PeeringovertherailingsandthroughtheblacktreesintothegardenoftheSquare,youseeafewmiserablegovernesseswithwan-facedpupilswanderingroundandroundit,androundthedrearygrass-plotinthecentreofwhichrisesthestatueofLordGaunt,whofoughtatMinden,inathree-tailedwig,andotherwisehabitedlikeaRomanEmperor.
Theremainingthreesidesarecomposedofmansionsthathavepassedawayintodowagerism—tall,darkhouses,withwindow-framesofstone,orpickedoutofalighterred.
Littlelightseemstobebehindthoselean,comfortlesscasementsnow,andhospitalitytohavepassedawayfromthosedoorsasmuchasthelacedlacqueysandlink-boysofoldtimes,whousedtoputouttheirtorchesintheblankironextinguishersthatstillflankthelampsoverthesteps.
Brassplateshavepenetratedintothesquare—Doctors,theDiddlesexBankWesternBranch—theEnglishandEuropeanReunion,&c.—ithasadrearylook—norismyLordSteyne’spalacelessdreary.
AllIhaveeverseenofitisthevastwallinfront,withtherusticcolumnsatthegreatgate,throughwhichanoldporterpeerssometimeswithafatandgloomyredface—andoverthewallthegarretandbedroomwindows,andthechimneys,outofwhichthereseldomcomesanysmokenow.
ForthepresentLordSteynelivesatNaples,preferringtheviewoftheBayandCapriandVesuviustothedrearyaspectofthewallinGauntSquare.
AfewscoreyardsdownNewGauntStreet,andleadingintoGauntMewsindeed,isalittlemodestbackdoor,whichyouwouldnotremarkfromthatofanyoftheotherstables.
Butmanyalittleclosecarriagehasstoppedatthatdoor,asmyinformant(littleTomEaves,whoknowseverything,andwhoshowedmetheplace)toldme.
“ThePrinceandPerditahavebeeninandoutofthatdoor,sir,”hehadoftentoldme;“MarianneClarkehasentereditwiththeDukeof———.
ItconductstothefamouspetitsappartementsofLordSteyne—one,sir,fittedupallinivoryandwhitesatin,anotherinebonyandblackvelvet;thereisalittlebanqueting-roomtakenfromSallust’shouseatPompeii,andpaintedbyCosway—alittleprivatekitchen,inwhicheverysaucepanwassilverandallthespitsweregold.
ItwastherethatEgaliteOrleansroastedpartridgesonthenightwhenheandtheMarquisofSteynewonahundredthousandfromagreatpersonageatombre.
HalfofthemoneywenttotheFrenchRevolution,halftopurchaseLordGaunt’sMarquisateandGarter—andtheremainder—”butitformsnopartofourschemetotellwhatbecameoftheremainder,foreveryshillingofwhich,andagreatdealmore,littleTomEaves,whoknowseverybody’saffairs,isreadytoaccount.
Besideshistownpalace,theMarquishadcastlesandpalacesinvariousquartersofthethreekingdoms,whereofthedescriptionsmaybefoundintheroad-books—CastleStrongbow,withitswoods,ontheShannonshore;GauntCastle,inCarmarthenshire,whereRichardIIwastakenprisoner—GauntlyHallinYorkshire,whereIhavebeeninformedthereweretwohundredsilverteapotsforthebreakfastsoftheguestsofthehouse,witheverythingtocorrespondinsplendour;andStillbrookinHampshire,whichwasmylord’sfarm,anhumbleplaceofresidence,ofwhichweallrememberthewonderfulfurniturewhichwassoldatmylord’sdemisebyalatecelebratedauctioneer.
TheMarchionessofSteynewasoftherenownedandancientfamilyoftheCaerlyons,MarquisesofCamelot,whohavepreservedtheoldfaitheversincetheconversionofthevenerableDruid,theirfirstancestor,andwhosepedigreegoesfarbeyondthedateofthearrivalofKingBruteintheseislands.
ElizabethchoppedofftheheadoftheArthurofherday,whohadbeenChamberlaintoPhilipandMary,andcarriedlettersbetweentheQueenofScotsandherunclestheGuises.
ItwasasmuchinjuredbyitschargesinfittingoutanarmamentagainsttheSpaniards,duringthetimeoftheArmada,asbythefinesandconfiscationsleviedonitbyElizabethforharbouringofpriests,obstinaterecusancy,andpopishmisdoings.
