THE TWINS ;  A DOMESTIC NOVEL .  BY  MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER , A.M. , F.R.S.  AUTHOR OF  PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY .  HARTFORD :  PUBLISHED BY SILAS ANDRUS + SON  1851.  CHAPTER I .  PLACE : TIME : CIRCUMSTANCE .  Burleigh-Singleton is a pleasant little watering-place on the southern coast of England , entirely suitable for those who have small incomes and good consciences .  The latter , to residents especially , are at least as indispensable as the former : seeing that , however just the reputation of their growing little town for superior cheapness in matters of meat and drink , its character in things regarding men and manners is quite as undeniable for pre-eminent dulness .  Not but that it has its varieties of scene , and more or less of circumstances too : there are , on one flank , the breezy Heights , with flag-staff and panorama ; on the other , broad and level water-meadows , skirted by the dark-flowing Mullet , running to the sea between its tortuous banks : for neighbourhood , Pacton Park is one great attraction — the pretty market-town of Eyemouth another — the everlasting , never-tiring sea a third ; and , at high-summer , when the Devonshire lanes are not knee-deep in mire , the nevertheless immeasurably filthy , though picturesque , mud-built village of Oxton .  Then again ( and really as I enumerate these multitudinous advantages , I begin to relent for having called it dull ) , you may pick up curious agate pebbles on the beach , as well as corallines and scarce sea-weeds , good for gumming on front-parlour windows ; you may fish for whitings in the bay , and occasionally catch them ; you may wade in huge caoutchouc boots among the muddy shallows of the Mullet , and shoot at cormorants and curlews ; you may walk to satiety between high-banked and rather dirty cross-roads ; and , if you will scramble up the hedge-row , may get now and then peeps of undulated country landscape .  Moreover , you have free liberty to drop in any where to " tiffin " — Burleigh being very Indianized , and a guest always welcome ; indeed , so Indianized is it , so populous in jaundiced cheek and ailing livers , that you may openly assert , without fear of being misunderstood ( if you wish to vary your common phrase of loyalty ) , that Victoria sits upon the " musnud " of Great Britain ; you may order curry in the smallest pot-house , and still be sure to get the rice well-cooked ; you may call your house-maid " ayah , " without risk of warning for impertinence ; you may vent your wrath against indolent waiters in eloquence of " jaa , soostee ; " and , finally , you may go to the library , and besides the advantage of the day-before-yesterday 'sTimes , you may behold in bilious presence an affable , but authoritative , old gentleman , who introduces himself , " Sir , you see in me the hero of Puttymuddyfudgepoor .  "  You may even now see such an one , I say , and hear him too , if you will but go to Burleigh ; seeing he has by this time over-lived the year or so whereof our tale discourses .  He has , by dint of service , attained to the dignity of General H.E.I.C.S. , and — which he was still longer coming to — the wisdom of being a communicative creature ; though possibly , by a natural rëaction , at present he carries anti-secresy a little too far , and verges on the gossiping extreme .  But , at the time to which we must look back to commence this right-instructive story , General Tracy was still drinking " Hodgson 'sPale " in India , was so taciturn as to be considered almost dumb , and had not yet lifted up his yellow visage upon Albion 'swhite cliffs , nor taken up head-quarters in his final rest of Burleigh-Singleton .  Nevertheless , with reference to quartering at Burleigh , a certain long-neglected wife of his , Mrs. Tracy , had ; and that for the period of at least the twenty-one years preceding : how and wherefore I proceed to tell .  A common case and common fate was that of Mrs. Tracy .  She had married , both early and hastily , a gallant lieutenant , John George Julian Tracy , to wit , the military germ of our future general ; their courtship and acquaintance previous to matrimony extended over the not inconsiderable space of three whole weeks — commencing with a country ball ; and after marriage , honey-moon inclusive , they lived the life of cooing doves for three whole months .  And now came the furlough 'send : Mr. Tracy , in his then habitual reserve ( a quiet man was he ) , had concealed its existence altogether : and , for aught Jane knew , the hearty invalid was to remain at home for ever : but months soon slip away ; and so it came to pass , that on a certain next Wednesday he must be on his way back to the Presidency of Madras , and — if she will not follow him — he must leave her .  However , there was a certain old relative , one Mrs. Green , a childless widow — rich , capricious , and infirm — whom Jane Tracy did not wish to lose sight of : her money was well worth both watching and waiting for ; and the captain , whom a lucky chance had now lifted out of the lieutenancy , was easily persuaded to forego the pleasure of his wife 'scompany till the somewhat indefinite period of her old aunt 'sdeath .  How far sundry discoveries made in the unknown regions of each other 'stemper reconciled him to this retrograding bachelorship , and her to her widowhood-bewitched , I will not undertake to say : but I will hazard the remark , anti-poor-law though it seemeth , that the separation of man and wife , however convenient , lucrative , or even mutually pleasant , is a dereliction of duty , which always deserves , and generally meets , its proper and discriminative punishment .  Had the young wife faithfully performed her Maker 'sbidding , and left all other ties unstrung to cleave unto her lord ; had she considered a husband 'strue affections before all other wealth , and resolved to share his dangers , to solace his cares , to be his blessing through life , and his partner even unto death , rather than selfishly to seek her own comfort , and consult her own interest — the tale of crime and sadness , which it is my lot to tell , would never have had truth for its foundation .  Ill-matched for happiness though they were , however well-matched as to mutual merit , the common man of pleasure and the frivolous woman of fashion , still the wisest way to fuse their minds to union , the likeliest receipt for moral good and social comfort , would have been this course of foreign scenes , of new faces , sprinkled with a seasoning of adventure , hardship , danger , in a distant land .  Gradually would they have learned to bear and forbear ; the petty quarrel would have been forgotten in the frequent kindness ; the rougher edges of temper and opinion would insensibly have smoothed away ; new circumstances would have brought out better feelings under happier skies ; old acquaintances , false friends forgotten , would have neutralized old feuds : and , by long-living together , though it were perhaps amid various worries and many cares , they might still have come to a good old age with more than average happiness , and more than the common run of love .  Patience in dutiful enduring brings a sure reward : and marriage , however irksome a constraint to the foolish and the gay , is still so wise an ordinance , that the most ill-assorted couple imaginable will unconsciously grow happy , if they only remain true to one another , and will learn the wisdom always to hope and often to forgive .  The Tracys , however , overlooked all this , and mutual friends ( those invariable foes to all that is generous and unworldly ) smiled upon the prudence of their temporary separation .  The captain was to come home again on furlough in five years at furthest , even if the aunt held out so long ; and this availed to keep his wife in the rear-guard ; therefore , Mrs. Tracy wiped her eyes , bade adieu to her retreating lord in Plymouth Sound , and determined to abide , with other expectant dames and Asiatic invalided heroes , at Burleigh-Singleton , until she might go to him , or he return to her : for pleasant little Burleigh , besides its contiguity to arriving Indiamen , was advantageous as being the dwelling-place of aforesaid Mrs. Green ; — that wealthy , widowed aunt , devoutly wished in heaven : and the considerate old soul had offered her designing niece a home with her till Tracy could come back .  During the first year of absence , ship-letters and India-letters arrived duteously in consecutive succession : but somehow or other , the regular post , in no long time afterwards , became unfaithful to its trust ; and if Mrs. Jane heard quarterly , which at any rate she did through the agent , when he remitted her allowance , she consoled herself as to the captain 'swell-being : in due course of things , even this became irregular ; he was far up the country , hunting , fighting , surveying , and what not ; and no wonder that letters , if written at all , which I rather doubt , got lost .  Then there came a long period of positive and protracted silence — months of it — years of it ; barring that her checks for cash were honoured still at Hancock 's, though they could tell her nothing of her lord ; so that Mrs. Tracy was at length seriously recommended by her friends to become a widow ; she tried on the cap , and looked into many mirrors ; but , after long inspection , decided upon still remaining a wife , because the weeds were so clearly unbecoming .  Habit , meanwhile , and that still-existing old aunt , who seemed resolved to live to a hundred , kept her as before at Burleigh : and , seeing that a few months after the captain 'sdeparture she had presented the world , not to say her truant lord , with twins , she had always found something to do in the way of , what she considered , education , and other juvenile amusement : that is to say , when the gayeties of a circle of fifteen miles in radius left her any time to spare in such a process .  The twins — a brace of boys — were born and bred at Burleigh , and had attained severally to twenty years of age , just before their father came home again as brevet-major-general .  But both they , and that arrival , deserve special detail , each in its own chapter .  CHAPTER II .  THE HEROES .  Mrs. Tracy 'ssons were as unlike each other as it is well possible for two human beings to be , both in person and character .  Julian , whose forward and bold spirit gained him from the very cradle every prerogative of eldership ( and he did struggle first into life , too , so he was the first-born ) , had grown to be a swarthy , strong , big-boned man , of the Roman-nosed , or , more physiognomically , the Jewish cast of countenance ; with melo-dramatic elf-locks , large whiskers , and ungovernable passions ; loud , fierce , impetuous ; cunning , too , for all his overbearing clamour ; and an embodied personification of those choice essentials to criminal happiness — a hard heart and a good digestion .  Charles , on the contrary ( or , as logicians would say , on the contradictory ) , was fair-haired , blue-eyed , of Grecian features ; slim , though well enough for inches , and had hitherto ( as the commonalty have it ) " enjoyed " weak health : he was gentle and affectionate in heart , pure and religious in mind , studious and unobtrusive in habits .  It was a wonder to see the strange diversity between those own twin-brothers , born within the same hour , and , it is superfluous to add , of the same parents ; brought up in all outward things alike , and who had shared equally in all that might be called advantage or disadvantage , of circumstance or education .  Certain is it that minds are different at birth , and require as different a treatment as Iceland moss from cactuses , or bull-dogs from bull-finches : certain is it , too , that Julian , early submitted and resolutely broken in , would have made as great a man , as Charles , naturally meek , did make a good one ; but for the matter of educating her boys , poor Mrs. Tracy had no more notion of the feat , than of squaring the circle , or determining the longitude .  She kept them both at home , till the peevish aunt could suffer Julian 'snoise no longer : the house was a Pandemonium , and the giant grown too big for that castle of Otranto ; so he must go at any rate ; and ( as no difference in the treatment of different characters ever occurred to any body ) of course Charles must go along with him .  Away they went to an expensive school , which Julian 'sinsubordination on the instant could not brook — and , accordingly , he ran away ; without doubt , Charles must be taken away too .  Another school was tried , Julian got expelled this time ; and Charles , in spite of prizes , must , on system , be removed with him : so forth , with like wisdom , all through the years of adolescence and instruction , those ill-matched brothers were driven as a pair .  Then again , for fashion 'ssake , and Aunt Green 'swhims , the circumspective mother , notwithstanding all her inconsistencies , gave each of them prettily bound hand-books of devotion ; which the one used upon his knees , and the other lit cigars withal ; both extremes having exceeded her intention : and she proved similarly overreached when she persisted in treating both exactly alike , as to liberal allowances , and liberty of will ; the result being , that one of her sons " foolishly " spent his money in a multitude of charitable hobbies ; and that the other was constantly supplied with means for ( the mother was sorry to say it , vulgar ) dissipation .  By consequence , Charles did more good , and Julian more evil , than I have time to stop and tell off .  If any thing in this life must be personal , peculiar , and specific , it is education : we take upon ourselves to speak thus dogmatically , not of mere school-teaching only , musa , musæ , and so forth ; nor yet of lectures , on relative qualities of carbon and nitrogen in vegetables ; no , nor even of schemes of theology , or codes of morals ; but we do speak of the daily and hourly reining-in , or letting-out , of discouragement in one appetite , and encouragement in another ; of habitual formation of characters in their diversity ; and of shaping their bear's-cub , or that child-angel , the natural human mind , to its destined ends ; that it may turn out , for good , according to its several natures , to be either the strong-armed , bold-eyed , rough-hewer of God 'sgrand designs , or the delicate-fingered polisher of His rarest sculptures .  Julian , well-trained , might have grown to be a Luther ; and many a gentle soul like Charles , has turned out a coxcomb and a sensualist .  The boys were born , as I have said , in the regulation order of things , a few months after Captain Tracy sailed away for India some full score of years , and more , from this present hour , when we have seen him seated as a general in the library at Burleigh ; and , until the last year , they had never seen their father — scarcely ever heard of him .  The incidents of their lives had been few and common-place : it would be easy , but wearisome , to specify the orchards and the bee-hives which Julian had robbed as a school-boy ; the rebellions he had headed ; the monkey tricks he had played upon old fish-women ; and the cruel havoc he made of cats , rats , and other poor tormented creatures , who had ministered to his wanton and brutalizing joys .  In like manner , wearily , but easily , might I relate how Charles grew up the nurse 'sdarling , though little of his flaunting mother 's; the curly-pated young book-worm ; the sympathizing , innoffensive , gentle heart , whose effort still it was to countervail his brother 'sevil : how often , at the risk of blows , had he interposed to save some drowning puppy : how often paid the bribe for Julian 'simpunity , when mulcted for some damage done in the way of broken windows , upset apple-stalls , and the like : how often had he screened his bad twin-brother from the flagellatory consequences of sheer idleness , by doing for him all his school-tasks : how often striven to guide his insensate conscience to truth , and good , and wisdom : how often , and how vainly !  And when the youths grew up , and their good and evil grew up with them , it were possible to tell you a heart-rending tale of Julian 'streachery to more than one poor village beauty ; and many a pleasing trait of Charles 'spure benevolence , and wise zeal to remedy his brother 'smischiefs .  The one went about doing ill , and the other doing good : Julian , on account of obligations , more truly than in spite of them , hated Charles ; and yet one great aim of all Charles 'samiabilities tended continually to Julian 'sgood , and he strove to please him , too , while he wished to bless him .  The one had grown to manhood , full of unrepented sins , and ripe for darker crime : the other had attained a like age of what is somewhat satirically called discretion , having amassed , with Solon of old , " knowledge day by day , " having lived a life of piety and purity , and blest with a cheerful disposition , that teemed with happy thoughts .  They had , of course , in the progress of human life , been both laid upon the bed of sickness , where , with similar contrast , the one lay muttering discontent , and the other smiling patiently : they had both been in dangers by land and by sea , where Julian , though not a little lacking to himself at the moment of peril , was still loudly minacious till it came too near ; while Charles , with all his caution , was more actually courageous , and in spite of all his gentleness , stood against the worst undaunted : they had both , with opposite motives and dissimilar modes of life , passed through various vicissitudes of feeling , scene , society ; and the influence of circumstance on their different characters , heightened or diminished , bettered or depraved , by the good or evil principle in each , had produced their different and probable results .  Thus , strangely dissimilar , the twin-brothers together stand before us : Julian the strong impersonation of the animal man , as Charles of the intellectual ; Julian , matter ; Charles , spirit ; Julian , the creature of this world , tending to a lower and a worse : Charles , though in the world , not of the world , and reaching to a higher and a better .  