English
Aweekpassed,aftermyreturntoLondon,withoutthereceiptofanycommunicationfromMissHalcombe.
Ontheeighthdayaletterinherhandwritingwasplacedamongtheotherlettersonmytable.
ItannouncedthatSirPercivalGlydehadbeendefinitelyaccepted,andthatthemarriagewastotakeplace,ashehadoriginallydesired,beforetheendoftheyear.
InallprobabilitytheceremonywouldbeperformedduringthelastfortnightinDecember.
MissFairlie’stwenty-firstbirthdaywaslateinMarch.
Shewould,therefore,bythisarrangement,becomeSirPercival’swifeaboutthreemonthsbeforeshewasofage.
Ioughtnottohavebeensurprised,Ioughtnottohavebeensorry,butIwassurprisedandsorry,nevertheless.
Somelittledisappointment,causedbytheunsatisfactoryshortnessofMissHalcombe’sletter,mingleditselfwiththesefeelings,andcontributeditssharetowardsupsettingmyserenityfortheday.
Insixlinesmycorrespondentannouncedtheproposedmarriage—inthreemore,shetoldmethatSirPercivalhadleftCumberlandtoreturntohishouseinHampshire,andintwoconcludingsentencessheinformedme,first,thatLaurawassadlyinwantofchangeandcheerfulsociety;secondly,thatshehadresolvedtotrytheeffectofsomesuchchangeforthwith,bytakinghersisterawaywithheronavisittocertainoldfriendsinYorkshire.
Theretheletterended,withoutawordtoexplainwhatthecircumstanceswerewhichhaddecidedMissFairlietoacceptSirPercivalGlydeinoneshortweekfromthetimewhenIhadlastseenher.
Atalaterperiodthecauseofthissuddendeterminationwasfullyexplainedtome.
Itisnotmybusinesstorelateitimperfectly,onhearsayevidence.
ThecircumstancescamewithinthepersonalexperienceofMissHalcombe,andwhenhernarrativesucceedsmine,shewilldescribethemineveryparticularexactlyastheyhappened.
Inthemeantime,theplaindutyformetoperform—beforeI,inmyturn,laydownmypenandwithdrawfromthestory—istorelatetheoneremainingeventconnectedwithMissFairlie’sproposedmarriageinwhichIwasconcerned,namely,thedrawingofthesettlement.
Itisimpossibletoreferintelligiblytothisdocumentwithoutfirstenteringintocertainparticularsinrelationtothebride’specuniaryaffairs.
Iwilltrytomakemyexplanationbrieflyandplainly,andtokeepitfreefromprofessionalobscuritiesandtechnicalities.Thematterisoftheutmostimportance.
IwarnallreadersoftheselinesthatMissFairlie’sinheritanceisaveryseriouspartofMissFairlie’sstory,andthatMr.Gilmore’sexperience,inthisparticular,mustbetheirexperiencealso,iftheywishtounderstandthenarrativeswhichareyettocome.
MissFairlie’sexpectations,then,wereofatwofoldkind,comprisingherpossibleinheritanceofrealproperty,orland,whenheruncledied,andherabsoluteinheritanceofpersonalproperty,ormoney,whenshecameofage.
Letustakethelandfirst.
InthetimeofMissFairlie’spaternalgrandfather(whomwewillcallMr.Fairlie,theelder)theentailedsuccessiontotheLimmeridgeestatestoodthus—
Mr.Fairlie,theelder,diedandleftthreesons,Philip,Frederick,andArthur.
Aseldestson,Philipsucceededtotheestate,Ifhediedwithoutleavingason,thepropertywenttothesecondbrother,Frederick;andifFrederickdiedalsowithoutleavingason,thepropertywenttothethirdbrother,Arthur.
Aseventsturnedout,Mr.PhilipFairliediedleavinganonlydaughter,theLauraofthisstory,andtheestate,inconsequence,went,incourseoflaw,tothesecondbrother,Frederick,asingleman.
Thethirdbrother,Arthur,haddiedmanyyearsbeforethedeceaseofPhilip,leavingasonandadaughter.
Theson,attheageofeighteen,wasdrownedatOxford.
