came to guard and protect this young creature in the still
hours of the night, and his spirit sank within him as he
looked upon the attenuated form of his idolized child, and
communed with himself upon her probable future destiny,
16*



186



THE BARCLAYS



should it please God to spare her life. And a thorny path
was in this perspective ; narrow and rugged the way. The
mystery of her marriage, were it revealed or not, promised
nothing but misery, for surely the wretch, who could have
thus deceived her, was utterly unworthy to be claimed as
her husband, even should he prove to belong to the most
virtuous family in the land; and if he did not, what was he ?
who was he ? Soul-harrowing questions were these for a
parent to ask of himself, with no possibility of being an-
swered. Mr. Barclay firmly believed in his daughter's state-
ment ; he knew her to be the soul of truth and honor, but
could he ask the same reliance on her testimony from others ?
She was henceforth, in the event of her restoration to health,
to walk through life, bearing a blighted name ; enshrouded
in darkness, unenlivened by a ray of light, if her husband
were not discovered, and if he were, the deepest obscurity
might be preferable. How truly then would Georgiana
require the strong arm of her father to support her fainting
steps, and her loving mother's sympathy in this profound af-
fliction, to which would be superadded the harrowing con-
viction that all this trouble had been caused by her own
imprudence and misconduct.

The father also trembled for the accusations which her
overcharged conscience would perpetually elicit, and the
reproaches of tliis inward monitor he conceived would be
ceaseless. What a sad picture of human suffering was pre-
sented to his imagination, and who was the victim? his
beloved child, his first-born, who had awakened in his
heart the first enthralling sentiment of paternity.

Oh ! the dark, dark hours of those protracted vigils ! they
contained months of torturing reflections, unresolved doubts,
and soul-searching bitterness, which nothing, save prayer,
could mitigate or assuage. On the first revelation of this
affliction he had thought of abandoning Boston and all his
pursuits, and retreating into the country, there to bury his
daughter's shame and sorrow ; but, after mature reflection, be



OF BOSTON. 187

became convinced of the impropriety of such a proceeding,
as it might give rise to more suspicions than already existed ;
so he resolved to remain. There were doubts to be re-
moved, and he trusted in Providence that his child's inno-
cence would be proved ; for he knew that, if human efforts
could effect this, he and his numerous friends would, in the
end, discover the mystery.

And surely man was never blessed with more ardent and
enthusiastic supporters than was Mr. Barclay. They vowed
never to desist from the search for the wretch who had
assumed Gerald Sanderson's name ; and one and all de-
clared they should never be satisfied until they had dragged
him to light.

Mrs. Ashley had almost lived in the house during the long
illness of her darling; refusing all other engagements, she
installed herself every morning in the library, ever ready to
be occupied about the patient, who sometimes appeared to
derive comfort from her presence.

Mr. Richard had evinced the devotion and tenderness of
one of the sex whom he had always affected to despise,
and, though he Avas not exactly the person to be found
serviceable in a sick room, he could give his unrepressed
sympathy. He was constantly running all over Boston, and
sending to New York for delicacies which his poor niece
could not touch when they arrived, and, moreover, he en-
tirely forgot to find fault with his pet dislike, Mrs. Ashley ;
the strongest proof he could possibly evince, of the all-
absorbing nature of his grief; also he made no comments
upon Miss Tidmarsh. Mrs. Gordon, ever active and ener-
getic, employed herself assiduously in assisting Mrs. Bar-
clay, whose patience and fortitude seemed absolutely undy-
ing ; and even Mrs. Redmond aroused herself sufficiently to
insist upon doing something, though what that something
was to be, nobody very well, comprehended.

Georgy's young friends actually besieged the house with
proffers of aid from their parents and themselves, and every



188 THE BARCLAYS

thing was done that kindliness of heart and feeling could
suggest to alleviate the suffering family.

At last, there appeared a change for the better ; at first
so slight as to be hardly perceptible, but slowly, every day
increasing, and yet the medical men, in attendance, would
pronounce no distinctly favorable opinion. In time, how-
ever, youth rallied and conquered, and Georgiana Barclay
was raised from her deathlike prostration, and pronounced
out of all danger. With what intense feelings of grateful
devotion her father and mother received this joyful intelli-
gence, there is small occasion for recounting. Suffice to
say, they poured forth their surcharged hearts in earnest
and solemn thanks to the Source from which emanated this
great and abounding mercy, and asserted that all was well
with them. They would bow, they declared, with childlike
submission to the infliction which had been sent in the secret
marriage of their daughter, for was she not spared unto
them ? all other misfortunes had paled before the harrowing
thought of her death. Nothing was remembered but her
restoration from the fell destroyer, and they thanked God
for his signal mercies, and repeated and reiterated that all
was well with them.



