7. 
 
 5/ 
 
 A 
 
 L I B R.A FlY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UN IVLR5ITY 
 
 or ILLINOIS 
 
 Sa2.r 
 v.l
 
 THE 
 
 RING AND THE VEIL.
 
 THE 
 
 RING AND THE VEIL. 
 
 A NOVEL 
 
 JAMES AUGUSTUS ST. JOHN. 
 
 " All is not Heaven's while Abelard has part ; 
 Still rebel nature holds out half my heart." 
 
 Pope. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. L 
 
 LONDON: 
 CHAPMAN AND HALL, 
 
 193, PICCADILLY. 
 
 1856.
 
 
 8 THE RING AND THE VEIL. 
 
 CO 
 
 •^ 
 
 LO 
 CD 
 ^ PART THE FIRST. 
 
 oo 
 
 (St ■ 
 
 -^ 
 
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 ^My life, short as it has been, may be 
 
 ?! divided into three cycles. With the first, 
 
 ^ I have in this work nothing to do ; the 
 
 ^second, I may truly call a cycle of guilt 
 
 "^ and misery ; on the third, I dare not yet 
 
 > bestow a name, as it is still revolving, 
 
 ^ and may, at any moment, assume a fresh 
 
 '^ motion and a new character. 
 
 ^p^ It will cost me many a blush and many 
 
 ^ a pang to describe what I have done and 
 
 *^ suffered, but I believe my revelations may 
 
 V be useful to many, especially to the
 
 Z THE RING 
 
 struggling and the unfortunate^ and there- 
 fore I persevere in my long formed design 
 of relating faithfully what occurred to me 
 during those few, but important years in 
 which I underwent the discipline of ad- 
 versity. 
 
 Let no one judge of me by a partial 
 survey of my actions, which ought, if 
 considered at all, to be considered as a 
 whole ; because every man's life, who can be 
 said to live for himself, is a sort of epopcea, 
 which has its beginning, its middle, and its 
 end, informed and co-ordinated by an in- 
 ternal principle. 
 
 Our virtues and our vices, our misfortunes 
 and our successes, approximate and melt 
 together to render us what we are ; and 
 therefore no one can understand us or do 
 us justice who will not consent to weigh 
 in a faithful balance, the good and the evil 
 we have accomplished under the sun. 
 
 I ask no one to begin this narrative ; but 
 let those who do begin, be persuaded, that
 
 AND THE VEIL. 3 
 
 they will not be able to judge fairly of me, 
 unless they read to the end. It is one of 
 those dark pictures, to which the eye must 
 be for some time accustomed, before it can 
 discern the aspect and contour of the 
 figures which people and vary the gloom. 
 
 One evening in July, just before sunset, 
 I entered Kensington Gardens, and moved 
 on rapidly among the crowd. Any one, 
 who should have considered my costume — 
 my battered hat, my thread-bare coat and 
 trousers, my dilapidated boots — would have 
 decided at once that I had no business 
 there. 
 
 But his decision would have been wrong. 
 I had, perhaps, a more definite and intelli- 
 gible object in view, than any one of those 
 around me ; an object which would have 
 startled some, and excited the pity or the 
 scorn of others. 
 
 People, at their ease, talk glibly about 
 the pleasures which even the poorest may 
 feel in the presence of nature ; but the
 
 ^ THE RING 
 
 wretch who is penniless, ill-clad, houseless, 
 hungry, sees no heauty in anything, and 
 scarcely feels warm in the sun. 
 
 On the evening in question, I was that 
 wretch. All my relations with mankind 
 appeared to have been broken off; my 
 money was spent, my credit exhausted, 
 my ingenuity baffled, my most dearly 
 cherished hopes almost extinguished, and 
 I had gone thither to lie down somewhere 
 under the trees, with a clod or a stone for 
 my pillow, like the w^anderer of Padanaram. 
 I looked upon everything and everybody 
 with disgust, and had sleep come to me 
 then I should have wished it to prove 
 eternal. 
 