HisdeathleftLaura,thedaughterofMr.PhilipFairlie,presumptiveheiresstotheestate,witheverychanceofsucceedingtoit,intheordinarycourseofnature,onheruncleFrederick’sdeath,ifthesaidFrederickdiedwithoutleavingmaleissue.
Exceptintheevent,then,ofMr.FrederickFairlie’smarryingandleavinganheir(thetwoverylastthingsintheworldthathewaslikelytodo),hisniece,Laura,wouldhavethepropertyonhisdeath,possessing,itmustberemembered,nothingmorethanalife-interestinit.
Ifshediedsingle,ordiedchildless,theestatewouldreverttohercousin,Magdalen,thedaughterofMr.ArthurFairlie.
Ifshemarried,withapropersettlement—or,inotherwords,withthesettlementImeanttomakeforher—theincomefromtheestate(agoodthreethousandayear)would,duringherlifetime,beatherowndisposal.
Ifshediedbeforeherhusband,hewouldnaturallyexpecttobeleftintheenjoymentoftheincome,forHISlifetime.
Ifshehadason,thatsonwouldbetheheir,totheexclusionofhercousinMagdalen.
Thus,SirPercival’sprospectsinmarryingMissFairlie(sofarashiswife’sexpectationsfromrealpropertywereconcerned)promisedhimthesetwoadvantages,onMr.FrederickFairlie’sdeath:First,theuseofthreethousandayear(byhiswife’spermission,whileshelived,andinhisownright,onherdeath,ifhesurvivedher);and,secondly,theinheritanceofLimmeridgeforhisson,ifhehadone.
Somuchforthelandedproperty,andforthedisposaloftheincomefromit,ontheoccasionofMissFairlie’smarriage.
Thusfar,nodifficultyordifferenceofopiniononthelady’ssettlementwasatalllikelytoarisebetweenSirPercival’slawyerandmyself.
Thepersonalestate,or,inotherwords,themoneytowhichMissFairliewouldbecomeentitledonreachingtheageoftwenty-oneyears,isthenextpointtoconsider.
Thispartofherinheritancewas,initself,acomfortablelittlefortune.
Itwasderivedunderherfather’swill,anditamountedtothesumoftwentythousandpounds.
Besidesthis,shehadalife-interestintenthousandpoundsmore,whichlatteramountwastogo,onherdecease,toherauntEleanor,herfather’sonlysister.
Itwillgreatlyassistinsettingthefamilyaffairsbeforethereaderintheclearestpossiblelight,ifIstophereforamoment,toexplainwhytheaunthadbeenkeptwaitingforherlegacyuntilthedeathoftheniece.
Mr.PhilipFairliehadlivedonexcellenttermswithhissisterEleanor,aslongassheremainedasinglewoman.
Butwhenhermarriagetookplace,somewhatlateinlife,andwhenthatmarriageunitedhertoanItaliangentlemannamedFosco,or,rather,toanItaliannobleman—seeingthatherejoicedinthetitleofCount—Mr.Fairliedisapprovedofherconductsostronglythatheceasedtoholdanycommunicationwithher,andevenwentthelengthofstrikinghernameoutofhiswill.
Theothermembersofthefamilyallthoughtthisseriousmanifestationofresentmentathissister’smarriagemoreorlessunreasonable.
CountFosco,thoughnotarichman,wasnotapennilessadventurereither.
Hehadasmallbutsufficientincomeofhisown.
HehadlivedmanyyearsinEngland,andheheldanexcellentpositioninsociety.
Theserecommendations,however,availednothingwithMr.Fairlie.
InmanyofhisopinionshewasanEnglishmanoftheoldschool,andhehatedaforeignersimplyandsolelybecausehewasaforeigner.
Theutmostthathecouldbeprevailedontodo,inafteryears—mainlyatMissFairlie’sintercession—wastorestorehissister’snametoitsformerplaceinhiswill,buttokeepherwaitingforherlegacybygivingtheincomeofthemoneytohisdaughterforlife,andthemoneyitself,ifherauntdiedbeforeher,tohercousinMagdalen.