Mrs. Tracy , the mother of this various progeny , had been somewhat of a beauty in her day , albeit much too large and masculine for the taste of ordinary mortals ; and though now very considerably past forty , the vain vast female was still ambitious of compliment , and greedy of admiration .  That Julian should be such a woman 'sfavourite will surprise none : she had , she could have , no sympathies with mild and thoughtful Charles ; but rather dreaded to set her flaunting folly in the light of his wise glance , and sought to hide her humbled vanity from his pure and keen perceptions .  His very presence was a tacit rebuke to her social dissipation , and she could not endure the mild radiance of his virtues .  He never fawned and flattered her , as Julian would ; but had even suffered filial presumption ( it could not be affection — O dear , no !  ) to go so far as gently to expostulate at what he fancied wrong ; he never gave her reason to contrast , with happy self-complacence , her own soul 'sstate with Charles 's, however she could with Julian 's: and then , too , she would indulgently allow her foolish mind — a woman 's, though a parent 's— to admire that tall , black , bandit-looking son , above the slight build , the delicate features , and almost feminine elegance of his brother : she found Julian always ready to countenance and pamper her gayest wishes , and was glad to make him her escort every where — at balls , and fêtes , and races , and archery parties ; while as to Charles , he would be the stay-at-home , the milk-sop , the learned pundit , the pious prayer-monger , any thing but the ladies 'man .  Yes : it is little wonder that Mrs. Tracy 'sheart clave to Julian , the masculine image of herself ; while it barely tolerated Charles , who was a rarefied and idealized likeness of the absent and forgotten Tracy .  But the mother — and there are many silly mothers , almost as many as silly men and silly maids — in her admiration of the outward form of manliness , overlooked the true strength , and chivalry , and nobleness of mind which shone supreme in Charles .  How would Julian have acted in such a case as this ?  — a sheep had wandered down the cliff 'sface to a narrow ledge of rock , whence it could not come back again , for there was no room to turn : Julian would have pelted it , and set his bull-dog at it , and rejoiced to have seen the poor animal 'sfrantic leaps from shingly shelf to shelf , till it would be dashed to pieces .  But how did Charles act ?  With the utmost courage , and caution , and presence of mind , he crept down , and , at the risk of his life , dragged the bleating , unreluctant creature up again ; it really seemed as if the ungrateful poor dumb brute recognised its humane friend , and suffered him to rescue it without a struggle or a motion that might have endangered both .  Again : a burly costermonger was belabouring his donkey , and the wretched beast fell beneath his cudgel : strange to say , Julian and Charles were walking together that time ; and the same sight affected each so differently , that the one sided with the cruel man , and the other with his suffering victim : Charles , in momentary indignation , rushed up to the fellow , wrested the cudgel from his hand , and flung it over the cliff ; while Julian was so base , so cowardly , as to reward such generous interference , by holding his weaker brother 'sarms , and inviting the wrathful costermonger to expend the remainder of his phrensy on unlucky Charles .  Yes , and when at home Mrs. Tracy heard all this , she was silly enough , wicked enough , to receive her truly noble son with ridicule , and her other one , the child of her disgrace , with approval .  " It will teach you , Master Charles , not to meddle with common people and their donkeys ; and you may thank your brother Julian for giving you a lesson how a gentleman should behave .  "  Poor Charles !  but poorer Julian , and poorest Mrs. Tracy !  It would be easy , if need were , to enumerate multiplied examples tending towards the same end — a large , masculine-featured mother 'sfoolish preference of the loud , bold , worldly animal , before the meek , kind , noble , spiritual .  And the results of all these many matters were , that now , at twenty years of age , Charles found himself , as it were , alone in a strange land , with many common friends indeed abroad , but at home no nearer , dearer ties to string his heart 'sdank lyre withal ; neither mother nor brother , nor any other kind familiar face , to look upon his gentleness in love , or to sympathize with his affections , unapprehended , unappreciated : so — while Mrs. Tracy was the showy , gay , and vapid thing she ever had been , and Julian the same impetuous mother 'sson which his very nurse could say she knew him — Charles grew up a shy and silent youth , necessarily reserved , for lack of some one to understand him ; necessarily chilled , for want of somebody to love him .  CHAPTER III .  THE ARRIVAL .  The young men were thus situated as regards both the world and one another , and Mrs. Tracy had almost entirely forgotten the fact , that she possessed a piece of goods so supererogatory as her husband ( a property too which her children had never quite realized ) , when all on a sudden , one ordinary morning , the postman's-knock brought to her breakfast-table at Burleigh-Singleton the following epistle :  " British Channel , Thursday , March 11th , 1842.  " The Sir William Elphinston , E.I.M.  " DEAR JANE : You will be surprised to find that you are to see me so soon , I dare say , especially as it is now some years since you will have heard from me .  The reason is , I have been long in an out-of-the-way part of India , where there is little communication with Europe , and so you will excuse my not writing .  We hope to find ourselves to-night in Plymouth roads , where I shall get into a pilot-boat , and so shall see you to-morrow .  You may , therefore , now expect your affectionate husband ,  " J.G.J. TRACY , General H.E.I.C.S.  " P.S.1 .  — Remember me to our boy , or boys — which is it ?  " P.S.2 .  — I bring with me the daughter of a friend in India , who is come over for a year or two 'spolish at a first-rate school .  Of course you will be glad to receive her as our guest .  " J.G.J.T. "  This loving letter was the most startling event that had ever attempted to unnerve Mrs. Tracy ; and she accordingly managed , for effect and propriety 'ssake , to grow very faint upon the spot , whether for joy , or sorrow , or fear of lost liberty , or hope of a restored lord , doth not appear ; she had so long been satisfied with receiving quarterly pay from the India agents , that she forgot it was an evidence of her husband 'sexistence ; and , lo !  here he was returning a general , doubtlessly a magnificent moustachioed individual , and she was to be Mrs. General !  so that when she came completely to herself , after that feint of a faint , she was thinking of nothing but court-plumes , oriental pearls , and her gallant Tracy 'suniform .  The postscripts also had their influence : Charles , naturally affectionate , and willing to love a hitherto unseen father , felt hurt , as well he might , at the " boy , or boys ; " while Julian , who ridiculed his brother 'ssentimentality , was already fancying that the " daughter of a friend " might be a pleasant addition to the dullness of Burleigh-Singleton .  Preparations vast were made at once for the general 'sreception ; from attic to kitchen was sounded the tocsin of his coming .  Julian was all bustle and excitement , to his mother 'sjoy and pride ; while Charles merited her wrath by too much of his habitual and paternal quietude , particularly when he withdrew his forces altogether from the loud domestic fray , by retreating up-stairs to cogitate and muse , perhaps to make a calming prayer or two about all these matters of importance .  As for Mrs. Tracy herself , she was even now , within the first hour of that news , busily engaged in collecting cosmetics , trinkets , blonde lace , and other female finery , resolved to trick herself out like Jezebel , and win her lord once more ; whilst the pernicious old aunt , who still lived on , notwithstanding all those twenty years of patience , as vivacious as before , grumbled and scolded so much at this upsetting of her house , that there was really some risk of her altering the will at last , and cutting out Jane Tracy after all .  And the morrow morning came , as if it were no more than an ordinary Friday , and with it came expectancy ; and noon succeeded , and with it spirits alternately elated and depressed ; and evening drew in , with heart-sickness and chagrin at hopes or prophecies deferred ; and night , and next morning , and still the general came not .  So , much weeping at that vexing disappointment , after so many pains to please , Mrs. Tracy put aside her numerous aids and appliances , and lay slatternly a-bed , to nurse a head-ache until noon ; and all had well nigh forgotten the probable arrival , when , to every body 'sdismay , a dusty chaise and four suddenly rattled up the terrace , and stopped at our identical number seven .  Then was there scuffling up , and getting down , and making preparation in hot haste ; and a stout gentleman with a gamboge face descended from the chaise , exploding wrath like a bomb-shell , that so important an approach had made such slight appearance of expectancy : it was disrespectful to his rank , and he took care to prove he was somebody , by blowing up the very innocent post-boys .  This accomplished , he gallantly handed out after him a pretty-looking miss in her teens .  Poor Mrs. Tracy , en papillotes , looked out at the casement like any one but Jezebel attired for bewitching , and could have cried for vexation ; in fact , she did , and passed it off for feeling .  Aunt Green , whom the general at first lovingly saluted as his wife ( for the poor man had entirely forgotten the uxorial appearance ) , was all in a pucker for deafness , blindness , and evident misapprehension of all things in general , though clearly pleased , and flattered at her gallant nephew 'ssalutation .  Julian , with what grace of manner he could muster , was already playing the agreeable to that pretty ward , after having , to the general 'sgreat surprise , introduced himself to him as his son ; while Charles , who had rushed into the room , warm-heartedly to fling himself into his father 'sarms , was repelled on the spot for his affection : General Tracy , with a military air , excused himself from the embrace , extending a finger to the unknown gentleman , with somewhat of offended dignity .  At last , down came the wife : our general at once perceived himself mistaken in the matter of Mrs. Green ; and , coldly bowing to the bedizened dame , acknowledged her pretensions with a courteous —  " Mrs. General Tracy , allow me to introduce to you Miss Emily Warren , the daughter of a very particular friend of mine : — Miss Warren , Mrs. Tracy .  "  For other welcomings , mutual astonishment at each other 'sfat , some little sorrowful talk of the twenty years ago , and some dull paternal jest about this dozen feet of sons , made up the chilly meeting : and the slender thread of sentimentals , which might possibly survive it , was soon snapt by paying post-boys , orders after luggage , and devouring tiffin .  The only persons who felt any thing at all , were Mrs. Tracy , vexed at her dishabille , and mortified at so cool a reception of , what she hoped , her still unsullied beauties ; and Charles , poor fellow , who ran up to his studious retreat , and soothed his grief , as best he might , with philosophic fancies : it was so cold , so heartless , so unkind a greeting .  Romantic youth !  how should the father have known him for a son ?  CHAPTER IV .  THE GENERAL AND HIS WARD .  It is surprising what a change twenty years of a tropical sun can make in the human constitution .  The captain went forth a good-looking , good-tempered man , destitute neither of kind feelings nor masculine beauty : the general returned bloated , bilious , irascible , entirely selfish , and decidedly ill-favoured .  Such affections as he ever had seemed to have been left behind in India — that new world , around which now all his associations and remembrances revolved ; and the reserve ( clearly rëproduced in Charles ) , the habit of silence whereof we took due notice in the spring-tide of his life , had now grown , perhaps from some oppressive secret , into a settled , moody , continuous taciturnity , which made his curious wife more vexed at him than ever ; for , notwithstanding all the news he must have had to tell her , the company of John George Julian Tracy proved to his long-expectant Jane any thing but cheering or instructive .  His past life , and present feelings , to say nothing of his future prospects , might all be but a blank , for any thing the general seemed to care : brandy and tobacco , an easy chair , and an ordnance map of India , with Emily beside him to talk about old times , these were all for which he lived : and even the female curiosity of a wife , duly authorized to ask questions , could extract from him astonishingly little of his Indian experiences .  As to his wealth , indeed , Mrs. Tracy boldly made direct inquiry ; for Julian set her on to beg for a commission , and Charles also was anxious for a year or two at college ; but the general divulged not much : albeit he vouchsafed to both his sons a liberally increased allowance .  It was only when his wife , piqued at such reserve , pettishly remarked ,  " At any rate , sir , I may be permitted to hope , that Miss Warren 'sfriends are kind enough to pay her expenses ; "  That the veteran , in high dudgeon at any imputation on his Indian acquaintances , sternly answered ,  " You need not be apprehensive , madam ; Emily Warren is amply provided for .  " Words which sank deep into the prudent mother 'smind .  But we must not too long let dock-leaves hide a violet ; it is high time , and barely courteous now , to introduce that beautiful exotic , Emily Warren .  Her own history , as she will tell it to Charles hereafter , was so obscure , that she knew little of it certainly herself , and could barely gather probabilities from scattered fragments .  At present , we have only to survey results in a superficial manner : in their due season , we will dig up all the roots .  No heroine can probably engage our interest or sympathy who possesses the infirmity of ugliness : it is not in human nature to admire her , and human nature is a thing very much to be consulted .  Moreover , no one ever yet saw an amiable personage , who was not so far pleasing , or , in other parlance , so far pretty .  I cannot help the common course of things ; and however hackneyed be the thought , however common-place the phrase , it is true , nevertheless , that beauty , singular beauty , would be the first idea of any rational creature , who caught but a glimpse of Emily Warren ; and I should account it little wonder if , upon a calmer gaze , that beauty were found to have its deepest , clearest fountain in those large dark eyes of heir 's.  Aware as I may be , that " large dark eyes " are no novelty in tales like this ; and famous for rare originality as my pen ( not to say genius ) would become , if an attempt were herein made to interest the world in a pink-eyed heroine , still I prefer plodding on in the well-worn path of pleasant beauty ; and so long as Nature 'sbounty continues to supply so well the world we live in with large dark eyes , and other feminine perfections , our Emily , at any rate , remains in fashion ; and if she has many pretty peers , let us at least not peevishly complain of them .  A graceful shape is , luckily , almost the common prerogative of female youthfulness ; a dimpled smile , a cheerful , winning manner , regular features , and a mass of luxuriant brown hair — these all heroines have — and so has our 's.  But no heroine ever had yet Emily Warren 'seyes ; not identically only , which few can well deny ; but similarly also , which the many must be good enough to grant : and very few heroes , indeed , ever saw their equal ; though , if any hereabouts object , I will not be so cruel or unreasonable as to hope they will admit it .  At first , full of soft light , gentle and alluring , they brighten up to blaze upon you lustrously , and fascinate the gazer 'sdazzled glance : there are depths in them that tell of the unfathomable soul , heights in them that speak of the spirit 'saspirations .  It is gentleness and purity , no less than sensibility and passion , that look forth in such strange power from those windows of the mind : it is not the mere beautiful machine , fair form , and pleasing colours , but the heaven-born light of tenderness and truth , streaming through the lens , that takes the fond heart captive .  Charles , for one , could not help looking long and keenly into Emily Warren 'seyes ; they magnetized him , so that he might not turn away from them : entranced him , that he would not break their charm , had he been able : and then the long tufted eyelashes droop so softly over those blazing suns — that I do not in the least wonder at Charles 'simpolite , perhaps , but still natural involuntary stare , and his mute abstracted admiration : the poor youth is caught at once , a most willing captive — the moth has burnt its wings , and flutters still happily around that pleasant warming radiance .  How his heart yearned for something to love , some being worthy of his own most pure affections : and lo !  these beauteous eyes , true witnesses of this sweet mind , have filled him for ever and a day with love at first sight .  But gentle Charles was not the only conquest : the fiery Julian , too , acknowledged her supremacy , bowed his stubborn neck , and yoked himself at once , another and more rugged captive , to the chariot of her charms .  It was Caliban , as well as Ferdinand , courting fair Miranda .  