 By degrees, the multitude retreated each 
 to his home. Having no place on which to 
 bestow that name, I considered myself 
 fortunate to have eluded the vigilance of 
 the keepers, and sat down to meditate on 
 my situation among the roots of an im- 
 mense oak.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 5 
 
 Repose and silence soon produced their 
 natural effect upon me. I became less 
 perturbed, and my imagination, always 
 active and glowing, succeeded at length in 
 spreading a bright halo over the future, and 
 reconciling me in some measure to the 
 present. My ideas were probably influenced 
 by the roar of that tumultuous ocean of life, 
 which, at no great distance, rolled in all its 
 vastness and might. It less disturbed my 
 musings, however, than the vulture-appetite 
 within. But the soul, though weak, is not 
 altogether powerless. By a resolute effort 
 of the will, I procured a brief respite from 
 my multitudinous anxieties, and tasted of 
 that solace, which nature at intervals kindly 
 brings to all her children. 
 
 Some hours having elapsed, I began to 
 imagine myself completely alone. Therefore, 
 as I could not sleep, I arose, and glancing 
 down a broad avenue, on which the moon 
 appeared to look with as much pleasure as 
 formerly on the slopes of Latmos, I 
 
 b2
 
 THE RING 
 
 observed two figures traversing the patch 
 of light, slowly, as if they had much to 
 discuss before they plunged into the gulph 
 of shade on the other side. 
 
 Their presence startled me. Who were 
 they ? and why should they be there ? As it 
 imported me much less, however, to solve 
 these questions than to remain undiscovered, 
 
 1 walked softly away beneath the trees in 
 a contrary direction. 
 
 Still, I could not forget the presence of 
 these intruders. Every now and then it 
 seemed that whispers, or sighs, or moans 
 were audible among the bushes. I ap- 
 peared to be haunted ; for though I 
 endeavoured to put as much space as 
 possible between myself and my tormentors, 
 I had not proceeded far before I beheld 
 them again, walking arm in arm right 
 towards me. I now felt sure I had been 
 observed, but resolving to make one more 
 attempt at concealment, retreated cautiously 
 behind a large elm, where I stood in a state 
 of much anxiety.
 
 AND THE VEIL. / 
 
 To augment my disquietude, the man and 
 woman came and sat down on the roots of 
 the tree, where they continued a gay and 
 animated dialogue. There was now no 
 mistaking the relation in which they stood 
 to each other. They were lovers, glancing 
 at the past and discussing earnestly the 
 prospects of the future. 
 
 I longed to escape from their vicinity, for 
 their happiness troubled me, as that of a 
 former pair had troubled Lucifer in another 
 garden. My envy was of short duration. 
 The man's voice betrayed perpetual im- 
 patience, though he affected in words 
 respect and deference. "WTiat they said I 
 heard unwillingly, and shall not repeat ; but 
 it at length became evident that a quarrel 
 could not be far off, though the woman or 
 rather girl sought anxiously to avoid it. 
 
 A few leaves, thrown down accidently 
 by the boisterous breath of summer, had 
 eddied up towards the tree and lay crisp 
 and crumpled in circling ridges at my feet.
 
 O THE RING 
 
 SO that it would have been impossible to stir 
 an inch without making sufficient noise to 
 rouse the attention of my neighbours. 
 
 Perforce, therefore, I became possessed of 
 their secret, and took what I may call the 
 first step in a course from which the longest 
 life would not suffice to deliver me. 
 
 The lovers at first appeared to inhale 
 happiness with every breath, but gradually 
 by slight transitions their words put forth a 
 sting, with which they goaded and wounded 
 each other, till there followed something 
 like madness. The provocation commenced 
 with the man, and was often repeated- 
 without producing retaliation, which how- 
 ever came at last, when both rose, and 
 yielding to the suggestions of anger, 
 indulged in the most taunting and bitter 
 recriminations. 
 
 At the outset, they addressed each other 
 as "Fanny," and "Edward," but presently 
 it became "Miss Leigh," and "Mr. Elliot." 
 They forgot where they were, and spoke so
 
 AND THE VEIL. y 
 
 loud, that I every moment expected the 
 keepers of the garden must necessarily hear 
 them, and come rushing to the spot. 
 
 On every side, however, there still breathed 
 nothing but the most delicious calm. 
 Nightingale answered nightingale from the 
 tops of the trees, the moonbeams descending 
 amorously among the foliage and embracing 
 each twinkling leaf, seemed to sheathe its 
 face with silver, as it thrilled to the passage 
 of the breeze. 
 
 But my attention was soon withdrawn 
 from the picturesque. Having exhausted 
 his terms of objurgation, Mr. Elliot, first 
 uttering sullen menaces in no gentle terms, 
 turned round to effect his escape. To pre- 
 vent this. Miss Leigh grasped him by the 
 arm. He would have shaken her off, but 
 being a tall and powerful young woman, she 
 held him firmly, and beginning to recover 
 her kindlier feelings, said, 
 
 *' Dear Edward, don't leave me." 
 