Consideringtherelativeagesofthetwoladies,theaunt’schance,intheordinarycourseofnature,ofreceivingthetenthousandpounds,wasthusrendereddoubtfulintheextreme;andMadameFoscoresentedherbrother’streatmentofherasunjustlyasusualinsuchcases,byrefusingtoseeherniece,anddecliningtobelievethatMissFairlie’sintercessionhadeverbeenexertedtorestorehernametoMr.Fairlie’swill.
Suchwasthehistoryofthetenthousandpounds.
HereagainnodifficultycouldarisewithSirPercival’slegaladviser.
Theincomewouldbeatthewife’sdisposal,andtheprincipalwouldgotoherauntorhercousinonherdeath.
Allpreliminaryexplanationsbeingnowclearedoutoftheway,Icomeatlasttotherealknotofthecase—tothetwentythousandpounds.
ThissumwasabsolutelyMissFairlie’sownonhercompletinghertwenty-firstyear,andthewholefuturedispositionofitdepended,inthefirstinstance,ontheconditionsIcouldobtainforherinhermarriage-settlement.
Theotherclausescontainedinthatdocumentwereofaformalkind,andneednotberecitedhere.
Buttheclauserelatingtothemoneyistooimportanttobepassedover.
Afewlineswillbesufficienttogivethenecessaryabstractofit.
Mystipulationinregardtothetwentythousandpoundswassimplythis:Thewholeamountwastobesettledsoastogivetheincometotheladyforherlife—afterwardstoSirPercivalforhislife—andtheprincipaltothechildrenofthemarriage.
Indefaultofissue,theprincipalwastobedisposedofastheladymightbyherwilldirect,forwhichpurposeIreservedtohertherightofmakingawill.
Theeffectoftheseconditionsmaybethussummedup.
IfLadyGlydediedwithoutleavingchildren,herhalf-sisterMissHalcombe,andanyotherrelativesorfriendswhomshemightbeanxioustobenefit,would,onherhusband’sdeath,divideamongthemsuchsharesofhermoneyasshedesiredthemtohave.
If,ontheotherhand,shediedleavingchildren,thentheirinterest,naturallyandnecessarily,supersededallotherinterestswhatsoever.
Thiswastheclause—andnoonewhoreadsitcanfail,Ithink,toagreewithmethatitmetedoutequaljusticetoallparties.
Weshallseehowmyproposalsweremetonthehusband’sside.
AtthetimewhenMissHalcombe’sletterreachedmeIwasevenmorebusilyoccupiedthanusual.
ButIcontrivedtomakeleisureforthesettlement.
Ihaddrawnit,andhadsentitforapprovaltoSirPercival’ssolicitor,inlessthanaweekfromthetimewhenMissHalcombehadinformedmeoftheproposedmarriage.
Afteralapseoftwodaysthedocumentwasreturnedtome,withnotesandremarksofthebaronet’slawyer.
Hisobjections,ingeneral,provedtobeofthemosttriflingandtechnicalkind,untilhecametotheclauserelatingtothetwentythousandpounds.
Againstthisthereweredoublelinesdrawninredink,andthefollowingnotewasappendedtothem—
“Notadmissible.ThePRINCIPALtogotoSirPercivalGlyde,intheeventofhissurvivingLadyGlyde,andtherebeingnoissue.”
Thatistosay,notonefarthingofthetwentythousandpoundswastogotoMissHalcombe,ortoanyotherrelativeorfriendofLadyGlyde’s.
Thewholesum,ifsheleftnochildren,wastoslipintothepocketsofherhusband.
TheanswerIwrotetothisaudaciousproposalwasasshortandsharpasIcouldmakeit.“Mydearsir.MissFairlie’ssettlement.
Imaintaintheclausetowhichyouobject,exactlyasitstands.Yourstruly.”
Therejoindercamebackinaquarterofanhour.“Mydearsir.MissFairlie’ssettlement.
Imaintaintheredinktowhichyouobject,exactlyasitstands.Yourstruly.”
Inthedetestableslangoftheday,wewerenowboth“atadeadlock,”andnothingwasleftforitbuttorefertoourclientsoneitherside.
Asmattersstood,myclient—MissFairlienothavingyetcompletedhertwenty-firstyear—Mr.FrederickFairlie,washerguardian.
