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The Woman Hater

C >> Charles Reade >> The Woman Hater




Then she opened the piano, played an introduction, and electrified them
all by singing the leading song in Siebel. She did not sing it so
powerfully as in the theater; she would not have done that even if she
could: but still she sung it out, and nobly. It seemed a miracle to hear
such singing in a room.

Vizard was in raptures.

They cooled suddenly when she reminded him what he had said, that she
must stay till she could sing Siebel's song. "I keep to the letter of the
contract," said she. "My friends, this is my last night at Vizard Court."

"Please try and shake that resolution," said Vizard, gravely, to
Mesdemoiselles Dover and Gale.

"They cannot," said Ina. "It is my destiny. And yet," said she, after a
pause, "I would not have you remember me by that flimsy thing. Let me
sing you a song your mother loved; let me be remembered in this house, as
a singer, by that."

Then she sung Handel's song:

"What though I trace each herb and flower That decks the morning dew? Did
I not own Jehovah's power, How vain were all I knew."

She sung it with amazing purity, volume, grandeur, and power; the lusters
rang and shook, the hearts were thrilled, and the very souls of the
hearers ravished. She herself turned a little pale in singing it, and the
tears stood in her eyes.

The song and its interpretation were so far above what passes for music
that they all felt compliments would be an impertinence. Their eyes and
their long drawn breath paid the true homage to that great master rightly
interpreted--a very rare occurrence.

"Ah!" said she; "that was the hand could brandish Goliath's spear."

"And this is how you reconcile us to losing you," said Vizard. "You might
stay, at least, till you had gone through my poor mother's collection."

"Ah! I wish I could. But I cannot. I must not. My Fate forbids it."

"'Fate' and 'destiny,'" said Vizard, "stuff and nonsense. We make our own
destiny. Mine is to be eternally disappointed, and happiness snatched out
of my hands."

He had no sooner made this pretty speech than he was ashamed of it, and
stalked out of the room, not to say any more unwise things.

This burst of spleen alarmed Fanny Dover. "There," said she, "now you
cannot go. He is very angry."

Ina Klosking said she was sorry for that; but he was too just a man to be
angry with her long: the day would come when he would approve her
conduct. Her lip quivered a little as she said this, and the water stood
in her eyes: and this was remembered and understood, long after, both by
Miss Dover and Rhoda Gale.

"When does your Royal Highness propose to start?" inquired Rhoda Gale,
very obsequiously, and just a little bitterly.

"To-morrow at half-past nine o'clock, dear friend," said Ina.

"Then you will not go without me. You will get the better of Mr. Vizard,
because he is only a man; but I am a woman, and have a will as well as
you. If you make a journey to-morrow, I go with you. Deny me, and you
shan't go at all." Her eyes flashed defiance.

Ina moved one step, took Rhoda's little defiant head, and kissed her
cheek. "Sweet physician and kind friend, of course you shall go with me,
if you will, and be a great blessing to me."

This reconciled Miss Gale to the proceedings. She packed up a carpet-bag,
and was up early, making provisions of every sort for her patient's
journey: air pillows, soft warm coverings, medicaments, stimulants, etc.,
in a little bag slung across her shoulders. Thus furnished, and equipped
in a uniform suit of gray cloth and wideawake hat, she cut a very
sprightly and commanding figure, but more like Diana than Hebe.

The Klosking came down, a pale Juno, in traveling costume; and a quarter
of an hour before the time a pair-horse fly was at the door and Mr.
Ashmead in the hall.

The ladies were both ready.

But Vizard had not appeared.

This caused an uneasy discussion.

"He must be very angry," said Fanny, in a half whisper.

"I cannot go while he is," sighed La Klosking. "There is a limit even to
my courage."

"Mr. Harris," said Rhoda, "would you mind telling Mr. Vizard?"

"Well, miss," said Harris, softly, "I did step in and tell him. Which he
told me to go to the devil, miss--a hobservation I never knew him to make
before."

This was not encouraging. Yet the Klosking quietly inquired where he was.

"In there, ma'am," said Harris. "In his study."

Mademoiselle Klosking, placed between two alternatives, decided with her
usual resolution. She walked immediately to the door and tapped at it;
then, scarcely waiting for an instant, opened it and walked in with
seeming firmness, though her heart was beating rather high.

The people outside looked at one another. "I wonder whether he will tell
_her_ to go to the devil," said Fanny, who was getting tired of being
good.

"No use," said Miss Gale; "she doesn't know the road."

