Now, for my part, Iconfess that I am extremely anxious to spare Gustave the anxiety ofdelay. Give your daughter twenty-five thousand francs, with theunderstanding that the amount of her portion is to remain a secret; forI don't want to be laughed at. Twenty-five thousand francs!--you cannotsay it is too much;--in fact, it is a trifle that will hardly pay fortheir furniture. Be reasonable, my good sir, and let us shake hands onit!"

De Vlierbeck said nothing; but, rising abruptly from the table, opened acloset with a trembling hand, and, taking from it a package of papers, threw them on the table. 

"There!" said he; "read; convince yourself. "

Denecker took up the papers and began to examine them. As he went on, the expression of his face gradually changed, and at times he raisedhis head and looked upward, as if in deep thought. After he had beenengaged for some time in this disagreeable task, De Vlierbeckrecommenced the conversation in a tone of cutting irony:--

"Ah! you would not believe me, sir. Well, let your determination befounded on those papers alone. It is right you should know every thing;for I have determined never again to be tortured. Besides the evidencesof debt which are before you, I owe a bill of exchange for four thousandfrancs, which I cannot pay! You see now, Monsieur Denecker, that I amworse than poor, for I have debts!"

"Alas! it is but too true, " said the stupefied merchant; "you haveindeed nothing! I see by these documents that my notary is also yours;and, although I spoke to him of your fortune, he left me unadvised, or, I should rather say, in error. "

De Vlierbeck breathed more freely, for he felt as if a rock had fallenfrom his breast. His face resumed its ordinary calmness; and, seatinghimself, he continued:--

"Now, sir, if you have no longer any reason to doubt my poverty, let meask what are your intentions. "

"My intentions?" replied the merchant; "my intentions are that we shallremain as good friends as we were before; but, as to the marriage, thatof course falls to the ground. We will speak no more about it. What were_your_ calculations, Monsieur De Vlierbeck? I think I am just beginningto see a little clearly into this matter! You imagined, I suppose, thatyou would make a good business out of it and sell your merchandise ashigh as possible!"

"Sir, " exclaimed De Vlierbeck, bounding from his chair in rage, "speakrespectfully of my daughter! Poor or rich, do not dare to forget who sheis!"

"Don't get angry! don't get angry! Monsieur De Vlierbeck. I have nodesire to insult you. Far from it. Had your enterprise succeeded I wouldprobably have admired you; but _finesse_ against _finesse_ always makesa bad game! Permit me to ask, since you are so touchy on the point ofhonor, if you have acted a very honorable part in courting my nephew andallowing his passion to absorb him?"

De Vlierbeck bowed his head to conceal the blush that suffused his agedcheeks; nor did he awake from his painful stupor till the merchantrecalled him by the single word, --

"Well?"

"Ah!" stammered De Vlierbeck, "have mercy on me! Love for my child, probably, led me astray. God endowed her with all the gifts that canadorn a woman. I hoped that her beauty, the purity of her soul, thenobility of her blood, were treasures quite as precious as gold!"

"That is to say, for a gentleman, perhaps; but not for so common aperson as a merchant, " interrupted Monsieur Denecker, with a sneer. 

"Don't reproach me with having _courted_ your nephew, " continued DeVlierbeck. "That is a word that wounds me deeply; for it is unjust. Their attachment was reciprocal and in every way unstudied. I thankedGod daily in my prayers that he had cast in our path a savior for mychild:--yes, a savior, I say; for Gustave is an honorable youth, whowould have made her happy not so much by money as by his noble andgenerous character. Is it then so great a crime for a father who hasunfortunately become poor to hope that his child should escape want?"

"Certainly not, " replied the merchant; "but every thing is in _success_;and in that respect, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, your enterprise has beenunfortunate. I am a man who examines his goods twice before he buys, andit is difficult to pass apples on me for lemons!"

This heartless, trafficking slang tortured the unfortunate bankrupt tosuch a degree that he arose from his seat in a passion and began to pacethe apartment. 

"You have no consideration for my misfortunes, sir, " said he. "Youpretend that I designed deceiving you; but was it _you_ who discoveredmy poverty? Are you not free to act as you please, after the disclosuresthat I have voluntarily given you? And let me remark, sir, that if Ilisten humbly to your reproaches--if I even acknowledge my fault--thesense of manhood is not dead in my soul. You talk of 'merchandise' and'goods, ' as if you came here to buy something! You allude to my Lenora, do you? All your wealth, sir, could not purchase her! and, if love isnot powerful enough in your eyes to obliterate the pecuniary inequalitybetween us, know that I am a De Vlierbeck, and that name, even inpoverty, weighs more than all your money!"

During this explosion his face kindled with indignation and his eyesshot forth their fiery rays upon the merchant, who, alarmed by the loudwords and animated gestures of De Vlierbeck, regarded him with an air ofstupefaction from the other side of the apartment. 

"Good God, sir, " said he at last, "there is no need of so much violenceand loud talk! Each of us remains where he is; each keeps what he has, and the affair is at an end. I have but one request to make of you, andit is that you will never again receive my nephew, --or else--"

"Or else?" interrupted De Vlierbeck, passionately; "do you _dare_ tothreaten me?" But, restraining himself almost instantly, he continued, with comparative calmness, "Enough! Shall I call Monsieur Denecker'scarriage?"

"If you please, " replied the merchant. "We cannot do business together, it seems; but that is no reason why we should become enemies. "

"Well! well! we will stop short of that, sir. But this conversationannoys me; it must end!" And, so saying, he led Monsieur Denecker to thedoor and bade him farewell abruptly. Be Vlierbeck returned to theparlor, fell into his chair and covered his brow with both hands, as aheavy groan burst from his breast, which heaved with almost hystericalemotion. For a long time he remained silent and motionless; but soon hishands fell heavily on his knees, a deathly paleness overspread his face, and the room whirled around the heart-broken man. 

Suddenly he heard footsteps in the chamber above, and, rousing himselfby a strong effort, "Oh, God! my poor child!" cried he; "my poorLenora! She comes! my punishment is not yet complete! I must break theheart of my own child; I must tear from it all its hopes, blot out itsdream, behold it withered up with grief! Oh that I could escape thisdreadful disclosure! Alas! What to say to her? how to explain it?"

A bitter smile contracted his lips as he continued, with bitterirony:--"Ah! hide thy suffering, old man; rally thy strength; takecourage! If thy heart is torn and bleeding, --if despair devours thysoul, --oh, smile, still smile! Yes! your life has been a continualfarce! Yet, miserable abortion that thou art, what canst thou do butsubmit, yield without a fight, and bow thy neck to the yoke like apowerless slave? Begone, rebellious feeling! Be silent, and behold thychild!"

Lenora opened the door and ran to her father, her questioning eyes fixedon his with a look of hope. All of poor De Vlierbeck's efforts todisguise his suffering were unsuccessful, and Lenora soon read in hisface that he was a prey to some overwhelming sorrow. As he stillobstinately kept silence, she began to tremble, and asked, with feverishimpatience, --

"Well, father, --well, --have you _nothing_ to say to me?"

"Alas! my child, " said he, sighing, "we are not happy. God tries us withheavy blows. Let us bow before the will of the Almighty. "

"What do you mean? what is there to fear?" said Lenora, beside herself. "Speak, father! Has he _refused_ his consent?"

"He has refused it, Lenora!"

"Oh, no! no!" cried the maiden; "it is impossible!"

"Refused it, because he possesses millions and we--nothing!"

"It is true, then? Gustave is hopelessly lost to me!--lost to meforever!

"Hopelessly!" echoed the father. 

A sharp cry escaped Lenora as she tottered to the table and fell on it, weeping bitterly. 

De Vlierbeck arose and stood above his sobbing daughter, and, joininghis uplifted hands, exclaimed, in suppliant tones, --

"Oh, pity me, pity me, Lenora! In that fatal interview I have sufferedall the torments that could rack the heart of a parent; I have drunk thedregs of shame; I have emptied the cup of humiliation; but all, all arenothing in comparison with thy grief! Calm yourself, child of my love;let me see the sweet face I so love to look on; let me regain my loststrength in thy holy resignation! Lenora! my head swims; I shall die ofdespair!"

As he uttered these words he sank heavily into a chair, overpowered byemotion. The sound of his fall seemed instantly to recall Lenora toherself, and, dashing the tears from her eyes, she leaned her head onhis shoulder to listen and assure herself that he had not fainted. 

"Never to see him more! to renounce his love forever! to lose thehappiness I dreamed of! Alas! alas!"

"Lenora! Lenora!" exclaimed her father, entreatingly!

"Oh, beloved father, " sobbed the poor girl, "to lose Gustave _forever_!The dreadful thought overwhelms me! While I am near you I will bless Godfor his kindness; but my tears overpower me; oh! let me weep, let meweep, I beseech you!"

De Vlierbeck pressed his daughter more closely to his heart, andrespected her affliction in silence. 

The stillness of death reigned throughout the apartment, while theyremained locked in each other's arms until the very excess of griefrelaxed their embrace and opened their hearts to mutual consolation. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Four days after Denecker had refused his consent to the marriage, ahired carriage might have been Been drawing up carefully in a screen ofwood that bordered a by-road about half a league from Grinselhof. Ayoung man got out of it, and, giving directions to the coachman to awaithim at a neighboring inn, walked briskly across the moor toward the old_château_. As soon as Grinselhof began to loom up over the trees, hemoved cautiously along behind the hedges and thickets, as if seeking toavoid observation; and then, stealing across the bridge, he opened thegate, passed through the dense copse that surrounded the house, andentered the garden. 

The first object that greeted his sight was Lenora, seated at her tablebeneath the well-known catalpa, with her head resting on the board, evidently absorbed in sorrow. Her back was turned toward him as heapproached; and, although he advanced with the utmost caution, thesound of his footsteps disturbed her in the intense silence of the spot, and she leaped to her feet, while the name of Gustave broke in surprisedaccents from her lips. She was evidently anxious to escape into thehouse; but her lover threw himself on his knees, and, grasping her hand, poured forth a passionate appeal:--

"Listen to me, Lenora! listen to me! If you fly and refuse me theconsolation of telling you with my last farewell, all I have sufferedand all I hope, I will either die here at your feet, or I will go henceforever, a broken-hearted wanderer over the face of the earth! Listen tome! listen to me! Listen to me, Lenora, my sister, my beloved, mybetrothed! By our pure and holy love, I beseech you not to repulse me!"

Though Lenora trembled in every limb, her features assumed an expressionof wounded pride, as she answered, with cold decision, --

"Your boldness surprises me, sir! You are indeed a daring man, to appearagain at Grinselhof after your uncle's insulting conduct to my father!He is ill in bed; his soul is crushed by the outrage. Is this the rewardof all my affection for you?"

"Oh, God! oh, God! Lenora, do I hear _you_ accuse me? Alas! what have Idone, and what could I prevent?"

"There is nothing, sir, any longer, in common between us, " said thegirl. "If we are not as rich as you, the blood that runs in our veinscannot suffer by comparison. Arise! begone! I will see you no more!"

"Mercy! pity!" exclaimed Gustave, lifting his clasped hands toward her;"mercy, Lenora, for I am innocent!"

The maiden dashed away the tears that began to start in her eyes, and, turning her back on him, was about to depart. 