ArecreantofJames’stimewasmomentarilypervertedfromhisreligionbytheargumentsofthatgreattheologian,andthefortunesofthefamilysomewhatrestoredbyhistimelyweakness.
ButtheEarlofCamelot,ofthereignofCharles,returnedtotheoldcreedofhisfamily,andtheycontinuedtofightforit,andruinthemselvesforit,aslongastherewasaStuartlefttoheadortoinstigatearebellion.
Intheprideofherbeautyshehadbeenmarried—sold,itwassaid—toLordGaunt,thenatParis,whowonvastsumsfromthelady’sbrotheratsomeofPhilipofOrleans’sbanquets.
TheEarlofGaunt’sfamousduelwiththeCountdelaMarche,oftheGreyMusqueteers,wasattributedbycommonreporttothepretensionsofthatofficer(whohadbeenapage,andremainedafavouriteoftheQueen)tothehandofthebeautifulLadyMaryCaerlyon.
ShewasmarriedtoLordGauntwhiletheCountlayillofhiswound,andcametodwellatGauntHouse,andtofigureforashorttimeinthesplendidCourtofthePrinceofWales.Foxhadtoastedher.
Malmesburyhadmadeherhisbestbow;Walpolehadpronouncedhercharming;Devonshirehadbeenalmostjealousofher;butshewasscaredbythewildpleasuresandgaietiesofthesocietyintowhichshewasflung,andaftershehadborneacoupleofsons,shrankawayintoalifeofdevoutseclusion.
NowonderthatmyLordSteyne,wholikedpleasureandcheerfulness,wasnotoftenseenaftertheirmarriagebythesideofthistrembling,silent,superstitious,unhappylady.
Thebefore-mentionedTomEaves(whohasnopartinthishistory,exceptthatheknewallthegreatfolksinLondon,andthestoriesandmysteriesofeachfamily)hadfurtherinformationregardingmyLadySteyne,whichmayormaynotbetrue.
“Thehumiliations,”Tomusedtosay,“whichthatwomanhasbeenmadetoundergo,inherownhouse,havebeenfrightful;LordSteynehasmadehersitdowntotablewithwomenwithwhomIwouldratherdiethanallowMrs.Eavestoassociate—withLadyCrackenbury,withMrs.Chippenham,withMadamedelaCruchecassee,theFrenchsecretary’swife(fromeveryoneofwhichladiesTomEaves—whowouldhavesacrificedhiswifeforknowingthem—wastoogladtogetaboworadinner)withtheREIGNINGFAVOURITEinaword.
Anddoyousupposethatthatwoman,ofthatfamily,whoareasproudastheBourbons,andtowhomtheSteynesarebutlackeys,mushroomsofyesterday(forafterall,theyarenotoftheOldGaunts,butofaminoranddoubtfulbranchofthehouse);doyousuppose,Isay(thereadermustbearinmindthatitisalwaysTomEaveswhospeaks)thattheMarchionessofSteyne,thehaughtiestwomaninEngland,wouldbenddowntoherhusbandsosubmissivelyiftherewerenotsomecause?
Itellyouthat,intheemigration,theAbbedelaMarchewhowashereandwasemployedintheQuiberoonbusinesswithPuisayeandTinteniac,wasthesameColonelofMousquetairesGriswithwhomSteynefoughtintheyear‘86—thatheandtheMarchionessmetagain—thatitwasaftertheReverendColonelwasshotinBrittanythatLadySteynetooktothoseextremepracticesofdevotionwhichshecarriesonnow;forsheisclosetedwithherdirectoreveryday—sheisatserviceatSpanishPlace,everymorning,I’vewatchedherthere—thatis,I’vehappenedtobepassingthere—anddependonit,there’samysteryinhercase.
Peoplearenotsounhappyunlesstheyhavesomethingtorepentof,”addedTomEaveswithaknowingwagofhishead;“anddependonit,thatwomanwouldnotbesosubmissiveassheisiftheMarquishadnotsomeswordtoholdoverher.”
So,ifMr.Eaves’sinformationbecorrect,itisverylikelythatthislady,inherhighstation,hadtosubmittomanyaprivateindignityandtohidemanysecretgriefsunderacalmface.
Andletus,mybrethrenwhohavenotournamesintheRedBook,consoleourselvesbythinkingcomfortablyhowmiserableourbettersmaybe,andthatDamocles,whositsonsatincushionsandisservedongoldplate,hasanawfulswordhangingoverhisheadintheshapeofabailiff,oranhereditarydisease,orafamilysecret,whichpeepsouteverynowandthenfromtheembroideredarrasinaghastlymanner,andwillbesuretodroponedayortheotherintherightplace.