In his lower grade , he loved — fiercely , coarsely : and the same passion , which filled his brother 'sheart with happiest aspirations , and pure unselfish tenderness towards the beauteous stranger , burnt him up as an inward and consuming fire : Charles sunned himself in heaven 'sgenial beams , while Julian was hot with the lava-current of his own bad heart 'svolcano .  It will save much trouble , and do away with no little useless mystery , to declare , at the outset , which of these opposite twin-brothers our dark-eyed Emily preferred .  She was only seventeen in years ; but an Indian sky had ripened her to full maturity , both of form and feelings : and having never had any one whom she cared to think upon , and let her heart delight in , till Charles looked first upon her beauty wonderingly , it is no marvel if she unconsciously reciprocated his young heart 'sthought — before ever he had breathed it to himself .  Julian 'sadmiration she entirely overlooked ; she never thought him more than civil — barely that , perhaps — however he might flatter himself : but her heart and eyes were full of his fair contrast , the light seen brighter against darkness ; Charles all the dearer for a Julian .  Intensely did she love him , as only tropic blood can love ; intently did she gaze on him , when any while he could not see her face , as only those dark eyes could gaze : and her mind , all too ignorant but greedy of instruction , no less than her heart , rich in sympathies and covetous of love , went forth , and fed deliciously on the intellectual brow , and delicate flushing cheek of her noble-minded Charles .  Not all in a day , nor a week , nor a month , did their loves thus ripen together .  Emily was a simple child of nature , who had every thing to learn ; she scarcely knew her Maker 'sname , till Charles instructed her in God 'sgreat love : the stars were to her only shining studs of gold , and the world one mighty plain , and men and women soulless creatures of a day , and the wisdom of creation unconsidered , and the book of natural knowledge close sealed up , till Charles set out before his eager student the mysteries of earth and heaven .  Oh , those blessed hours of sweet teaching !  when he led her quick delighted steps up the many avenues of science to the central throne of God !  Oh , those happy moments , never to return , when her eyes in gentle thankfulness for some new truth laid open to them , flashed upon her youthful Mentor , love and intelligence , and pleased admiring wonder !  Sweet spring-tide of their loves , who scarcely knew they loved , yet thought of nothing but each other ; who walked hand in hand , as brother and sister , in the flowery ways of mutual blessing , mutual dependence : alas , alas !  how brief a space can love , that guest from heaven , dwell on earth unsullied !  CHAPTER V.  JEALOUSY .  For Julian soon perceived that Charles was no despicable rival .  At first , self-flattery , and the habitual contempt wherewith he regarded his brother , blinded him to Emily 'sattachment : moreover , in the scenes of gayety and the common social circle , she never gave him cause to complain of undue preferences ; readily she leant upon his arm , cheerfully accompanied him in morning-visits , noon-day walks , and evening parties ; and if pale Charles ( in addition to the more regular masters , dancing and music , and other pieces of accomplishment ) thought proper to bore her with his books for sundry hours every day , Julian found no fault with that ; — the girl was getting more a woman of the world , and all for him : she would like her play-time all the better for such schoolings , and him to be the truant at her side .  But when , from ordinary civilities , the coarse loud lover proceeded to particular attentions ; when he affected to press her delicate hand , and ventured to look what he called love into her eyes , and to breathe silly nothings in her ear — he could deceive himself no longer , notwithstanding all his vanity ; as legibly as looks could write it , he read disgust upon her face , and from that day forth she shunned him with undisguised abhorrence .  Poor innocent maid !  she little knew the man 'sblack mind , who thus dared to reach up to the height of her affections ; but she saw enough of character in his swart scowling face , and loud assuming manners , to make her dread his very presence , as a thunder-cloud across her summer sky .  Then did the baffled Julian begin to look around him , and took notice of her deepening love of Charles ; nay , even purposely , she seemed now to make a difference between them , as if to check presumption and encourage merit .  And he watched their stolen glances , how tremblingly they met each other 'sgaze ; and he would often-times roughly break in upon their studies , to look on their confused disquietude with the pallid frowns of envy : he would insult poor Charles before her , in hope to humble him in her esteem ; but mild and Christian patience made her see him as a martyr : he would even cast rude slights on her whom he professed to love , with the view of raising his brother 'schastened wrath , but was forced to quail and sneak away beneath her quick indignant glance , ere her more philosophical lover had time to expostulate with the cowardly savage .  Meanwhile , what were the parents about ?  The general had given out , indeed , that he had brought Emily over for schooling ; but he seemed so fond of her ( in fact , she was the only thing to prove he wore a heart ) , that he never could resolve upon sending her away from , what she now might well call , home .  Often , in some strange dialect of Hindostan , did they converse together , of old times and distant shores ; none but Emily might read him to sleep — none but Emily wake him in the morning with a kiss — none but Emily dare approach him in his gouty torments — none but Emily had any thing like intimate acquaintance with that moody iron-hearted man .  As to his sons , or the two young men he might presume to be his sons , he neither knew them , nor cared to know .  Bare civilities , as between man and man , constituted all which their intercourse amounted to : what were those young fellows , stout or slim , to him ?  mere accidents of a soldier 'sgallantries and of an ill-assorted marriage .  He neither had , nor wished to have , any sympathies with them : Julian might be as bad as he pleased , and Charles as good , for any thing the general seemed to heed : they could not dive with him into the past , and the sports of Hindostan : they reminded him , simply , of his wife , for pleasures of Memory ; of the grave , for pleasures of Hope : he was older when he looked at them : and they seemed to him only living witnesses of his folly as lieutenant , in the choice of Mrs. Tracy .  I will not take upon myself to say , that he had any occasion to congratulate himself on the latter reminiscence .  So he quickly acquiesced in Julian 'swish for a commission , and entirely approved of Charles 'scollege schemes .  After next September , the funds should be forthcoming : not but that he was rich enough , and to spare , any month in the year : but he would be vastly richer then , from prize-money , or some such luck .  It was more prudent to delay until September .  With reference to Emily — no , no — I could see at once that General Tracy never had any serious intention to part with Emily ; but she had all manner of masters at home , and soon made extraordinary progress .  As for the matter of his sons falling in love with her , attractive in all beauty though she were , he never once had given it a thought : for , first , he was too much a man of the world to believe in such ideal trash as love : and next , he totally forgot that his " boy , or boys , " had human feelings .  So , when his wife one day gave him a gentle and triumphant hint of the state of affairs , it came upon him overwhelmingly , like an avalanche : his yellow face turned flake-white , he trembled as he stood , and really seemed to take so natural a probability to heart as the most serious of evils .  " My son Julian in love with Emily !  and if not he , at any rate Charles !  What the devil , madam , can you mean by this dreadful piece of intelligence ?  — It 'simpossible , ma'am ; nonsense !  it ca n't be true ; it sha n't , ma'am .  "  And the general , having issued his military mandates , wrapped himself in secresy once more ; satisfied that both of those troublesome sons were to leave home after the next quarter , and the prize-money at Hancock 's.  CHAPTER VI .  THE CONFIDANTE .  But Mrs. Tracy had the best reason for believing her intelligence was true , and she could see very little cause for regarding it as dreadful .  True , one son would have been enough for this wealthy Indian heiress — but still it was no harm to have two strings to her bow .  Julian was her favourite , and should have the girl if she could manage it ; but if Emily Warren would not hear of such a husband , why Charles Tracy may far better get her money than any body else .  That she possessed great wealth was evident : such jewellery , such Trinchinopoli chains , such a blaze of diamonds en suite , such a multitude of armlets , and circlets , and ear-rings , and other oriental finery , had never shone on Devonshire before : at the Eyemouth ball , men worshipped her , radiant in beauty , and gorgeously apparelled .  Moreover , money overflowed her purse , her work-box , and her jewel-case : Charles 'svillage school , and many other well-considered charities , rejoiced in the streams of her munificence .  The general had given her a banker 'sbook of signed blank checks , and she filled up sums at pleasure : such unbounded confidence had he in her own prudence and her far-off father 'sliberality .  The few hints her husband deigned to give , encouraged Mrs. Tracy to conclude , that she would be a catch for either of her sons ; and , as for the girl herself , she had clearly been brought up to order about a multitude of servants , to command the use of splendid equipages , and to spend money with unsparing hand .  Accordingly , one day when Julian was alone with his mother , their conversation ran as follows :  " Well , Julian dear , and what do you think of Emily Warren ?  "  " Think , mother ?  why — that she 'sdeuced pretty , and dresses like an empress : but where did the general pick her up , eh ?  — who is she ?  "  " Why , as to who she is — I know no more than you ; she is Emily Warren : but as to the great question of what she is , I know that she is rolling in riches , and would make one of my boys a very good wife .  "  " Oh , as to wife , mother , one is n't going to be fool enough to marry for love now-a-days : things are easier managed hereabouts , than that : but money makes it quite another thing .  So , this pretty minx is rich , is she ?  "  " A great heiress , I assure you , Julian .  "  " Bravo , bravo-o !  but how to make the girl look sweet upon me , mother ?  There 'sthat white-livered fellow , Charles — "  " Never mind him , boy ; do you suppose he would have the heart to make love to such a splendid creature as Miss Warren : fy , Julian , for a faint heart : Charles is well enough as a Sabbath-school teacher , but I hope he will not bear away the palm of a ladye-love from my fine high-spirited Julian .  " Poor Mrs. Tracy was as flighty and romantic at forty-five as she had been at fifteen .  The fine high-spirited Julian answered not a word , but looked excessively cross ; for he knew full well that Charles 'schance was to his in the ratio of a million to nothing .  " What , boy , " went on the prudent mother , " still silent !  I am afraid Emily 'sgood looks have been thrown away upon you , and that your heart has not found out how to love her .  "  " Love her , mother ?  Curses !  would you drive me mad ?  I think and dream of nothing but that girl : morning , noon , and night , her eyes persecute me : go where I will , and do what I will , her image haunts me : d — — n it , mother 'do n't I love the girl ?  "  [ Oh love , love !  thou much-slandered monosyllable , how desperately do bad men malign thee !  ]  " Hush , Julian ; pray be more guarded in your language ; I am glad to see though that your heart is in the right place : suppose now that I aid your suit a little ?  I dare say I could do a great deal for you , my son ; and nothing could be more delightful to your mother than to try and make her Julian happy .  "  True , Mrs. Tracy ; you were always theatrically given , and played the coquette in youth ; so in age the character of go-between befits you still : dearly do you love to dabble in , what you are pleased to call , " une affaire du cœur .  "  " Mother , " after a pause , replied her hopeful progeny , " if the girl had been only pretty , I should n't have asked any body 'shelp ; for marriage was never to my liking , and folks may have their will of prouder beauties than this Emily , without going to church for it ; but money makes it quite another matter : and I may as well have the benefit of your assistance in this matter o 'money , eh mother ?  matrimony , you know : an heiress and a beauty may be worth the wedding-ring ; besides , when my commission comes , I can follow the good example that my parents set me , you know ; and , after a three months 'honey-mooning , can turn bachelor again for twenty years or so , as our governor-general did , and so leave wifey at home , till she becomes a Mrs. General like you .  "  Now , strange to say , this heartless bit of villany was any thing but unpleasing to the foolish , flattered heart of Mrs. Tracy ; he was a chip of the old block , no better than his father : so she thanked " dear Julian " for his confidence , with admiration and emotion ; and looking upwards , after the fashion of a Covent Garden martyr , blessed him .  CHAPTER VII .  THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE , ETC.  " Emily , my dear , take Julian 'sarm : here , Charles , come and change with me ; I should like a walk with you to Oxton , to see how your little scholars get on .  " So spake the intriguing mother .  " Why , that is just what I was going to do with Charles , " said Emily , " and if Julian will excuse me — "  " Oh , never mind me , Miss Warren , pray ; come along with me , will you , mother ?  "  So they paired off in more well-matched couples ( for Julian luckily took huff ) , and went their different ways : with those went hatred , envy , worldly scheming , and that lowest sort of love that ill deserves the name ; with these remain all things pure , affectionate , benevolent .  " Charles , dear , " ( they were just like brother and sister , innocent and loving ) , " how kind it is of you to take me with you ; if you only knew how I dreaded Julian !  "  " Why , Emmy ?  can he have offended you in any way ?  "  " Oh , Charles , he is so rude , and says such silly things , and — I am quite afraid to be alone with him .  "  " What — what — what does he say to you , Emily ?  " hurriedly urged her half-avowed lover .  " Oh , do n't ask me , Charles — pray drop the subject ; " and , as she blushed , tears stood in her eyes .  Charles bit his lip and clenched his fist involuntarily ; but an instant word of prayer drove away the spirit of hatred , and set up love triumphant in its place .  " My Emily — oh , what have I said ?  may I — may I call you my Emily ?  dearest , dearest girl !  " escaped his lips , and he trembled at his own presumption .  It was a presumptuous speech indeed ; but it burst from the well of his affections , and he could not help it .  Her answer was not in words , and yet his heart-strings thrilled beneath the melody ; for her eyes shed on him a blaze of love that made him almost faint before them .  In an instant , they understood , without a word , the happy truth , that each one loved the other .  " Precious , precious Emily !  " They were now far away from Burleigh , in the fields ; and he seized her hand , and covered it with kisses .  What more they said I was not by to hear , and if I had been would not have divulged it .  There are holy secrets of affection , which those who can remember their first love — and first love is the only love worth mentioning — may think of for themselves .  Well , far better than my feeble pencilling can picture , will they fill up this slight sketch .  That walk to Oxton , that visit to the village school , was full of generous affections unrepressed , the out-pourings of two deep-welled hearts , flowing forth in sympathetic ecstasy .  The trees , and fields , and cottages were bathed in heavenly light , and the lovers , happy in each other 'strust , called upon the all-seeing God to bless the best affections of His children .  And what a change these mutual confessions made in both their minds !  Doubt was gone ; they were beloved ; oh , richest treasure of joy !  Fear was gone ; they dared declare their love ; oh , purest river of all sublunary pleasures !  No longer pale , anxious , thoughtful , worn by the corroding care of " Does she — does she love ?  " — Charles was , from that moment , a buoyant , cheerful , exhilarated being — a new character ; he put on manliness , and fortitude , and somewhat of involuntary pride ; whilst Emily felt , that enriched by the affections of him whom she regarded as her wisest , kindest earthly friend , by the acquisition of his love , who had led her heart to higher good than this world at its best can give her , she was elevated and ennobled from the simple Indian child , into the loved and honoured Christian woman .  They went on that important walk to Oxton feeble , divided , unsatisfied in heart : they returned as two united spirits , one in faith , one in hope , one in love ; both heavenly and earthly .  But the happy hour is past too soon ; and , home again , they mixed once more with those conflicting elements of hatred and contention .  " Emily , " asked the general , in a very unusual stretch of curiosity , " where have you been to with Charles Tracy ?  You look flushed , my dear ; what 'sthe matter ?  "  Of course " nothing " was the matter : and the general was answered wisely , for love was nothing in his average estimate of men and women .  " Charles , what can have come to you ?  I never saw you look so happy in my life , " was the mother 'stroublesome inquiry ; " why , our staid youth positively looks cheerful .  "  Charles 'swalk had refreshed him , taken away his head-ache , put him in spirits , and all manner of glib reasons for rejoicing .  " You were right , Julian , " whispered Mrs. Tracy , " and we 'llsoon put the stopper on all this sort of thing .  "  So , then , the moment our guiltless pair of lovers had severally stolen away to their own rooms , there to feast on well-remembered looks , and words , and hopes — there to lay before that heavenly Friend , whom both had learned to trust , all their present joys , as aforetime all their cares — Mrs. Tracy looked significantly at Julian , and thus addressed her ever stern-eyed lord :  " So , general , the old song 'scoming true to us , I find , as to other folks , who once were young together : " ' And when with envy Time , transported , seeks to rob us of our joys , You 'llin your girls again be courted , and I 'llgo wooing in my boys . ' "  " ' And when with envy Time , transported , seeks to rob us of our joys ,  You 'llin your girls again be courted , and I 'llgo wooing in my boys .  ' "  So said or sung the flighty Mrs. Tracy .  It was as simple and innocent a quotation as could possibly be made ; I suppose most couples , who ever heard the stanza , and have grown-up children , have thought upon its dear domestic beauty : but it strangely affected the irascible old general .  He fumed and frowned , and looked the picture of horror ; then , with a fierce oath at his wife and sons , he firmly said —  " Woman , hold your fool 'stongue : begone , and send Emily to me this minute : stop , Mr. Julian — no — run up for your brother Charles , and come you all to me in the study .  Instantly , sir !  do as I bid you , without a word .  "  Julian would gladly have fought it out with his imperative father ; but , nevertheless , it was a comfort to have to fetch pale Charles for a jobation ; so he went at once .  And the three young people , two of them trembling with affections overstrained , and the third indurated in effrontery , stood before that stern old man .  " Emily , child , " — and he added something in Hindostanee , " have I been kind to you — and do you owe me any love ?  "  " Dear , dear sir , how can you ask me that ?  " said the warm-affectioned girl , falling on her knees in tears .  " Get up , sweet child , and hear me : you see those boys ; as you love me , and yourself , and happiness , and honour — dare not to think of either , one moment , as your husband .  "  Emily fainted ; Charles staggered to assist her , though he well-nigh swooned himself ; and Julian folded his arms with a resolute air , as waiting to hear what next .  But the general disappointed him : he had said his say : and , as volatile salts , a lady 'smaid , and all that sort of rëinvigoration , seemed essential to Emily 'srecovery , he rang the bell forthwith : so the pleasant family party broke up without another word .  CHAPTER VIII .  THE MYSTERY .  Our lovers would not have been praiseworthy , perhaps not human , had they not met in secret once and again .  True , their regularly concerted studies were forbidden , and they never now might openly walk out unaccompanied : but love ( who has not found this out ?  ) is both daring and ingenious ; and notwithstanding all that Emily purposed about doing as the general so strangely bade her , they had many happy meetings , rich with many happy words : all the happier no doubt for their stolen sweetness .  There was one great and engrossing subject which often had employed their curiosity ; who and what was Emily Warren ?  for the poor girl did not know herself .  All she could guess , she told Charles , as he zealously cross-questioned her from time to time : and the result of his inquiries would appear to be as follows :  Emily 'searliest recollections were of great barbaric pomp ; huge elephants richly caparisoned , mighty fans of peacock 'stails , lines of matchlock men , tribes of jewelled servants , a gilded palace , with its gardens and fountains : plenty of rare gems to play with , and a splendid queenly woman , whom she called by the Hindoo name for mother .  The general , too , was there among her first associations , as the gallant Captain Tracy , with his company of native troops .  Then an era happened in her life ; a tearful leave-taking with that proud princess , who scarcely would part with her for sorrow ; but the captain swore it should be so : and an old Scotch-woman , her nurse , she could remember , who told her as a child , but whether religiously or not she could not tell , " Darling , come to me when you wish to know who made you ; " and then Mrs. Mackie went and spoke to the princess , and soothed her , that she let the child depart peacefully .  Most of her gorgeous jewellery dated from that earliest time of inexplicable oriental splendour .  After those infantine seven years , the captain took her with him to his station up the country , where she lived she knew not how long , in a strong hill-fort , one Puttymuddyfudgepoor , where there was a great deal of fighting , and besieging , and storming , and cannonading ; but it ceased at last , and the captain , who then soon successively became both major and colonel , always kept her in his own quarters , making her his little pet ; and , after the fighting was all over , his brother-officers would take her out hunting in their howdahs , and she had plenty of palanquin-bearers , sepoys , and servants at command ; and , what was more , good nurse Mackie was her constant friend and attendant .  Time wore on , and many little incidents of Indian life occurred , which varied every day indeed , but still left nothing consequential behind them : there were tiger-hunts , and incursions of Scindian tribes , and Pindarree chieftains taken captive , and wounded soldiers brought into the hospital ; and often had she and good nurse Mackie tended at the sick bed-side .  And the colonel had the jungle fever , and would not let her go from his sight ; so she caught the fever too , and through Heaven 'smercy was recovered .  And the colonel was fonder of her now than ever , calling her his darling little child , and was proud to display her early budding beauty to his military friends — pleasant sort of gentlemen , who gave her pretty presents .  Then she grew up into womanhood , and saw more than one fine uniform at her feet , but she did not comprehend those kindnesses : and the general ( he was general now ) got into great passions with them , and stormed , and swore , and drove them all away .  Nurse Mackie grew to be old , and sometimes asked her , " Can you keep a secret , child ?  — no , no , I dare not trust you yet : wait a wee , wait a wee , my bonnie , bonnie bairn .  "  And now speedily came the end .  The general resolved on returning to his own old shores : chiefly , as it seemed , to avoid the troublesome pertinacity of sundry suitors , who sought of him the hand of Emily Warren for , by this name she was beginning to be called : in her earliest recollection she was Amina ; then at the hill-fort , Emily — Emily — nothing for years but Emily : and as she grew to womanhood , the general bade her sign her name to notes , and leave her card at houses , as Emily Warren : why , or by what right , she never thought of asking .  But nurse Mackie had hinted she might have had " a better name and a truer ; " and therefore , she herself had asked the general what this hint might mean ; and he was so angry that he discharged nurse Mackie at Madras , directly he arrived there to take ship for England .  Then , just before embarking , poor nurse Mackie came to her secretly , and said , " Child , I will trust you with a word ; you are not what he thinks you .  " And she cried a great deal , and longed to come to Eng land ; but the general would not hear of it ; so he pensioned her off , and left her at Madras , giving somebody strict orders not to let her follow him .  Nevertheless , just as they were getting into the boat to cross the surf , the affectionate old soul ran out upon the strand , and called to her " Amy Stuart !  Amy Stuart !  " to the general 'sgreat amazement as clearly as her own ; and she held up a packet in her hand as they were pushing off , and shouted after her , " Child — child !  if you would have your rights , remember Jeanie Mackie !  "  After that , succeeded the monotony of a long sea voyage .  The general at first seemed vexed about Mrs. Mackie , and often wished that he had asked her what she meant ; however , his brow soon cleared , for he reflected that a discarded servant always tells falsehoods , if only to make her master mischief .  " The voyage over , Charles , with all its cards , quadrilles , doubling the cape , crossing the line , and the wearisome routine of sky and sea , the quarter-deck and cabin , we found ourselves at length in Plymouth Sound ; left the Indiaman to go up the channel ; and I suppose the post-chaise may be consigned to your imagination .  "  CHAPTER IX .  HOW TO CLEAR IT UP .  In all this there was mystery enough for a dozen lovers to have crazed their brains about .  Emily might be a queen of the East , defrauded of hereditary glories , and at any rate deserved such rank , if Charles was to be judge ; but what was more important , if the general had any reason at all for his arbitrary mandate prohibiting their love , it was very possible that reason was a false one .  Meantime , Charles had little now to live for , except his dear forbidden Emily , any more than she for him .  And to peace of mind in both , the elucidation of that mystery which hung about her birth , grew more needful day by day .  At last , one summer evening , when they had managed a quiet walk upon the sands under the Beacon cliff , Charles said abruptly , after some moments of abstraction , " Dearest , I am resolved .  "  " Resolved , Charles !  what about ?  " and she felt quite alarmed ; for her lover looked so stern , that she could not tell what was going to happen next .  " I 'llclear it up , that I will ; I only wish I had the money .  "  " Why , Charles , what in the world are you dreaming about ?  you frighten me , dearest ; are you ill ?  do n't look so serious , pray .  "  " Yes , Emily , I will ; at once too .  I 'moff to Madras by next packet ; or , that is to say , would , if I could get my passage free .  "  " My noble Charles , if that were the only objection , I would get you all the means ; for the kind — kind general suffers me to have whatever sums I choose to ask for .  Only , Charles , indeed I cannot spare you ; do not — do not go away and leave me ; there 'sJulian , too — do n't leave me — and you might never come back , and — and — " all the remainder was lost in sobbing .  " No , my Emmy , we must not use the general 'sgold in doing what he might not wish ; it would be ungenerous .  I will try to get somebody to lend me what I want — say Mrs. Sainsbury , or the Tamworths .  And as for leaving you , my love , have no fears for me or for yourself ; situated as we are , I take it as a duty to go , and make you happier , setting you in rights , whatever these may be ; and for the rest , I leave you in His holy keeping who can preserve you alike in body , as in soul , from all things that would hurt you , and whose mercy will protect me in all perils , and bring me back to you in safety .  This is my trust , Emmy .  "  " Dear Charles , you are always wiser and better than I am : let it be so then , my best of friends .  Seek out good nurse Mackie , I can give you many clues , hear what she has to say ; and may the God of your own poor fatherless Emily speed your holy mission !  Yet there is one thing , Charles ; ought you not to ask your parents for their leave to go ?  You are better skilled to judge than I can be , though .  "  " Emmy , whom have I to ask ?  my father ?  he cares not whither I go nor what becomes of me ; I hardly know him , and for twenty years of my short life of twenty-one , scarcely believed in his existence ; or should I ask my mother ?  alas — love !  I wish I could persuade myself that she would wish me back again if I were gone ; moreover , how can I respect her judgment , or be guided by her counsel , whose constant aim has been to thwart my feeble efforts after truth and wisdom , and to pamper all ill growths in my unhappy brother Julian ?  No , Emily ; I am a man now , and take my own advice .  If a parent forbade me , indeed , and reasonably , it would be fit to acquiesce ; but knowing , as I have sad cause to know , that none but you , my love , will be sorry for my absence , as for your sake alone that absence is designed , I need take counsel only of us who are here present — your own sweet eyes , myself , and God who seeth us .  "  " True — most true , dear Charles ; I knew that you judged rightly .  "  " Moreover , Emmy , secresy is needful for the due fulfilment of my purpose .  " ( Charles little thought how congenial to his nature was that same secresy .  ) " None but you must know where I am , or whither I am gone .  For if there really is any mystery which the general would conceal from us , be assured he both could and would frustrate all my efforts if he knew of my design .  The same ship that carried me out would convey an emissary from him , and nurse Mackie never could be found by me .  I must go then secretly , and , for our peace sake , soon ; how dear to me that embassy will be , entirely undertaken in my darling Emmy 'scause !  "  " But — but , Charles , what if Julian , in your absence — "  " Hark , my own betrothed !  while I am near you — and I say it not of threat , but as in the sight of One who has privileged me to be your protector — you are safe from any serious vexation ; and the moment I am gone , fly to my father , tell him openly your fears , and he will scatter Julian 'sinsolence to the winds of heaven .  "  " Thank you — thank you , wise dear Charles ; you have lifted a load from my poor , weak , woman 'sheart , that had weighed it down too heavily .  I will trust in God more , and dread Julian less .  Oh !  how I will pray for you when far away .  "  CHAPTER X .  AUNT GREEN 'SLEGACY .  At last — at last , Mrs. Green fell ill , and , hard upon the over-ripe age of eighty-seven , seemed likely to drop into the grave — to the unspeakable delight of her expectant relatives .  Sooth to say , niece Jane , the soured and long-waiting legatee , had now for years been treating the poor old woman very scurvily : she had lived too long , and had grown to be a burden ; notwithstanding that her ample income still kept on the house , and enabled the general to nurse his own East India Bonds right comfortably .  But still the old aunt would not die , and as they sought not her , nor heir 's( quite contrary to St. Paul 'sdisinterestedness ) , she was looked upon in the light of an incumbrance , on her own property and in her own house .  Mrs. Tracy longed to throw off the yoke of dependance , and made small secret of the hatred of the fetter : for the old woman grew so deaf and blind , that there could be no risk at all , either in speaking one 'smind , or in thoroughly neglecting her .  However , now that the harvest of hope appeared so near , the legatee renewed her old attentions : Death was a guest so very welcome to the house , that it is no wonder that his arrival was hourly expected with buoyant cheerfulness , and a something in the mask of kindliness : but I suspect that lamb-skin concealed a very wolf .  So , Mrs. Tracy tenderly inquired of the doctor , and the doctor shook his head ; and other doctors came to help , and shook their heads together .  The patient still grew worse — O , brightening prospect !  — though , now and then , a cordial draught seemed to revive her so alarmingly , that Mrs. Tracy affectionately urging that the stimulants would be too exciting for the poor dear sufferer 'snerves , induced Dr. Graves to discontinue them .  Then those fearful scintillations in her lamp of life grew fortunately duller , and the nurse was by her bed-side night and day ; and the old aunt became more and more peevish , and was more and more spoken of by the Tracy family — in her possible hearing , as " that dear old soul " — out of it , " that vile old witch .  "  Charles , to be sure , was an exception in all this , as he ever was : for he took on him the Christian office of reading many prayers to the poor decaying creature , and ( only that his father would not hear of such a thing ) desired to have the vicar to assist him .  Emily also , full of sympathy , and disinterested care , would watch the fretful patient , hour after hour , in those long , dull nights of pain ; and the poor , old , perishing sinner loved her coming , for she spoke to her the words of hope and resignation .  Whether that sweet missionary , scarcely yet a convert from her own dark creed — ( Alas !  the Amina had offered unto Juggernaut , and Emily of the strong hill-fort had scarcely heard of any truer God ; and the fair girl was a woman-grown before , in her first earthly love , she also came to know the mercies Heaven has in store for us ) — whether unto any lasting use she prayed and reasoned with that hard , dried heart , none but the Omniscient can tell .  Let us hope : let us hope ; for the fretful voice was stilled , and the cloudy forehead brightened , and the hag gard eyes looked cheerfully to meet the inevitable stroke of death .  Thus in wisdom and in charity , in patience and in faith , that gentle pair of lovers comforted the dying soul .  However , days rolled away , and Aunt Green lingered on still , tenaciously clinging unto life : until one morning early , she felt so much better , that she insisted on being propped up by pillows , and seeing all the household round her bed to speak to them .  So up came every one , in no small hope of legacies , and what the lawyers call " donationes mortis causâ .  "  The general was at her bed's-head , with , I am ashamed to say , perhaps unconsciously , a countenance more ridiculous than lugubrious ; though he tried to subdue the buoyancy of hope and to put on looks of decent mourning ; on the other side , the long-expectant legatee , Niece Jane , prudently concealed her questionable grief behind a scented pocket-handkerchief .  