"Cruel, cruel!" exclaimed Gustave, in broken tones. "Can you leave mewithout a farewell?--without a word of consolation? Will you remaininsensible to my grief and deaf to my prayers? 'Tis well; I will submitto my lot, for _you_ have decided it! You, Lenora, my love, havesentenced me! I forgive you: be happy on earth without me, and farewellforever!"

As he uttered those words his strength seemed utterly to fail him, and, sinking into the chair which Lenora had quitted, his head and arms felllifeless on the table. 

The determined girl had made a few steps in her retreat to the house, when she suddenly halted on hearing the agonized tones of Gustave'sfarewell and the sudden sound of his fall on the table. As she glancedbackward at the convulsed frame of her lover, a spasm that denoted theviolent conflict between duty and affection passed over her beautifulface; and, as her heart appeared gradually to conquer in the fight, thetears began to pour in showers from her eyes. Step by step and slowlyshe retraced the path to the table, and leaning over the sufferer, tookone of his hands tenderly in hers:--

"Are we not wretched, Gustave? Are we not wretched?"

At the touch of that gentle hand and the sound of that beloved voice, life seemed once more to stir in his veins, and, raising his eyeslanguidly to hers, he gazed mournfully into them as he half said, halfsighed, --

"Lenora, dear Lenora, have you come back to me? Have you taken pity onmy agony? You do not _hate_ me, do you?" "Is a love like oursextinguished in a day?" returned Leonora, with a sigh. 

"Oh, no, no!" cried Gustave aloud; "it is eternal! Is it not eternal, Lenora, and omnipotent against every ill as long as the hearts beat inour bosoms?"

Lenora bowed her head and cast down her eyes. 

"Do not imagine, Gustave, " said she, solemnly, "that our separationcauses me less grief than it does you; and, if the assurance of my lovecan assuage the pangs of absence, let it strengthen and encourage you. My lonely heart will keep your image sacred in its holiest shrine; Iwill follow you in spirit wherever you go, and I will love you tilldeath shall fill up the gulf that separates us. We shall meet againabove, but never more on earth. "

"You are mistaken, Lenora, " cried Gustave, with a feeble expression ofjoy; "you are mistaken! There is still hope; my uncle is notinexorable, and his compassionate heart must yield to my despair. "

"That may be, " replied Lenora, in sad but resolute tones; "that may be, Gustave; but my father's honor is inflexible. Leave me, Gustave; I havealready disobeyed my father's orders too long, and slighted my duty inremaining with a man who cannot become my husband. Go now; for, if weshould be surprised by some one, my poor, wretched father would die ofshame and anger. "

"One moment more, beloved Lenora! Hear what I have to tell you. My unclerefused me your hand; I wept, I besought him, but nothing could changehis determination. In despair I was transported beyond myself; Irebelled against my benefactor; and, treating him like an ungratefulwretch, I said a thousand things for which I begged his pardon on myknees when reason resumed her empire over my excited soul. My uncle isgoodness itself to me: he pardoned my sin; but he imposed the conditionthat I should instantly undertake a journey with him to Italy, which hehas long designed making. He idly hopes that travel may obliterate yourimage from my mind; but think not, Lenora, that I can ever forget you! Asudden thought flashed through my fancy, and I accepted his terms with asecret joy. For months and months I will be alone with my uncle; and, watching him ever with the love and gratitude I feel for all hiskindness, I will gradually wear away his objections, and, conquering hisheart, return, my love, to place the bridal wreath upon your brow, andclaim you, before the altar of God, as the companion of my choice!"

For an instant a gentle smile overspread the maiden's face, and herclear, earnest gaze was full of rapture at the vision of futurehappiness; but the gleam disappeared almost as quickly as it arose, andshe answered him, with bitter sadness, --

"Alas! my dear friend, it is cruel to destroy this last hope of yourheart; and yet I must do it. Your uncle might consent; but my father--"

She faltered for an instant. 

"Your father, Lenora? Your father would pardon all and receive me like along-lost son. "

"No, no; believe it not, Gustave; for his honor has been too deeplywounded. As a Christian he might pardon it; but as a gentleman he willnever forget the outrage. "

"Oh, Lenora, you are unjust to your father. If I return with my uncle'sconsent, and say to him, 'I will make your child happy; give her to mefor my wife; I will surround her path with all the joys a husband hasever bestowed on woman;'--if I tell him this, think you he will denyme?"

Lenora cast down her eyes. 

"You know his infinite goodness, Gustave, " said she. "My happiness ishis only thought on earth; he will thank God and bless you. "

"Yes, yes; he _will_ consent, " continued Gustave, with ardor; "and allis not lost. A blessed ray lightens our future, and let it rekindle yourhope, beloved of my heart! Yield not to grief; let me go forth on thisdreary journey, but let me bear along with me the assurance that youawait my return with trust in God. Remember me in your prayers; utter myname as you stray through these lonely paths which witnessed the dawn ofour love and where for two months I drained the cup of perfect bliss. The knowledge that I am not forgotten by you will sustain my heart andenable me to endure the pangs of separation. "

Lenora wept in silence. Her lover's eloquence had extinguished everyspark of her pride; and the rebellious heart which so lately was readyto cast off its rosy fetters had no longer a place for any thing butlove and sadness. Gustave saw that he had conquered. 

"I go, Lenora, " said he, "strong in your affection. I quit my countryand my loved one with a confident hope. Whatever may happen to me, Iwill never be downcast. You will think of me daily, Lenora, will younot?"

"Alas! I have promised my father that I will forget you!" sobbed themaiden, as her hand trembled in his. 

"_Forget_ me!" exclaimed Gustave. "_Can_ you force yourself to forgetme?"

"No, Gustave; NO!" said she, firmly, fixing her large eyes on him withan intense and lingering gaze. "No: for the first time in my life Iwill disobey my father. I feel that I have net the strength to keep myidle word. I cannot forget you: till the last hour of my life I willlove you; for it is my fate, and I cannot resist. "

"Thanks, thanks, a thousand thanks, Lenora!" exclaimed Gustave, in atransport. "Thy tender love strengthens me against destiny. Beloved ofmy heart, rest here under the guardian eye of God. Thy image will followme in my journey like a protecting angel; in joy and grief, by day andnight, in health and sickness, thou, Lenora, wilt ever be present to me!This cruel separation wounds my heart beyond expression; but dutycommands, and I must obey. Farewell, farewell!"

He wrung her hands convulsively, and was gone. 

"Gustave!" sobbed the poor girl, as she sank on the chair and allowedthe pent-up passion of her soul to burst forth in tears. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Leonora secretly cherished in her heart the hope of a happy future; butshe did not hesitate to inform her father of Gustave's visit. DeVlierbeck heard her listlessly, and gave no other reply but a bittersmile. 

From that day Grinselhof became sadder and more solitary than ever. Theold gentleman might generally be seen seated in an arm-chair, restinghis forehead on his hand, while his eyes were fixed on the ground or onvacancy. The fatal day on which the bond fell due was perhaps alwayspresent to his mind; nor could he banish the thought of that frightfulmisery into which it would plunge his child and himself. Lenoracarefully concealed her own sufferings in order not to increase herfather's grief; and, although she fully sympathized with him, no effortwas omitted on her part to cheer the old man by apparent contentment. She did and said every thing that her tender heart could invent toarouse the sufferer from his reveries; but all her efforts were in vain:her father thanked her with a smile and caress; but the smile was sad, the caress constrained and feeble. 

If Lenora sometimes asked him, with tears, what was the cause of hisdepression, he adroitly managed to avoid all explanations. For daystogether he wandered about the loneliest paths of the garden, apparentlyanxious to escape the presence even of his daughter. If she caught aglimpse of him at a distance, a fierce look of irritation wasperceptible on his face, while his arms were thrown about in rapid andconvulsive gesticulations. If she approached him with marks of love anddevotion, he scarcely replied to her affectionate words, but left thegarden to bury himself in the solitude of the house. 

An entire month--a month of bitter sadness and unexpressed suffering onboth sides--passed in this way; and Lenora observed with increasedanxiety the rapid emaciation and pallor of her father, and thesuddenness with which his once-lively eye lost every spark of its wontedvivacity. It was about this time that a slight change in the oldgentleman's conduct convinced her that a secret--and perhaps a terribleone--weighed on his heart. Every day or two he went to Antwerp in the_calèche_, without informing her or any one else of the object of hisvisit. He came back to Grinselhof late at night, seated himself at thesupper-table silent and resigned, and, persuading Lenora to go to bed, soon went off to his own chamber. But his daughter was well aware thathe did not retire to rest; for during long hours of wakefulness sheheard the floor creak as he paced his apartment with restless steps. 

Lenora was brave by nature, and her singular and solitary education hadgiven her a latent force of character that was almost masculine. Bydegrees the resolution to make her father reveal his secret grew in hermind. And, although a feeling of instinctive respect made her hesitate, a restless devotion to the author of her being gradually overcame allscruples and emboldened her for the enterprise. 

One day Monsieur De Vlierbeck set off very early for town. The morningwore away heavily; and, toward the afternoon, Lenora wandered wearilyabout the desolate house, with no companion but her sad reflections. Atlength she entered the apartment where her father usually studied orwrote, and, after a good deal of hesitation, in which her face andgestures displayed the anxiety of her purpose, opened the table-drawer, and saw in it, unrolled, a written document. The paleness of deathoverspread her countenance as she perused the paper and instantly closedthe drawer. After this she left the apartment hastily, and, returning toher chamber, sat down with hands clasped on her knees and eyes fixed onthe floor in a stare of wild surprise. 

"_Sell Grinselhof!_" exclaimed she. "Sell Grinselhof! Why? MonsieurDenecker insulted my father because we were not rich enough for him. What is this secret? and what does it all mean? If it should be _true_that we are beggars! Oh, God! does a ray of light penetrate my mind? isthis the solution of the enigma and the cause of my father'sdepression?"

For a long time she remained motionless in her chair, absorbed inreverie; but gradually her face brightened, her lips moved, and her eyesglistened with resolution. As she was endeavoring to fight bravelyagainst misfortune, she suddenly heard the wheels of her father's_calèche_ returning to Grinselhof. She ran down instantly to meet him;and as he drew up at the door she perceived the poor sufferer buried ina corner of the vehicle, apparently deprived of all consciousness; and, when he descended from the vehicle and she saw his expressiondistinctly, the deadly pallor that covered his haggard cheeks almostmade her sink to the earth with anxiety. Indeed, she had neither heartnor strength to utter a word to him; but, standing aside in silence, sheallowed the old man to enter the house and bury himself as usual in hischamber. 

For some minutes she stood on the door-sill, undecided as to what sheshould do; but by degrees her brow and cheeks began to redden, and thelight of resolution shone in her moistened eyes. 

"Ought the feeling of respect to restrain me longer?" said she toherself; "shall I let my father die without an effort? No! no! I mustknow all! I must tear the worm from his heart; I must save him by mylove!"

Without a moment's further delay, she ran rapidly through three or fourchambers, and came to the apartment where her father was seated with hiselbows resting on the table and his head buried in his hands. Throwingherself on her knees at his feet, and with hands raised to him insupplication, --

"Have mercy on me, father!" exclaimed she; "have mercy on me, I beseechyou on my knees; tell me what it is that distresses you! I must know whyit is that my father buries himself in this solitude and seems to flyeven from his child!"