When La Klosking entered the study, Vizard was seated, disconsolate, with
two pictures before him. His face was full of pain, and La Klosking's
heart smote her. She moved toward him, hanging her head, and said, with
inimitable sweetness and tenderness, "Here is a culprit come to try and
appease you."

There came a time that he could hardly think of these words and her
penitent, submissive manner with dry eyes. But just then his black dog
had bitten him, and he said, sullenly, "Oh, never mind me. It was always
so. Your sex have always made me smart for-- If flying from my house
before you are half recovered gives you half the pleasure it gives me
pain and mortification, say no more about it."

"Ah! why say it gives me pleasure? my friend, you cannot really think
so."

"I don't know what to think. You ladies are all riddles."

"Then I must take you into my confidence, and, with some reluctance, I
own, let you know why I leave this dear, kind roof to-day."

Vizard's generosity took the alarm. "No," said, "I will not extort your
reasons. It is a shame of me. Your bare will ought to be law in this
house; and what reasons could reconcile me to losing you so suddenly? You
are the joy of our eyes, the delight of our ears, the idol of all our
hearts. You will leave us, and there will be darkness and gloom, instead
of sunshine and song. Well, go; but you cannot soften the blow with
reasons."

Mademoiselle Klosking flushed, and her bosom heaved; for this was a
strong man, greatly moved. With instinctive tact, she saw the best way to
bring him to his senses was to give him a good opening to retreat.

"Ah, monsieur," said she, "you are _trop grand seigneur._ You entertain a
poor wounded singer in a chamber few princes can equal. You place
everything at her disposal; such a physician and nurse as no queen can
command; a choir to sing to her; royal sables to keep the wind from her,
and ladies to wait on her. And when you have brought her back to life,
you say to yourself, She is a woman; she will not be thoroughly content
unless you tell her she is adorable. So, out of politeness, you descend
to the language of gallantry. This was not needed. I dispense with that
kind of comfort. I leave your house because it is my duty, and leave it
your grateful servant and true friend to my last hour."

She had opened the door, and Vizard could now escape. His obstinacy and
his heart would not let him.

"Do not fence with me," said he. "Leave that to others. It is beneath
you. If you had been content to stay, I would have been content to show
my heart by halves. But when you offer to leave me, you draw from me an
avowal I can no longer restrain, and you must and shall listen to it.
When I saw you on the stage at Homburg, I admired you and loved you that
very night. But I knew from experience how seldom in women outward graces
go with the virtues of the soul. I distrusted my judgment. I feared you
and I fled you. But our destiny brought you here, and when I held you,
pale and wounded, in my very arms, my heart seemed to go out of my
bosom."

"Oh, no more! no more, pray!" cried Mademoiselle Klosking.

But the current of love was not to be stemmed. "Since that terrible hour
I have been in heaven, watching your gradual and sure recovery; but you
have recovered only to abandon me, and your hurry to leave me drives me
to desperation. No, I cannot part with you. You must not leave me, either
this day or any day. Give me your hand, and stay here forever, and be the
queen of my heart and of my house."

For some time La Klosking had lost her usual composure. Her bosom heaved
tumultuously, and her hands trembled. But at this distinct proposal the
whole woman changed. She drew herself up, with her pale cheek flushing
and her eyes glittering.

"What, sir?" said she. "Have you read me so ill? Do you not know I would
rather be the meanest drudge that goes on her knees and scrubs your
floors, than be queen of your house, as you call it? Ah, Jesu, are all
men alike, then; that he whom I have so revered, whose mother's songs I
have sung to him, makes me a proposal dishonorable to me and to himself?"

"Dishonorable!" cried Vizard. "Why, what can any man offer to any woman
more honorable than I offer you? I offer you my heart and my hand, and I
say, do not go, my darling. Stay here forever, and be my queen, my
goddess, my wife!"

"YOUR WIFE?" She stared wildly at him. "Your wife? Am I dreaming, or are
you?"

"Neither. Do you think I can be content with less than that? Ina, I adore
you."

She put her hand to her head. "I know not who is to blame for this," said
she, and she trembled visibly.

"I'll take the blame," said he, gayly.

Said Ina, very gravely. "You, who do me the honor to offer me your name,
have you asked yourself seriously what has been the nature of my relation
with Edward Severne?"

"No!" cried Vizard, violently; "and I do not mean to. I see you despise
him now; and I have my eyes and my senses to guide me in choosing a wife.
I choose you--if you will have me."

