Índice Geral das Seções Índice da Seção Atual Índice da Obra Atual Anterior: Capítulo 34 Seguinte: Capítulo 36

CAPÍTULO 35.

AROUSED by the noise of the capstan, Noel started from his slumber and hastened to go on deck to take a last look at Mexico. On opening his cabin-door he was met by the steward, who was evidently waiting for him, and who said, handing a letter, –

‘If you please, sir, I had strict orders to give you this to read the moment you were up.’

Noel returned into his cabin, and opening the letter, which was in Maynard’s handwriting, found a note for himself, and an enclosure addressed to Margaret. That to himself ran thus: –

‘I cannot leave Mexico, and I dare not keep Margaret in it. She would not go without me; hence my device. You will see her safe to her aunt. Your friendship will not grudge this service. On receiving this you will best serve all parties by repressing any appearance of surprise, and persuading her to do the same. The captain of the steamer knows that I had no intention of going, and has no idea but that you and Margaret know it also. He believes that she is going to England under

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the escort of her brother. The idea was suggested to me by the people at the Christmas games, calling you ‘el señor hermano.’ The supposed relationship will prevent any inconvenience or annoyance to either of you on board. Your preservation of the character is essential to the interest and honour of us all. To me it scarcely involves a falsehood; for are not all men brothers? and Margaret, as I too well know, is a born sister to all men.

‘I ask your forgiveness for thus making use of you without first gaining your consent. Do not decide that I am wrong, until you can suggest a better expedient; and in your calculations do not omit to take some account of what it must have cost me. When this comes into your hands I shall be far away on my return to the Real with the condúcta, which has orders to wait for me. I stick to the mine until either it can do without me, or I without it. Bid Margaret be composed, and persuade her that I have done the best. She has a great opinion of you, and will be influenced by your advice. Farewell, until we meet again; and don’t forget that I want to read your book.’

Noel read this letter over a second time before he allowed any decided feeling to form itself in his mind; and then found compassion and resentment struggling with about equal force to get uppermost. Going on deck and inquiring with as unconcerned a manner as he could adopt, at what hour James had gone ashore, he learnt that he had not returned to Tampico at all, but had left the steamer in a boat with some of his own men long before daylight, and had gone across the lagoon to rejoin the convoy. He had thus put himself out of the reach of remonstrance and repentance, and it only remained for Noel to wonder how Margaret would take the news, and how he could best break it to her. He found it very difficult to realise the fact.

‘Margaret given up to me, and on such terms! How I should have caught at the chance, had I been consulted. And now, the false position in which she is placed is almost enough to make her hate me. How clever of Maynard is that idea of brother. Could he have guessed the keenness of the sarcasm? I have sometimes fancied that there is a certain fiendish element in his nature, which would impel him to any cruelty where his affections are nearly touched. I never realised before what heaping coals of fire on an enemy’s head meant. The first feeling, with any other woman in the world, would be one of

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bitter indignation at being so compromised: indignation strong enough to impel to vengeance, – the vengeance, perhaps, that a wife alone can take. But the idea will not occur to Margaret, and I certainly shall not suggest it to her. Blessed, worldly ignorance! May it continue until – until we meet Sophia Bevan! Ah!’ and he started as if stung, ‘I must be beforehand with her, and tell her just so much truth as to let her think the arrangement, an unusual one, certainly, but not appearing very odd to ourselves under the circumstances; and, therefore, not requiring any very strong expressions of astonishment or disapprobation; at least, before Margaret. No, Sophia is a thoroughly good girl, and will, I am sure, agree with me that the only way to spare Margaret – to say nothing of myself – much pain and annoyance is to take the arrangement as a matter of course. She is so sharp that it will be a difficult matter to keep her in the dark as to our real feelings. Perhaps the practice of brothering-and-sistering each other during the voyage will help to blind her. Lady Bevan may think, but she won’t talk; and by a little management may be made to see things in a satisfactory light. If we can but keep our own secret until we reach England, all may go well. I trust to heaven no passengers who know either of us will join us in the West Indies.’

And taking out Maynard’s letter he read it again, and then watched the receding shore, and the sinking line of the forest, and, golden tinted in the level sun, the white houses of Tampico el alto, the elevated village on the opposite side to which James had gone direct in order to rejoin his people, and which remained visible long after the town and the port had disappeared. And then he went below, and wrote this note to be given to Margaret on her waking: –

‘SISTER MARGARET, – For such, by James’s desire, is to be your title during the voyage; the enclosed will show you at once the worst and the best that we had to fear or hope from the peculiarity of his demeanour. Read first the letter addressed to me. I was up at daylight, and found that he had gone hours before to rejoin the convoy, and was far out of reach. While waiting for your waking, I have been thinking for both of us. It cannot be undone. We may condole with each other in secret – his arrangement at least gives us that privilege: and I need not assure you that, while I am utterly innocent of any knowledge, suspicion, or approval, of his design, I shall not the less to my utmost aid you in bearing this painful surprise, and

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fulfilling the part he has assigned to us. Poor, dear fellow, my heart bleeds for him. What will sustain him when the excitement of carrying his stratagem into effect shall have passed away? Perhaps you had better not leave your cabin today, or, at least, before evening, when your brother’s arm will be at your service for a turn upon deck. If you wish to speak with me before that, send for me to your cabin. The greatest kindness we can do to James now, to say nothing of ourselves, is to attend to his wish, – keep the secret and enact the parts. In all sympathy, your affectionate brother, EDMUND.’

Margaret scarcely knew what she had read when she reached the end. Yet she started up, and gazed through the windows of her port at the now distant shore, and saw that all return was hopeless. And then she read James’s letter to Edmund; and then with frozen fingers opened her own.

‘Oh, my Margaret,’ it said, ‘let this atone. If there were a choice for me, at this last moment, I would gladly accept it, rather than lose the sweet irritation of your presence. I dare not keep you longer in Mexico, even if I dare keep you longer by my side. You will be angry and hurt at my decision at first, for a little while, and then you will be sorry for me, and have anxiety on my account. Be as sorry as you can, and I shall bless your compassion; but have no fears. Alone, I am not in danger. Don’t let Noel come back. He has better occupation in Europe; and, with his ambition, stimulated by you, he will find there a fitting career. Make him get married. He will do little until he is. Go, and live happily with your relatives, and send me a fine now and then to say that you are well. But not often. I cannot bear it. You know in your most inmost soul that we are best apart, at least for the present. Perhaps sometime in the future, you – no, I dare not let myself dream. You cannot change to me, or for me. Do not think I blame you. The mistake was mine. I read human nature awrong. I did not know that such love as mine could fail to create a love like itself. Perhaps I ought to have known that such loveliness as yours could not be altogether human. See how noble I believe you! I knew you would not leave me, and so contrived this plan. It meets all objections, save that which your heart will prompt when it is too late. While reading this, you are longing to be with me, as you never longed before. But to what end should I go with you, if only to return? Never mind; that longing is my best justification, and reward. It

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proves that I have at last learnt to comprehend you. Tell them what you please in England. Farewell, oh, my love!’

Índice Geral das Seções Índice da Seção Atual Índice da Obra Atual Anterior: Capítulo 34 Seguinte: Capítulo 36