Lindigo, the White Woman/Chapter 10
CHAPTER X.
MADAMOISELLE DUPONT.
Captain Campbell was not at all sorry that the mischievous Ensign had raised a barrier to his introduction to the family, and thus saved himself any apprehension of being ousted from the affections of Miss Forbes, never dreaming that John's affections were already fixed upon another of the young ladies. Another objection the Captain had to the acquaintance was the dread of being exposed, through the witticisms of John Lom, in the presence of the ladies.
Some days after the ball, the Captain again began to twit the Ensign upon the obstacle he himself had made to his introduction to the family, and set forth in glowing terms the favourable footing he had among them, stating that he had been commissioned to select a French lady to instruct the Misses Forbes in that language, and that he had advertised for one.
The Ensign, who had patiently borne with all the Captain's teazing while listening to his braggadocia, at last proposed, to the Captain's as well as Charlie's surprise, to renew the wager—that he would a second time introduce himself to the company and dupe the Captain again. This was eagerly snapped at by the Captain, in order to recover his favorite charger, for to deceive him a second time was, in his opinion, an impossibility. Thus the three passed the time pleasantly, and Charlie's disappointment was greatly relieved by the pleasant company in which he daily mixed.
A case of considerable importance came before the courts of law at this time, in which Advocate Forbes was engaged, which occupied a great deal of time for several days. This was a favourable opportunity for the Captain and Charlie to spend some pleasant hours in the company of the daughters, and of which they took advantage.
On one of these evenings a servant entered the room where the happy company were conversing, with the intelligence that a French lady, giving the name of Madamoiselle Dupont, wished to have an interview with her. "Ha!" exclaimed the Captain, "that is in answer to my advertisement; for mercy's sake, Miss Forbes, admit Parlez-vous." This was the sum total of his knowledge of French, and never having been in the company of the ladies of the neighboring kingdom, he was most anxious that she should be introduced. The servant was instructed by Miss Forbes to show the lady in, when the company were soon treated to a sight which was far from their ideas of the appearance of a French lady.
A tall, shapeless lady dressed in black silk, a shawl and bonnet, with a long pale visage adorned with a pair of spectacles, and encircled by a thickly bordered cap, stood before them. On entering she made a low curtsey, and commenced speaking in broken English with great volubility, stating her proficiency in the instruction of her native language, mentioning many families in which she had held the appointment of governess.
Miss Forbes was quite at a loss how to answer this uncouth-looking person, but said that as Mr. Forbes was engaged that evening, she would thank her to call again.
The gallant Captain, not wishing to let the opportunity slip of drawing Parlez-vous out, engaged her in conversation, entering into a lively chat for the amusement of the company. A hint from Matilda, inviting her into another room to remove her bonnet and shawl, put a stop to their conversation. In the absence of the stranger and Matilda, Miss Forbes seated herself at the piano, and played several favourite strathspeys of the Captain's, on hearing which he could not resist giving a few turns by himself. While engaged in the lively exercise of dancing his favourite Highland fling, he was joined by Madll. Dupont as partner, who suddenly shot into the room and imitated every step and turn. The figure the two presented at this moment, was highly comical. The Captain, in order to carry on the sport, wheeled round with great velocity, vociferating "Well done, Parlez-vous! Another turn! On you go!" &c., &c.
The Frenchwoman, who was not to be outdone, wheeled at every turn of the Captain's, holding her hands over head, cracking her fingers, and whisked one leg across the other, which caused a flapping sound from her silk dress. Miss Forbes' back being towards the dancers, she did not observe the unfeminine exhibition which Madll. Dupont made of herself.
Charlie and Catherine took refuge outside the door to give vent to their merriment, the latter being somewhat shocked at the scene. Not so Matilda, for she appeared to enjoy the fun amazingly. Miss Forbes at last looked over her shoulder, which instantly put an end to the music and dancing, her gravity not being proof against such an amusing scene, when the Captain, in streams of perspiration, and quite out of breath, staggered with his partner to the sofa, where they took a seat in good humor, and held a confidential chat for some time.
On expressing her wish to depart, Captain Campbell prevailed upon her to give him her address, promising to call upon her, engaging at the same time not to read it until she had left; upon which she slipped her card into his hand and wished them good evening, but before quitting the house spent another few minutes with Matilda when getting her bonnet and shawl. When she was clear off, the Captain flung himself on the sofa, and pave vent to his pent-up merriment; but thinking of the card, he took it from his pocket, and read the following to the company:—
"Ensign John McDonald, Royal Highlanders,
Edinburgh Castle."
Charlie Stuart had now passed two years at the University since his return from the Highlands, and during that time he had made wonderful progress in his studies, so much so that he was admitted as an advocate, the first at his age attaining that high position. This was owing to his close application to the study of his profession, his quickness in mastering any subject he set his mind upon, and, through the patronage of his friend Mr. Forbes, who took great interest in his advancement.
During this long interval he never visited his home, and seldom ever hearing the name of his never-to-be-forgotten Bella mentioned. The following article in a London paper destroyed all his hopes of again seeing her, but as the wife of another:—"On dit.—Marriage in high life. It is currently reported in high circles that Lord Lundy, upon his attaining his majority, which will be in a short time, will lead to the altar the beautiful Miss McKay; or, as she is commonly called, the 'Highland Beauty,' and that the happy pair will then visit the Highlands, and pass the season there."