Iwrotebythatday’spost,andputthecasebeforehimexactlyasitstood,notonlyurgingeveryargumentIcouldthinkoftoinducehimtomaintaintheclauseasIhaddrawnit,butstatingtohimplainlythemercenarymotivewhichwasatthebottomoftheoppositiontomysettlementofthetwentythousandpounds.
TheknowledgeofSirPercival’saffairswhichIhadnecessarilygainedwhentheprovisionsofthedeedonHISsideweresubmittedinduecoursetomyexamination,hadbuttooplainlyinformedmethatthedebtsonhisestatewereenormous,andthathisincome,thoughnominallyalargeone,wasvirtually,foramaninhisposition,nexttonothing.
ThewantofreadymoneywasthepracticalnecessityofSirPercival’sexistence,andhislawyer’snoteontheclauseinthesettlementwasnothingbutthefranklyselfishexpressionofit.
Mr.Fairlie’sanswerreachedmebyreturnofpost,andprovedtobewanderingandirrelevantintheextreme.
TurnedintoplainEnglish,itpracticallyexpresseditselftothiseffect:“WoulddearGilmorebesoveryobligingasnottoworryhisfriendandclientaboutsuchatrifleasaremotecontingency?
Wasitlikelythatayoungwomanoftwenty-onewoulddiebeforeamanoffortyfive,anddiewithoutchildren?
Ontheotherhand,insuchamiserableworldasthis,wasitpossibletoover-estimatethevalueofpeaceandquietness?
Ifthosetwoheavenlyblessingswereofferedinexchangeforsuchanearthlytrifleasaremotechanceoftwentythousandpounds,wasitnotafairbargain?Surely,yes.Thenwhynotmakeit?”
Ithrewtheletterawayindisgust.Justasithadflutteredtotheground,therewasaknockatmydoor,andSirPercivalssolicitor,Mr.Merriman,wasshownin.
Therearemanyvarietiesofsharppractitionersinthisworld,butIthinkthehardestofalltodealwitharethemenwhooverreachyouunderthedisguiseofinveterategood-humour.
Afat,wellfed,smiling,friendlymanofbusinessisofallpartiestoabargainthemosthopelesstodealwith.Mr.Merrimanwasoneofthisclass.
“AndhowisgoodMr.Gilmore?”hebegan,allinaglowwiththewarmthofhisownamiability.
“Gladtoseeyou,sir,insuchexcellenthealth.
Iwaspassingyourdoor,andIthoughtIwouldlookinincaseyoumighthavesomethingtosaytome.
Do—nowpraydoletussettlethislittledifferenceofoursbywordofmouth,ifwecan!Haveyouheardfromyourclientyet?”
“Yes.Haveyouheardfromyours?”
“Mydear,goodsir!IwishIhadheardfromhimtoanypurpose—Iwish,withallmyheart,theresponsibilitywasoffmyshoulders;butheisobstinate—orletmerathersay,resolute—andhewon’ttakeitoff.‘Merriman,Ileavedetailstoyou.
Dowhatyouthinkrightformyinterests,andconsidermeashavingpersonallywithdrawnfromthebusinessuntilitisallover.’
ThosewereSirPercival’swordsafortnightago,andallIcangethimtodonowistorepeatthem.
Iamnotahardman,Mr.Gilmore,asyouknow.
Personallyandprivately,Idoassureyou,Ishouldliketospongeoutthatnoteofmineatthisverymoment.
ButifSirPercivalwon’tgointothematter,ifSirPercivalwillblindlyleaveallhisinterestsinmysolecare,whatcoursecanIpossiblytakeexceptthecourseofassertingthem?
Myhandsarebound—don’tyousee,mydearsir?—myhandsarebound.”
“Youmaintainyournoteontheclause,then,totheletter?”Isaid.
“Yes—deucetakeit!Ihavenootheralternative.”
Hewalkedtothefireplaceandwarmedhimself,hummingthefagendofatuneinarichconvivialbassvoice.“Whatdoesyoursidesay?”
hewenton;“nowpraytellme—whatdoesyoursidesay?”
Iwasashamedtotellhim.Iattemptedtogaintime—nay,Ididworse.Mylegalinstinctsgotthebetterofme,andIeventriedtobargain.