 To this, his only reply was.
 
 10 THE RING .^ 
 
 " Let me go." 
 
 And not finding his command immediately- 
 complied with, he pushed her from him so 
 violently, that she fell with much force 
 against the jagged roots of the tree. In- 
 stinctively, I sprang from my hiding-place, 
 and seizing upon Mr. Elliot, and shaking 
 him furiously, enquired, what he meant by 
 treating a lady in so brutal a manner. 
 
 Astonishment, and perhaps some degree 
 of apprehension, for a moment prevented 
 his replying, but presently, recovering his 
 self-possession, he demanded in a fierce 
 tone, 
 
 " Who are you, and what business have 
 you with me?" 
 
 It might have been difficult to return a 
 categorical answer to either of these ques- 
 tions, but passion generally making use of a 
 very imperfect logic, I gave him clearly to 
 understand, seconding my argument by an 
 unequivocal display of superior muscular 
 power, that I felt little disposition to reason
 
 AND THE VEIL. 11 
 
 with him, and insisted that, as he had 
 brought his companion thither, he should be 
 at the trouble to take her away, and not 
 leave her under my charge. 
 
 There was something so infinitely ludi- 
 crous in this observation, that it recalled the 
 worthy Mr. Elliot to himself. Breaking 
 into a hoarse laugh, he exclaimed, '' you are 
 right. Sir, it is my business," and stooping 
 down, he said, with as much composure as 
 he could command, 
 
 "Come, Fanny, let me lift you up. I am 
 very sorry, indeed I am." 
 
 But his invitation produced no reply. 
 On looking into the lady's face, he saw it 
 was covered with blood, and that she was 
 completely insensible. He now turned to 
 me for counsel and assistance, and exclaimed 
 with unaffected agony, 
 
 " O God, what have I done ! Pray, Sir, 
 pray do help me." 
 
 Remembering that the Serpentine was 
 not far off, I advised that we should carry
 
 12 THE RING 
 
 her to its banks, and there bathe her face 
 and temples. Had we been discovered 
 while engaged in this office, we should 
 probably have been taken for a couple of 
 murderers, bearing off a corpse to some pit. 
 Few words were exchanged between us 
 while moving along, except that now and 
 then he muttered "there," "gently," "thank 
 you," "you are very good," and so on. He 
 supported her head in his arms, while I 
 carried her feet. Presently we came upon an 
 open space, close to the stream, where laying 
 our burden softly upon the grass, I ran and 
 filled my hat with water, and sought to re- 
 store animation by sprinkling it on her face. 
 
 It now appeared that in falling. Miss 
 Leigh had cut her right temple severely. 
 The wound was still bleeding and resisted 
 all our attempts to staunch it. 
 
 At our feet, stretched a broad limpid 
 expanse, partly surrounded by trees, which 
 concealing its dimensions, suggested the idea 
 of an extensive lake, over which the moon
 
 AND THE VEIL. 13 
 
 threw its brilliance in patches. Upward 
 from the margin the green sward sloped 
 gently, and there with her face pale and 
 ghastly, and turned towards the light, lay 
 a woman apparently dead, though her 
 breathing, and the blood oozing from her 
 forehead, proved appearances to be fallacious. 
 
 Kneeling on the grass, we bent over her, 
 now putting in practice sundry devices to 
 recall life, and now leaning back and desist- 
 ing from exertion in temporary despair. 
 
 A very natural desire to know the persons 
 with whom I had thus by accident been 
 brought in contact, induced me once or 
 twice to scrutinize Elliot's countenance 
 and figure. His hat was off, and the moon 
 so lavish of her light, that one might ob- 
 serve almost as correctly as by day. He 
 had a broad square physiognomy with a 
 highly sinister expression, a thick bull neck, 
 and a form originally powerful, but seem- 
 ingly dilapidated by dissipation. 
 
 There could scarcely be a greater con-
 
 14 THE RING 
 
 trast than between him and Miss Leigh, the 
 full elegant outline of whose form, together 
 with the fine symmetry of her features, irre- 
 sistibly produced on my mind a favorable 
 impression. 
 