OF BOSTON. 189



CHAPTER XXII.



' There's not a look, or word of thine
My soul hath e'er forgot ;
Thou ne'er hast bid a ringlet shine,
Nor giv'n thy locks one graceful twine.
Which I I'emember not.'

Moore.

Mrs. Redmond was sitting, dozing over a yellow-covered
novel of the worst possible sort its cover as dirty as its
contents and every now and then taking a peep through
her torn lace curtains at the Barclay house, when Jane and
Miss Tidmarsh rushed in. Miss Serena resembled, on this
momentous occasion, an overboiling cauldron, and Jane was
so breathless with the news she had to impart, that she could
not speak for several minutes.

Mrs. Redmond, at last, becoming conscious by unmistaka-
ble signs, that there was an explosion somewhere, aroused
herself sufficiently to inquire what it was ; so she said,
' What have you to tell, girls ? what has happened.^ '

'Oh,' almost shrieked Jane, 'such an adventure at our
neighbors the Barclays; such a story ! such a hubbub ! '

' Ah ! ' said her mother, with a sort of half-awakened,
half-bewildered air, ' any thing wrong there ^ any mis-
chief .? '

* Mischief, and to spare, my mother,' was the reply ;
' there is Grcorgiana Barclay, who, it appears, has been mar-
ried a long time, as she thought, to that bit of dream-land,
Gerald Sanderson ; and having, only yesterday, confessed
her wicked doings to her parents though why she did it



190 THE BARCLAYS

now nobody can tell this has naturally created the most
intense commotion. Now, you perceive what your model
is, I hope the girl you have always held up to me for ex-
ample ! Well, Mr. Barclay instantly, on the reception of this
terrible communication being made to him, posted down to
Mr. Egerton's, saw the old miser, who vomited forth fire and
flames in his anger and between the two, poor frightened
Gerald was dragged down from the upper regions of the old
house, where he studies the stars ; and, both abusing him at
once for his treachery and duplicity, placed him in a car-
riage, and went, as fast as the horses could carry them, to
Mr. Barclay's.' Then Jane made a solemn pause, and look-
ing her mother in the face, appeared to enjoy immensely
her great excitement.

' Oh, this is too, too shocking to believe,' cried Mrs. Red-
mond ; ' how very sad indeed ! '

' I can yet tell you something worse still,' said Jane :
' Lo ! and behold ! when Gerald' Sanderson was confronted
with Georgy Barclay, they had beheld each other for the
very first time in their natural lives ! He was not the right
man ! some one else had assumed his name.'

Then Jane Redmond, having produced the unheard-of
circumstance of thoroughly arousing her dormant parent,
indulged in a loud and malicious burst of laughter.

Mrs. Redmond had never been charged with an overflow
of affection for her neighbors ; but she was a mother, and
she felt that this was a load of grief and suffering almost too
great for human endurance. She exclaimed : ' How can
you be so hard-hearted as to laugh and mock at such mis-
ery as the Barclays must suffer ? Shame ! shame on you,
my daughter.'

' La, mother!' cried Jane, ' you seem to have changed
all of a sudden, it seems to me, and have begun to stand by
that disagreeable family ; for my part, I rejoice that pride
has had a downfall.'

' And I also,' chimed in Miss Tidmarsh.



OF BOSTON. 191

It seemed, at that moment, as if Mrs. Redmond had, for
the first time, comprehended how culpable had been her
neglect of her child, and how much she had to answer for
at the great tribunal, where all are weighed in the balance.
Here was a creature, confided to her charge by the Al-
mighty, who had been permitted to foster such evil passions
as made her own mother's blood curdle in her veins ; her
eyes opened to the total want of care in her management
of this child, her own indolence and apathy, and her own
consequent unhappiness. 'Jane,' said she, solemnly, 'can
you possibly forget when little Mary laid insensible ; when
we had all renounced even a shadow of hope ; when I, her
mother, who never despair, had made up my mind that I
must resign my youngest born, can you forget, I repeat,
that Mrs. Barclay, with energetic confidence, almost breathed
the breath of life into your sister by her innumerable appli-
cations and frictions, how she watched over her day and
night, until she was pronounced out of danger, and then
crept silently out of the house to avoid our acknowledg-
ments ? Thank God, I, at least, expressed my undying
gratitude to that woman for her kindness.'