"Lenora! thou last and only treasure that remainest to me on earth, "replied De Vlierbeck, in a broken voice, with despair in his wildgaze, --"thou hast suffered, dreadfully, my child, hast thou not? Rest thypoor head in my bosom. A terrible blow, my child, is about to fall onus!"

Lenora did not seem to pay any attention to these remarks, but, disengaging herself from her father's embrace, replied, in firm anddecided tones, --

"I have not come here, father, for consolation, but with the unalterabledetermination to learn the cause of your suffering. I will not go awaywithout knowing what misfortune it is that has so long deprived me ofyour love. No matter how much I may venerate you and respect yoursilence, the sense of duty is greater even than veneration. I must--I_will_--know the secret of your grief!"

"Thou deprived of thy father's love?" exclaimed De Vlierbeck, reproachfully and with surprise;--love for thee, my adored child, isprecisely the secret of my grief. For ten years I have drained thebitter cup and prayed the Almighty to make you happy; but, alas! myprayers have always been unheard!"

"Shall I be unhappy, then?" asked Lenora, without betraying the leastemotion. 

"Unhappy, because of the misery that awaits us, " replied her father. "The blow that is about to fall on our house destroys all that wepossess. We must leave Grinselhof. "

The last words, which plainly confirmed her fears, seemed for a momentto appall the girl; but she repressed her feelings, and answered him, with increased courage, --

"You are not dying this slow death because ill-fortune has overtaken_you_, my father; I know the unconquerable force of your character toowell for that. No! your heart is weak and yielding because _I_ have topartake your poverty! Bless you, bless you, for your affection! But, tell me, father, if I were offered all the wealth of the world oncondition that I would consent to see you suffer for a single day, whatthink you I would answer?"

Dumb with surprise, the poor man looked proudly at his daughter, and agentle pressure of her hand was his sole reply. 

"Ah!" continued she, "I would refuse all the treasures of earth and meetpoverty without a sigh. And you, father, --if they offered you all thegold of America for your Lenora, what would you do?"

"How can you ask, child?" exclaimed her father; "do we sell our hearts'blood for gold?"

"And so, " continued the girl, "our Maker has left us that which isdearest to us both in this world; why then should we mourn when we oughtto be grateful for his compassionate care? Take heart once more, dearfather; no matter what may be our future lot, --should we even be forcedto take refuge in a hovel, --nothing can harm us as long as we are notseparated!"

Smiles, astonishment, admiration, and love, by turns flitted over thewan features of the poor old man, who seemed altogether unnerved anddisconcerted by the painful _dénouement_. At length, after some momentsof unbroken silence, he clasped his hands, and, gazing intensely intoher eyes through his starting tears--

"Lenora, Lenora! my child!" he exclaimed, "thou art not of earth--thouart an angel! The unselfish grandeur of thy soul unmans me completely!"

She saw she had conquered. The light of courage was rekindled again inher father's eye, and his lofty brow was lifted once more under thesentiment of dignity and self-devotion that struggled for life in hissuffering heart. Lenora looked at him with a heavenly smile, andexclaimed, rapturously, "Up! up! father; come to my arms; away with grief! United in eachother's love, fate itself is powerless in our presence!"

Father and daughter sprang into each other's arms, and for a long whileremained speechless, wrapped in a tender embrace; then, seatingthemselves with their hands interlocked, they were silent and absorbed, as if the world and its misery were altogether forgotten. 

"A new life--a new and refreshing current of blood--seems to have beensuddenly poured into my veins, " said Monsieur De Vlierbeck. "Alas, Lenora, what a sinner I have been! how wrong I was not to divulge all!But you must pardon me, beloved child; you must pardon me. It was thefear of afflicting you--the hope of finding some means of rescue, ofescape--that sealed my lips. I did not know you, my daughter; I did notknow the inestimable treasure that God in his mercy had lavished on me!But _now_ you shall know all; I will no longer hide the secret of myconduct and my grief. The fatal hour has come; the blow I desired toward off is about to fall and cannot be turned aside! Are you prepared, dear child, to hear your father's story?"

Lenora, who was delighted to behold the calm and radiant smile thatilluminated the face of her heart-broken parent, answered him instantly, in caressing tones, --

"Pour all your woes into my heart, dear father, and conceal nothing. Thepart I have to perform must be based on complete knowledge of everything; and you will feel how much your confidence relieves your burdenedsoul. "

"Take, then, your share of suffering, daughter, " replied De Vlierbeck, "and help me to bear my cross! I will disguise nothing. What I am aboutto disclose is indeed lamentable; yet do not tremble and give way at therecital, for, if any thing should move you, it must be the story of afather's torture. You will learn now, my child, why Monsieur Deneckerhas had the hardihood to behave toward us as he has done. "

He dropped her hand, but, without averting his eager gaze from heranxious eyes, continued:--

"You were very young, Lenora, but gentle and loving as at present, andyour blessed mother found all her happiness centered in your care andcomfort. We dwelt on the lands of our forefathers; nothing disturbed theeven tenor of our simple lives; and, by proper economy, our moderateincome sufficed to support us in a manner becoming our rank and name. 

"I had a younger brother, who was endowed with an excellent heart, butgenerous to a fault and somewhat imprudent. He lived in town, andmarried a lady of noble family who was no richer than himself. She wasshowy in her tastes and habits, and, I fear, induced him to increase hisrevenue by adventurous means. There can be no doubt that he speculatedlargely in the public funds. But probably you do not understand whatthis means, my child. It is a species of _gambling_, by which a man mayin a moment gain millions; and yet it is a game that may, with equalrapidity, plunge him into the depths of misery and reduce him as if bymagic to the condition of a beggar. 

"At first, my brother was remarkably successful, and established himselfin town in a style of living that was the envy of our wealthiestcitizens. He came to see us frequently, bringing you, who were hisgodchild, a thousand beautiful presents, and lavished his affection withtestimonials of kindness which were proportioned to his fortune. I spoketo him often about the dangerous character of his adventures, andendeavored to convince him that it was unbecoming a gentleman to riskhis property upon the hazards of an hour; but, as continued successemboldened him more and more, the passion for gambling made him deaf toall my appeals, all my advice. 

"At last the evil hour came! The luck which had so long favored himbecame inconstant; he lost a considerable portion of his gains, and sawhis fortune diminishing with every venture. Still, courage did not failhim; but, on the contrary, he seemed to fight madly against fate, withthe idle hope of forcing fortune to turn once more in his favor. But, alas, it was a fatal delusion!

"One night--I tremble as I recall it--I was in my chamber and nearlyready to retire; you were already in bed, and your mother was saying herprayers on her knees beside your little couch. A tremendous storm ragedwithout: hail beat in torrents against the windows, and the wind howledin the chimneys and swayed the trees as if it was about to blow down thehouse. The violence of the tempest began to make me somewhat anxious, when suddenly the door-bell was pulled and the sound of horses heard atthe gate. In a moment the summons was answered by one of ourservants, --for we kept two then, --and a female rushed into the room, throwing herself in tears at my feet. It was my brother's wife!

"Trembling with fright, I of course hastened to raise her; but sheclung to my knees, begging my assistance, imploring me, by everypassionate appeal she could think of, to save her husband's life, andconvincing me by her sobs and distraction that some frightful calamitywas impending over my brother!

"Your mother joined me eagerly in my efforts to calm the sufferer, andby degrees we managed to extract the cause of her singular conduct andunseasonable visit. My brother--alas!--had lost all he possessed, andeven more! His wife's story was heart-rending; but its conclusion filledus with more anxiety for her husband than his losses; for, overcome bythe certainty of a dishonored name, haunted by the reflection that lawand justice would soon overtake him, my poor brother had made an attemptupon his life! The hand of God had providentially guided his wife to theapartment, where she surprised him at the fatal moment and snatched thedeadly instrument from his grasp! He was then locked up in a room; dumb, overcome, bowed down to the earth, and guarded by two faithful friends. If any one on earth could save him, it was surely his brother!

"Such was the wild appeal of my wretched sister-in-law, who, heedless ofthe stormy night, had thrown herself into a coach and fled to me, through the tempest, as her only hope for their salvation. There she wasat my feet, bathed in tears, sobbing, screaming, beseeching me toaccompany her to town. _Could I--did I_--hesitate? Your tender mother, who saw at once the frightful condition of the family, and sympathizedas woman's heart alone can do with human misery, eagerly implored me notto lose a moment. 'Save him, save him!' exclaimed she; 'spare nothing: Iwill consent to every thing you may think proper to do or sacrifice!'

"We flew back to town through the storm and darkness. You grow pale, Lenora, at the very thought of it, for it was indeed frightful, and youcan never know the impression it made on me: these whitenedhairs--whitened before their time--are the records of that terriblenight! But let me continue. 

"It is needless to describe the wild despair in which I found mybrother, or to tell you how long I had to wrestle with his spirit inorder to force a ray of hope into his soul. There was but one means bywhich we could save his honor and life; but--oh God!--at what asacrifice! I was obliged to pledge all my property as security for hisdebts. Nothing could be spared; our ancestral manor-lands, your mother'smarriage-portion, your moderate dowry, --all were ventured with thecertainty that the greater part would unquestionably be lost! On thesehard conditions my brother's honor might be saved; and, if that could berescued, he was willing to renounce the determination to escape shame bydeath. I must in justice say that it was not he who demanded thesacrifice from me: on the contrary, he did not suppose that I could orwould make it; but I was satisfied in my mind that if I did not settlehis affairs, at all hazards, he would execute his criminal projectagainst his life. And yet--and yet, my child--_I hesitated!_"

"Father!" exclaimed Lenora, "_you did not refuse!_"

A happy smile beamed on his face as he met the questioning glance of hisdaughter and answered, firmly, --

"I loved my brother, Lenora; but I loved _you_, my only child, muchmore. The sacrifice demanded of me by his creditors insured misery foryour mother and for you!"

"Oh, God! oh, God!" sobbed Lenora. 

"On one side my heart was distracted by this dreadful thought, while onthe other I was assailed by the despair that was present in thebankrupt's chamber; but generosity conquered in the awful trial, and atdaylight I sought out the principal creditors and signed the documentsthat saved a brother's life and honor but gave up my wife and child towant. "

"Thank God!" gasped Lenora, as if she had been relieved from a horriblenightmare. "Bless you, bless you, father, for your noble, generousconduct!"

She rose from her seat, and, passing her arms around his neck, gave hima glowing kiss with as much solemnity as if she had been anxious toendue this mark of love with all the fervor and sacredness of abenediction. 

"Ah! but canst thou bless me, my child, " said he, with eyes foil ofgratitude, "for an act that should implore thy pardon?"

"_My_ pardon, father!" exclaimed Lenora, with surprise on all herfeatures. "Oh, had you done otherwise, what would I not have suffered indoubting the goodness of my parent's heart! Now, now, I love you morethan ever! _Pardon you_, father? Is it a crime to save a brother's lifewhen it is in your keeping?"

"Alas, Lenora, the world does not reason thus, and never forgives us forthe guilt of poverty. Reduced to that, we suffer humiliations which anyone may observe in the lives of multitudes of our nobles. Yes; societyregards poverty as a crime, and it treats us like outcasts. Our equalsavoid us in order not to be confounded in our misery; while peasants andtradesmen laugh at our misfortune as if it was a sort of agreeablerevenge. Happy, happy they to whom heaven has given an angel to pourcomfort and consolation into their hearts in hours of want anddejection! But listen, my child!