Incomparing,too,thepoorman’ssituationwiththatofthegreat,thereis(alwaysaccordingtoMr.Eaves)anothersourceofcomfortfortheformer.
Youwhohavelittleornopatrimonytobequeathortoinherit,maybeongoodtermswithyourfatheroryourson,whereastheheirofagreatprince,suchasmyLordSteyne,mustnaturallybeangryatbeingkeptoutofhiskingdom,andeyetheoccupantofitwithnoveryagreeableglances.
“Takeitasarule,”thissardonicoldLaveswouldsay,“thefathersandeldersonsofallgreatfamilieshateeachother.
Shakespeareknewtheworld,mygoodsir,andwhenhedescribesPrinceHal(fromwhosefamilytheGauntspretendtobedescended,thoughtheyarenomorerelatedtoJohnofGauntthanyouare)tryingonhisfather’scoronet,hegivesyouanaturaldescriptionofallheirsapparent.
Anditstandstoreasonthateverygreatman,havingexperiencedthisfeelingtowardshisfather,mustbeawarethathissonentertainsittowardshimself;andsotheycan’tbutbesuspiciousandhostile.
Mydearsir,yououghttoknowthateveryelderbrotherlooksuponthecadetsofthehouseashisnaturalenemies,whodeprivehimofsomuchreadymoneywhichoughttobehisbyright.
IhaveoftenheardGeorgeMacTurk,LordBajazet’seldestson,saythatifhehadhiswillwhenhecametothetitle,hewoulddowhatthesultansdo,andcleartheestatebychoppingoffallhisyoungerbrothers’headsatonce;andsothecaseis,moreorless,withthemall.
Andhere,haply,agreatmancomingup,TomEaves’shatwoulddropoffhishead,andhewouldrushforwardwithabowandagrin,whichshowedthatheknewtheworldtoo—intheTomeavesianway,thatis.
Andhavinglaidouteveryshillingofhisfortuneonanannuity,Tomcouldaffordtobearnomalicetohisnephewsandnieces,andtohavenootherfeelingwithregardtohisbettersbutaconstantandgenerousdesiretodinewiththem.
BetweentheMarchionessandthenaturalandtenderregardofmotherforchildren,therewasthatcruelbarrierplacedofdifferenceoffaith.
Shecouldnotstretchherweakarmsacrossit,ordrawherchildrenovertothatsideawayfromwhichherbelieftoldhertherewasnosafety.
Duringtheyouthofhissons,LordSteyne,whowasagoodscholarandamateurcasuist,hadnobettersportintheeveningafterdinnerinthecountrythaninsettingtheboys’tutor,theReverendMr.Trail(nowmyLordBishopofEaling)onherladyship’sdirector,FatherMole,overtheirwine,andinpittingOxfordagainstSt.Acheul.Hecried“Bravo,Latimer!Wellsaid,Loyola!”
alternately;hepromisedMoleabishopricifhewouldcomeover,andvowedhewoulduseallhisinfluencetogetTrailacardinal’shatifhewouldsecede.
Neitherdivineallowedhimselftobeconquered,andthoughthefondmotherhopedthatheryoungestandfavouritesonwouldbereconciledtoherchurch—hismotherchurch—asadandawfuldisappointmentawaitedthedevoutlady—adisappointmentwhichseemedtobeajudgementuponherforthesinofhermarriage.
MyLordGauntmarried,aseverypersonwhofrequentsthePeerageknows,theLadyBlancheThistlewood,adaughterofthenoblehouseofBareacres,beforementionedinthisveracioushistory.
AwingofGauntHousewasassignedtothiscouple;fortheheadofthefamilychosetogovernit,andwhilehereignedtoreignsupreme;hissonandheir,however,livinglittleathome,disagreeingwithhiswife,andborrowinguponpost-obitssuchmoneysasherequiredbeyondtheverymoderatesumswhichhisfatherwasdisposedtoallowhim.
Athislamenteddemise,hewasfoundhimselftobepossessorofmanyofhisheir’sbonds,purchasedfortheirbenefit,anddevisedbyhisLordshiptothechildrenofhisyoungerson.