Julian held somewhat aloof , for the scene was too depressing for his taste : so he affected to read a prayer-book , wrong way up , with his tongue in his cheek : Charles , deeply solemnized at the near approach of death , knelt at the poor invalid 'sbedside ; and Emily stood by , leaning over her , suffused in tears .  At the further corners of the bed , might be seen an old servant or two ; and Mrs. Green 'sbutler and coachman , each a forty years 'fixture , presented their gray heads at the bottom of the room , and really looked exceedingly concerned .  Mrs. Green addressed them first , in her feeble broken manner : " Grant — and John — good and faithful — thank you — thank you both ; and you too , kind Mrs. Lloyd , and Sally , and nurse — what's-your-name : give them the packets , nurse — all marked — first drawer , desk : there — there — God bless you — good — faithful .  "  The old servants , full of sorrow at her approaching loss , were comforted too : for a kind word , and a hundred pound note a-piece , made amends for much bereavement : the sick-nurse found her gift was just a tithe of their 's, and recognised the difference both just and kind .  " Niece Jane — you 'vewaited — long — for — this day : my will — rewards you .  "  " O dear — dear aunt , pray do n't talk so ; you 'llrecover yet , pray — pray do n't : " she pretended to drown the rest in sorrow , but winked at her husband over the handkerchief .  " Julian !  " ( the precious youth attempted to look miserable , and came as called , ) " you will find — I have remembered — you , Julian .  " So he winked , too , at his mother , and tried to blubber a " thank you .  "  " Charles — where 'sCharles ?  give me your hand , Charles dear — let me feel your face : here , Charles — a little pocket-book — good lad — good lad .  There 'sEmily , too — dear child , she came — too late — I forgot her — I forgot her !  general give her half — half — if you love — love — Emi — "  All at once her jaw dropped ; her eyes , which had till now been preternaturally bright , filmed over ; her head fell back upon the pillow ; and the rich old aunt was dead .  Julian gave a shout that might have scared the parting spirit !  Really , the general was shocked , and Mrs. Tracy too ; and the servants murmured " shame — shame !  " poor Charles hid his face ; Emily looked up indignantly ; but Julian asked , with an oath , " Where 'sthe good of being hypocrites ?  " and then added , " now , mother , let us find the will .  "  Then the nurse went to close the dim glazed eyes ; and the other sorrowing domestics slunk away ; and Charles led Emily out of the chamber of death , saddened and shocked at such indecent haste .  Meanwhile , the hopeful trio rummaged every drawer — tumbled out the mingled contents of boxes , desk , and escritoire — still , no will — no will : and at last the nurse , who more than once had muttered , " Shame on you all , " beneath her breath , said ,  " If you want the will , it 'sunder her pillow : but do n't disturb her yet , poor thing !  "  Julian 'srude hand had already thrust aside the lifeless , yielding head , and clutched the will : the father and mother — though humbled and wonder-stricken at his daring — gathered round him ; and he read aloud , boldly and steadily to the end , though with scowling brow , and many curses interjectional :  " In the name of God , Amen .  I , Constance Green , make this my last will and testament .  Forasmuch as my niece , Jane Tracy , has watched and waited for my death these two-and-twenty years , I leave her all the shoes , slippers , and goloshes , whereof I may happen to die possessed : item , I leave Julian , her son , my ' Whole Duty of Man , ' convinced that he is deficient in it all : item , I confirm all the gifts which I intend to make upon my death-bed : item , forasmuch as General Tracy , my niece 'shusband , on his return from abroad , greeted me with much affection , I bequeath and give to him five thousand pounds 'worth of Exchequer bills , now in my banker 'shands ; and appoint him my sole executor .  As to my landed property , it will all go , in course of law , to my heir , Samuel Hayley , and may he and his long enjoy it .  And as to the remainder of my personal effects , including nine thousand pounds bank stock , my Dutch fives , and other matters , whereof I may die possessed ( seeing that my relatives are rich enough without my help ) , I give and bequeath the same , subject as hereinbefore stated , to the trustees , for the time being , of the Westminster Lying-in Hospital , in trust , for the purposes of that charitable institution .  In witness whereof , I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day of May , 1840.  " Constance Green . "  " Duly signed , sealed , and delivered !  d — — nation !  " was Julian 'sbrief epilogue — " General , let 'sburn it .  "  " You can if you please , Mr. Julian , " interposed the nurse , who had secretly enjoyed all this , " and if you like to take the consequences ; but , as each of the three witnesses has the will sealed up in copy , and the poor deceased there took pains to sign them all , perhaps — "  This settled the affair : and the discomfited expectants made a precipitate retreat .  As the general , however , got vastly more than he expected , for his individual merits ; and seeing that he loved Emily as much as he hated both Julian and his wife , he really felt well-pleased upon the whole , and took on him the duties of executor with cheerfulness .  So they buried Aunt Green as soon as might be .  CHAPTER XI .  PREPARATIONS AND DEPARTURE .  Charles 'spocket-book was full of clean bank notes , fifteen hundred pounds 'worth : it contained also a diamond ring , and a lock of silvery hair ; the latter a proof of affectionate sentiment in the kind old soul , that touched him at the heart .  " And now , my Emmy , the way is clear to us ; Providence has sent me this , that I may right you , dearest : and it will be wise in us to say nothing of our plans .  Avoid inquiries — for I did not say conceal or falsify facts : but , while none but you , love , heed of my departure , and while I go for our sakes alone , we need not invite disappointment by open- mouthed publicity .  To those who love me , Emmy , I am frank and free ; but with those who love us not , there is a wisdom and a justice in concealment .  They do not deserve confidence , who will not extend to us their sympathy .  None but yourself must know whither I am bound ; and , after some little search for curiosity 'ssake , when a week is past and gone , no soul will care for me of those at home .  With you , I will manage to communicate by post , directing my letters to Mrs. Sainsbury , at Oxton : I will prepare her for it .  She knows my love for you , and how they try to thwart us ; but even she , however trustworthy , need not be told my destination yet awhile , until ' India 'appears upon the post-mark .  How glad will you be , dearest one , how happy in our secret — to read my heart 'sown thoughts , when I am far away — far away , clearing up mine Emmy 'scares , and telling her how blessed I feel in ministering to her happiness !  "  Such was the substance of their talk , while counting out the pocket-book .  Charles 'sremaining preparations were simple enough , now his purse was flush of money : he resolved upon taking from his home no luggage whatever : preferring to order down , from an outfitting house in London , a regular kit of cadet 'snecessaries , to wait for him at the Europe Hotel , Plymouth , on a certain day in the ensuing week .  So that , burdened only with his Emmy 'sminiature , and his pocket-book of bank notes , he might depart quietly some evening , get to Plymouth in a prëconcerted way , by chaise or coach , before the morrow morning ; thence , a boat to meet the ship off-shore , and then — hey , for the Indies !  It was as well-devised a scheme as could possibly be planned ; though its secresy , especially with a mother in the case , may be a moot point as to the abstract moral thereof : nevertheless , concretely , the only heart his so mysterious absence would have pained , was made aware of all : then , again , secresy had been the atmosphere of his daily life , the breath of his education ; and he too sorely knew his mother would rejoice at the departure , and Julian , too — all the more certainly , as both brothers were now rivals professed for the hand of Emily Warren : as to the general , he might , or he might not , smoke an extra cheroot in the excitement of his wonder ; and if he cared about it anyways more tragically than tobacco might betray , Emily knew how to comfort him .  With respect to other arrangements , Emmy furnished Charles with letters to certain useful people at Madras , and in particular to the " somebody " who looked after Mrs. Mackie : so , the mystery was easy of access , and he doubted not of overcoming , on the spot , every unseen dif ficulty .  The plan of leaving all luggage behind , a capital idea , would enable him to go forth freely and unshackled , with an ordinary air , in hat and great-coat , as for an evening 'swalk ; and was quite in keeping with the natural reserve of his whole character — a bad habit of secresy , which he probably inherited from his father , the lieutenant of old times .  And yet , for all the wisdom , and mystery , and shrewd settling of the plan , its accomplishment was as nearly as possible most fatally defeated .  The important evening arrived ; for the Indiaman — it was our old friend Sir William Elphinston — would be off Plymouth , next morning : the goods had been , for a day or two , safely deposited at the Europe , as per invoice , all paid : the lovers , in this last , this happiest , yet by far the saddest of their stolen interviews , had exchanged vows and kisses , and upon the beach , beneath those friendly cliffs , had commended one another to their Father in heaven .  They had returned to the unsocial circle of home ; all was fixed ; the clock struck nine : and Charles , accidentally squeezing Emily 'shand , rose to leave the tea-table .  " Where are you going , Mr. Charles ?  "  " I am going out , Julian .  "  " Thank you , sir !  I knew that , but whither ?  General , I say , here 'sCharles going to serenade somebody by moonlight .  "  The brandy-sodden parent , scarcely conscious , said something about his infernal majesty ; and , " What then ?  — let him go , ca n't you ?  "  " Well , Julian dear , perhaps your brother will not mind your going with him ; particularly as Emily stays at home with me .  "  This Mrs. Tracy spoke archly , intended as a hint to induce Julian to remain : but he had other thoughts — and simply said , in an ill-tempered tone of voice , " Done , Charles .  "  It was a dilemma for our escaping hero ; but glancing a last look at Emily , he departed , and walked on some way as quietly as might be with Julian by his side : thinking , perhaps , he would soon be tired ; and suffering him to fancy , if he would , that Charles was bound either on some amorous pilgrimage , or some charitable mission .  But they left Burleigh behind them — and got upon the common — and passed it by , far out of sight and out of hearing — and were skirting the high banks of the darkly-flowing Mullet — and still there was Julian sullenly beside him .  In vain Charles had tried , by many gentle words , to draw him into common conversation : Julian would not speak , or only gave utterance to some hinted phrase of insult : his brow was even darker than usual , and night was coming on apace , and he still tramped steadily along beside his brother , digging his sturdy stick into the clay , for very spite 'ssake .  At length , as they yet walked along the river 'sside in that unfrequented place , Julian said , on a sudden , in a low strange tone , as if keeping down some rising rage within him ,  " Mr. Charles , you love Emily Warren .  "  " Well , Julian , and who can help loving her ?  "  It was innocently said ; but still a maddening answer , for he loved her too .  " And , sirrah , " the brother hoarsely added , " she — she does not — does not — hate you , sir , as I do .  "  " My good Julian , pray do not be so violent ; I cannot help it if the dear girl loves me .  "  " But I can , though !  " roared Julian , with an oath , and lifted up his stick — it was nearer like a club — to strike his brother .  " Julian , Julian , what are you about ?  Good Heavens !  you would not — you dare not — give over — unhand me , brother ; what have I done , that you should strike me ?  Oh !  leave me — leave me — pray .  "  " Leave you ?  I will leave you !  " the villain almost shouted , and smote him to the ground with his lead-loaded stick .  It was a blow that must have killed him , but for the interposing hat , now battered down upon his bleeding head .  Charles , at length thoroughly aroused , though his foe must be a brother , struggled with unusual strength in self-preserving instinct , wrested the club from Julian 'shand , and stood on the defensive .  Julian was staggered : and , after a moment 'sirresolution , drawing a pistol from his pocket , said , in a terribly calm voice ,  " Now , sir !  I have looked for such a meeting many days — alone , by night , with you !  I would not willingly draw trigger , for the noise might bring down other folks upon us , out of Oxton yonder : but , drop that stick , or I fire .  "  Charles was noble enough , without another word , to fling the club into the river : it was not fear of harm , but fear of sin , that made him trust himself defenceless to a brother , a twin-brother , in the dark : he could not be so base , a murderer , a fratricide !  Oh !  most unhallowed thought !  Save him from this crime , good God !  Then , instantaneously reflecting , and believing he decided for the best , when he saw the ruffian glaring on him with exulting looks , as upon an unarmed rival at his mercy , with no man near to stay the deed , and none but God to see it , Charles resolved to seek safety from so terrible a death in flight .  Oxton was within one mile ; and , clearly , this was not like flying from danger as a coward , but fleeing from attempted crime , as a brother and a Christian .  Julian snatched at him to catch him as he passed : and , failing in this , rushed after him .  It was a race for life !  and they went like the wind , for two hundred yards , along that muddy high-banked walk .  Suddenly , Charles slipped upon the clay , that he fell ; and Julian , with a savage howl , leapt upon him heavily .  Poor youth , he knew that death was nigh , and only uttered , " God forgive you , brother !  oh , spare me — or , if not me , spare yourself — Julian , Julian !  "  But the monster was determined .  Exerting the whole force of his herculean frame , he seized his scarce-resisting victim as he lay , and , lifting him up like a child , flung his own twin-brother head foremost into that darkly-flowing current !  There was one piercing cry — a splash — a struggle ; and again nothing broke upon the silent night , but the murmur of that swingeing tide , as the Mullet hurried eddying to the sea .  Julian listened a minute or two , flung some stones at random into the river , and then hastily ran back to Burleigh , feeling like a Cain .  CHAPTER XII .  THE ESCAPE .  But the overruling hand of Him whose aid that victim had invoked , was now stretched forth to save !  and the strong-flowing tide , that ran too rapidly for Charles to sink in it , was commissioned from on High to carry him into an angle of that tortuous stream , where he clung by instinct to the bushes .  Silence was his wisdom , while the murderer was near : and so long as Julian 'sfootsteps echoed on the banks , Charles stirred not , spoke not , but only silently thanked God for his wonderful deliverance .  However , the footsteps quickly died away , though heard far off clattering amid the still and listening night ; and Charles , thankfully , no less than cautiously , drew himself out of the stream , very little harmed beyond a drenching : for the waters had recovered him at once from the effects of that desperate blow .  It was with a sense of exultation , freedom , independence , that he now hastened scatheless on his way ; dripping garments mattered nothing , nor mud , nor the loss of his demolished hat : the pocket-book was safe , and Emmy 'sportrait , ( how he kissed it , then !  ) and luckily a travelling cap was in his great-coat pocket : so with a most buoyant feeling of animal delight , as well as of religious gratitude , he sped merrily once more upon his secret expedition .  Thank Heaven !  Emmy could not know the peril he had past : and wretched Julian would now have dreadful reason of his own for this mysterious absence : and it was a pleasant thing to trudge along so freely in the starlight , on the private embassy of love .  Happy Charles !  I know not if ever more exhilarated feelings blessed the youth ; they made him trip along the silent road , in a gush of joyfulness , at the rate of some six miles an hour ; I know not if ever such delicious thoughts of Emily 'sattachment , and those gorgeous mysteries in India , of adventure , enterprise , escape , had heretofore caused his heart to bound so lightsomely within him , like some elastic spring .  I know not if ever strong reliance upon Providential care , more earnest prayers , praises , intercessions ( for poor Julian , too , ) were offered on the altar of his soul .  Happy Charles !  So he went on and on — long past Oxton , and Eyemouth , and Surbiton , and over the ferry , and through the sleeping turnpikes , and past the bridge , and along the broad high-road , until gray of morning 'sdawn revealed the suburbs of Plymouth .  Of course he missed the mail by which he intended to have gone — for Julian 'sdread act delayed him .  Long before his journey 'send , his clothes were thoroughly dried , and violent exercise had shaken off all possible rheumatic consequence of that fearful plunge beneath the waters : five-and-twenty miles in four hours and three-quarters , is a tolerable recipe for those who have tumbled into rivers .  We must recollect that he had gone as quick as he could , for fear of being late , now the coach had passed .  