第55章

The darksome cave they enter, where they found The woful man, low sitting on the ground, Musing full sadly in his sullen mind.FAERY QUEEN.

The intruder on Miss Vere's sorrows was Ratcliffe.Ellieslaw had, in the agitation of his mind, forgotten to countermand the order he had given to call him thither, so that he opened the door with the words, "You sent for me, Mr.Vere." Then looking around--"Miss Vere, alone! on the ground! and in tears!""Leave me--leave me, Mr.Ratcliffe," said the unhappy young lady.

"I must not leave you," said Ratcliffe; "I have been repeatedly requesting admittance to take my leave of you, and have been refused, until your father himself sent for me.Blame me not, if I am bold and intrusive; I have a duty to discharge which makes me so.""I cannot listen to you--I cannot speak to you, Mr.Ratcliffe; take my best wishes, and for God's sake leave me.""Tell me only," said Ratcliffe, "is it true that this monstrous match is to go forward, and this very night?I heard the servants proclaim it as I was on the great staircase--I heard the directions given to clear out the chapel." "Spare me, Mr.Ratcliffe," replied the luckless bride; "and from thestate in which you see me, judge of the cruelty of these questions." "Married?to Sir Frederick Langley?and this night? It must notcannot--shall not be."

"It MUST be, Mr.Ratcliff, or my father is ruined.""Ah! I understand," answered Ratcliffe; "and you have sacrificed yourself to save him who--But let the virtue of the child atone for the faults of the father it is no time to rake them up.--What CAN be done? Time presses--I know but one remedy--with four-and- twenty hours I might find many--Miss Vere, you must implore the protection of the only human being who has it in his power to control the course of events which threatens to hurry you before it.""And what human being," answered Miss Vere, "has such power?" "Start not when I name him," said Ratcliffe, coming near her, andspeaking in a low but distinct voice."It is he who is called Elshender the Recluse of Mucklestane-Moor.""You are mad, Mr.Ratcliffe, or you mean to insult my misery by an ill- timed jest!""I am as much in my senses, young lady," answered her adviser, "as you are; and I am no idle jester, far less with misery, least of all with your misery.I swear to you that this being (who is other far than what he seems) actually possesses the means of redeeming you from this hateful union.""And of insuring my father's safety?"

"Yes! even that," said Ratcliffe, "if you plead his cause with him--yet how to obtain admittance to the Recluse!""Fear not that," said Miss Vere, suddenly recollecting the incident of the rose; "I remember he desired me to call upon him for aid in my extremity, and gave me this flower as a token.Ere it faded away entirely, I would need, he said, his assistance: is it possible his words can have been aught but the ravings of insanity?""Doubt it not fear it not--but above all," said Ratcliffe, "let us lose no time--are you at liberty, and unwatched?""I believe so," said Isabella:"but what would you have me to do?" "Leave the castle instantly," said Ratcliffe, "and throw yourself at thefeet of this extraordinary man, who in circumstances that seem to argue the extremity of the most contemptible poverty, possesses yet an almost absolute influence over your fate.-- Guests and servants are deep in their carouse--the leaders sitting in conclave on their treasonable schemes--my horse stands ready in the stable--I will saddle one for you, and meet you at the little garden-gate--O, let no doubt of my prudence or fidelity prevent your taking the only step in your power to escape the dreadful fate which must attend the wife of Sir Frederick Langley!""Mr.Ratcliffe," said Miss Vere, "you have always been esteemed a man of honour and probity, and a drowning wretch will always catch at the feeblest twig,--I will trust you--I will follow your advice--I will meet you at the garden-gate."She bolted the outer-door of her apartment as soon as Mr.Ratcliffe lefther, and descended to the garden by a separate stair of communication which opened to her dressing-room.On the way she felt inclined to retract the consent she had so hastily given to a plan so hopeless and extravagant.But as she passed in her descent a private door which entered into the chapel from the back-stair, she heard the voice of the female-servants as they were employed in the task of cleaning it.

"Married! and to sae bad a man--Ewhow, sirs! onything rather than that.""They are right--they are right," said Miss Vere, "anything rather than that!"She hurried to the garden.Mr.Ratcliffe was true to his appointment-- the horses stood saddled at the garden-gate, and in a few minutes they were advancing rapidly towards the hut of the Solitary.

While the ground was favourable, the speed of their journey was such as to prevent much communication; but when a steep ascent compelled them to slacken their pace, a new cause of apprehension occurred to Miss Vere's mind.