 In the midst of my perplexity, respecting 
 the manner in which this affair was likely to 
 end, I saw between the trees the figure of a 
 man, engaged, as I thought, in watching us, 
 and pointed him out to Elliot, who had still 
 more reasons than I, for objecting to be 
 discovered in such a situation. He sug- 
 gested, therefore, in a tremulous whisper, 
 that we should remove to the shadow of a 
 small building, erected close at hand over a 
 spring; but our design was frustrated, by 
 Miss Leigh, who just at that moment opened 
 her eyes. When her fears had been some- 
 what quieted, and her forehead bound up, 
 the next question was, how she was to be 
 got out of the gardens.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 15 
 
 II. 
 
 A CONSULTATION was ROW held, and an 
 ingenious plan of escape having been hit on, 
 we proceeded together towards the park, 
 the gentle Fanny leaning familiarly on both 
 our arms. 
 
 The circumstances which had brought us 
 together supplied us mth topics of conver- 
 sation, and so rapid were the evolutions of 
 our thoughts, that before we left the 
 gardens, we seemed to have been acquainted 
 for months. 
 
 On reaching the wall, Elliot jumped over, 
 and, as I was in the act of assisting Miss 
 Leigh to place her feet upon his shoulders, I 
 caught a glimpse of the figure we had pre- 
 viously beheld, advancing cautiously towards 
 the spot.
 
 16 THE RING 
 
 A few minutes more, and we should be 
 safely in the park. I therefore endeavoured 
 to hasten the descent of our fair charge, but 
 presently, she also perceived the unwelcome 
 apparition, and in a paroxysm of sudden 
 terror, gave a piercing shriek. Elliot, who 
 had already begun to feel her weight, 
 startled by the cry, reeled slightly outward, 
 so that I anticipated a fresh accident, but 
 calling to him to keep steady, I had soon 
 the satisfaction, to see the object of our 
 solicitude safe below. As I was preparing 
 to follow, I heard a footstep close at hand, 
 and turning round, saw a stout, square-built 
 man, stretching out his hand to lay hold of 
 me. What he wanted, I was at a loss to 
 conjecture, but before either he or I could 
 indulge a second thought upon the matter, 
 a sudden spring placed me on the sloping 
 bank below. Our would-be captor looked 
 over without uttering a syllable, shook his 
 head, and then retreating rapidly, was soon 
 lost among the trees.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 17 
 
 Could it be he ! It seemed impossible ; 
 and yet the violent tremor in my frame, 
 resembled what I had felt at the presence 
 of no other person. The dress was 
 certainly different, and the whole appear- 
 ance that of a taller man. But my imagina- 
 tion might have exaggerated, and yet the 
 figure as it receded, assumed that 
 executional-like look, which naturally 
 distinguished him. 
 
 As the belief acquired strength in me, 
 cold drops of perspiration stood thick on 
 my whole body. I had left him far away — 
 he had regained the treasure, the desire to 
 possess which had infused so much hatred 
 and bitterness into our hearts. Still he 
 might have followed me ; might have 
 watched my descent from one grade of 
 poverty to another, until, a wretched out- 
 cast jfrom society, I had come to lay my 
 head, hungry and houseless under a tree. 
 
 If it should be that man ! Was not my 
 cup of bitterness full enough before ? I
 
 18 
 
 THE RING 
 
 wrestled with the idea, and thrust it from 
 me, as a fiend which might have tempted 
 me to — I know not what ! Oh ! no, it 
 surely could not be he ! There was every 
 probability against it. 
 
 He had taken her back — she was even 
 now by his fireside — my desertion was com- 
 plete — why, then, should he pursue me ? I 
 had nothing to restore — nothing more to 
 lose. Nevertheless, I could not extirpate 
 from my mind the conviction that there was 
 a likeness. 
 
 The park, flanked and fronted by dim 
 lines of buildings, presented at that mo- 
 ment an aspect of great beauty. Magnifi- 
 cent spreading trees, in rows or clumps, 
 towered here and there, amid the broad 
 expanse of moonlight, indicating the 
 willingness of nature to associate with man. 
 Innumerable small jets of flame, almost 
 extinguished by the overpowering light 
 from above, twinkled in the distance ; while 
 the monotonous roll of a few carriages.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 19 
 
 informed us that we were not the only 
 persons awake at that hour. 
 
 Making the best of our way towards 
 Grosvenor Gate, we in a short time found 
 ourselves in Park Lane, when, at the corner 
 of a street. Miss Leigh stood still and looked 
 enquiringly into the face of her companion. 
 
 I understood the action, and ^nshing them 
 both "good night," was about to walk away, 
 when Elliot seizing me by the arm ex- 
 claimed, "nay, don't go before you tell me 
 where you lodge, that I may have the plea- 
 sure of calling on you." 
 