"My brother was saved, and I concealed most carefully the assistance Ihad been to him; he left the country and went with his wife to America, where, ever since, he has worked hard and gained hardly enough tosupport a miserable existence. His wife died during the voyage. And, asto ourselves, we no longer possess any thing; for Grinselhof and ourother lands were mortgaged for more than they were worth. Besides this, I was forced to borrow from a gentleman of my acquaintance four thousand_francs_ upon my bond. 

"When your mother heard of the sacrifices to which I was forced tosubmit, she made no reproaches; at first she fully approved my conduct. But very soon we became necessarily subjected to privations under whichyour mother's strength declined, till, without a sigh or complaint, shebegan to fade away slowly from earth. It was a dreadful situation; for, to conceal our ruin and save our ancestral name from contempt, we wereforced to part with the last ounce of our silver to pay the interest onour debts. Gradually our horses and servants disappeared; the paths thatled to our neighbors soon became grass-grown; and we declined all socialinvitations, so as to avoid the necessity of returning the compliment. Arumor about us began to spread through the village and among the noblefamilies that had formerly been on terms of intimacy with us; andscandal declared that _avarice_ had driven us to a life of meanness andisolation! We joyously accepted the imputation, and even the coldnesswith which our holiday friends accompanied it; it was a veil with whichsociety thought proper to cover us, and beneath its folds our povertywas safe from scrutiny. 

"But I am approaching scenes, my child, the recollection of which almostunnerves me. My story has reached the most painful moment of my life, and I beseech you to hear me calmly. 

"Your poor mother wasted away to a skeleton; her sunken-eyes werehardly visible in their deep sockets; a livid pallor suffused hercheeks. As I saw her fading, --fading, --the wife whom I had loved morethan life, --as I gazed on those death-struck features and saw the fatalevidences each day clearer and clearer, --I became nearly mad withdespair and grief. "

Lenora shuddered with emotion as her breast heaved convulsively underthe sobs she strove to repress. Her father stopped a moment, almostovercome by the recital; but, rallying his courage quickly, he forcedhimself to go on with his sad recollections:--

"Poor mother! she did nothing but weep! Every time she looked at herchild--her dear little Lenora--tears filled her eyes. Thy name wasalways on her lips, as if she were forever addressing a prayer for theeto God in heaven! At last the dreadful hour arrived when she heard theAlmighty's voice summoning her above. The clergyman performed theservices for the dying; and you, my child, had been taken from her armsand sent out of the house. It was midnight, and I was alone with herwhose icy lips had already imprinted on mine their last sad kiss. Myheart bled. Oh, God! how wretched--how wretched--were those partinghours! My beloved wife lay there before me as if already a corpse, whilethe tears yet trickled down her hollow cheeks and she strove to utteryour name with her expiring breath. Kneeling beside her, I imploredGod's mercy for her passing hour, and kissed away the sweat of agonythat stood upon her brow. Suddenly I thought I perceived an effort tospeak, and, bending my ear to her lips, she called me by name, and said, 'It is over, my love, it is over; farewell! It has not pleased theAlmighty to assuage my dying hour, and I go with the conviction that mychild will suffer want and wretchedness on earth!'

"I know not what my love inspired me to say in that solemn moment; but Icalled God to witness that you _should_ escape suffering, and that yourlife should be happy! A heavenly smile illuminated her eyes, and shebelieved my promise. With an effort, she lifted her thin hands once moreround my neck and drew my lips to hers. But soon those wasted arms fellheavily on the bed;--my Margaret was gone;--thy mother was no more!"

De Vlierbeck's head fell on his breast. Lenora's bosom heavedconvulsively as she took his hand without uttering a word; and, for along time, nothing was heard in that sad confessional but the sobs ofthe maiden and the sighs of her heart-broken father. 

"What I have yet to say, " continued the poor gentleman, "is not sopainful as what I have already told you: it concerns only myself. Perhaps it would be better if I said nothing about it; but I need afriend who possesses all my confidence and can sympathize with methoroughly in all I have undergone for the last ten years. 

"Listen, then, Lenora. Your mother was no more; she was gone;--she whowas my last staff in life! I remained at Grinselhof alone with you, mychild, and with my promise, --a promise made to God and to the dead! Whatshould I do to fulfil it? Quit my hereditary estate? wander away seekingmy fortune in foreign lands, and work for our mutual support? That wouldnot do, for it would have devoted you at once to the chances of awretched uncertainty. I could not think of such a course with any degreeof satisfaction; nor was it till after long and anxious reflection thata ray of hope seemed to promise us both a happy future. 

"I resolved to disguise our poverty more carefully than ever, and todevote my time to the most elaborate cultivation of your mind. God madeyou beautiful in face and person, Lenora; but your father was anxious toinitiate you into the mysteries of science and art, and, while heendowed you with a knowledge of the world, to make you virtuous, pious, and modest. I desired to make you an accomplished woman, and I hopedthat the nobility of your blood, the charms of your beauty, thetreasures of your heart and intellect, would compensate in society forthe portion that was denied you. Thus was it, my child, that I thoughtin time, you would make a suitable alliance which would restore you tothe position you hold by birth. For ten years, Lenora, this has been myoccupation and my hope. What I had forgotten or never learned, I studiedat night to teach you next morning; I labored hard that I might not onlyinstruct you wisely but that you might acquire easily; and, at the sametime, I strove by every honest means to conceal from you every thingthat could give a hint or cause a suspicion by which your life might beshadowed. Oh, Lenora, --shall I confess it?--I have suffered hunger andundergone the most cruel privations; I have passed half my nightsmending my clothes, working in the garden, studying and practising inthe dark, so as to hide our poverty from you and the world. But all thatwas nothing; in the silence of night I was not forced to blush beforeany one. By day I had to encounter all kinds of insults, and, with ableeding heart, swallow affront and humiliation. "

Lenora looked at her father with eyes moistened by compassion. DeVlierbeck pressed her hand, and continued:--

"Be not sad, Lenora; if the Lord's hand inflicted deep wounds with everyblow, he bestowed a balm which cured them. One little smile of thygentle face was sufficient to make me pour forth an ejaculation toHeaven: you, you at least were happy, and in your happiness I saw thefulfilment of my promise!

"At length I thought that God himself had thrown in our path one whowould save you from threatening danger. A mutual inclination arosebetween Gustave and you, and a marriage seemed the natural consequence. Under these circumstances I apprized Monsieur Denecker, during his lastvisit, of the deplorable condition of my affairs; but no sooner did Imake the disclosure than he peremptorily refused his consent to theunion. As if this terrible blow, which withered all my hopes, had notbeen sufficient to overwhelm me, I learned, almost at the same time, that the friend who loaned me four thousand francs, with the right torenew my obligation to him every year, had died in Germany, and that hisheirs demanded the payment of the debt! I ran all over town, rapped atevery friendly door, ransacked heaven and earth in my despair, to escapethis last ignominy; but all my efforts were fruitless. To-morrow, perhaps, a placard will be stuck on the door of Grinselhof, announcingthe sale not only of our estate but also of our furniture and of everytrifling object that memory and association have rendered dear to us. Honor requires that we shall surrender, to public sale, every thing ofthe least value to pay our debts. If fate were kind enough to allow usto satisfy every creditor it would be a great consolation, my child, inour misery. Does not this fatal history break your heart?"

"Is that all which makes you despond, father? Have you no other grief?Does your heart conceal no other secret from me?" asked Lenora. 

"None, my child. You know every thing. "

"I can very well understand, " replied Lenora, gravely, "that otherswould consider a blow like this as a frightful misfortune; but how canit affect us? You even appear calm. Why, father, do you, like me, appearindifferent to the inexorable decree of fate?"

"Because you have inspired me with courage and confidence, Lenora;because your love is restored to me fully after a long constraint;because you let me hope that you will not be unhappy. I know what youwant to say, noble child, whom God has given me as a shield againstevery ill! Well, I will encounter ruin without bowing my head, andsubmit with resignation to the hand of God! Alas!" continued he, sadly, "who can tell what sufferings are yet in store for us? We may be forcedto wander about the world, --to seek an asylum far from those we know andlove, --to earn our daily bread by the labor of our hands! Oh, Lenora, you know not how bitter is the bread of misery, --of poverty!"

The maiden shuddered as she saw the cloud falling once more like acurtain over her father's face. She grasped his hand tenderly, and, fixing her gaze intently on his, said, in beseeching tones, --

"Oh, father! let not the happy smile that just now lighted your featuresdepart from them again! Believe me, we shall still be happy. Fancyyourself in the position that awaits us: and what do you see in it sofrightful? I have skill to do all that woman can do; and then yourinstructions have made me able to instruct others in the arts andsciences you have taught me. I shall be strong and active enough forboth of us, and God will bless my labor. Behold us, father, peacefullyat home, with tranquil hearts and always together in our neat apartment:we will love one another, set misfortune at defiance, and live togetherin the heaven that our common sacrifice has made! Oh, it seems to me, father, that the true happiness of our lives is only beginning! How canyou still give yourself up to despair when pleasure is in store forus, --a pleasure such as few upon earth are permitted to enjoy?"

Monsieur De Vlierbeck looked at his daughter with rapture. Thoseenthusiastic but gentle tones had so touched his heart, that noblecourage had inspired him with so much admiration, that tears of joyfilled his eyes. With one hand he drew Lenora to his bosom, and, placingthe other on her forehead, he looked to heaven with religious fervor. Asilent prayer, a blessing on his child, an outpouring of thankfulness, arose from his heart, like the sacred flame from an altar, toward thethrone of Him who had bestowed that angelic child!

CHAPTER VIII. 

A few days afterward, as De Vlierbeck had predicted, the public sale ofall their property was inserted in the papers and placarded over thecity and neighborhood. The affair made some noise, and every one wasastonished at the ruin of a person whom they considered rich andmiserly. 

As the sale was stated to be in consequence of his departure from thecountry, the gossips would have been unable to discover the genuinemotive if the news had not come from Antwerp that De Vlierbeck hadresolved to pay his debts and was wretchedly poor. The cause of hismisfortune--that is to say, his liability for his brother--was known, though all the circumstances were not fully understood. 

As soon as the publication was made, the poor old gentleman led, ifpossible, a more retired life than ever, in order to avoid explanations. Resigned to his fate, he quietly awaited the day of sale; and, althoughhis feelings often strove to master his resolution, the constant careand encouragement of his noble-hearted daughter enabled him to encounterthe fatal hour with a degree of pride. 

In the mean while he received a letter from Gustave at Rome, containinga few lines for his child. The young man declared that absence fromLenora had only increased his affection, and that his only consolationwas the hope of future union with her by the bonds of marriage. But inother respects the letter was not encouraging. He said with pain thatall his efforts to change his uncle's determination had, up to thattime, been fruitless. De Vlierbeck did not conceal from Lenora that heno longer had a hope of her union with Gustave, and that she ought tostrive against this unhappy love in order to escape from greaterdisappointment. Indeed, since her father's poverty had become publiclyknown, Lenora was convinced that duty commanded her to renounce everyhope; yet she could not help feeling pleased and strengthened by thethought that Gustave still loved her, and that he, whose memory filledher heart, dreamed of her in his distant home and mourned her absence. 