“Twentythousandpoundsisratheralargesumtobegivenupbythelady’sfriendsattwodays’notice,”Isaid.
“Verytrue,”repliedMr.Merriman,lookingdownthoughtfullyathisboots.“Properlyput,sir—mostproperlyput!”
“Acompromise,recognisingtheinterestsofthelady’sfamilyaswellastheinterestsofthehusband,mightnotperhapshavefrightenedmyclientquitesomuch,”Iwenton.“Come,come!
thiscontingencyresolvesitselfintoamatterofbargainingafterall.Whatistheleastyouwilltake?”
“Theleastwewilltake,”saidMr.Merriman,“isnineteen-thousand-nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine-pounds-nineteen-shillings-and-elevenpence-three-farthings.Ha!ha!ha!Excuseme,Mr.Gilmore.Imusthavemylittlejoke.”
“Littleenough,”Iremarked.“Thejokeisjustworththeoddfarthingitwasmadefor.”
Mr.Merrimanwasdelighted.Helaughedovermyretorttilltheroomrangagain.Iwasnothalfsogood-humouredonmyside;Icamebacktobusiness,andclosedtheinterview.
“ThisisFriday,”Isaid.“GiveustillTuesdaynextforourfinalanswer.”
“Byallmeans,”repliedMr.Merriman.“Longer,mydearsir,ifyoulike.”
Hetookuphishattogo,andthenaddressedmeagain.
“Bytheway,”hesaid,“yourclientsinCumberlandhavenotheardanythingmoreofthewomanwhowrotetheanonymousletter,havethey?”
“Nothingmore,”Ianswered.“Haveyoufoundnotraceofher?”
“Notyet,”saidmylegalfriend.“Butwedon’tdespair.SirPercivalhashissuspicionsthatSomebodyiskeepingherinhiding,andwearehavingthatSomebodywatched.”
“YoumeantheoldwomanwhowaswithherinCumberland,”Isaid.
“Quiteanotherparty,sir,”answeredMr.Merriman.
“Wedon’thappentohavelaidhandsontheoldwomanyet.OurSomebodyisaman.
WehavegothimcloseunderoureyehereinLondon,andwestronglysuspecthehadsomethingtodowithhelpingherinthefirstinstancetoescapefromtheAsylum.
SirPercivalwantedtoquestionhimatonce,butIsaid,‘No.
Questioninghimwillonlyputhimonhisguard—watchhim,andwait.’Weshallseewhathappens.
Adangerouswomantobeatlarge,Mr.Gilmore;nobodyknowswhatshemaydonext.Iwishyougood-morning,sir.
OnTuesdaynextIshallhopeforthepleasureofhearingfromyou.”Hesmiledamiablyandwentout.
Mymindhadbeenratherabsentduringthelatterpartoftheconversationwithmylegalfriend.
IwassoanxiousaboutthematterofthesettlementthatIhadlittleattentiontogivetoanyothersubject,andthemomentIwasleftaloneagainIbegantothinkoverwhatmynextproceedingoughttobe.
InthecaseofanyotherclientIshouldhaveactedonmyinstructions,howeverpersonallydistastefultome,andhavegivenupthepointaboutthetwentythousandpoundsonthespot.
ButIcouldnotactwiththisbusiness-likeindifferencetowardsMissFairlie.
Ihadanhonestfeelingofaffectionandadmirationforher—Irememberedgratefullythatherfatherhadbeenthekindestpatronandfriendtomethatevermanhad—IhadfelttowardsherwhileIwasdrawingthesettlementasImighthavefelt,ifIhadnotbeenanoldbachelor,towardsadaughterofmyown,andIwasdeterminedtosparenopersonalsacrificeinherserviceandwhereherinterestswereconcerned.
WritingasecondtimetoMr.Fairliewasnottobethoughtof—itwouldonlybegivinghimasecondopportunityofslippingthroughmyfingers.
Seeinghimandpersonallyremonstratingwithhimmightpossiblybeofmoreuse.ThenextdaywasSaturday.
IdeterminedtotakeareturnticketandjoltmyoldbonesdowntoCumberland,onthechanceofpersuadinghimtoadoptthejust,theindependent,andthehonourablecourse.