At a little country inn , he brushed , and washed , and made toilet as well as he was able , took a glass of good Cognac , both hot and strong ; and felt more of a man than ever .  Then , having loitered awhile , and well-remembered Emily in his prayers , at about eight in the morning he presented himself among his luggage at the Europe in gentlemanly trim , and soon got all on board the pilot boat , to meet the Indiaman just outside the breakwater .  We may safely leave him there , happy , hopeful Charles !  Sanguine for the future , exulting in the present , and thankful for the past : already has he poured out all his joys before that Friend who loves her too , and invoked His blessing on a scheme so well designed , so providentially accomplished .  I had almost forgotten Julian : wretched , hardened man , and how fared he ?  The moment he had flung his brother into that dark stream , and the waters closed above him greedily that he was gone — gone for ever , he first threw in stones to make a noise like life upon the stream , but that cheatery was only for an instant : he was alone — a murderer , alone !  the horrors of silence , solitude , and guilt , seized upon him like three furies : so his quick retreating walk became a running ; and the running soon was wild and swift for fear ; and ever as he ran , that piercing scream came upon the wind behind , and hooted him : his head swam , his eyes saw terrible sights , his ears heard terrible sounds — and he scoured into quiet , sleeping Burleigh like a madman .  However , by some strange good luck , not even did the slumbering watchman see him : so he got in-doors as usual with the latch-key ( it was not the first time he had been out at night ) , crept up quietly , and hid himself in his own chamber .  And how did he spend those hours of guilty solitude ?  in terrors ?  in remorse ?  in misery ?  Not he : Julian was too wise to sit and think , and in the dark too ; but he lit both reading lamps to keep away the gloom , and smoked and drank till morning 'sdawn to stupify his conscience .  Then , to make it seem all right , he went down to breakfast as usual , though any thing but sober , and met unflinchingly his mother 'snatural question —  " Good morning , Julian — where 'sCharles ?  "  " How should I know , mother ; is n't he up yet ?  "  " No , my dear ; and what is more , I doubt if he came home last night .  "  " Hollo , Master Charles !  pretty doings these , Mr. Sabbath-teacher !  so he slept out , eh , mother ?  "  " I do n't know — but where did you leave him , Julian ?  "  " Who !  I ?  did I go out with him ?  Oh !  yes , now I recollect : let 'ssee , we strolled together midway to Oxton , and , as he was going somewhat further , there I left him ?  "  How true the words , and yet how terribly false their meaning !  " Dear me , that 'svery odd — is n't it , general ?  "  " Not at all , ma'am — not at all ; leave the lad alone , he 'llbe back by dinner-time : I did n't think the boy had so much spirit .  "  Emily , to whom the general 'shint was Greek , looked up cheerfully and in her own glad mind chuckled at her Charles 'sbold adventure .  But the day passed , off , and they sent out men to seek for him : and another — and all Burleigh was a-stir : and another — and the coast-guards from Lyme to Plymouth Sound searched every hole and corner : and another — when his mother wept five minutes : and another — when the wonder was forgotten .  However , they did not put on mourning for the truant : he might turn up yet : perhaps he was at Oxford .  Emily had not much to do in comforting the general for his dear son 'sloss ; it clearly was a gain to him , and he felt far freer than when wisdom 'seye was on him .  Charles had been too keen for father , mother , and brother ; too good , too amiable : he saw their ill , condemned it by his life , and showed their dark too black against his brightness .  The unnatural deficiency of mother 'slove had not been overrated : Julian had all her heart ; and she felt only obliged to the decamping Charles for leaving Emily so free and clear to his delightful brother .  She never thought him dead : death was a repulsive notion at all times to her : no doubt he would turn up again some day .  And Julian joked with her about that musty proverb " a bad penny .  "  As to our dear heroine , she never felt so happy in all her life before as now , even when her Charles had been beside her ; for within a day of his departure he had written her a note full of affection , hope , and gladness ; assuring her of his health , and wealth , and safe arrival on board the Indiaman .  The noble-hearted youth never said one single word about his brother 'scrime : but he did warn his Emmy to keep close beside the general .  This note she got through Mrs. Sainsbury ; that invalid lady at Oxton , who never troubled herself to ask or hear one word beyond her own little world — a certain physic-corner cupboard .  And thou — poor miserable man — thou fratricide in mind — and to thy best belief in act , how drags on now the burden of thy life ?  For a day or two , spirits and segars muddled his brain , and so kept thoughts away : but within a while they came on him too piercingly , and Julian writhed beneath those scorpion stings of hot and keen remorse : and when the coast-guards dragged the Mullet , how that caitiff trembled !  and when nothing could be found , how he wondered fearingly !  The only thing the wretched man could do , was to loiter , day after day , and all day long , upon the same high path which skirts the tortuous stream .  Fascinated there by hideous recollections , he could not leave the spot for hours : and his soft-headed , romantic mother , noticing these deep abstractions , blessed him — for her Julian was now in love with Emily .  CHAPTER XIII .  NEWS OF CHARLES .  Ay — in love with Emily !  Fiercely now did Julian pour his thoughts that way ; if only hoping to forget murder in another strong excitement .  Julian listened to his mother 'scounsels ; and that silly , cheated woman playfully would lean upon his arm , like a huge , coy confidante , and fill his greedy ears ( that heard her gladly for very holiday 'ssake from fearful apprehensions ) , with lover 'shopes , lover 'sthemes , his Emily 'sperfection .  Delighted mother — how proud and pleased was she !  quite in her own element , fanning dear Julian 'smost sentimental flame , and scheming for him interviews with Emily .  It required all her skill — for the girl clung closely to her guardian : he , unconscious Argus , never tired of her company ; and she , remembering dear Charles 'shint , and dreading to be left alone with Julian , would persist to sit day after day at her books , music , or needle-work in the study , charming General Tracy by her pretty Hindoo songs .  With him she walked out , and with him she came in ; she would read to him for hours , whether he snored or listened ; and , really , both mother and son were several long weeks before their scheming could come to any thing .  A tête-à-tête between Julian and Emily appeared as impossible to manage , as collision between Jupiter and Vesta .  However , after some six weeks of this sort of mining and counter-mining ( for Emily divined their wishes ) , all on a sudden one morning the general received a letter that demanded his immediate presence for a day or two in town ; something about prize-money at Puttymuddyfudgepoor .  Emily was too high-spirited , too delicate in mind , to tell her guardian of fears which never might be realized ; and so , with some forebodings , but a cheerful trust , too , in a Providence above her , she saw the general off without a word , though not without a tear ; he too , that stern , close man , was moved : it was strange to see them love each other so .  The moment he was gone , she discreetly kept her chamber for the day , on plea of sickness ; she had cried very heartily to see him leave her — he had never yet left her once since she could recollect — and thus she really had a head-ache , and a bad one .  Julian Tracy gave such a start , that he knocked off a cheffonier of rare china and glass standing at his elbow ; and the smash of mandarins and porcelain gods would have been enough , at any other time , to have driven his mother crazy .  " Charles alive ?  " shouted he .  " Yes , Julian — why not ?  You saw him off , you know : cannot you remember ?  "  Now to that guilty wretch 'smind the fearful notion instantaneously occurred , that Emily Warren was in some strange , wild way bantering him ; she knew his dreadful secret — " he had seen him off .  " He trembled like an aspen as she looked on him .  " Oh yes , he remembered , certainly ; but — but where was her letter ?  "  " Never mind that , Julian ; you surely would not read another person 'sletters , Monsieur le Chevalier Bayard ?  "  Emily was as gay at heart that morning as a sky-lark , and her innocent pleasantry proved her strongest shield .  Julian dared not ask to see the letter — scarcely dared to hope she had one , and yet did not know what to think .  As to any love scene now , it was quite out of the question , notwithstanding all his mother 'shints and management ; a new exciting thought entirely filled him : was he a Cain , a fratricide , or not ?  was Charles alive after all ?  And , for once in his life , Julian had some repentant feelings ; for thrilling hope was nigh to cheer his gloom .  It really seemed as if Emily , sweet innocent , could read his inmost thoughts .  " At any rate , " observed she , playfully , " Bayard may take the postman 'sprivilege , and see the outside .  "  With that , she produced the ship-letter that had put her in such spirits , legibly dated some twenty-two days ago .  Yes , Charles 'shand , sure enough !  Julian could swear to it among a thousand .  And he fainted dead away .  What an astonishing event !  how Mrs. Tracy praised her noble-spirited boy !  How the bells rang !  and hot water , and cold water , and salts , and rubbings , and eau de Cologne , and all manner of delicate attentions , long sustained , at length contributed to Julian 'srestoration .  Moreover , even Emily was agreeably surprised ; she had never seen him in so amiable a light before ; this was all feeling , all affection for his brother — her dear — dear Charles .  And when Mrs. Tracy heard what Emily said of Julian 'sfeeling heart , she became positively triumphant ; not half so much at Charles 'ssafety , and all that , as at Julian 'sburst of feeling .  She was quite right , after all ; he was worthy to be her favour ite , and she felt both flattered and obliged to him for fainting dead away .  " Yes — yes , my dear Miss Warren , depend upon it Julian has fine feelings , and a good heart .  " And Emily began to condemn both Charles and herself for lack of charity , and to think so too .  CHAPTER XIV .  THE TETE-A-TETE .  No sooner had " dear Julian " recovered , which he really had not quite accomplished until the day had begun to wear away ( so great a shock had that intelligence of Charles been to his guilty mind ) , than the gratified and prudent mother fancied this a famous opportunity to leave the young couple to themselves .  It was after dinner , when they had retired to the drawing-room ; and I will say that Emily had never seemed so favourably disposed towards that rough , but generous , heart before .  So then , on some significant pretence , well satisfied her favourite was himself again , as bold , and black , and boisterous as ever , the masculine mother kissed her hand to them , as a fat fairy might be supposed to do , and operatically tripped away , coyly bidding Emily " take care of Julian till she should come back again .  "  The momentary gleam of good which glanced across that bad man 'sheart has faded away hours ago ; his repentant thoughts had been occasioned more from the sudden relief he experienced at running now no risks for having murdered , than for any better feeling towards his brother , or any humbler notions of himself .  Nay , a strong rëaction occurred in his ideas the moment he had seen his brother 'swriting ; and when he fainted , he fainted from the struggle in his mind of manifold exciting causes , such as these : — hatred , jealousy , what he called love , though a lower name befitted it , and vexation that his brother was — not dead .  Oh mother , mother !  if your poor weak head had but been wise enough to read that heart , would you still have loved it as you do ?  Alas — it is a deep lesson in human nature this — she would !  for Mrs. General Tracy was one of those obstinate , yet superficial characters , whom no reason can convince that they are wrong , no power can oblige to confess themselves mistaken .  She rejoiced to hear him called " her very image ; " and predominant vanity in the large coquette extended to herself at second-hand ; self was her idol substance , and its delightful shadow was this mother 'sson .  The moment Mrs. Tracy left the room , Julian perceived his opportunity : Charles , detested rival , far away at sea ; the guardian gone to London ; Emily in an unusual flow of affability and kindness , and he — alone with her .  Rashly did he bask his soul in her delicious beauty , deliberately drinking deep of that intoxicating draught .  Giving the rein to passion , he suffered that tumultuous steed to hurry him whither it would , in mad unbridled course .  He sat so long silently gazing at her with the lack-lustre eyes of low and dull desire , that Emily , quite thrown off her guard by that amiable fainting for his brother , addressed him in her innocent kind-heartedness ,  " Are you not recovered yet , dear Julian ?  "  The effect was instantaneous : scarcely crediting his ears that heard her call him " dear , " his eyes , that saw her winning smile upon him , he started from his chair , and trembling with agitation , flung himself at her feet , to Emily 'sunqualified astonishment .  " Why , Julian , what 'sthe matter ?  — unhand me , sir !  let go !  " ( for he had got hold of her wrist .  )  The passionate youth seized her hand — that one with Charles 'sring upon it — and would have kissed it wildly with polluting lips , had she not shrieked suddenly " Help !  help !  "  Instantly his other hand was roughly dashed upon her mouth — so roughly that it almost knocked her backwards — and the blood flowed from her wounded lip ; but by a preternatural effort , the indignant Indian queen hurled the ruffian from her , flew to the bell , and kept on ringing violently .  In less than half a minute all the household was around her , headed by the startled Mrs. Tracy , who had all the while been listening in the other drawing-room : butler , footmen , house-maids , ladies'-maids , cook , scullions , and all rushed in , thinking the house was on fire .  No need to explain by a word .  Emily , radiant in imperial charms , stood , like inspired Cassandra , flashing indignation from her eyes at the cowering caitiff on the floor .  The mother , turning all manner of colours , dropped on her knees to " poor Julian 's" assistance , affecting to believe him taken ill. But Emily Warren , whose insulted pride vouchsafed not a word to that guilty couple , soon undeceived all parties , by addressing the butler in a voice tremulous and broken —  " Mr. Saunders — be so good — as to go — to Sir Abraham Tamworth 's— in the square — and request of him — a night 's— protection — for a poor — defenceless , insulted woman !  "  She could hardly utter the last words for choking tears : but immediately battling down her feelings , added , with the calmness of a heroine —  " You are a father , Mr. Saunders — set all this before Sir Abraham strongly , but delicately .  " Footmen !  so long as that wretch is in the room , protect me , as you are men .  "  And the stately beauty placed herself between the two liveried lacqueys , as Zenobia in the middle of her guards .  " Marguerite !  " — the pretty little Française tripped up to her — " wipe this blood from my face .  "  Beautiful , insulted creature !  I thought that I looked upon some wounded Boadicea , with her daughters extracting the arrow from her cheek .  " And now , kind Charlotte , fetch my cloak ; and follow me to Prospect House , with what I may require for the night .  Till the general 'sreturn , I stay not here one minute .  "  Then , without a syllable , or a look of leave-taking , the wise and noble girl — doubtless unconsciously remembering her early Hindoo braveries , the lines of matchlock men , the bowing slaves , the processions , and her jewelled state of old — marched away in magnificent beauty , accompanied in silence by the whole astonished household .  Mrs. Tracy and her son were left alone : the silly , silly mother thought him " hardly used .  " Julian , whose natural effrontery had entirely deserted him , looked like what he was — a guilty coward : and the mother , who had pampered up her " fine high-spirited son " to his full-grown criminality by a foolish education , really — when she had time to think of any thing but him — was excessively frightened .  The general would be back to-morrow , and then — and then !  — she dreaded to picture that explosion of his wrath .  CHAPTER XV .  SATISFACTION .  Sir Abraham Tamworth , G.C.B. — a fine old Admiral of the White , who somewhat looked down upon the rank of General , H.E.I.C.S. — was astonished , as well he might be , at Mr. Saunders , and his message : and , of course , most gladly acquiesced in acting as poor Emily 'sprotector .  Accordingly , however jealous Lady Tamworth and her daughters might heretofore have felt of that bright beauty at the balls , they were now all genuine sympathy , indignation , and affection .  Emily , I need hardly say , went straight up stairs to have her cry out .  " Whom are you writing to , George , in such a hurry ?  " asked the admiral , of a fine moustachioed son , George St. Vincent Tamworth , of the Royal Horse Guards , who had just got six months 'leave of absence for the sake of marriage with his cousin .  The gallant soldier tossed a billet to his father , who mounted his spectacles , and quietly read it at the lamp .  " Captain Tamworth desires Mr. Julian Tracy 'scompany to-morrow morning , at seven o'clock , in the third meadow on the Oxton road .  