She listened, then turned her moist eyes full upon him, and said to him,
"This is the greatest honor ever befell me. I cannot take it."

"Not take it?"

"No; but that is my misfortune. Do not be mortified. You have no rival in
my esteem. What shall I say, my friend?--at least I may call you that. If
I explain now, I shall weep much, and lose my strength. What shall I do?
I think--yes, that will be best--_you shall go with me to-day."_

"To the end of the world!"

"Something tells me you will know all, and forgive me."

"Shall I take my bag?"

"You might take an evening dress and some linen."

"Very well. I won't keep you a moment," said he, and went upstairs with
great alacrity.

She went into the hall, with her eyes bent on the ground, and was
immediately pinned by Rhoda Gale, whose piercing eye, and inquisitive
finger on her pulse, soon discovered that she had gone through a trying
scene. "This is a bad beginning of an imprudent journey," said she: "I
have a great mind to countermand the carriage."

"No, no," said Ina; "I will sleep in the railway and recover myself."

The ladies now got into the carriage; Ashmead insisted on going upon the
box; and Vizard soon appeared, and took his seat opposite Miss Gale and
Mademoiselle Klosking. The latter whispered her doctress: "It would be
wise of me not to speak much at present." La Gale communicated this to
Vizard, and they drove along in dead silence. But they were naturally
curious to know where they were going; so they held some communication
with their eyes. They very soon found they were going to Taddington
Station.

Then came a doubt--were they going up or down?

That was soon resolved.

Mr. Ashmead had hired a saloon carriage for them, with couches and
conveniences.

They entered it; and Mademoiselle Klosking said to Miss Gale, "It is
necessary that I should sleep."

"You shall," said Miss Gale.

While she was arranging the pillows and things, La Klosking said to
Vizard, "We artists learn to sleep when we have work to do. Without it I
should not be strong enough this day." She said this in a half-apologetic
tone, as one anxious not to give him any shadow of offense.

She was asleep in five minutes; and Miss Gale sat watching her at first,
but presently joined Vizard at the other end, and they whispered
together. Said she, "What becomes of the theory that women have no
strength of will? There is Mademoiselle _Je le veux_ in person. When she
wants to sleep, she sleeps; and look at you and me--do you know where we
are going?"

"No."

"No more do I. The motive power is that personification of divine repose
there. How beautiful she is with her sweet lips parted, and her white
teeth peeping, and her upper and lower lashes wedded, and how graceful!"

"She is a goddess," said Vizard. "I wish I had never seen her. Mark my
words, she will give me the sorest heart of all."

"I hope not," said Rhoda, very seriously.

Ina slept sweetly for nearly two hours, and all that time her friends
could only guess where they were going.

At last the train stopped, for the sixth time, and Ashmead opened the
door.

This worthy, who was entirely in command of the expedition, collected the
luggage, including Vizard's bag, and deposited it at the station. He then
introduced the party to a pair-horse fly, and mounted the box.

When they stopped at Bagley, Vizard suspected where they were going.

When he saw the direction the carriage took, he knew it, and turned very
grave indeed.

He even regretted that he had put himself so blindly under the control of
a woman. He cast searching glances at Mademoiselle Klosking to try and
discover what on earth she was going to do. But her face was as
impenetrable as marble. Still, she never looked less likely to do
anything rash or in bad taste. Quietness was the main characteristic of
her face, when not rippled over by a ravishing sweetness; but he had
never seen her look so great, and lofty, and resolute as she looked now;
a little stern, too, as one who had a great duty to do, and was
inflexible as iron. When truly feminine features stiffen into marble like
this, beauty is indeed imperial, and worthy of epic song; it rises beyond
the wing of prose.

My reader is too intelligent not to divine that she was steeling herself
to a terrible interview with Zoe Vizard--terrible mainly on account of
the anguish she knew she must inflict.

But we can rarely carry out our plans exactly as we trace
them--unexpected circumstances derange them or expand them; and I will so
far anticipate as to say that in this case a most unexpected turn of
events took La Klosking by surprise.

Whether she proved equal to the occasion these pages will show very soon.



CHAPTER XXVI.

POIKILUS never left Taddington--only the "Swan." More than once he was
within sight of Ashmead unobserved. Once, indeed, that gentleman, who had
a great respect for dignitaries, saluted him; for at that moment Poikilus
happened to be a sleek dignitary of the Church of England. Poikilus, when
quite himself, wore a mustache, and was sallow, and lean as a weasel; but
he shaved and stuffed and colored for the dean. Shovel-hat, portly walk,
and green spectacles did the rest. Grandfather Whitehead saluted. His
reverence chuckled.