As,tomyLordGaunt’sdismay,andthechucklingdelightofhisnaturalenemyandfather,theLadyGaunthadnochildren—theLordGeorgeGauntwasdesiredtoreturnfromVienna,wherehewasengagedinwaltzinganddiplomacy,andtocontractamatrimonialalliancewiththeHonourableJoan,onlydaughterofJohnJohnes,FirstBaronHelvellyn,andheadofthefirmofJones,Brown,andRobinson,ofThreadneedleStreet,Bankers;fromwhichunionsprangseveralsonsanddaughters,whosedoingsdonotappertaintothisstory.
Withthesetalents,andhisinterestathome,therewaslittledoubtthathislordshipwouldrisetothehighestdignitiesinhisprofession.
Thelady,hiswife,feltthatcourtswerehersphere,andherwealthenabledhertoreceivesplendidlyinthosecontinentaltownswhitherherhusband’sdiplomaticdutiesledhim.
Therewastalkofappointinghimminister,andbetswerelaidattheTravellers’thathewouldbeambassadorerelong,whenofasudden,rumoursarrivedofthesecretary’sextraordinarybehaviour.
HewenttoaballatthehoteloftheBavarianenvoy,theCountdeSpringbock-Hohenlaufen,withhisheadshavedanddressedasaCapuchinfriar.
Butpeopleknewbetter;heneverreturnedfromthatBrazilexpedition—neverdiedthere—neverlivedthere—neverwasthereatall.
RiodeJaneiroisacottagesurroundedbyfourwalls,andGeorgeGauntisaccreditedtoakeeper,whohasinvestedhimwiththeorderoftheStrait-Waistcoat.”
Sometimeshelaughedather(andhislaughterwasmorepitifulthantohearhimcry);sometimesshefoundthebrilliantdandydiplomatistoftheCongressofViennadraggingaboutachild’stoy,ornursingthekeeper’sbaby’sdoll.
SometimesheknewherandFatherMole,herdirectorandcompanion;oftenerheforgother,ashehaddonewife,children,love,ambition,vanity.
Theevilhadbrokenoutonceortwiceinthefather’sfamily,longbeforeLadySteyne’ssinshadbegun,orherfastsandtearsandpenanceshadbeenofferedintheirexpiation.
Butthestrickenoldgrandmothertrembledtothinkthatthesetooweretheinheritorsoftheirfather’sshameaswellasofhishonours,andwatchedsickeningforthedaywhentheawfulancestralcurseshouldcomedownonthem.
HetriedtolaythehorridbedsideghostinRedSeasofwineandjollity,andlostsightofitsometimesinthecrowdandroutofhispleasures.
Imaytapyouontheheadto-morrow,andawaygopleasureandhonours,feastsandbeauty,friends,flatterers,Frenchcooks,finehorsesandhouses—inexchangeforaprison,akeeper,andastrawmattresslikeGeorgeGaunt’s.”
Sotherewassplendourandwealth,butnogreathappinessperchance,behindthetallcanedportalsofGauntHousewithitssmokycoronetsandciphers.
ThefeaststherewereofthegrandestinLondon,buttherewasnotovermuchcontenttherewith,exceptamongtheguestswhosatatmylord’stable.
HadhenotbeensogreataPrinceveryfewpossiblywouldhavevisitedhim;butinVanityFairthesinsofverygreatpersonagesarelookedatindulgently.
SomenotoriouscarpersandsqueamishmoralistsmightbesulkywithLordSteyne,buttheyweregladenoughtocomewhenheaskedthem.
“LordSteyneisreallytoobad,”LadySlingstonesaid,“buteverybodygoes,andofcourseIshallseethatmygirlscometonoharm.”
“HislordshipisamantowhomIowemuch,everythinginlife,”saidtheRightReverendDoctorTrail,thinkingthattheArchbishopwasrathershaky,andMrs.Trailandtheyoungladieswouldassoonhavemissedgoingtochurchastooneofhislordship’sparties.
“Hismoralsarebad,”saidlittleLordSouthdowntohissister,whomeeklyexpostulated,havingheardterrificlegendsfromhermammawithrespecttothedoingsatGauntHouse;“buthangit,he’sgotthebestdrySilleryinEurope!”AndasforSirPittCrawley,Bart.
—SirPittthatpatternofdecorum,SirPittwhohadledoffatmissionarymeetings—heneverforonemomentthoughtofnotgoingtoo.
“WhereyouseesuchpersonsastheBishopofEalingandtheCountessofSlingstone,youmaybeprettysure,Jane,”theBaronetwouldsay,“thatwecannotbewrong.
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