The captain brings a friend with him ; also pistols and a surgeon ; and he desires Mr. Tracy to do the like : Prospect House , Thursday evening .  "  " So , George , you consider him a gentleman , do you ?  I am afraid it 'sa poor compliment to our fair young friend .  " And he quietly crumpled up the challenge in his iron hand .  " Really , sir !  — you surprise me ; — pardon me , but I will send that note : must n't I chastise the fellow for this insufferable outrage ?  "  " No doubt , George , no doubt of it at all : when a lady is insulted , and a man ( not to say a queen 'sofficer ) stands by without taking notice of it , he deserves whipping at the cart's-tail , and Coventry for life .  I 'veno patience , boy , with such mean meekness , as putting up with bullying insolence when a woman 'sin the case .  Let a man show moral courage , if he can and will , in his own affront ; I honour him who turns on his heel from common personal insult , and only wish my own old blood was cool enough to do so : but the mother , wife , and sister , ay , George , and the poor defenceless one , be she lady , peasant , or menial , who comes to us for safety in a woman 'sdress , we must take up their quarrel , or we are not men !  — "  " Do n't interrupt him , George , " uxoriously suggested Lady Tamworth , " your father has n't done talking yet .  " For George was getting terribly impatient ; he knew , from sad experience , how much the admiral was given to prosing .  However , the oration soon proceeded to our captain 'sentire satisfaction , after his progenitor had paused awhile for breath 'ssake in his eloquence .  " — Take up their quarrel , or we are not men .  Nevertheless , boy , I cannot see the need of pistols .  The only conceivable case for violent redress , is woman 'swrong : and he who wrongs a woman , cannot be a gentleman ; therefore , ought not to be met on equal terms .  For other causes of duello , as hot-headed speeches , rudenesses , or slights , forgive , forbear to fan the flame , and never be above apologizing : but in an outrage such as this , let a fine-built fellow , such as you are , George ( and the women should show wisdom in their choice of champions ) , let a man , and a queen 'sofficer as you are , treat this brute , Julian Tracy , as a martinet huntsman would a hound thrown out .  As for me , boy , I 'mgoing to call on Mrs. Tracy at eleven o'clock to-morrow morning — and , without presuming to advise a six foot two of a son , I think — I think , if I were you , I would be dutiful enough to say — ' Father , I will accompany you — and take a horsewhip with me .  ' "  " Agreed , agreed , sir !  " replied the well-pleased son , and her ladyship too vouchsafed her approbation .  Emily had gone to bed long ago , or rather to her chamber ; where the three Misses Tamworth had been all kindness , curiosity , and consolation .  So , Sir Abraham and his lady , now the speech was finished , followed their example of retirement : and the captain newly blood-knotted his hunting-whip , con amore , not to say con spirito , overnight .  Nobody will wonder to hear , that when the gallant representatives of army and navy called next morning at number seven , Mrs. Tracy and her son were " not at home : " and of course it would be far too Julian-like a proceeding , for true gentleman to think of forcing their company on the probably ensconced in-dwellers .  Accordingly , they marched away , without having deigned to leave a card ; the captain taking on himself the duty of perambulating sentinel , while his father proceeded to the library as usual .  Judge of the glad surprise , when , within ten minutes , our vindictive George perceived the admiral coming back again , full-sail , with the mother and son in tow , creeping amicably enough up the terrace .  Sir Abraham had given her his arm , and precious Mr. Julian was a little in the rear : for the old folks were talking confidentially .  George St. Vincent , placing his whip in the well-known position of " Cane , a mystery , " advanced to meet them ; and , just after passing his father , with whom he exchanged a very comfortable glance , discovered that the heroic Julian , who had caught a glimpse of the ill-concealed weapon , was slinking quickly round a corner to avoid him .  It was certainly undignified to run , but the gallant captain did run , nevertheless and soon caught the coward by the collar .  Then , at arm 'slength , was the hunting-whip applied , full-swing ; up the terrace , and down the parade , and through High-street , and Smith-street , and Oxton-road , and aristocratical Pacton-square , and the well-thronged plebeian market-place ; lash , lash , lash , in furious and fast succession on the writhing roaring culprit ; to the universal excoriation of Mr. Julian Tracy , and the amazement of an admiring and soon-collected crowd — the rank , beauty , and fashion — of Burleigh Singleton .  Julian was strong indeed , and a coal-heaver in build , but conscience had unnerved him ; and the coarse noisy bully always is a coward : therefore , it was a pleasant thing to see how easy came the captain 'swork to him — he had nothing to do but to lash , lash , lash , double-thonged , like a slave-driver : and , except that he made the caitiff move along , to be a spectacle to man and woman , up and down the town , he might as well , for any difficulty in the deed , have been employed in scarifying a gate-post .  At last , thoroughly exhausted with having inflicted as much punishment as any three drummers at a soldier 'swhipping-match , and spying out his " tiger " in the throng , our gallant Avenging Childe tossed the heavy whip to the trim cockaded little man , that he might carry home that instrument of vengeance , deliberately wiped his wet mustachios , and giving Julian one last kick , let the fellow part in peace .  CHAPTER XVI .  HOW CHARLES FARED .  Having thus found protectors for poor Emily , and disposed of her assailant to the entire satisfaction of all mankind , let us turn seawards , and take a look at Charles .  Now , " no earthly power , " — as a certain ex-chancellor protested — shall induce me to do so mean a thing as to open Charles 'sletters , and spread them forth before the public gaze .  Doubtless , they were all things tender , warm , and eloquent ; doubtless , they were tinted rosy hue , with love 'sown blushes , and made glorious with the golden light of unaffected piety .  I only read them myself in a reflected way , by looking into Emily 'seyes ; and I saw , from their ever-changing radiance , how feelingly he told of his affections ; how fervently he poured out all his heart upon the page ; how evidently tears and kisses had made many words illegible ; how wise , sanguine , happy , and religious , was her own devoted Charles .  Of the trivial incidents of voyaging , his letters said not much : though cheerful and agreeable in his floating prison , with the various exported marrying-maidens and transported civil officers , who constitute the average bulk of Indian cargoes outward bound , Charles mixed but little in their society , seldom danced , seldom smoked , seldom took a hand at whist , or engaged in the conflicts of backgammon .  Sharks , storms , water-spouts ; the meeting divers vessels , and exchanging post-bags ; tar-barrelled Neptune of the line , Cape Town with its mountain and the Table-cloth , long-rolling seas ; and similar common-places , Charles did not think proper to enlarge upon : no more do I .  Life is far too short for all such petty details : and , more pointedly , a wire-drawn book is the just abhorrence of a generous public .  The letters came frequently : for Charles did little else all day but write to Emmy , so as always to be ready with a budget for the next piece of luck — a home-bound ship .  He had many things to teach her yet , sweet student ; and it was a beautiful sight to see how her mind expanded as an opening flower before the sun of tenderness and wisdom .  Each letter , both in writing and in reading , was the child of many prayers : and even the loveliness of Emily grew more soft , more elevated , " as it had been the face of an angel , " when feeding in solitary joy on those effusions of her lover 'sheart .  Of course , he could not hear from her , until the overland mail might haply bring him letters at Madras : so that , as our Irish friends would say , with all her will to tell him of her love , " the reciprocity must needs be all on one side .  " But Emily did write too ; earnestly , happily : and poured her very heart out in those eloquent burning words .  I dare say Charles will get the letter now within a day or two : for the roaring surf of Madras is on the horizon , almost within sight .  Nevertheless , before he gets there , and can read those letters — precious , precious manuscripts — it will be my painful duty , as a chronicler of ( what might well be ) truth , to put the reader in possession of one little hint , which seemed likeliest to wreck the happiness of these two children of affection .  I am Emily 'sinvisible friend : and as the dear girl ran to me one morning , with tears in her eyes , to ask me what I thought of a certain mysterious paragraph , I need not scruple to lay it straight before the reader .  At the end of a voluminous love-letter , which I really did not think of prying into , occurred the following postscript , evidently written at the last moment of haste .  " Oh !  my precious Emmy , I have just heard the most fearful rumour of ill that could possibly befall us : the captain of our ship — you will remember Captain Forbes , he knew you and the general well , he said — has just assured me that — that — !  I dare not , cannot write the awful words .  Oh !  my own Emmy — Heaven grant you be my own !  — pray , pray , as I will night and day , that rumour be not true : for if it be , my love , both God and man forbid us ever to meet again !  How I wish I could explain it all , or that I had never heard so much , or never written it here , and told it you , though thus obscurely : for I ca n't destroy this letter now , the ships are just parting company , and there is no time to write another .  Yet will I hope , love , against hope .  Who knows ?  through God 'sgood mercy , it may all be cleared up still .  If not — if not — strive to forget for ever , your unhappy  " Charles .  " Perhaps — O , glorious thought !  — Nurse Mackie may know better than the captain , after all ; and yet , he seems so positive : if he is right , there is nothing for us both but Wo !  Wo !  Wo !  "  Now , to say plain truth , when Emily showed me this , I looked very blank upon it .  That Charles had heard some meddlesome report , which ( if true ) was to be an insuperable barrier to their future union , struck me at a glimpse .  But I had not the heart to hint it to her ; and only encouraged hope — hope , in God 'shelp , through the means of Mrs. Mackie and her papers .  As for the poor girl herself , she asked me , in much humility , and with many sobs , if I did not fear that her Hindoo mystery was this : — she was the vilest of the vile , a Pariah , an outcast , whose very presence is contamination !  Beautiful , loving , heavenly-hearted creature !  so humble in the midst of her majestic loveliness !  how touching was the thought , that she thus readily acquiesced in any the deepest humiliation holy Providence had seen fit to send her ; and though the sentence would have crushed her happiness for ever , till the day of death , that she could still look up and say , " Be it to thine handmaid even as thou wilt .  "  As I had no better method of explaining the matter , and as her infantine reminiscences and prejudices about caste were strong , I even let her think so , if she would : it was a far better alternative than my own sad thoughts about the business : and , however painful was the process , it was something consolatory to observe , that this voluntary humiliation mellowed and chastened her own character , subduing tropical fires , and tempering the virgin gold by meekness .  Oh !  Charles , Charles , my poor fellow , " who have cast your all upon a die , and must abide the issue of the throw , " I most fervently hope that gossiping Captain Forbes spoke falsely : it is a comfort to reflect that the world is often very liberal in attributing the honours of paternity to some who really do not deserve them .  And if a rich old bachelor looks kindly on a foundling , is it not pure malice on that sole account of charity to hail him father ?  Besides — there 'sNurse Mackie .  — Speed to Madras , poor youth , and keep your courage up .  CHAPTER XVII .  THE GENERAL 'SRETURN .  In a most unwonted flow of animal spirits , and an entire affability which restored him at once to the rank of a communicative creature , General Tracy came back on Friday night .  He had met with marvellous prosperity ; for Hancock 'shad been paying off the prize-money ; and his own lion 'sshare , as general , in the easy process of dethroning half a dozen diamond-hilted rajahs and nabobs , amounted to something like four lacs of rupees , nearly half a crore !  Such a flush of wealth , and he was rich already without it , exhilarated the bilious old gentleman so strangely , that positive peonies were blooming in his cheeks ; and , as if this was not miracle enough , he had brought his wife as a present Maurice 's' Antiquities of India , ' gloriously bound , and had even been so superfluous as to purchase a new pair of double-barrelled pistols for Julian : the lad was a fine young fellow after all , and ought to be encouraged in snuffing out a candle ; as for Emily 'spetit cadeau , it was a fifty guinea set of cameos , the choicest in their way that Howell and James 'shad to show him .  Moreover , he had sent a Bow-street officer to Oxford , to make inquiries after Charles : actually , good fortune had made him at once humanized and happy .  So the chaise rattled up , and the general bounded out , and flew into the arms of his wondering wife , as Paris might have flown to Helen , or Leander to his heroine — the only feminine Hero , whom grammar recognises .  It was past eleven at night : therefore he did not think to ask for Julian ; no doubt the boy was gone to bed .  Indeed , he had ; and was tossing his wealed body , full of pains , and aches , and bruises , as softly as he could upon the feather-bed : he had need of poultices all over , and a quart of Friar 'sBalsam would have done him little good : after his well-merited thrashing , the flogged hound had slunk to his kennel , and locked himself sullenly in , without even speaking to his mother .  Tobacco-fumes exuded from the key-hole , and I doubt not other creature-comforts lent the muddled man their aid .  However , after the first rush of news to Mrs. Tracy , her lord , who had every moment been expecting the door to fly open , and Emily to fall into his arms — for strangely did they love each other — suddenly asked ,  " But , where 'sEmmy all this time !  she knows I 'mhere ?  — not got to bed , is she ?  — knew I was coming ?  — "  " Oh !  general , I 'lltell you all about it to-morrow morning .  "  " About what , madam ?  Great God !  has any harm befallen the child ?  Speak — speak , woman !  "  " Dear — dear — Oh !  what shall I say ?  " sobbed the silly mother .  " Emily — Emily , poor dear Julian — "  " What the devil , ma'am , of Julian ?  " The general turned white as a sheet , and rang the bell , in singular calmness ; probably for a dram of brandy .  Saunders answered it so instantly , that I rather suspect he was waiting just outside .  The moment Mrs. Tracy saw the gray-headed butler , anticipating all that he might say , she brushed past him , and hurriedly ran up-stairs .  " What 'sall this , Mr. Saunders ?  where 'sMiss Warren ?  " And the poor old guardian seemed ready to faint at his reply : but he heard it out patiently .  " I am very sorry to say , general , that Miss Emily has been forced to take refuge at Sir Abraham Tamworth 's: but she 'swell , sir , and safe , sir ; quite well and safe , " the good man hastened to say , " only I 'mafraid that Mr. Julian had been taking liberties with — "  I dare not write the general 'simprecation : then , as he clenched the arms of his easy-chair , as with the grasp of the dying , he asked , in a quick wild way —  " But what was it ?  — what happened ?  "  " Nothing to fear , sir — nothing at all , general ; — I am thankful to say , that all I saw , and all we all saw , was Miss Emily pulling at the bell-rope with blood upon her face , and Mr. Julian on the floor : but I took the young lady to Sir Abraham 'simmediately , general , at her own desire .  "  The father arose sternly ; his first feeling was to kill Julian ; but the second , a far better one , predominated — he must go and see Emily at once .  So , faintly leaning on the butler 'sarm , the poor old man ( whom a moiety of ten minutes , with its crowding fears , had made to look some ten years older , ) proceeded to the square , and knocked up Sir Abraham at midnight , and the admiral came down , half asleep , in dressing-gown and slippers , vexed at having been knocked up from his warm berth so uncomfortably : it put him sorely in remembrance of his hardships as a middy .  " Kind neighbour , thank you , thank you ; where 'sEmmy ?  take me to my Emmy ; " and the iron-hearted veteran wept like a driveller .  Sir Abraham looked at him queerly : and then , in a cheerful , friendly way , replied —  " Dear general , do not be so moved : the girl 'squite safe with us ; you 'llsee her to-morrow morning .  All 'sright ; she was only frightened , and George has given the fellow a proper good licking : and the girl 'sa-bed , you know ; and , eh ?  what ?  " —  For the poor old man , like one bereaved , said , supplicatingly —  " In mercy take me to her — precious child !  "  " My dear sir — pray consider — it 'simpossible ; fine girl , you know ; — Lady Tamworth , too — ca n't be , ca n't be , you know , general .  "  And the mystified Sir Abraham looked to Saunders for an explanation —  " Was his master drunk ?  "  " I must speak to her , neighbour ; I must , must , and will — dear , dear child : come up with me , sir , come ; do not trifle with a breaking heart , neighbour !  "  There was a heart still in that hard-baked old East Indian .  It was impossible to resist such an appeal : so the two elders crept up stairs , and knocked softly at her chamber-door .  Clearly , the girl was asleep : she had sobbed herself to sleep ; the general had been looked for all day long , and she was worn with watching ; he could hardly come at midnight ; so the dear affectionate child had sobbed herself to sleep .  " Allow me , Sir Abraham .  " And General Tracy whispered something at the key-hole in a strange tongue .  Not Aladdin 's" open Sesame " could have been more magical .  In a moment , roused up suddenly from sleep , and forgetting every thing but those tender recollections of gentle care in infancy , and kindness all through life , the child of nature startled out of bed , drew the bolt , and in beauteous disarray , fell into that old man 'sarms !  It was enough ; he had seen her eye to eye — she lived : and the white-haired veteran , suffered himself to be led away directly from the landing , like a child , by his sympathizing neighbour .  " My heart is lighter now , Sir Abraham : but I am a poor weak old man , and owe you an explanation for this outburst ; some day — some day , not now .  O , if you could guess how I have nursed that pretty babe when alone in distant lands ; how I have doated on her little winning ways , and been gladdened by the music of her prattle ; how I have exulted to behold her loveliness gradually expanding , as she was ever at my side , in peril as in peace , in camp as in quarters , in sickness as in health , still — still , the blessed angel of a bad man 'slife — a wicked , hard old man , kind neighbour — if you knew more — more , than for her sake I dare tell you — and if you could conceive the love my Emmy bears for me , you would not think it strange — think it strange — " He could not say a syllable more ; and the admiral , with Mr. Saunders , too , who joined them in the study , looked very little able to console that poor old man .  For they all had hearts , and trickling eyes to tell them .  Then having arranged a shake-down for his master in Sir Abraham 'sstudy — for the guardian would not leave his dear one ever again — Saunders went home , purposing to attend with razors in the morning .  CHAPTER XVIII .  INTERCALARY .  The Tamworths did not altogether live at Burleigh Singleton — it was far too petty a place for them ; dullness all the year round ( however pleasant for a month or so , as a holiday from toilsome pleasures ) would never have done for Lady Tamworth and her daughters : but they regularly took Prospect House for six weeks in the summer season , when tired of Portland Place , and Huntover , their fine estate in Cheshire : and so , from constant annual immigration , came as much to be regarded Burleighites , as swifts and swallows to be ranked as British birds .  I only hint at this piece of information , for fear any should think it unlikely , that grandees of Sir Abraham 'scondition could exist for ever in a place where the day-before-yesterday 's' Times ' is first intelligence .  Moreover , as another interjectional touch , it is only due to my life-likenesses to record , that Mrs. Green 's, although a terrace-house , and ranked as humble number seven , was , nevertheless , a tolerably spacious mansion , well suited for the dignity of a butler to repose in : for Mrs. Green had added an entire dwelling on the inland side , as , like most maritime inhabitants , she was thoroughly sick of the sea , and never cared to look at it , though living there still , from mere disinclination to stir : so , then , it was quite a double house , both spacious and convenient .  As for the inglorious incident of Julian 'slatch-key , I should not wonder if many wide street-doors to many marble halls are conscious of similar convenient fastenings , if gentlemen of Julian 'snocturnal tastes happen to be therein dwelling .  Another little matter is worth one word .  The house had been Mrs. Green 's, a freehold , and was , therefore , now her heir 's; but the general , as an executor , remained there still , until his business was finished ; in fact , he took his year 'sliberty .  He had returned from India rolling in gold ; for some great princess or other — I think they called her a Begum or a Glumdrum , or other such like Gulliverian appellative — had been singularly fond of him , and had loaded him in early life with favours — not only kisses , and so forth , but jewellery and gold pagodas .  And lately , as we know , Puttymuddyfudgepoor , with its radiating rajahs and nabobs , had proved a mine of wealth : for a crore is ten lacs , and a lac of rupees is any thing but a lack of money — although rupees be money , and the " middle is distributed ; " in spite of logic , then , a lack means about twelve thousand pounds : and four of them , according to Cocker , some fifty thousand .  It would appear then , that with the produce of the Begum 'sdiamonds , converted into money long ago , and some of them as big as linnet 'seggs — and not to take account of Mrs. Green 'strifling pinch of the five Exchequer bills , all handed over at once to Emily — the General 'spresent fortune was exactly one hundred and twenty-three thousand pounds .  Of course , he was n't going to bury himself at Burleigh Singleton much longer ; and yet , for all that stout intention of houses and lands , and carriages and horses , in almost any other county or country , it is as true as any thing in this book , that he was a resident still , a lease-holder of Aunt Green 'shouse , long after the dénouement of this story ; in many things an altered man , but still identical in one ; the unchangeable resolve ( though never to be executed ) of leaving Burleigh at farthest by next Michaelmas .  Most folks who talk much , do little ; and taciturn as the general now is , and has been ever throughout life , it will surprise nobody who has learned from hard experience how silly and harmful a thing is secresy ( exceptionables excepted ) , to find that he grew to be a garrulous old man , gossipping for ever of past , present , future , and , not least , about his deeds at Puttymuddyfudgepoor .  General Tracy is by this time awake again ; if ever indeed he slept on that uncomfortable shakedown ; and , after Mr. Saunders and the razor-strop , has greeted brightly-beaming Emily with more than usual tenderness .  Her account of the transaction made his very blood boil ; especially as her pretty pouting lips were lacerated cruelly inside : that rude blow on the mouth had almost driven the teeth through them .  How confidingly she told her artless tale ; how gently did her fond protector kiss that poor pale cheek ; and how sternly did he vow full vengeance on the caitiff !  Not even Emily 'sintercession could avail to turn his wrath aside .  He could hardly help flying off at once to do something dreadful ; but common courtesy to all the Tamworth family obliged him to defer for an hour all the terrible things he meant to do .  So he began to bolt his breakfast fiercely as a cannibal , and saluted Lady Tamworth and her daughters with such savage looks , that the captain considerately suggested :  " Here , general , " ( handing him a most formidable carving-knife , ) " charge that boar 'shead , grinning defiance at us on the side-board ; it will do you good to hew his brawny neck .  My mother , I am sure , for one , will thank you to do the honours there instead of me .  Is n't it a comfort now , to know that I broke the handle of my hunting-whip across the fellow 'sback , and wore all the whip-cord into skeins .  Come , I say , general , do n't eat us all round ; and pray have mercy on that poor , flogged , miserable sinner .  "  This banter did him good , especially as he saw Emily smiling ; so he relaxed his knit brow , condescended to look less like Giant Blunderbore , soon became marvellous chatty , and ate up two French rolls , an egg , some anchovies , a round of toast , and a mighty slice of brawn ; these , washed down with a couple of cups of tea , soothed him into something like complacency .  CHAPTER XIX .  JULIAN 'SDEPARTURE .  Long before the general got home , still in exalted dudgeon ( indeed soon after the general had left home over night ) , the bird had flown ; for the better part of valour suggested to our evil hero , that it would be discreet to render himself a scarce commodity for a season ; and as soon as ever his mother had run up to his room-door to tell him of his danger , when her lord was cross-questioning the butler , he resolved upon instant flight .  Accordingly , though sore and stiff , he hurried up , dressed again , watched his father out , and tumbling over Mrs. Tracy , who was sobbing on the stairs , ran for one moment to the general 'sroom ; there he seized a well-remembered cash-box , and instinctively possessed himself of those new , neat , double-barrelled pistols : a bully never goes unarmed .  These brief arrangements made , off he set , before his father could have time to return from Pacton Square .  Therefore , when the general called , we need not marvel that he found him not ; no one but the foolish mother ( so neglected of her son , yet still excusing him ) stood by to meet his wrath .  He would not waste it on her ; so long as Julian was gone , his errand seemed accomplished ; for all he came to do was to expel him from the house .  So , as far as regarded Mrs. Tracy , her husband , wotting well how much she was to blame , merely commanded her to change her sleeping-room , and occupy Mr. Julian 'sin future .  The silly woman was even glad to do it ; and comforted herself from time to time with prying into her own boy 'sexemplary manuscripts , memoranda of moralities , and so forth ; with weeping , like Lady Constance , over his empty " unpuffed " clothes ; with reading ever and anon his choice collection of standard works , among which ' Don Juan 'and Mr. Thomas Paine were by far the most presentable ; and with tasting , till it grew to be a habit , his private store of spirituous liquors .  Thus did she mourn many days for long-lost Julian .  I am quite aware what became of him .  The wretched youth , mad for Emily 'slove , and tortured by the tyranny of passion , had nothing else to live for or to die for .  He accordingly took refuge in the hovel of a smuggler , an old friend of his , not many miles away , disguised himself in fisherman 'scostume , and bode his opportunity .  Beauteous girl !  how often have I watched thee with straining eyes and aching heart , as thou wentest on thy summer 'swalk so oftentimes to Oxton , there to exercise thy bountiful benevolence in comforting the sick , gladdening the wretched , and lingering , with love 'sown look , in Charles 'svillage school ; how often have I prayed , that guardian angels might be about thy path as about thy bed !  For the prowling tiger was on thy track , poor innocent one , and many , many times nothing but one of God 'sseeming accidents hath saved thee .  Who was that strange man so often in the way ?  At one time a wounded Spanish legionist , with head bound up ; at another , an old beggar upon crutches ; at another , a floury miller with a donkey and a sack ; at another , a black looking man , in slouching sailor 'shat and fishing-boots ?  Fair , pure creature !  thou hast often dropped a shilling in that beggar 'shand , and pitied that poor maimed soldier ; once , too , a huge gipsy woman would have had thee step aside , and hear thy fortunes .  Heaven guarded thee then , sweet Emily ; for both girl and lover though thou art , thou would'st not listen to the serpent 'svoice , however fair might be the promises .  And Heaven guarded thee ever , bidding some one pass along the path just as the ruffian might have gagged thy smiling mouth , and hurried thee away amongst his fellows ; and more than once , especially , those school children , bursting out of Charles 'sschool at dusk , have unconsciously escorted thee in safety from the perils of that tiger on thy track .  CHAPTER XX .  ENLIGHTENMENT .  The general could not now be kept in ignorance of Charles 'sexpedition ; in fact , he had found his heart , and began resolutely to use it .  So , the very day on which he had lost Julian , he intended very eagerly to seek out Charles ; for the Oxford search had failed , and no wonder .  Now , though Emily had told , as we well know , to both mother and son her secret , the father was not likely to be any the wiser ; for he now never spoke to his wife , and could not well speak to his son .  However , one day , an hour after an overland letter , a very exhilarating one , dated Madras , whereof we shall hear anon , fair Emily , in the fullness of her heart , could not help saying ,  " Dearest sir , you are often thinking of poor lost Charles , I know ; and you are very anxious about him too , though nobody but myself , who am always with you , can perceive it : what if you heard he was safe and well ?  "  " Have you heard any tidings of my poor boy , Emmy ?  "  She looked up archly , and said , " Why not ?  " her beautiful eyes adding , as plainly as eyes could speak , " I love him , and you know it ; of course I have heard frequently from dear , dear Charles .  "  But the guardian met her looks with a keen and chilling answer : " Why not !  why not !  Does he dare to write to you , and you to love him ?  Oh , that I had told them both a year ago !  But where is he now , child ?  Do n't cry , I will not speak so angrily again , my Emmy .  "  " I hardly dare to tell you , dearest sir : you have always been as a father to me , and I never knew any other ; but there are things I cannot explain to myself , and I was very wretched ; and so , kind guardian , Charles — Charles was so good — "  " What has he done ?  — where has he gone ?  " hastily asked his father .  " Oh , do n't , do n't be angry with us ; in a word , he is gone to Madras , to find out Nurse Mackie , and to tell me who I am .  "  The poor old man , who had treasured up so long some mystery , probably a very diaphanous one , for Emily 'sown dear sake in the world 'sesteem , and from the long bad habit of reserve , fell back into his chair as if he had been shot ; but he did not faint , nor gasp , nor utter a sound ; he only looked at her so long and sorrowfully , that she ran to him , and covered his pale face with her own brown curls , kissing him , and wiping from his cheek her starting tears .  " Emmy , dear — I can tell you — and I — no , no , not now , not now ; if he comes back — then — then ; poor children !  Oh , the sin of secresy !  "  " But , dearest sir , do not be so sad ; Charles has happy news , he says .  "  " Happy , child ?  Good Heaven !  would it could be so !  "  " Indeed , indeed , a week ago he was as miserable as any could be , and so was I ; for he heard something terrible about me — I do n't know what — but I feared I was a — Pariah !  However , now he is all joy , and coming home again as soon as possible .  "  The general shook , his head mournfully , as physicians do when hope is gone ; but still he looked perplexed and thoughtful .  " You will show me the letters , dear , I dare say : but I do not command you , Emmy ; do as you like .  "  " Certainly , my own kindest guardian — all , all , and instantly .  "  And flying up to her room , she returned with as much closely-written manuscript as would have taken any but a lover 'seye a full week to decipher .  The general , not much given to literary matters , looked quite scared at such a prospect .  " Wait , Emmy ; not all , not all ; show me the last .  "  I dare say Emily will forgive me if I get it set up legibly in print .  May I , dear ?  CHAPTER XXI .  CHARLES AT MADRAS .  Luckily enough for all mankind in general , and our lovers in particular , Charles 'slast letter was very unlike some that had preceded it ; for instead of the usual " Oh , my love " ' s , " sweet , sweet eyes , " " darling " ' s , and all manner of such chicken-hearted nonsense , it was positively sensible , rational , not to say utilitarian : though I must acknowledge that here and there it degenerates into the affectionate , or Stromboli-vein of letter-writing , at opening especially ; and really now and then I shall take leave to indicate omitted inflammations by a * .  " Dearest , Dearest Emmy ,  * * * * * * * *  [ and so forth , a very galaxy of stars to the bottom of this page ; enough to put the compositor out of his terrestrial senses .  ]  " You see I have recovered my spirits , dearest , and am not now afraid to tell you how I love you .  Oh , that detestable Captain Forbes !  let him not cross my path , gossiping blockhead !  on pain of carrying about 'til deth , ' in the middle of his face , a nose two inches longer .  I heartily wish I had never listened for an instant to such vile insinuations ; and when I look at this red right hand of mine , that dared to pen the trash in that black postscript , I look at it as Cranmer did , and ( but that it is yours , Emmy , not mine ) , could wish it burnt .  But no fears now , my girl , huzza , huzza !  I believe every one about me thinks me daft ; and so I am for very joyfulness ; notwithstanding , let me be didactic , or you will say so too .  I really will endeavour to rein in , and go along in the regular hackney trot , that you may partly comprehend me .  Well , then , here goes ; try your paces , Dobbin .  " On the morning of Sunday , April 11th , 1842 , the good ship Elphinston — ( that 'sthe way to begin , I suppose , as per ledger , log-book , and midshipman 'sepistles to mamma ) — in fact , dear , we cast anchor just outside a furious wall of surf , which makes Madras a very formidable place for landing ; and every one who dares to do so certain of a watering .  There lay the city , most invitingly to storm-tost tars , with its white palaces , green groves , and yellow belt of sand , blue hills in the distance , and all else coleur de rose .  But — but , Emmy , there was no getting at this paradise , except by struggling through a couple of miles of raging foam , that would have made mince-meat of the Spanish Armada , and have smashed Sir William Elphinston to pieces .  How , then , did we manage to survive it ?