She kept her promises to him faithfully. How often did she pronounce hisname in the solitude of that garden! How often did she sigh beneath thecatalpa, as if anxious to trust the winds with a message of love toother lands! In her lonely walks she repeated his tender words; andoften did she stop musingly at some well-remembered spot where he hadblessed her with a tender word or look. 

But poor De Vlierbeck was obliged to undergo additional pain; for, as ifevery misfortune that could assail him was to be accumulated at thatmoment on his devoted head, he received from America the news of hisbrother's death! The unfortunate wanderer died of exhaustion in thewilderness near Hudson's Bay. The poor gentleman wept long and bitterlyfor the loss of a brother whom he tenderly loved; but he was soon androughly turned aside to encounter the catastrophe of his own fate. 

The day of sale arrived. Early in the morning Grinselhof was invaded byall sorts of people, who, moved by curiosity or a desire to purchase, overran every nook and corner of the house, examining the furniture andestimating its value. 

De Vlierbeck had caused every thing that was to be sold to be carriedinto the most spacious apartments, where, aided by his daughter, hepassed the entire preceding night in dusting, cleaning, and polishingthe various articles, so that they might prove more attractive tocompetitors. He had no personal interest in this labor; for, his fundedproperty having been sold some days before at great loss, it was certainthat the sale of all his remaining possessions would not exceed theamount of his debts. It was a noble sentiment of honor and probity thatcompelled him to sacrifice his rest for his creditors, so as to diminishas much as he could the amount of their losses. It was clear that DeVlierbeck did not intend to prolong his stay at Grinselhof after thesale; for among the articles to be offered were the only two bedsteadsin the house, with their bedding, and a large quantity of clothesbelonging to him and his daughter. 

Very early in the day Lenora went to the farm-house, where she remaineduntil all was over. At ten o'clock the saloon was full of people. Noblesand gentlefolks of both sexes were mixed up with brokers and second-handdealers who had come to Grinselhof with the hope of getting bargains. Peasants might be seen talking together, in low voices, with surprise atDo Vlierbeck's ruin; and there were even some who laughed openly andjoked as the auctioneer read the terms of sale!

As the salesman put up a very handsome wardrobe, De Vlierbeck himselfentered the apartment and mingled with the bidders. His appearancecaused a general movement in the crowd; heads went together and menbegan to whisper, while the bankrupt was stared at with insolentcuriosity or with pity, but by the greater part with indifference orderision. Yet, whatever malicious feeling existed in the assembly, itdid not last long; for the firm demeanor and imposing countenance of DeVlierbeck was never on any occasion more instinct with that dignitywhich inspires respect. He was poor; fortune had struck him a cruelblow; but in his manly look and calm features there beamed a brave andindependent soul which misfortune itself had been unable to crush. 

The auctioneer went on with the sale, assisted in his description ofthe various articles by Monsieur De Vlierbeck, who informed the biddersof their origin, antiquity, and value. Occasionally some gentleman ofthe neighborhood, who, in better days, had been on good terms withLenora's father, approached him with words of sympathy; but he alwaysmanaged to escape adroitly from these indiscreet attempts atconsolation. Whenever it was necessary for him to speak, he showed somuch self-command and composure that he was far above the idle_compassion_ of that careless crowd; yet if his countenance was calm anddignified, his heart was weighed down by absorbing grief. All that hadbelonged to his ancestors--articles that were emblazoned with the armsof his family and had been religiously preserved as heirlooms forseveral centuries--were sold at contemptible rates and passed into thehands of brokers. As each historical relic was placed on the table orheld up by the auctioneer, the links of his illustrious race seemed tobreak off and depart. When the sale was nearly over, the _portraits_ ofthe eminent men who had borne the name of De Vlierbeck were taken downfrom the walls and placed upon the stand. The first--that of the hero ofSt. Quentin--was knocked off to a dealer for little more than threefrancs! In the sale of this portrait, and the laughable price itbrought, there was so much bitter irony that, for the first time, theagony that had been so long torturing De Vlierbeck's heart began toexhibit its traces in his countenance. No sooner had the hammer fallen, than, with downcast eyes and a sigh that was inaudible even to hisnearest neighbor, the stricken nobleman turned from the crowd and leftthe saloon, so as not to witness the final sacrifice of the remainingmemorials that bound him to his race. 

The sun was but an hour or two above the horizon. A deathlike silencehad taken the place of the noise, bustle, and vulgarity that ruled atGrinselhof during the morning; the solitary garden-walks were deserted, the house-door and gate were closed, and a stranger might have supposedthat nothing had occurred to disturb the usual quiet of the spot. Suddenly the door of the dwelling opened, and two persons appeared uponthe sill; one, a man advanced in life, the other, a pale and seriouswoman. Each carried a small package and seemed ready for travel. Lenorawas dressed in a simple dark gown and bonnet, her neck covered by asmall square handkerchief. De Vlierbeck was buttoned up to the chin in acoarse black greatcoat, and wore a threadbare cap whose large visornearly masked his features. Although it was evident that the homelesstravellers had literally stripped themselves of all superfluities andhad determined to go forth with the merest necessaries of decency, therewas something in the manner in which they wore their humble costumesthat distinctly marked their birth and breeding. The old man's featureswere not changed; but it was difficult to say whether they expressedpleasure, pain, or indifference. Lenora seemed strong and resolute, although she was about to quit the place of her birth and separateherself, perhaps forever, from all she had loved from infancy, --fromthose aged groves beneath whose shadows the dawn of love first brokeupon her heart, --from that remembered tree at whose feet the timidavowal of Gustave's passion had fallen on her ear. But a sense of dutypossessed and ruled her heart. Reason in her was not overmastered bysensibility; and, when she saw her father tottering at her side, all herenergy was rallied in the effort to sustain him. 

They did not linger at the door, but, crossing the garden rapidly, directed their steps toward the farm-house, which they entered to bidits occupants farewell. Bess and her servant-maid were in the firstapartment below. 

"Mother Bess, " said Monsieur De Vlierbeck, calmly, "we have come to bidyou good-by. "

Bess stared a moment anxiously at the travellers, and, lifting her apronto her eyes, left the apartment; while the servant-maid leaned her headagainst the window-frame and began to sob as if her heart would break. In a short time Bess returned with her husband, whom she had found inthe barn. 

"Alas! is it true, sir, " said the farmer, in a stifled voice, --"is ittrue that you are going to leave Grinselhof, and that, perhaps, we shallnever see you again?"

"Come, come, mother Bess, " said the poor bankrupt, as he took andpressed her hand; "don't weep on that account; you see we bear our lotwith resignation. "

Bess raised her head, threw her eyes once more over the humble dress ofher old master, and began to cry so violently that she could not utter aword. Her husband strove manfully to repress his emotion; and, after aneffort or two, addressed Monsieur De Vlierbeck in a manly way:--

"May I ask the favor of you, sir, to let me say a word or two to you inprivate?"

De Vlierbeck entered the adjoining room, where he was followed by thefarmer, who shut the door carefully. 

"I hardly dare, sir, " said he, "to mention my request; but will youpardon me if it displeases you?"

"Speak out frankly, my friend, " returned De Vlierbeck, with a smile. 

"Look you, sir, " stammered the tender-hearted laborer. "Every thing thatI have earned I owe to you. I had nothing when I married Bess; and yet, with your kindness, we have managed to succeed. God's mercy and yourfavor have made us prosperous; while you, our benefactors, have becomeunfortunate and are forced to wander away from their home, --God knowswhere! You may be forced to suffer privations and want; but that mustnot be: I would reproach myself as long as I live. Oh, sir!" continuedhe, as his voice faltered and his eyes filled with tears, "all that Ihave on earth is at your service!"

De Vlierbeck pressed the hard hand of the rustic with a trembling grasp, as he replied, --

"You are a worthy man indeed, and I am, happy that it was once in mypower to protect and serve you; but I cannot accept your offer, myfriend: keep what you have earned by the sweat of your brow, and do notconcern yourself for our future fate, for, with God's help, we shallfind means to live. "

"Oh, sir, " said the farmer, beseechingly, and clasping his hands in anattitude of entreaty, "do not reject the trifle I offer you;"--he openeda drawer and pointed to a small heap of silver. --"See!" said he; "thatis not the hundredth part of the good you have done us. Grant me thisfavor, I beseech you: take this money, sir; and if it spare you a singlesuffering or trial I shall thank God for it on my knees!"

Tears streamed down the wan and wrinkled cheeks of the poor gentleman ashe replied, --

"Thanks! thanks! my friend; but I must refuse it. All persuasion isuseless. Let us leave this room!"

"But, sir, " cried the farmer, in astonishment, "where do you intend togo? Tell me, for God's sake!"

"I cannot, " replied Monsieur De Vlierbeck, "for I don't know myself;and, even if I did, prudence would make me silent. "

Uttering these words, he returned to the other room, where he foundeverybody in tears. He saw at once that for his own sake as well as hisdaughter's he must end these trying scenes; and accordingly, in a firmvoice, he told her it was time to be gone. There were a few more tenderand eager pressures of hands, a few more farewells, a few last looks atthe old homestead and its surroundings, and the bankrupt pair salliedforth with their bundles, and, passing the bridge just at sunset, departed on foot across the desolate moor. 

It is hard to bid farewell and quit the spots with which, even in asummer's journey, we have formed agreeable associations: but harder farit is to bid adieu forever to the home of our ancestors and the hauntsof our youth. This dreadful trial was passing in De Vlierbeck's heart. From a distant point on the road where the domain of Grinselhof wasmasked by thickets, the wanderer turned his eyes once more in thedirection of the old _château_. Big tears stood in his eyes and slowlyrolled down his hollow cheeks as he stood there, silent and motionless, with clasped hands, gazing into vacancy. But night was rapidly fallingaround the wayfarers; and, recalling him to consciousness with a kiss, Lenora gently drew her father from the spot till they disappeared in thewindings of the wood. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressedto him from Italy reached the village post-office. The carrier inquiredof Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed hisresidence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in theneighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat. The same fateawaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy;and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers exceptthe peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from everyquarter with questions about his old master. But no one had seen orheard of him. 

Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaisestopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped ayoung gentleman in travelling-costume. 

"Where's your master?" said he impatiently to the servant, who excusedthe notary under the plea of his present engagement with other visitors, but invited the stranger to await his leisure in the parlor. 

The youth was evidently disconcerted by the delay; for he paced theapartment with rapid strides and seemed altogether absorbed by someanxiety or disappointment which made him extremely restless. Thenotary's visitors seemed to be either very tedious clients or engaged invery important business; for more than half an hour elapsed before thatfunctionary made his appearance. He came into the room ceremoniously, prepared to measure his words and reception by his visitor's rank; butno sooner did he perceive who it was than his calculating featuresrelaxed into a professional smile, and he advanced rapidly towardGustave with outstretched hands. 

"How are you, how are you, my dear sir?" said he. "I have been expectingyou for several days, and I am really happy to see you at last. I amgreatly flattered by the confidence you are disposed to place in me, andam ready, whenever you please, to devote myself to your affairs. By-the-way, I suppose there is a will?"

A shadow passed over Gustave's brow and his face became serious as hetook a portfolio from his overcoat and drew forth a package of papers. 