' Miss Serena Tid marsh,' said she, addressing her partic-
ularly, ' you will please to walk immediately out of my
doors, and never do you re-enter them again. I have long
thought your society was a great injury to my daughter,
whom I devoutly hope is not as malicious as she seems to
be. I therefore desire her to hold no further communion
with you.'

Miss Serena forthwith made her exit, in a very crest-
fallen manner, which, to say the least, was very different
from her entrance. Mrs. Redmond then ordered Jane to
her chamber for the day, which command the young lady
sullenly obeyed, and, once there, cried heartily from mere
spite, but having exhausted her tears, recommenced her
accustomed operations of watching the Barclay's house.
The fact was, that Jane Redmond's incurable fancy for



192



THE BARCLAYS



knowing and settling other people's affairs, and her insatiate
thirst for scandal, which had been encouraged by her bosom
friend, Miss Tidnnarsh, had so completely vitiated a heart
naturally none of the best, that no favorable impression
could be made upon it ; at least by her mother whose inert-
ness and indolence she despised.

Thus Mrs. Redmond even reaped as she had sowed, and
finding that she possessed no influence whatever over her
daughter, she, that very day, resolved that Mary Redmond,
a promising girl, should be instantly removed from her
sister's contaminating presence, and this was shortly effect-
ed. Mary, incessantly domineered over and thwarted by
Jane, was delighted to hear that she was to be sent to a
good boarding-school. There was but one drawback to her
happiness, and that was her separation from her friend Kate
Barclay, whom she really loved, though now and then she
teased her a little. She crossed the street, imparted to her
this pleasant intelligence, and embracing her again and
again, took an affectionate farewell of her.

When Robert Redmond returned home to dinner, his
countenance well betrayed his feelings ; not a morsel could
he swallow, and at last, fairly overcome, he left the table.
His mother immediately following him, he threw himself on
her neck and wept like a child. Mrs. Redmond loved her
son, now she respected him ; so great was the contrast be-
tween him and his hard-hearted sister. She informed him
that she had literally turned Miss Tidmarsh out of doors,
and also imparted her determination to send Mary to school,
and to this plan he gave his unqualified approbation. Apart
from his knowledge of the pernicious influence exercised
over Jane by Miss Tidmarsh, he was greatly relieved by her
banishment, for she had lately taken into her silly head a
project of enslaving him, which she seemed disposed to carry
into effect by main force.

Poor Robert ! he certainly did consider this an infliction,
and often asked himself what great sin he had committed



OF BOSTON. 193

to merit such a punishment. Wherever he went he was
sure to find Miss Tidmarsh ; she was certain to be returning
home at the precise moment he went to his meals, and ever
just about to take a walk as he left his house. She literally
haunted his steps, and actually made him, at times, quite
nervous. It being extremely easy for her to know all his
movements from Jane, who never dreamed of her friend's
projects, she was always at the right moment in the right
place, in her own view of the subject ; Mr. Robert Redmond
being of a totally different opinion.

It may be asked where was Mr. Redmond on this day
Avhen his best friend's home was filled with grief and sorrow.
He came to his dinner and received the sad intelligence
with sundry ejaculations, evidently not comprehending it at
all ; his head being filled with a patent case, he was revolv-
ing machinery, and arranging all its knotty points. One
week afterwards, the suit being decided in his favor, he had
leisure to feel quite sorry for Mr. Barclay's aflliction.

In the evening, Robert Redmond held a confidential con-
versation with his mother, in which he imparted to her his
long cherished affection for Georgiana Barclay. * He could
hardly,' he said, ' remember when it began, and he felt, now
that she was lost to him forever, immeasurably wretched.'
He was greatly indignant at the author of her misery,
and declared he would give ten years of his life to dis-
cover her husband. Never for a moment doubted he the
truth of the unhappy young creature's story, nor did his
mother ; they well knew she was truthful and honorable.
Mrs. Redmond, who felt grieved that she had permhted
herself ever to believe aught in disparagement of her valu-
able neighbors, or to entertain any prejudice whatever
against them, dwelt with feelings of gratitude on Mrs. Bar-
clay's kindness during Mary's recent illness, and the atten-
tive devotion it had elicited. Indeed, that day proved an
era in her existence, dispelling many disagreeable thoughts
and awakening many profitable reflections. The next morn-



194 THE BARCLAYS

ing Robert Redmond called on Mr. Barclay, and told him
in a straight-forward manner, that having learned he had
no objection to speak upon the melancholy event which had
occurred in his family, he had come to offer his services in
endeavoring to discover the wretch who had destroyed, in
such a mysterious manner, its peace and well-being.