Poikilus kept Severne posted by letter and wire as to many things that
happened outside Vizard Court; but he could not divine the storm that was
brewing inside Ina Klosking's room. Yet Severne defended himself exactly
as he would have done had he known all. He and Zoe spent Elysian hours,
meeting twice a day in the shrubbery, and making love as if they were the
only two creatures in the world; but it was blind Elysium only to one of
them--Severne was uneasy and alarmed the whole time. His sagacity showed
him it could not last, and there was always a creeping terror on him.
Would not Uxmoor cause inquiries? Would he not be sure to tell Vizard?
Would not Vizard come there to look after Zoe, or order her back to
Vizard Court? Would not the Klosking get well, and interfere once more?
He passed the time between heaven and hell; whenever he was not under the
immediate spell of Zoe's presence, a sort of vague terror was always on
him. He looked all round him, wherever he went.

This terror, and his passion, which was now as violent as it was wicked,
soon drove him to conceive desperate measures. But, by masterly
self-government, he kept them two days to his own bosom. He felt it was
too soon to raise a fresh and painful discussion with Zoe. He must let
her drink unmixed delight, and get a taste for it; and then show her on
what conditions alone it could be had forever.

It was on the third day after their reconciliation she found him seated
on a bench in the shrubbery, lost in thought, and looking very dejected.
She was close to him before he noticed; then he sprung up, stared at her,
and began to kiss her hands violently, and even her very dress.

"It is you," said he, "once more."

"Yes, dear," said Zoe, tenderly; "did you think I would not come?"

"I did not know whether you could come. I feel that my happiness cannot
last long. And, Zoe dear, I have had a dream. I dreamed we were taken
prisoners, and carried to Vizard Court, and on the steps stood Vizard and
Mademoiselle Klosking arm-in-arm; I believe they were man and wife. And
you were taken out and led, weeping, into the house, and I was left there
raging with agony. And then that lady put out her finger in a commanding
way, and I was whirled away into utter darkness, and I heard you moan,
and I fought, and dashed my head against the carriage, and I felt my
heart burst, and my whole body filled with some cold liquid, and I went
to sleep, and I heard a voice say, 'It is all over; his trouble is
ended.' I was dead."

This narrative, and his deep dejection, set Zoe's tears flowing. "Poor
Edward!" she sighed. "I would not survive you. But cheer up, dear; it was
only a dream. We are not slaves. I am not dependent on any one. How can
we be parted?"

"We shall, unless we use our opportunity, and make it impossible to part
us. Zoe, do not slight my alarm and my misgivings; such warnings are
prophetic. For Heaven's sake, make one sacrifice more, and let us place
our happiness beyond the reach of man!"

"Only tell me how."

"There is but one way--marriage."

Zoe blushed high, and panted a little, but said nothing.

"Ah!" said he, piteously, "I ask too much."

"How can you say that?" said Zoe. "Of course I shall marry you, dearest.
What! do you think I could do what I _have_ done for anybody but my
husband that is to be?"

"I was mad to think otherwise," said he, "but I am in low spirits, and
full of misgivings. Oh, the comfort, the bliss, the peace of mind, the
joy, if you would see our hazardous condition, and make all safe by
marrying me to-morrow."

"To-morrow! Why, Edward, are you mad? How can we be married, so long as
my brother is so prejudiced against you?"

"If we wait his consent, we are parted forever. He would forgive us after
it--that is certain. But he would never consent. He is too much under the
influence of his--of Mademoiselle Klosking."

"Indeed, I cannot hope he will consent beforehand," sighed Zoe; "but I
have not the courage to defy him; and if I had, we could not marry all in
a moment, like that. We should have to be cried in church."

"That is quite gone out among ladies and gentlemen."

"Not in our family. Besides, even a special license takes time, I
suppose. Oh no, I could not be married in a clandestine, discreditable
way. I am a Vizard--please remember that. Would you degrade the woman you
honor with your choice?"

And her red cheeks and flashing eyes warned him to desist.

"God forbid!" said he. "If that is the alternative, I consent to lose
her--and lose her I shall."

He then affected to dismiss the subject, and said, "Let me enjoy the
hours that are left me. Much misery or much bliss can be condensed in a
few days. I will enjoy the blessed time, and we will wait for the chapter
of accidents that is sure to part us." Then he acted reckless happiness,
and broke down at last.