"I am pained, sir, at your loss, " said the notary. "Your excellent unclewas my friend, and I deplore his death more than that of any one else. It pleased God that he should die far away from his home. But such, alas! is man's fate. We must console ourselves by the reflection that weare all mortal. Your uncle was _very_ fond of you, and I suppose youhave not been forgotten in his last moments?"

"You may see for yourself, " said Gustave, as he placed the package onthe table. 

The notary ran his eyes over the papers, and, as he perused them, hisface exhibited by turns surprise and satisfaction. 

"Permit me, " said he, "to congratulate you, Monsieur Gustave; thesedocuments are all in order and unassailable. Heir of all his fortune! Doyou know, sir, that you are more than a _millionaire_?"

"We will speak of that another time, " said Gustave, interrupting himrather sharply. "I called on you to-day to ask a favor. "

"You have but to name it, sir. "

"You were the notary of Monsieur De Vlierbeck?"

"I was. "

"I heard from my uncle that Monsieur De Vlierbeck had become very poor. I have reasons for desiring that his misfortunes may not be prolonged. "

"Sir, " said the notary, "I presume that you intend to do him an act ofkindness; and, in truth, it could not be bestowed on a worthier man, forI know the cause of his ruin and sufferings. He was a victim ofgenerosity and honor. He may have carried these virtues to imprudenceand even to madness; but he deserved a better fate. "

"And now, sir, " said Gustave, "I want you to let me know, with theleast amount of details possible, what I can do to assist De Vlierbeckwithout wounding his pride. I know the condition of his affairs; for myuncle told me all about them. Among other debts there was a bond forfour thousand francs, which belongs to the heirs of Hoogebaen: I wantthat bond _immediately_, even if I have to pay four times as much as itis worth. "

The notary stared at Gustave without replying. 

"You seem disconcerted by my demand, " said Gustave, somewhat anxiously. 

"Not exactly, " returned the notary; "but I do not altogether understandyour emotion, although I fear the news I must impart will affect youpainfully. If my anticipations are correct I have cause to be sorry foryou, sir!"

"Explain yourself, " cried Gustave, alarmed; "explain yourself, sir! Hasdeath been at Grinselhof? Is my last hope destroyed?"

"No, no, " replied the notary, quickly; "don't tremble so; they bothlive, but they have been stricken by a great misfortune. "

"Well? well?" exclaimed Gustave, with questioning eagerness, rising fromhis chair. 

"Be calm, be calm, sir, " said the notary, soothingly; "sit down andlisten; it is not so terrible as you may perhaps think, since fortuneenables you to soften their misery. "

"Oh, God be thanked!" cried Gustave. "But let me beg you to hasten yourdisclosures, for your slowness racks me!"

"Know, then, " continued the notary, "that during your absence the bondin question fell due. For many months De Vlierbeck made unavailingefforts to find money to honor it at maturity; but all his property wasmortgaged, and no one would assist him. In order to escape themortification of a forced sale, De Vlierbeck offered every thing atpublic auction, even down to his furniture and clothes! The saleproduced about enough to pay his debts, and everybody was satisfied bythe honorable conduct of De Vlierbeck, who plunged himself into absolutebeggary to save his name. "

"And so he lives in the _château_ of his family only as a tenant?"

"No; he has left it. "

"And where does he reside, then? I want to see him instantly. "

"I do not know. "

"How?--you do not know?"

"Nobody knows where he dwells: he left the province without informingany one of his designs. "

"Alas!" cried Gustave, with profound emotion, "and is it so? Shall I beforced to live longer without them?--without knowing what has become ofthem? Can you give me no hint or clue to their residence? Does nobody, nobody know where they are?"

"Nobody, " replied the notary. "The evening after their sale De Vlierbeckleft Grinselhof on foot and crossed the moor by some unknown road: Imade efforts to discover his retreat, but always without success. "

As this sad news was imparted to Gustave he grew deadly pale, trembledviolently, and covered his forehead with his clasped hands, as ifstriving to conceal the big tears that ran from his eyes. What thenotary first told him of De Vlierbeck's misfortunes had wounded hissensibility, though he was less struck by that recital, because he hadalready become partially aware of the poor gentleman's embarrassment;but the certainty that he could not _immediately_ discover his belovedLenora and snatch her from want overwhelmed him with the bitterestanguish. 

The notary fixed his eyes on the young man, shrugged his shoulders, andregarded him with an expression of pity. 

"You are young, sir, " said he, "and, like most men at your time of life, exaggerate both pain and pleasure. Your despair is unfounded; for it iseasy in our time to discover people whom we want to find. With a littlemoney and diligence we may be sure, in a few days, to discover MonsieurDe Vlierbeck's retreat, even if he has gone abroad to a foreign country. If you are willing to charge me with the pursuit I will spare neithertime nor trouble to bring you satisfactory news. "

Gustave stared hopefully at the notary as he grasped his hand andreplied, with a smile of gratitude, --

"Oh, render me that inestimable service, sir! Spare no money; ransackheaven and earth if it is necessary; but, in God's name, let me know, and let me know _soon_, where De Vlierbeck and his daughter are hidden. It is impossible for me to describe the sufferings of my heart or theardor of my desire to find them. Let me assure you that the first goodnews you bring will be more grateful to my soul than if you had restoredme to life. "

"Fear nothing, sir, " answered the notary. "My clerks shall write lettersof inquiry this very night in every direction. To-morrow morning early Iwill be off to Brussels and secure assistance from the public offices. If you authorize me to spare no expense the secret will discloseitself. "

"And I, " said Gustave, --"I will put the numerous correspondents of ourhouse under contribution, and nothing shall be omitted to detect theirrefuge, even if I have to travel over Europe. "

"Be of good cheer, then, Monsieur Gustave, " said the notary; "for Idoubt not we shall soon attain our end. And, now that you are assured ofmy best services, I will be gratified if you allow me to speak to you amoment quietly and seriously. I have no right to ask what are yourintentions, and still less the right to suppose that those intentionscan be any thing else than proper in every respect. May I inquire if itis your design to marry Mademoiselle Lenora?"

"That is my irrevocable determination, " replied the young man. 

"Irrevocable?" said the notary. "Be it so! The confidence which yourvenerable uncle was always pleased to repose in me, and my position asnotary of the family, impose on me the duty of setting before you coollywhat you are about to do. You are a _millionaire_; you have a name whichin commerce alone represents an immense capital. Monsieur De Vlierbeckis penniless; his ruin is generally known; and the world, justly orunjustly, looks askance at a ruined man. With your fortune, with youryouth and person, you may obtain the hand of an heiress and double yourincome!"

Gustave listened to the first words of this calculating essay withevident impatience; but he soon turned away his eyes and began to foldup the papers and put them in his portfolio. As the notary finished, heanswered, quickly, --

"Well, well, I suppose you have done your duty, and I thank you; but wehave had enough of that. Tell me who owns Grinselhof now?"

The man of business appeared considerably disconcerted by thecontemptuous interruption of his visitor; yet he strove to conceal hismortification by a sorry smile, as he replied, --

"I see, sir, that you have taken a firm stand and will do as you please. Grinselhof was bought in by the mortgagees, for the price offered wasbelow its value. "

"Who lives there?"

"It is uninhabited. No one goes to the country in winter. "

"Can it be bought from its present proprietor?"

"Certainly. I am authorized to offer it to any one for the amount of themortgages. "

"Then Grinselhof belongs to _me!_ Be kind enough to inform the owners ofit at once!"

"Very well, sir. Consider Grinselhof as your property from this moment. If you wish to visit it you will find the keys at the tenant's house. "

Gustave took his hat and made ready to go, and, as he did so, pressedthe notary's hand with evident cordiality:--

"I am tired and need repose, for I feel somewhat overcome by the sadnews you have given me. May God help you in your efforts to fulfil yourpromises! My gratitude will surpass all you can imagine. Farewell tillto-morrow!"

CHAPTER X. 

Spring, gentle spring, had thrown aside the funeral garb of winter, andearth awoke again to vigorous life. Grinselhof reappeared in all thesplendor of its wild, natural scenery; its majestic oaks displayedtheir verdant domes, its roses bloomed as sweetly as of old, elder-blossoms filled the air with delicious odor, butterflies flutteredthrough the garden, and every thicket was vocal with the song of birds. 

Nothing seemed changed at Grinselhof: its roads, its paths, were stilldeserted, and sad was the silence that reigned in its shadows. Yetimmediately around the house there was more life and movement thanformerly. At the coach-house two grooms were busy washing and polishinga new and fashionable coach; while the neigh of horses resounded fromthe stable. A trim waiting-maid stood on the door-sill laughing andjoking with the lackeys, and a respectable old butler looked knowinglyon the group. 

Suddenly the clear silvery ring of a bell was heard from the parlor, andthe waiting-maid ran in, exclaiming, "Good Heavens! there's Monsieurringing for his breakfast, and it is not ready yet!"

A few moments afterward she was seen mounting the staircase with a richsilver salver covered with breakfast-things; and, entering the parlor, she placed them silently on a table before a young gentleman who seemedentirely absorbed by his own thoughts, and then instantly left the roomwithout a word. 

The young man began his meal with a careless, indifferent air, as if heeither had no appetite or did not know what he was about. The furnitureof the apartment in which he sat presented odd and striking contraststo an observer. While some of the articles were remarkable for therichness and elegance of their modern style, there were chairs, tables, and cabinets whose sombre hue and elaborate carving denoted an antiquityof several centuries. On the walls were numerous pictures, dimmed bysmoke and time, encased in frames that had lost half their ornaments andgilding. These were portraits of warriors, statesmen, priests, andprelates. In the dim corners of the canvas armorial bearings of thehouse of De Vlierbeck might be seen, and many of the articles offurniture were embellished with the same blazonry. 

We were told a while ago that a public sale at Grinselhof had dispersedamong a crowd of competitors every thing that belonged to Monsieur DeVlierbeck. How has it come to pass that these portraits have returned totheir old nails on walls which they seemed to have abandoned forever?

The listless youth rose from the table, walked slowly about the room, stopped, looked mournfully at the portraits, recommenced his walk, andapproached an antique casket placed on a bracket in the corner. Heopened it with apparent indifference and took out some simplejewelry, --a pair of ear-rings and a coral necklace. He gazed long atthese objects as he held them in his hand; a few tears fell on them, adeep sigh escaped from his bosom, and he then replaced the jewels intheir casket. 

Quitting the room, he descended to the court. Waiters and servant-maidssaluted as he passed: he acknowledged their civility by a silent nod andwent forth to the most secluded parts of the garden. Stopping at thefoot of a wild chestnut-tree, he threw himself on the ground, where hesat long in moody reverie until aroused by the ringing voice of Bess, who approached him with a book in her hand:--

"Here, sir, is a book which Mademoiselle Lenora used to read. My goodmanwent yesterday to market, where he found the farmer who bought it at thesale. After market was over John accompanied the peasant home, and wouldnot leave him till he had bought the book back again. I suppose it is anexcellent book, as Mademoiselle used to love it so; and neither gold norsilver could ever get it from me if it wasn't for you, sir. Husband saysit is called LUCIFER'!"

While she was running on, Gustave seized the book eagerly and ran overits pages without paying attention to what she said. "Thank you, thankyou for your kind attention, mother Bess!" said he. "You can't think howhappy I am whenever I find any thing that belonged to your mistress. Beassured that I will never forget your goodness. " After offering thisexpression of his thanks to the farmer's wife he opened the book againand began to read without heeding her further. But the good woman didnot go away, and soon interrupted him with a question:--

"May I ask, sir, if you have any news yet of our young lady?"

