Читать книгу The Forger's Wife - Lang John - Страница 5

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DAY after day Emily met Captain Harcourt, on the beach; and day after day he tested her regard for him. A woman loses her pride as soon as she ardently loves a man, (so far at least as between him and herself,) and Emily put up with and endured more of Captain Harcourt's assumed caprice and temper than most people would be inclined to credit. He would sometimes talk of going off immediately by a post-chaise; and the otherwise high spirited girl would implore him to remain, and not leave her to die of a broken heart. He would at another time recount the girls then at the watering-place who were anxious to elope with him, and hint that he might yet be tempted; and Emily, who was conscious of having done nothing to offend him, would endeavour to assuage his well-acted irritability. Captain Harcourt would at other times insinuate that Emily loved him not for himself, but for his fortune, and his claim to a lofty title on the death of his uncle, the Marquis; and when Emily denied this, he would cry "Humph!" and curl his moustache with his finger and thumb.

In the innocence of her soul Emily had divulged to the Captain the extent of her affection, and he had determined never to relax that hold which the secret gave him. Her fears that he would leave her, and blight her love, had imparted to Captain Harcourt the bravery of a bully. She often dreaded to meet him on the sands, and yet if he did not keep his engagement she was miserable for the remainder of the day. It was not that Captain Harcourt was a man of ferocious disposition; on the contrary, the amenity of his nature was very remarkable.

One morning, shortly after the Captain had created a difference, and Emily's kind words had brought about a reconciliation, Captain Harcourt stopped suddenly, and said, "Dearest, at the hour of two to-day, I must leave this place. I must no longer delay. Dallying here has already brought me into disgrace at the Horse Guards. If you will,—fly with me. If not, we will say 'farewell,' for ever. A post-chaise will be ready at the hour I mention; and at a quarter past two I will be at the end of the lane, near your mother's house. We can be married in Scotland, dearest. My relations will witness the ceremony; and ere long your's will be reconciled. You know I love you, Emily—that I worship you. Make up your mind."

"Dear Reginald," exclaimed Emily, "my parents never opposed my will. My mother is kindly disposed towards you; and I am sure you would be a favourite with my father."

"I am a strange fellow," said Captain Harcourt. "From childhood, a creature of impulse; and I shall be the same to the end of the chapter. It was impulse that made me decline running off with the Marchioness of Riggethimbley. It was impulse that made me break off a match with Lady Clorinda Dimsingthorne, after the settlements were concluded. (It is true I did not love her.) It was impulse that made me play for the furniture and fittings-up of a gambling house, and made me lose back £20,000, after I had broken the bank. It is for you, dearest, to decide. Don't do anything in a hurry. There is time, Emily, for consideration, between this and a quarter past two."

Emily decided, on the spot, that she would elope with Captain Harcourt.

Mrs. Orford and her daughter were engaged to spend that day with some friends, but when twelve o'clock came, Emily said she had a headache, and Mrs. Orford left her house accompanied only by a servant.

Emily was now distracted between her love and her duty. At one moment she decided on abandoning Captain Harcourt, and clinging to those who had, from her infancy, shown her nothing but tenderness and affection. The next moment she would rush into her room, and make preparations for a journey.

The hour of two came. She had but a few minutes to decide. It was impossible to pluck her love from out her bosom—and how could she thus desert her parents?

Five minutes past two! She could not run away. She began to unpack hastily her carpet bags, and replace her dresses in the drawers of her wardrobe; but before the task was done, dear Reginald's eyes seemed to gleam upon her, and she repacked the bags.

Ten minutes past two! She heard the sound of carriage wheels. A carriage had passed the door! She seized her bags—rushed out of the gate, to the end of the lane—met Reginald, who handed her into the post-chaise, and kissed her. She fainted on his shoulder as soon as she was seated.