Mr. Barclay answered him kindly, even affectionately,
and declared himself to be greatly obliged to him, and most
willing to accept his proffered services in the dire extremity
to which he was reduced. Robert Redmond then inquired
about Miss Barclay's state of health, and her father informed
him that she still laid in a state of partial insensibility, and
that he entertained strong doubts of her survival of the
shock she had endured. This sad communication complete-
ly unnerved the young lover, and he found it impossible to
repress his sensibility, and, seating himself, remained some
time quite overcome.

Mr. Barclay was much affected by this demonstration of
feeling, and spoke openly to him of his own sufferings, and
expressed his gratitude for the sympathy exhibited towards
his child.

' Alas ! my dear Sir,' said Robert, ' I have so long loved
your daughter, that I now find much difficulty in remem-
bering the commencement of my interest in her. Imagine
then, I pray, my distress when all my long-cherished
hopes are blasted, and in such a cruel manner. I could
submit with some degree of patience to this infliction, if I
could be assured of Miss Barclay's happiness ; but when I
reflect upon the indignity offered to you and yours, my blood
actually boils with resentment and anger.'

' We are in the hands of the Lord, my young friend,'
said Mr. Barclay, ' and whatsoever he chooses to inflict we
must bear with submission.'

' Allow me to say, Sir,' said Robert, ' that the whole com-
munity sympathizes with you. My mother's heart bleeds
for Mrs. Barclay ; indeed, she is aroused in a most remark-



OF BOSTON. 195

able way.' He then sorrowfully and respectfully with-
drew.

Robert Redmond returned to his mother, and communi-
cated to her the state of Mr. Barclay's family, and she
instantly wrote a note, overflowing with gratitude to Mrs.
Barclay, for her devotion in her own child's extremity, and
begged to be allowed to make some slight return. She
offered to watch day and night, and declared she should
never be satisfied until she was employed in her behalf.
]\Irs. Barclay sent Kate with a kind message of thanks that
Mrs. Redmond's proffers of aid would be gratefully accept-
ed when needed, but that, at present, they were overwhelmed
with like requests.

The reaction had been very powerful in Mrs. Redmond's
views of her opposite neighbors ; she watched their house
still, devoting all the time she could possibly spare from her
novel reading, but, happily, not with the same carping and
critical spirit. Indeed, it is extremely doubtful if the lady
would have overlooked them at all, had not her lounging-
chair been placed near the window. Where there really
exists a good heart, however overgrown it may have become
with rank weeds, let but one ray of sunshine enter, and
another invariably follows. Mrs. Redmond was actually
enjoying the effects of such a felicitous event.

Robert Redmond wandered about the town despairingly ;
he could fix upon no occupation ; his mind was a chaos of
contending emotions. He now comprehended that all hope
for him had fled, and bitterly lamented he had not essayed
more openly to win Miss Barclay's affections. The truth
was that he, in his humility, although much older than the
young girl, had considered himself so immeasurably beneath
her, that he had never ventured to address her but with the
commonest courtesies of every-day life. Then Jane was
so disagreeable, that their home had few attractions for very
young people, and ]Mary, though pleasing, was too juvenile
for any members of the family, except Kate.



196 THE BARCLAYS

Mary Redmond was a very good little girl, and, as it
sometimes occurs in such disorganized domestic elements,
she stood forth quite prominently in this discordant family ;
more, perhaps, by force of contrast than otherwise.

The good example of the Barclays had a great share in
coloring Mary's existence, and her brother's also, and their
beneficent influence became every day more visible. Rob-
ert Redmond revolved over perpetually in his mind who
the wretch could be, who had so essentially destroyed the
happiness of the family he so dearly loved. He could not
remember to have ever seen Georgiana Barclay with any one
with whom he was unacquainted, but once. In vain, did he
try to recall the features of this individual. He recollected
thinking, at the time, he was a stranger, but, as his friends
were always receiving foreigners, he paid no attention to the
circumstance.

