Delphi Complete Works of the Brontes Charlotte, Emily, Anne Brontë (Illustrated) (276 page)

CHAPTER THE
 
FIRST

Twenty years since or thereabouts there stood in what is now the middle of Verdopolis but which was then the extremity a huge irregular building called the Genii’s Inn. it contained more than five hundred appartments all comfortably & some splendidly fitted up for the accommodation of travellers who were entertained in this vast hostelry free of expense, it became in consequence of this generous regulation the almost exclusive resort of way-farers of every nation who in spite of the equivocal character of the host & hostesses being the four chief Genii, Talli, Brani, Emi, & Anni & the despicable villany of the waiters & other attendants which noble offices were filled by subordinate spirits of the same species continually flocked thither in prodigious multitudes; the sound of their hurrying footsteps, the voice of rude revel, & the hum of business has ceased now among the ruined arches, the damp mouldy vaults, the dark halls & the desolate chambers of this once mighty edifice which was destroyed in the great rebellion, & now stands silent, & lonely in the heart of Great Verdopolis. But our business is with the past, not the present day, therefore let us leave moping to the owls & look on the bright side of matters; On the evening of the fourth of June 1814 it offered rather a different appearance, there had been during that day a greater influx of guests than usual - which circumstance was owing to a Grand fete to be held on the morrow, the great hall looked like a motley masquerade in one part was seated cross legged on the pavement a group of Turkish merchants who in those days used to trade largely with the shopkeepers & citizens of Verdopolis in spices, shawls, silks, muslins, jewellry, perfumes, & other articles of oriental luxury, these sat composedly smoking their long pipes & drinking choice sherbet & reclining against the cushions which had been provided for their accommodation. Near them a few dark sunburnt Spaniards strutted with the gravely proud air of a peacock, which bird according to the received opinion dares not look downwards lest his feet should break the self complacent spell which enchants him. Not far from these lords of creation sat a company of round, rosy-faced, curly-pated, straight- legged one-shoed beings, from Stumps’es Island, where that now nearly obsolete race of existences then flourished like the green bay tree, more than a dozen Genii were employed in furnishing them with melons & rice pudding for which they roared out incessantly.

at the opposite extremity of the hall five or six sallow, bilious Englishmen were conversing over a cup of green-tea. behind them a band of withered monsieurs sat presenting each other with fine white bread peculiarly rich elegant prussian butter,” perfumed snutf brown sugar & calico. at no great distance from these half withered apes, within the great carved screen that surrounded a huge blazing fire two gentlemen had established themselves before a table on which smoked a tempting dish of beefsteaks with the due accompaniments of onions ketchup & cayenne flanked by a large silver vessel of prime old Canary & a corresponding tankard of spiced ale.

One of the personages whose good fortune it was to be the devourer of such choice cheer was a middle-aged man who might perhaps have numbered his fifty-fif|th year, his rusty black habiliments, powdered wig & furrowed brow spoke at once the scholar & the despiser of external decorations; the other presented a remarkable contrast to his companion, he was in the prime of life being apparently not more than six or seven & twenty years of age. a head of light brown hair arranged in careless yet tasteful curls well became the pleasing though not strictly regular features of his very handsome countenance to which a bright & bold blue eye added all the charms of expression. His form evincing both strength & symmetry was set of to the best advantage by a military costume while his erect bearing & graceful address gave additional testimony to the nature of his profession.

“this young soldier” said Bud with a kindling eye “ was myself, you may laugh Charlev;” for I could not forbear a smile on contrasting the dignified corporation of my now somewhat elderly fat friend with the description he had just given of his former appearance “you may laugh but I was once as gallant a youth as ever wore a soldiers sword. alack a day time troubles Good Liquour & good-living change a man sorely”

But the reader will ask who was the other gentleman mentioned above, he was John Gilford then the bosom friend of Ensign Bud as he is now of Captain Bud. There was a profound silence so long as their savoury meal continued but when the last mouthful of beef, the last shred of onion the last grain of cayenne & the last drop of ketchup had disappeared, Gilford laid down his knife & fork, uttered a deep sigh & opening his oracular jaws said “Well Bud I suppose the fools whom we see here gathered together from all the winds of heaven are come to our Babylonian City for the unworthy purpose of beholding the gauds & vanities of tomorrow.”

“Doubtless” replied the other “And I sincerely hope that you Sir also will not disdain to honnour their exhibition with your presence.”

“I!” almost yelled the senior gentleman, “I go & see the running of chariots, the racing & prancing of horses, the goring of wild beasts, the silly craft of archery & the brutal sport of the wrestlers! art thou mad or are thy brains troubled with the good wine & nutmeg ale” here the speaker filled his glass with the latter generous liquid.

“I am neither one nor t’other Gilford” answered Bud, “but I’ll venture to say that forasmuch as you despise those gauds & vanities as you call them, many a better man than you is longing for to-morrow on their account”

“Ah! & I suppose thou art among the number of those arrant fools”

“Aye truly said! I see no shame in the avowal”

“Don’t you indeed, Oh Bud, Bud I sometimes hope that you are beginning to be sensible of the folly of these pursuits. I sometimes dare to imagine that you will one day be found a member of that chosen band who despising the weak frivolities of this our degenerate age, turn studiously to the contemplation of the past who value as some men do gold & jewels every remnant however small however apparently trivial which offers a memento of vanished generations.”