Bella McKay was no less surprised on reading a similar article in an Edinburgh paper, regarding her former lover, Charlie Stuart, shortly after his admission to the Scotch bar, and which destroyed her last hopes of happiness on earth. The article in question was as follows:—"A case of considerable interest came before our High Court of Justiciary, and which is fully inserted in another column, in which two of our young advocates figured, one as counsel for the pursuer, and the other as defender in his own case. What gives it more interest is that both are reported to be rivals to the hand of a beautiful daughter of a leading member of the bar, and, according to accounts, the issue of the case will decide the claim to the fair prize. We must, therefore congratulate the young advocate, who so ably and successfully carried the day, not only for the valuable and well-earned laurels, but also in exposing the profligacy of the defender, whose expulsion from the respectable profession by the Lord Chief Justice was a just retribution, "We trust that all lovers of honour will join us in complimenting the successful advocate, who made such a brilliant debut on his entrance into public life. We have also heard from good authority that he will shortly present his lady love at the shrine of Hymen, and afterwards take a tour with his young bride during the honeymoon, among his native Highland hills."
The action which brought the above comment in the public journals, had created a great noise and gossip in Edinburgh, as it involved the future prospects of the defendant, and the innocence of the much injured plaintiff, whose cause the chivalric and honourable Charlie Stuart pleaded so boldly and effectually.
Mr. Melrose, the defendant, who was a promising young man, of respectable parents in Perth, and a fellow student of Charlie's, though two years his senior, was admitted to the Bar at the same time.
His father was on intimate terms with Advocate Forbes, who promised to aid young Melrose, if he proved himself worthy, in his future career at the Bar.
The young man was gifted with many brilliant qualities, and an attractive person, but, unfortunately, given to profligate habits in his private life.
Through Mr, Forbes extending to him his hospitality, as well as his patronage, he became a constant visitor, and frequently met with Catherine, whose warm and affectionate heart showed great kindness to her father's friend, until Charlie made her acquaintance, on whom she placed all her affections, and deprived the disappointed and enraged Melrose of all his fond hopes.
Catherine, never suspecting Melrose's passion towards her, only viewed aim in the light of a friend; but, on perceiving Charlie's many amiable and excellent qualities, her heart became at once an unconscious captive, and withdrew the little favour it extended towards the discarded Melrose.
Charlie, who well knew Melrose's profligate habits in private life, and seeing his pretended modesty couched with a pleasing address before the unsuspecting ladies. His own honorable and straightforward principles, propelled by an intense dislike to young men indulging in loose habits, could not suffer such deception on the part of Melrose; we may expect that any degree of harmony could not exist between the newly admitted advocates.
Melrose maintained a deadly revenge against his more favoured rival, whose unblemished character could not, however, give him an opportunity of undermining his reputation in the estimation of Catherine Forbes, until a certain event transpired, on which he thought of building a charge which would be prejudicial to Charlie. Knowing Catherine's abhorrence of young men possessing the slightest looseness in their habits. One day while holding a confidential conversation with her, they happened to refer to Charlie Stuart, when she, as usual, extolled his unblemished character, and held him forth as a pattern for all young men, both in morality and personal attraction.
This panegyric exasperated the jealous Melrose, who answered her with a malicious smile, which meant that she was ignorant of the young man's private habits, and did she but know as much as he did, she would change her opinion; for instance, he told her that not later than the day before he saw Charlie holding a long conversation with a Highland girl, of very questionable character, in the street. This information at first startled her; but, concluding that Melrose might be mistaken in the character of the girl, she told Charlie, on their meeting, of Melrose's insinuations. Charlie, although long anticipating some antagonism from Melrose, was not ready for such a malicious and unfounded charge; however, on bringing to mind the person with whom he was conversing in the street, a new light flashed through his mind. He therefore told Catherine that the young girl with whom he was conversing was not a doubtful character, but a much-injured creature, whose misfortunes Catherine and the public at large would be soon made acquainted with, although he would refrain from mentioning any more at present concerning her.
The cause of Melrose's unjustifiable remarks can be gathered from the following:—
It transpired about this time that some profligate students, headed by Melrose, had taken a small house in one of the bye-lanes, and placed a sign over the door with the words "Mangling done here"; here the customers, who were mostly servants, were subjected to many insults.
One of these, a girl named Jane Sutherland, being acquainted with Charlie's family, and hearing that Charlie had been admitted to the Bar, called upon him and made him acquainted with the whole of the circumstances of the case, upon which Charlie, accompanied by the girl, called upon Melrose at his chambers, when she instantly recognised him as the man who had insulted her; Charlie immediately served him with notice of action. The case created great excitement. Charlie in this his maiden effort, showed that he was possessed of considerable talent, and in a most eloquent and manly speech pleaded the cause of his client. The defendant considerably damaged his own case by the gross insinuations he cast upon Charlie's character, which brought upon himself the disapprobation of the whole Court. The jury, however, returned an instantaneous and unanimous verdict for the plaintiff, with the full amount of the damages asked. The Lord Chief-Justice, in giving his concurrence to the verdict, told the defendant that he should order his name to be removed from the rolls of that honourable court, no longer allowing him an opportunity of disgracing an honourable profession of which he might have been a great ornament.
After this successful action, in which Charlie acquitted himself so nobly, briefs were entrusted to him from all quarters, and his chambers were constantly being visited by fresh clients. His manly and upright principles had gained for him the esteem and goodwill of all grades of society; but alas! these bright prospects were not destined to be of long duration, for one day he received the mournful intelligence from his servant Donald that his father had been taken seriously ill, and was not likely to recover. The writer went on to state that the letter was written without the sanction of Mr. Stuart, as he still entertained hopes of his recovery, and did not wish to interfere with Charlie's many engagements by sending for him, or even informing him of his illness. Upon receipt of the letter, Charlie made every arrangement for a speedy journey to the Highlands, entrusting the whole of his business to the care of Mr. Forbes.