CHAPTER IX.

Out of our reach the gods have laid Of time to come the event ; And laugh to see the fools afraid Of what the knaves invent.” —-SEDLEY, from Lycophron.
THE next day Caroline returned to the rectory in Lady
_ Raby’s carriage; and two hours after her arrival came Lord
‘Vargrave. Mr. Merton had secured the principal persons in the neighbourhood to meet a guest so distinguished, and Lord — Vargrave, bent on shining in the eyes of Evelyn, charmed all —
4 with his affability and wit. Evelyn, he thought, seemed pale
2 and dispirited. He pertinaciously devoted himself to her all
4 the evening. Her ripening understanding was better able than
heretofore to appreciate his abilities; yet, inwardly, she drew
q _ comparisons between his conversation and that of Maltravers, _
not to the advantage of the former. There was much that — amused, but nothing that interested in Lord Vargrave’s fluent ¢
4 ease. When he attempted sentiment, the vein was hard and
hollow ;—he was only at home on worldly topics. Caroline’s
spirits were, as usual in society, high, but her laugh seemed :
_ forced, and her eye absent.
_ The next day, after breakfast, Lord Vargrave walked alone to Burleigh : as he crossed the copse that bordered the park, a large Persian greyhound sprang towards him, barking loudly ; and, lifting his eyes, he perceived the form of a man walking slowly along one of the paths that intersected the wood. He recognised
_ Maltravers. They had not till then encountered since their
meeting a few weeks before Florence's death; and a pang of conscience came across the schemer’s cold heart. Years rolled away from the past—he recalled the young, generous, ardent man, whom, ere the character or career of either had been developed, he had called his friend. He remembered their wild
- adventures and gay follies, in climes where they had been all in
all to each other ;—and the beardless boy, whose heart and
purse were ever open to him, and to whose very errors yout and inexperienced passion, he, the elder and the wiser, had led
and tempted, rose before him in contrast to the grave and
melancholy air of the baffled and solitary man, who now slowly approached him—the man whose proud career he had served to thwart—whose heart his schemes had prematurely soured—whose
best years had been consumed in exile—a sacrifice to the grave —
which a selfish and dishonourable villany had prepared !—
Cesarini, the inmate of a mad-house—Florence in her shroud.
—such were the visions the sight of Maltravers conjured up.
And to the soul which the unwonted and momentary remorse —
awakened, a boding voice whispered—“ And thinkest thou that thy schemes shall prosper, and thy aspirations succeed?” For the first time in his life, perhaps, the unimaginative Vargrave felt the mystery of a presentiment of warning and of evil.
The two men met and with an emotion which seemed that of honest and real feeling, Lumley silently held out his hand, and half turned away his head.
“Lord Vargrave!” said Maltravers, with an equal agitation,
“it is long since we have encountered.”
“ Long—very long,” answered Lumley, striving hard to regain his self-possession ; “ years have changed us both; but I trust it has still left in you, as it has in me, the remembrance of our old friendship.”
Maltravers was silent, and Lord Vargrave continued—
“You do not answer me, Maltravers : can political differences, opposite pursuits, or the mere lapse of time, have sufficed to. create an irrevocable gulf between us? Why may we not be friends again ?”
“Friends!” echoed Maltravers; “at our age that word is not so lightly spoken—that tie is not so unthinkingly formed—as when we were younger men.”
“ But may not the old tie be renewed ?”
“Qur ways in life are different; and were I to scan your motives and career with the scrutinizing eyes of friendship, it © -might only serve to separate us yet more. I am sick of the great juggle of ambition, and I have no sympathy left for those. who creep into the pint-bottle, or swallow the naked sword.”
.
Q
1er, for I am as cynical as yourself.” 7 @ Ah! 1” said Maltravers with a smile, half mournful, half bitter, but are you not one of the Impostors ?” ‘i “Who ought better to judge of the Eleusiniana than one of ie Initiated? But seriously, why on earth should political — ifferences part private friendship? Thank Heaven! such has — never been my maxim.” “Tf the differences be the result of honest convictions on — either side. No. But are you honest, Lumley ?” me “Faith, I have got into the habit of thinking so; and habit’s _ a second nature. However, I dare say we shall yet meet in the arena, so I must not betray my weak points. How is it, _Maltravers, that they see so little of you at the rectory? you are a great favourite there. Have you any living that Charley — Merton could hold with his own? You shake your head. And _ _ what think you of Miss Cameron, my intended ?” “You speak lightly. Perhaps you 7 “Feel deeply,—you were going to say. I do. In the hand _of my ward, Evelyn Cameron, I trust to obtain at once the ~ domestic happiness to which I Bate as yet been a stranger, and _ the wealth necessary to my career.” Lord Vargrave continued, after a short pause, “Though my -avocations have separated us so much, I have no doubt of her steady affection and I may add, of her sense of honour. She alone can repair to me what else had been injustice in my uncle.” He then proceeded to repeat the moral obligations 4 which the late lord had imposed on Evelyn ;—obligations that he greatly magnified. Maltravers listened attentively, and said little. = “And these obligations being fairly considered, ” added Vargrave, with a smile, “I think, even had I rivals, that they could scarcely in honour attempt to break an_ existing engagement. “Not while the engagement lasted,” answered Maltravers ; “ not till one or the other had declined to fulfil it, and therefore left both free: but I trust it will be an alliance in which all but
a harsh tie.”
‘affection will be forgotten—that of honour alone would be but 4
“ Assuredly,” said Narcnive- ; and, as if satisfied with wWitat had 4
passed, he turned the conversation—praised Burleigh—spoke of
county matters—resumed his habitual gaiety, though it was — - somewhat subdued—and, promising to call again soon, he at last ©
took his leave.
: Maltravers pursued his solitary rambles: and his commune q “And so,” thought he, “this prize is reserved for verde Why should I deem him unworthy of the treasure? May he 4
with himself was stern and searching.
not be worthier, at all events, than this soured temper and
erring heart? And he is assured too of her affection!
Why this jealous pang? Why can the fountain within never
be exhausted? Why, through so many scenes and sufferings,
have I still retained the vain madness of my youth—the
haunting susceptibility to love? This is my latest folly.”
Pee ee