Gustave shook his head. "Not the least scrap of news, mother Bess. Mysearch has been fruitless. "

"That is unlucky, sir. God knows where she may be and what she issuffering. She told me before she went away that she meant to work forher father; but one must have learned to work very early in life to earna living by one's hands. My heart almost breaks when I think of it. Perhaps that good, sweet young lady is reduced to work for other peopleand labors like a slave to get a mouthful of bread! I have been aservant, sir, and I know what it is to work from morning until night forothers. And she, --she who is so beautiful, so clever, so kind! Oh, sir, it is terrible! I can't help crying like a child, thinking of hermiserable life!"

Gustave was overcome by the simple eloquence of the poor woman, andremained silent. 

"And then to think, " continued Bess, "she might now be so happy! thatshe might again become mistress of Grinselhof, where she was born andgrew up! that her father might pass his old days in quietness, and thatthey are now wandering about the world poor, sick, abandoned outcasts!Oh, sir, it is sad to know that our benefactors are unhappy, and to beable to do nothing for them but pray to God and hope for his mercy!"

The simple-minded woman, without meaning it, had touched some tenderstrings in Gustave's heart; and, as she saw the silent tears coursingtheir way down his cheeks, she said, entreatingly, --

"Oh, pardon me, sir, for having grieved you so by my talk! but my heartis full, and my feelings force their way without knowing it. If I havedone wrong, I am sure you are too kind to be angry with me for lovingour young lady so much and bemoaning her misfortune. Have you no ordersfor me to-day, sir?"

She was about to go, as Gustave raised his downcast eyes and, restraining his tears, exclaimed, --

"I--angry with you, mother Bess?--and angry, too, because you showaffection for our poor Lenora? Oh, no, no! On the contrary, I bless youfor it with all my heart! The tears you betrayed from my heart have doneme good; for I am very unhappy. Life is a burden; and if God, in hismercy, would take me away from earth, I would gladly die. All hope ofseeing her again in this world is gone. Perhaps she is awaiting me inthe next!"

"Oh, sir! sir! how you talk!" cried the peasant-woman, in alarm. "No!no! that cannot be!"

"You grieve, my good woman, and shed tears for her, " continued Gustave, without heeding the interruption; "but don't you see how _my_ soul mustbe consumed with despair? Alas! for months and months I have imploredGod for the happiness of seeing her once more! I overcame all obstaclesto our marriage, and I became almost mad with joy and impatience as Iflew like lightning to the home where I left her; and then my onlyrecompense, my only consolation, was to find her _gone_ and the house ofher fathers a wilderness!--to know, alas! that she is poor, and, perhaps, languishing in want!--to know that my noble-hearted and belovedLenora sinks under the weight of misfortune, and yet to be able to donothing to relieve her!--to be condemned to count in powerless despairher days of affliction, and not even to be sure that suffering has notkilled her!"

A profound silence followed this complaining outburst, and thepeasant-woman, with her head bent to the earth, sympathized with himtruly, till, after a few moments, she attempted to console the suffererin her simple way:--

"Oh, sir, I understand only too well how much you endure! And yet whydespair? Who knows but we may receive some news of our dear young ladywhen we least expect it? God is good; he will hear our prayers; and ourjoy for her return will make us forget all our grief!"

"Oh that your prophecy might be realized, my good woman! But sevenmonths have already gone since they departed. During three of them ahundred persons have been employed in seeking the wanderers. They havebeen sought for in every direction, and not the slightest intelligencehas been obtained; not a trace, not the least sign that they are evenalive! My reason tells me not to despair; but my heart magnifies my illsand cries aloud that I have lost her!--lost her forever!"

He was about quitting the garden, when a noise attracted his attentionas he pointed toward the road leading to the _château_. 

"Listen! Don't you hear something?" cried he. 

"It is the gallop of a horse, " answered Bess, without comprehending whythe noise so much startled her master. 

"Poor fool!" said the young man to himself; "why am I so startled by thepassing of a horseman?"

"But see! see! he is coming into the avenue!" cried Bess, withincreasing interest. "Oh, God! I am sure it is a messenger with news!Heaven grant it may be good!"

As she said this the rider passed through the gate at full gallop, and, drawing rein at the door they had just reached, took a letter from hispocket and handed it to the master of Grinselhof:--

"I come, " said he, "from your notary, who ordered me to deliver you thisletter without a moment's delay. "

Gustave broke the seal with a trembling hand, while Bess, smiling withhope, followed all her master's movements with staring eyes. 

As he read the first lines the anxious youth grew pale; but as he wenton a tremor ran through all his limbs, till with a hysterical laugh andclasped hands he exclaimed, --

"Thanks! thanks! Oh, God! she is restored to me!"

"Oh, sir, sir, " cried Bess, "is it good news?"

"Yes! yes! rejoice with me! Lenora lives! I know where she is!" answeredGustave, half mad with delight, running into the house and calling allthe servants. "Quick! quick! Have out the travelling-carriage and theEnglish horses! My trunk! my cloak! Quick! fly!"

He carried forth with his own hands a number of things that werenecessary for the journey. His fleetest horses were attached to thevehicle; and, although they strained their bits and pawed the ground asif impatient for the road, the postillion lashed them fiercely as theydashed through the gateway. 

In a moment, and almost as if by magic, the coach was on the road toAntwerp and hidden from the staring crowd by a cloud of dust. 

CHAPTER XI. 

Suppose that we too take a trip in fancy to Nancy, in France, in searchof poor De Vlierbeck and his daughter. Let us wind through an immensenumber of narrow streets in the quarter known as the Old Town and atlast halt at the door of an humble cobbler. This is the place. Passthrough the shop, mount the staircase; another story yet; open thatdoor, and here we are. 

Every thing indicates poverty; but order and neatness preside over theroom. The curtains of the little bed are white as snow, the stove ispolished with black-lead till it shines, and the floor is sanded inFlemish style. Mignonette and violets bloom in a box on the window-sill, and a bird chirps in its cage above them. A young woman sits in front ofthe window; but she is so intent on the linen she is sewing that noother sound is heard in the silent room but that made by the motion ofher hands as they guide the needle. She is dressed in the plainestgarments; yet they are cut and put on so gracefully that one may declareat a glance she is a lady. 

Poor Lenora! And this was what fate had in store for thee! To hide thynoble birth under the humble roof of a mechanic; to seek a refuge frominsult and contempt far from thy childhood's home; to work withoutrelaxation; to fight against privation and want, and to sink at lastinto shame and poverty, heart-broken by despair! Misery, doubtless, hascast a yellow tinge upon thy cheeks and stolen its radiance from thyglance. But no! thank God, it is not so! Thy heroic blood hasstrengthened thee against fate, and thy beauty is even more ravishingthan of old! If a cloistered life has chastened thy roses, their tenderbloom has only become more touching. Thy brow has grown loftier andpurer; thine eyes still glisten beneath their sweeping lashes; and thatwell-remembered smile still hovers around thy coral lips!

Suddenly Lenora stopped working. Her hands rested on the work in herlap, her head bent forward, her eyes were riveted dreamily on theground, and her soul, wandering perhaps to other lands, seemed toabandon itself on the current of a happy reverie. After a while sheplaced the linen she had been sewing on a chair and got up slowly. Leaning languidly on the window-frame, she gathered a few violets, played with them a while, and then looked abroad at the sky over theroof-tops, as if longing to breathe once more the fresh air and enjoythe spring. Soon her eyes fixed themselves compassionately on the birdthat hopped about its cage and ever and anon struck its bill against thewires as if striving to get out. 

"Why dost thou want to leave us, dear little bird?" said she, softly. "Why dost thou wish to be gone, dear comforter of our sadness? Singgayly to-day; father is well again, and life is once more a pleasure. What is it makes thee flutter about so wildly and pant in thy cage? Ah!is it not hard, dear little one, to be captive when we know there arejoy and freedom in the open air?--when we are born in the fields andwoods?--when we know that _there_ alone are independence and liberty. Like thee, poor bird, I am a child of nature; I too have been torn frommy birthplace; I too bemoan the solitudes where my childhood was passed!But has a friend or lover been snatched from thee--as from me--forever?Dost thou grieve for something more than space and freedom? Yet why do Iask? Thy love-season has come round again, has it not? and love is thegreatest blessing of thy little life! I understand thee, poor bird! Iwill no longer be thy fate! Fly away, and God help you! Begone, andenjoy the two greatest blessings of life! Ah, how thou singest as thywings bear thee away, --away to the sky and woods! Farewell! farewell!"As she uttered these last words Lenora opened the cage-door and releasedthe bird, which darted away like an arrow. After this she resumed herwork and sewed on with the same zeal as before, till aroused by thesound of footsteps on the staircase. 

"It is father! God grant he may have been lucky to-day!"

Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the room with a roll of paper in his hand, and, throwing himself languidly into a chair, seemed altogether worn outwith fatigue. He had become very thin; his eyes were sunk in theirsockets, his cheeks were pale, and his whole expression was changed andbroken. It was very evident that sickness or depression, or perhapsboth, had made fearful ravages on his body as well as spirits. 

The poor old gentleman was wretchedly clad. It was evident that he hadstriven as formerly to conceal his indigence, for there was not a stainor grain of dust on his garments; but the stuff was threadbare andpatched, and all his garments were too large for his shrunken limbs. 

Lenora looked at him a moment anxiously. "You do not feel ill, father, do you?"

"No, Lenora, " replied he; "but I am very wretched. "

Lenora said nothing, but embraced him tenderly and then knelt down withhis hand in hers. 

"Father, " said she, "it is hardly a week since you were ill in bed: weprayed to God for your restoration, and he listened to our prayers; youare cured, dear father, and yet you give way anew at the firstdisappointment. You have not been successful to-day, father? I see it inyour face. Well, what of it? Why should it interfere with our happiness?We have long learned how to fight against fate. Let us be strong andlook misery in the face with heads up: courage is wealth; and so, fatherdear, forget your disappointment. Look at me. Am I sad? do I allowmyself to be downcast and despairing? I suffered and wept enough whenyou were ill; but, now that you are well again, come what may, yourLenora will always thank God for his goodness!"

The poor old man smiled feebly at the courageous excitement of hisdaughter. 

"Poor child!" said he; "I understand very well how you strive to appearstrong in order to keep me up. May heaven repay your love, dear angelwhom God has given me! your word and smile control me so completely thatI may say a part of your soul passes with them into mine. I came homejust now quite heart-broken and half crazy with despair; but you, mychild, have restored me to myself again. "

"That's right, father, " said she, rising from her knees and sitting downon a chair close beside him; "come, father, tell me now all youradventures to-day, and afterward I will tell you something that willmake you laugh. "

"Alas, my child! I went to Monsieur Roncevaux's academy to resume myEnglish lessons; but during my sickness an Englishman was put in myplace: we have lost our best bit of bread. "

"Well, how is it about Mademoiselle Pauline's German lesson?"

"Mademoiselle Pauline has gone to Strasburg and will not come backagain. You see, Lenora, that we are losing every thing at once; so, haveI not cause to be anxious and downcast? This news seems to overcome you, my child, strong as you are!"