“Goodness Gifford! how you talk! I like well enough to see Melchizedecs cup for the sacramental wine, the tethers by which Abraham’s camels were fastened in their pasture-grounds or even the thigh bone & shoulder-blade of one of our own worthy old Giants even when these latter articles turn out to be the remains of a dead elephant. (Ah Giff touched ye there I see) but as to making such matters the serious business of my life, why hang me if I think I shall turn to that trade before a round dozen of years have trotted merrily over my head.”

“you speak like one of the foolish people” replied Giff solemnly “but still I glean a handful of comfort from your last words. at some future period you will give serious attention to the grand purpose for which we were all brought into the world?”

“May be aye & may be nay but whether I do or not my cherub there, Stingo, seems as if he would have no objection to turn both antiquarian & lawyer already.”

“Ha! what is it that same sweet boy whom I saw yesterday at your house whose young features express a promising solemnity far beyond his tender years?”

“the same and a sour squalling ill-tempered brat it is” “My dear friend,” said GifFord with great earnestness “take care that you do not check the unfolding of that hopeful flower, mind my words, he will be an honnour to his country & here give him these toys (taking a number of roundish stones from his pocket) & tell him I have no doubt they were used as marbles by the children of the ancient Britons, doubtless he will know how to value them accordingly.”

“to be sure he will, but my dear friend, the next time you make Stingo a present let it be some slight treatise on the law. he is continually hunting in my library for books of that nature & complains that he can scarcely find one of the sort he wants.”

“The angel! “ exclaimed Gifford in ecstasy “the moment I get home I will send him a compleat edition of my compendium of the laws, he shall not long pine in the agonies of inanition.”

“You are very kind” said Bud “but now let us change the subject. I understand that Bravey is to occupy the president’s throne tomorrow. I wonder who will be the rewarder of the victors.”

“it is not often that I remember the idle chat which passes in my presence but I heard this morning that Lady Emily Charlesworth is to be honoured with that dignity.”

“Is she? that’s well! they could not possibly have made a better choice - why her beauty alone will give eclat to the whole routine of tomorrows proceedings^ now tell me honestly Giff do you not think Lady Emily the most beautiful of earthly creaturesf?”

“She’s well enough favoured” replied Gifford “that is her garments ever become her person but for her mind I fear it is a waste, uncultivated field which where it is not wholly barren presents a rank crop of the weeds of frivolity”

“Prejudiced old prig!” said I angrily “ would you have a spiritual essence of Divinity like that to wither her roses by studying rotten scrolls & bending over grub-devoured law-books?”

“Not precisely so but I would have her to cultivate the faculties with which Nature hath endowed her by a diligent perusal of abridged treatises on the subjects you mention carefully digested by some able & judicious man. I myself when her uncle appointed me her tutor in the more solid & useful branches of a polite education composed a small work of ten quarto volumes on the antiquities of England, interspersed with explanatory notes & having an appendix of one thick volume quarto, if I could have got her to read this little work carefully & attentively through it might have given her some insight into the noble science of which I am an unworthy eulogist but while by a strange perversion of intellect she listened to openly & followed obediently the instructions of those trivial beings who taught her the empty accomplishments of music, dancing, drawing, modern languages, &c. &c., while she even gave some occasional odd moments to the formation of flowers & other cunning devices on the borders of silken or fine linen raiment I alone vainly attempted to lure her on in the honourable paths of Wisdom sometimes by honeyed words of enticement sometimes by thorny threats of correctionf. at one time she laughed at another wept & occasionally (to my shame be it spoken) bribed me by delusive blandishments to criminal acquiescence in her shameful neglect of all that is profitable to be understood by either man or womankind”

“Bravo Giff” said Bud laughing “I wish she had boxed your ears whenever you bothered her on such subjects! by the by have you heard that your fair quondam pupil is about to be married to Colonel Percy? “

“I have not but I do not doubt the rumour: that’s the way of all women. they think of nothing but being married while Learning is as dust in the balance.”

“Who & what is Colonel Percy?” said a voice close behind. Bud turned hastily round to see who the strange interragator might be. he started as his eyes met the apparition of a tall slender form dimly seen by the decaying embers which now shone fitfully on the hearth.

“friend” said he stirring up the fire to obtain a more perfect view of the stranger, “tell me first who & what you are who ask such abrupt questions about other people.”

“I” replied he “am a volunteer in the cause of good government & suppressor of rebels & ere long I hope to be able to call myself a brother in arms with you it being my intention shortly to enlist under the Duke’s standard”

as the unknown gave this explanation a bundle of brushwood which had been thrown on the half extinguished fire kindling to a bright blaze revealed his person more clearly than the darkning twilight had hitherto permitted it to be seen, he appeared to be full six feet high. his figure naturally formed on a model of the most perfect elegance derived aditional grace from the picturesque though rather singular costume in which he was attired consisting of a green vest & tunic reaching a little below the knee laced buskins, a large dark robe or mantle which hung over one shoulder in ample folds & was partially confined by the broad belt which encircled his waist & a green bonnet surmounted by a high plume of black feathers, a bow & quiver hung on his back, two knives whose hafts sparkled with jewellry were stuck in his girdle & a tall spear of glittering steel which he held in one hand served him for a kind of support as he stood, the martial majesty of this imposing stranger’s form & dress harmonized well with the manly though youthful beauty of his countenance whose finely chiselled features & full bright eyes shaded by clusters of short brown curls shone with an expression of mingled pride & frankness which awed the spectator while it won his unqualified admiration.”

“Upon my word friend” said I struck with the young soldier’s handsome exterior “if I were the Duke I should be well pleased with such a recruit as you promise to be. pray may I inquire of what country you are a native for both your garb & accent are somewhat foreign?”