In all his reflections, and amidst this maze of conjectures
to which there existed no clue, never did he, for a moment,
blame Georgiana ; she remained in his eyes, as ever, fault-
less, nor would he permit any one else to blame her.
Fiercely resenting any criticisms on her conduct, he was
ever ready to do battle with any one in her defence ;
and no true and loyal knight of old ever held his ladye-love
in deeper, higher, holier consideration than the sorrowing
youth, who, from morning till night, fretted out his days in
repining for the treasure he had lost. Robert's love seemed
rooted all the more deeply in his heart that he had never
revealed it, and to this conclusion had it come at last, 'that
it was the absorbing interest of his life. No other woman,
he repeatedly avowed, should ever occupy Gcorgy's place
in his atfections.

Mrs. Redmond, becoming extrcmelv absorbed in the af-
flictions of her friends, her son beheld, to his immense
satisfaction, the disap|)earance of the tawdry looking vol-
umes he so much disliked, and perceived his mother had
substituted for them some embroidery. This he consider-



OF BOSTON. 197

ed a salutary change, for he entertained an unmitigated
disgust for the would-be fashionable gentry she patronized ;
not even to mention the bandits, brigands, and robbers,
whom she liked better still. This change, however, only
lasted during the beginning of her excitement; she soon
returned to her old friends with renewed vigor. Robert
Redmond suddenly found himself, to his astonishment, lean-
ing on his mother, the slight and frail reed that mother
had ever seemed to be to him ! And now she was all the
world. Weak, indolent and frivolous as she was, Mrs. Red-
mond's sensibility awoke after her own fashion, at the call
for sympathy from a son whom she had loved, but was too
inert to make any decided demonstration, and she responded
to the appeal warmly and devotedly.

And thus it is, man may wander about, seeking for coun-
sel and support in other quarters, but he returns to his
mother at last. Surely, Robert Redmond's parent would
have seemed to be lamentably deficient in all the requisites
for grand emergencies ; but maternal love had lighted a
lamp in her heart, if it had failed to do so in her brain, and
she seemed to him a very tower of strength. And indeed
she was ; she comforted, soothed, deplored and caressed,
and truly did just as well for him, under the circumstances,
as if she had been the wisest woman in all Christendom.

Robert discovered that, at the very moment he lost his
mistress, he had found his mother ; that she was an equiva-
lent might be questioned, but she contrived to dispel, by her
tender attentions, a vast deal of gloom and despondency
which prevailed in the heart of her son ; and, this being the
case, it was of small import if Mrs. Redmond were silly or
wise. And then how that mother rejoiced with her son
at the glad tidings of Georgiana Barclay's restoration to
health !



17*



198 THE BARCLAYS



CHAPTER XXIII.

* Some falls are the means the happier to rise.'

Shakspeabe.

And Georgiana Barclay arose from her bed of pain and
suffering, pale, wan and exhausted. The lily of the valley
was not more colorless than her delicate cheek, nor more
disposed to hide itself from human ken than was this crushed
flower, swept to the ground by merciless blasts. Rude winds
had visited the blue-veined brow, over which rich masses of
golden curls flowed in graceful beauty, but the eyes that,
heretofore, had beamed on all so lustrously, were dimmed :
their downcast lids seemed doomed ne'er to rise again ; their
light was quenched indeed. A creature, shipwrecked on the
sanded shores of life, ere that young life began, was this
sweet bud of promise ; she had loved, hoped, trusted, and,
alas ! all too early, had won the guerdon of woman's destiny ;
and she was to bear her cross through her appointed days
courageously, fearlessly, or perish. The future on earth
was dark and sombre. A blight was upon her fair fame,
never to be effaced ; with this heart-rending conviction she
beheld the sun rise and set ; her nights were passed in tears.

A weight of woe was upon her almost too heavy for
human strength to cope with, but she was young, and youth
can never be entirely divested of hope ; a portion of this
blessing will ever cling to early days, even under the most
adverse fortunes. Women of maturer years, as it has been
demonstrated in many cases, sink under even the slightest,
faintest breath of scandal affecting their honor ; they under-
stand all the concomitant wretchedness and misery attendant



OF BOSTON. 199

upon it ; they full well know that, like the Venetian mirror