Itwasapoorchanceenough,nodoubt,butwhenIhadtrieditmyconsciencewouldbeatease.
Ishouldthenhavedoneallthatamaninmypositioncoulddotoservetheinterestsofmyoldfriend’sonlychild.
TheweatheronSaturdaywasbeautiful,awestwindandabrightsun.
Havingfeltlatterlyareturnofthatfulnessandoppressionofthehead,againstwhichmydoctorwarnedmesoseriouslymorethantwoyearssince,IresolvedtotaketheopportunityofgettingalittleextraexercisebysendingmybagonbeforemeandwalkingtotheterminusinEustonSquare.
AsIcameoutintoHolbornagentlemanwalkingbyrapidlystoppedandspoketome.ItwasMr.WalterHartright.
IfhehadnotbeenthefirsttogreetmeIshouldcertainlyhavepassedhim.
HewassochangedthatIhardlyknewhimagain.
Hisfacelookedpaleandhaggard—hismannerwashurriedanduncertain—andhisdress,whichIrememberedasneatandgentleman-likewhenIsawhimatLimmeridge,wassoslovenlynowthatIshouldreallyhavebeenashamedoftheappearanceofitononeofmyownclerks.
“HaveyoubeenlongbackfromCumberland?”heasked.“IheardfromMissHalcombelately.
IamawarethatSirPercivalGlyde’sexplanationhasbeenconsideredsatisfactory.Willthemarriagetakeplacesoon?DoyouhappentoknowMr.Gilmore?”
Hespokesofast,andcrowdedhisquestionstogethersostrangelyandconfusedly,thatIcouldhardlyfollowhim.
HoweveraccidentallyintimatehemighthavebeenwiththefamilyatLimmeridge,Icouldnotseethathehadanyrighttoexpectinformationontheirprivateaffairs,andIdeterminedtodrophim,aseasilyasmightbe,onthesubjectofMissFairlie’smarriage.
“Timewillshow,Mr.Hartright,”Isaid—“timewillshow.
Idaresayifwelookoutforthemarriageinthepapersweshallnotbefarwrong.
Excusemynoticingit,butIamsorrytoseeyounotlookingsowellasyouwerewhenwelastmet.”
Amomentarynervouscontractionquiveredabouthislipsandeyes,andmademehalfreproachmyselfforhavingansweredhiminsuchasignificantlyguardedmanner.
“Ihadnorighttoaskabouthermarriage,”hesaidbitterly.
“Imustwaittoseeitinthenewspaperslikeotherpeople.
Yes,”—hewentonbeforeIcouldmakeanyapologies—“Ihavenotbeenwelllately.
Iamgoingtoanothercountrytotryachangeofsceneandoccupation.
MissHalcombehaskindlyassistedmewithherinfluence,andmytestimonialshavebeenfoundsatisfactory.
Itisalongdistanceoff,butIdon’tcarewhereIgo,whattheclimateis,orhowlongIamaway.”
Helookedabouthimwhilehesaidthisatthethrongofstrangerspassingusbyoneitherside,inastrange,suspiciousmanner,asifhethoughtthatsomeofthemmightbewatchingus.
“Iwishyouwellthroughit,andsafebackagain,”Isaid,andthenadded,soasnottokeephimaltogetheratarm’slengthonthesubjectoftheFairlies,“IamgoingdowntoLimmeridgeto-dayonbusiness.
MissHalcombeandMissFairlieareawayjustnowonavisittosomefriendsinYorkshire.”
Hiseyesbrightened,andheseemedabouttosaysomethinginanswer,butthesamemomentarynervousspasmcrossedhisfaceagain.
Hetookmyhand,pressedithard,anddisappearedamongthecrowdwithoutsayinganotherword.
Thoughhewaslittlemorethanastrangertome,Iwaitedforamoment,lookingafterhimalmostwithafeelingofregret.
Ihadgainedinmyprofessionsufficientexperienceofyoungmentoknowwhattheoutwardsignsandtokenswereoftheirbeginningtogowrong,andwhenIresumedmywalktotherailwayIamsorrytosayIfeltmorethandoubtfulaboutMr.Hartright’sfuture.
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