She cried, but showed no sign of yielding. Her pride and self-respect
were roused and on their defense.

The next day he came to her quietly sad. He seemed languid and listless,
and to care for nothing. He was artful enough to tell her, on the
information of Poikilus, that Vizard had hired the cathedral choir three
times a week to sing to his inamorata; and that he had driven her about
Taddington, dressed like a duchess, in a whole suit of sables.

At that word the girl turned pale.

He observed, and continued: "And it seems these sables are known
throughout the county. There were several carriages in the town, and my
informant heard a lady say they were Mrs. Vizard's sables, worth five
hundred guineas--a Russian princess gave them her."

"It is quite true," said Zoe. "His mother's sables! Is it possible!"

"They all say he is caught at last, and this is to be the next Mrs.
Vizard."

"They may well say so, if he parades her in his mother's sables," said
Zoe, and could not conceal her jealousy and her indignation. "I never
dared so much as ask his permission to wear them," said she.

"And if you had, he would have told you the relics of a saint were not to
be played with."

"That is just what he would have said, I do believe." The female heart
was stung.

"Ah, well," said Severne, "I am sure I should not grudge him his
happiness, if you would see things as he does, and be as brave as he is."

"Thank you," said Zoe. "Women cannot defy the world as men do." Then,
passionately, "Why do you torment me so? why do you urge me so? a poor
girl, all alone, and far from advice. What on earth would you have me
do?"

"Secure us against another separation, unite us in bliss forever."

"And so I would if I could; you know I would. But it is impossible."

"No, Zoe; it is easy. There are two ways: we can reach Scotland in eight
hours; and there, by a simple writing and declaration before witnesses,
we are man and wife."

"A Gretna Green marriage?"

"It is just as much a legal marriage as if a bishop married us at St.
Paul's. However, we could follow it up immediately by marriage in a
church, either in Scotland or the North of England But there is another
way: we can be married at Bagley, any day, before the registrar."

"Is that a marriage--a real marriage?"

"As real, as legal, as binding as a wedding in St. Paul's."

"Nobody in this county has ever been married so. I should blush to be
seen about after it."

"Our first happy year would not be passed in this country. We should go
abroad for six months."

"Ay, fly from shame."

"On our return we should be received with open arms by my own people in
Huntingdonshire, until your people came round, as they always do."

He then showed her a letter, in which his pearl of a cousin said they
would receive his wife with open arms, and make her as happy as they
could. Uncle Tom was coming home from India, with two hundred thousand
pounds; he was a confirmed old bachelor, and Edward his favorite, etc.

Zoe faltered a little: so then he pressed her hard with love, and
entreaties, and promises, and even hysterical tears; then she began to
cry--a sure sign of yielding. "Give me time," she said--"give me time."

He groaned, and said there was no time to lose. Otherwise he never would
have urged her so.

For all that, she could not be drawn to a decision. She must think over
such a step. Next morning, at the usual time, he came to know his fate.
But she did not appear. He waited an hour for her. She did not come. He
began to rage and storm, and curse his folly for driving her so hard.

At last she came, and found him pale with anxiety, and looking utterly
miserable. She told him she had passed a sleepless night, and her head
had ached so in the morning she could not move.

"My poor darling!" said he; "and I am the cause. Say no more about it,
dear one. I see you do not love me as I love you, and I forgive you."

She smiled sadly at that, for she was surer of her own love than his.

Zoe had passed a night of torment and vacillation; and but for her
brother having paraded Mademoiselle Klosking in his mother's sables, she
would, I think, have held out. But this turned her a little against her
brother; and, as he was the main obstacle to her union with Severne, love
and pity conquered. Yet still Honor and Pride had their say. "Edward,"
said she, "I love you with all my heart, and share your fears that
accident may separate us. I will let you decide for both of us. But,
before you decide, be warned of one thing. I am a girl no longer, but a
woman who has been distracted with many passions. If any slur rests on my
fair name, deeply as I love you now, I shall abhor you then."

He turned pale, for her eye flashed dismay into his craven soul.

He said nothing; and she continued: "If you insist on this hasty,
half-clandestine marriage, then I consent to this--I will go with you
before the registrar, and I shall come back here directly. Next morning
early we will start for Scotland, and be married that other way before
witnesses. Then your fears will be at an end, for you believe in these
marriages; only as I do not--for I look on these _legal_ marriages merely
as solemn betrothals--I shall be Miss Zoe Vizard, and expect you to treat
me so, until I have been married in a church, like a lady."

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