In truth, Lenora was somewhat appalled by the dejecting words; but herfather's remark restored her self-possession, and she replied, with aforced smile, --

"I was thinking, father, of the pain these dismissals gave you, and theyreally annoyed me Yet there are some things that ought to make me happyto-day. Yes, father, I have some good news for you!"

"Indeed? You astonish me!"

Lenora pointed to the chair. 

"Do you see that linen?" said she. "I have a dozen fine shirts to makeout of it; and when they are done there are as many more waiting for me. They pay me good wages, and I think, from what they say, that in timethere will be something better in store for me. But as yet that is onlya hope, --only a hope. "

De Vlierbeck seemed particularly struck by the last remark of hisdaughter, as he looked at her anxiously. 

"Well! well! what is it that makes you so happy and hopeful?" said he. 

Lenora took up her sewing again and went busily to work. 

"You wouldn't guess it in a week, father! Do you know who gave me thiswork? It is the rich lady who lives in the house with a court-yard, atthe corner of our street. She sent for me this morning, and I went toher while you were abroad. You are surprised, father; are you not?"

"I am, indeed, Lenora. You are speaking of Madame De Royan, for whom youwere employed to embroider those handsome collars. How does she come toknow you?"

"I really don't know. Perhaps the person who gave me her collars toembroider told her who worked them: she must have spoken to her aboutyour illness and our poverty, for Madame De Royan knows more of us thanyou imagine. '

"Heavens! She does not know--"

"No! she knows nothing about our _name_ or from whence we came. "

"Go on, Lenora; you excite my curiosity. I see you want to teaze meto-day!"

"Well, father, if you are tired I will cut my story short. Madame DeRoyan received me with great kindness, complimented me on my embroidery, asked me some questions about our misfortunes, and consoled andencouraged me generously. 'Go, my child!' said she, as she gave me thelinen; 'work with a good will and be prudent: I will protect you. I havea great deal of sewing to do, --enough for two months at least. But thatwould not be enough; I mean to recommend you to all my friends, and Imean to see that you are paid for your work in such a way that yourfather and yourself shall be above want. ' I took her hand and kissed it, for I was touched by the delicacy with which she give me _work_ and not_alms_! Madame De Royan understood me, and, laying her hand kindly on myshoulder, 'Keep up your spirits, Lenora, ' said she; 'the time will comewhen you must take apprentices to help you, and so by degrees you willbecome mistress of a shop. ' Yes, father, that's what she said; I knowher words by heart. "

With this she sprang to her father, embraced him, and added, withconsiderable emotion, --

"What say you to it, father? Is it not good news? Who knows what maycome to pass? Apprentices, --a shop, --a store, --a servant: you will keepthe books and buy our goods, I will sit in the room and superintend theworkwomen! How sweet it is to be happy and to know that we owe all tothe work of our hands! Then, father, your promise will indeed befulfilled, and then you may pass your old days happily. "

There was a look of such extreme serenity in Monsieur De Vlierbeck'sface, an expression of such vivid happiness was reflected from hiswrinkled cheeks, that it was evident he had allowed his daughter's storyto bewitch him into entire forgetfulness. But he soon found it out, andshook his head mournfully at the enchantress:--

"Oh! Lenora, Lenora, you witch! how easily have you managed to seduceme! I followed your words like a child, and I really believed in thehappiness you promised. But let us be serious. The shoemaker spoke to meagain about the rent, and asked me to pay it. We still owe him twentyfrancs, do we not?"

"Yes, twenty francs for rent, and about twelve francs to the grocer:that's all. When the shirts are done we will give my wages on account tothe shoemaker, and I know he will be satisfied. The grocer is willing togive us longer credit. I received two francs and a half for my lastwork. You see very well, father, that we are still quite rich, andbefore a month is over will be out of debt entirely. "

Poor De Vlierbeck seemed quite consoled; and a gleam of fortitude shonein his black eyes as he approached the table, unrolling the paper he hadbrought with him on his return. 

"I have something to do too, Lenora. Professor Delsaux gave me somepieces of music to copy for his pupils, which will give me four francsin a couple of days. And now be quiet a while, my dear child; my nervesare so shattered that if we talk I shall make mistakes and spoil thepaper. "

"I may sing, father; may I not?"

"Oh, yes; that won't annoy me: your song will please my ear withoutdistracting my attention. "

The old gentleman went on writing, while Lenora, with a rich and joyousvoice, repeated all her songs and poured forth her heart in melody. Shesewed meanwhile diligently, and, from time to time, glanced at herfather to see whether the cloud had fallen again over his face andspirit. 

They had been a considerable time engaged with their severaloccupations, when the parish clock struck; and, putting down her workhastily, Lenora took a basket from behind the stove and prepared to goout. Her father looked up with surprise as he said, --

"What! _already_, Lenora?"

"It has just struck half-past eleven, father. "

Without making any other remark, De Vlierbeck bent his head again overthe music-paper and continued his task. 

Lenora soon returned from her walk with her basket full of potatoes andsomething else tied up in a paper, which she hid beneath a napkin. Then, pouring some water in a pot which she placed beside her chair, she beganto sing, and threw in the potatoes as she peeled them. After this shekindled a fire in the stove and set the pot of potatoes to boil. Afterthe fire burned well she put a skillet, with a little butter and a gooddeal of vinegar, over the coals. 

Up to this moment her father had not looked up nor intermitted his work;he saw her getting dinner ready every day, and it was seldom that anyvariety of food appeared on their table. But, hardly had the potatoesbegun to boil, when an agreeable perfume was diffused through thechamber. De Vlierbeck glanced up from his writing, a littlereproachfully, as he exclaimed, --

"What! meat on Friday, my child? you know very well we must beeconomical. "

"Don't be angry, father, " answered Lenora; "the doctor ordered it. "

"You are trying to deceive me, are you not?"

"No, no; the doctor said you required meat at least three times a week, if we could get it; it will do you more good than any thing else inrestoring your strength. "

"And yet we are in debt, Lenora!"

"Come, come, father, let our debts alone, everybody will be paid andsatisfied. Don't trouble yourself about them any more: I'll answer forthem all. And now be so good as to take your papers off of the table, sothat I can lay the cloth. "

De Vlierbeck got up and did as he was asked. Lenora covered thedeal-boards with a snowy napkin and placed on it two plates and a dishof potatoes. It was indeed an humble table, at which all was extremelycommon; yet every thing was so neat, fresh, and savory, that a rich manmight have sat down to it with appetite. They took their places andasked a blessing on the meal; but, before the prayer was finished, Lenora started suddenly and interrupted her father. With eyes staringtoward the door and head leaned forward, she listened eagerly, motioningher father with her hand to be silent. 

There was a sound of footsteps and voices on the staircase, and, as theyapproached, Lenora thought she recognised the tones. She bounded to thedoor with a sharp cry, and, closing it, leaned against the boards toprevent any one from entering. 

"For God's sake, child, what are you afraid of?" cried her father. 

"GUSTAVE! GUSTAVE!" whispered Lenora, with pale and quivering lips. "Heis there! he is there! I hear him. Take away that table quickly. Of allthe world he is the last who should see our misery!"

De Vlierbeck's face grew dark, his head became erect and fierce, and hiseyes flashed with their ancient fire. Advancing silently to hisdaughter, he drew her from the door. Lenora fled to a corner of theroom, and covered her face, which was red with mortification. 

Suddenly the door opened, and a young man rushed into the chamber withan exclamation of joy as he advanced, open-armed, toward the tremblinggirl, whom he would have pressed to his breast had not the hand and lookof her father arrested his steps. 

For a moment he stood like one stupefied, glancing from the wretchedboard to the miserable dress of the old man and his daughter. The sightaffected the intruder, for he covered his eyes as he exclaimed, insubdued and despairing tones, "Oh, God! has it come to this?"

But he did not allow himself to remain long under the influence eitherof his feelings or of her father, and, advancing anew to Lenora, seizedand pressed both her hands ardently. 

"Oh! look at me, Lenora! Let me see if thy heart has preserved thememory of our love!"

Lenora's eyes met his at once and with affection. It was a look thatcompletely revealed her pure and constant soul. 

"Oh, happiness!" cried Gustave, enthusiastically; "thou art still mydear and tender Lenora! Thank God, no power on earth can ever separateme again from my betrothed! Receive, receive the kiss of our union!"

He stretched his arms toward her. Lenora, trembling with agony andhappiness, stood downcast and blushing, as if awaiting the solemn kiss;but, before Gustave could accomplish the act, De Vlierbeck was by hisside, and, grasping his hand, held him motionless. 

"Monsieur Denecker, " said her father, severely, "have the goodness tomoderate your transports. We are certainly glad to see you once more;but neither you nor I can forget what we are. Respect our poverty!"

"What do you say?" cried Gustave. "_What you are_! You are myfriend, --my father. Lenora is my betrothed! Oh heaven! why look at me soreproachfully?"

He seized the hand of Lenora again, and, drawing her toward her father, rapidly continued:--

"Listen! My uncle died in Italy and left me heir of all his property. Hecommanded me on his death-bed to marry Lenora. I have searched heavenand earth to find you. I have suffered for many months all the torturethat a nature like mine can endure; and at length I have discovered you!I have come, sir, to ask the reward of my suffering. I lay my fortune, heart, and life at your feet; and, in exchange, I implore the happinessof leading Lenora to the altar. Grant me that favor, O my _father_!Grinselhof awaits you. I bought it for you. Every thing is there again. The portraits of your ancestors are in their places on the wall, andevery thing that was dear to you is restored. Come! let me watch yourold days, your declining years, with the veneration of a son! let memake you happy again;--oh, how happy!"

The old man's expression did not change, yet a tear moistened his eye. 

"Ah!" continued Gustave, "nothing on earth can again separate me fromher, --not even a father's power; for I feel that God himself has givenher to me! Yet pardon me, father, for my rashness, and bestow yourbenediction!"

De Vlierbeck seemed to have utterly forgotten the young man and histransports; for he stood with clasped hands and eyes raised to heaven, as if addressing his Maker in fervent prayer. At length his words beganto be heard distinctly:--

"Oh, Margaret! Margaret! rejoice on the bosom of God. My promise isfulfilled;--thy child will be happy!"

Gustave and Lenora stood before him hand in hand; and, as he threw hisarms around the young man, --

"May Heaven bless you for your love!" continued he. "Make my childhappy. She is your wife!"

"Gustave, Gustave, --_my husband!_" exclaimed Lenora, as they threwthemselves into each other's arms, and the first kiss of love--thefirst consecrated kiss--was exchanged on the breast of that happyfather, who wept over and blessed his children. 

 * * * * *

And now, gentle reader, I must inform you that I have had my own reasonsfor concealing the situation and even the true name of the _château_ ofDE VLIERBECK. None of you will, therefore, ever know where Gustave andLenora dwell. I know Monsieur and Madame Denecker intimately, and havetaken many a walk around Grinselhof with two charming little childrenand their venerable _grandfather_. I have often beheld the beautifulpicture of peace, love, and domestic happiness that is seen in that oldhouse beneath the grim ancestral portraits or in the fresh air under thetrees. I will not say who told me the story of this family. Let itsuffice that I know all the persons who have played a part in it, andthat I have often chatted with Farmer John and Dame Bess while theypoured forth their gossip about "The Poor Gentleman" and his trials.