 It has been well said that poverty is a 
 crime, since there are few things of which 
 men are more ashamed. At this stranger's 
 question I felt the blood mount into my 
 cheeks, and for a moment could make no 
 reply. But forcibly quelling the emotion I 
 said, " You found me in my lodgings, to 
 which I cannot now return. We must trust 
 therefore to chance for meeting again, so I 
 must wish you good night, or rather good
 
 20 THE RING 
 
 morning, for from the colour of the sky yon- 
 der, I think the day cannot be far distant ! " 
 
 Both now eyed me from head to foot, 
 and while the girl remained silent, Elliot, 
 with a frank good nature which appeared 
 exceedingly amiable at the moment, said, 
 " Wait a bit here, I will return presently, 
 and you shall go home along with me. 
 
 Perhaps, I ought to have listened to the 
 voice of pride which counselled my making 
 off during his absence, but — shall I confess 
 the truth — there was a possible contingency 
 hinted at by his words, which acted like a 
 spell upon me, and would not suffer the 
 voice of my better judgment to be heard. 
 
 In short I was under the influence of that 
 appetite, which two days' abstinence gene- 
 rally renders so powerful, and longed ex- 
 ceedingly to get something to eat. I know 
 this to be a very vulgar confession, but hun- 
 ger is not to be warded off by philosophy 
 or gentility, otherwise I was philosophical 
 and genteel enough to have driven it to the
 
 AND THE VEIL. 21 
 
 antipodes. At any rate I patiently awaited 
 Mr. Elliot's return, and was glad to hear 
 him come puffing up the street. Then taking 
 his arm, we moved off cheerfully through 
 Bryanston Square and Lisson Grove, to- 
 wards St. John's Wood. 
 
 It now became quite obvious I had made 
 a curious acquaintance, who found it impos- 
 sible, even during the most ordinary conver- 
 sation, to conceal the equivocal character of 
 his principles. 
 
 Once or twice, he alluded in an un- 
 pleasant manner to Miss Leigh, but finding 
 no encouragement, turned adroitly to other 
 topics, which he considered better calcu- 
 lated to amuse me. 
 
 Without circumlocution, or any superflu- 
 ous affectation of delicacy, he asked, who I 
 was, what were my occupations and 
 prospects, how I came to be without a 
 lodging, and whether I thought it likely he 
 could do anything for me. 
 
 Having been rendered suspicious by mis-
 
 22 THE RING 
 
 fortune, I disclosed in reply, very little of 
 my story ; though with respect to my actual 
 condition and views for the future, I was as 
 frank as he could desire ; admitting that I 
 had no means, and no prospects. This he 
 lamented, but observing that London was 
 a great town, prolific of chances and 
 adventures, said, we would at any rate 
 make ourselves merry that night, after 
 which, I should be in a better condition to 
 seek my fortune on the morrow. 
 
 I was quite of his opinion, and, therefore, 
 we proceeded harmoniously together, till 
 we reached Portland Town, where, stopping 
 before the door of a small house, my com- 
 panion drew forth a latch key, which 
 speedily admitted us into a dark passage. 
 Desiring me in a whisper to make no noise, 
 he left me, and crept away to seek a light. 
 
 Though little inclined to indulge in 
 minute observations on the place in which 
 I happened to find myself, I could not help 
 being struck, when the light came, at the
 
 AND THE VEIL. 23 
 
 dinginess of the passage and the chill air 
 of poverty which met one at the door. 
 
 From his dress and appearance, Elliot 
 would never have been taken for the 
 dweller in such a tenement. However, he 
 gave me little time for reflection, but 
 signifying by signs that I should follow 
 him, descended a narrow pair of stairs 
 leading to a kitchen, which it would have 
 taken much to render comfortable. 
 
 While he was preparing to light the fire, 
 and going in and out in search of wood and 
 coal, I amused myself by surveying my new 
 quarters. On one of the shelves of a 
 cupboard, the door of which stood half 
 open, I descried a large loaf, with some 
 nice fresh butter beside it, while the 
 pungent odour of coffee scented the whole 
 room. Trays and tin covers hung against 
 the wall, and the dresser shelves were 
 garnished with the usual quantity of blue 
 and white earthenware. 
 
 Elliot kept up a running conversation as
 
 24 THE RING 
 
 he proceeded with his operations, which 
 betokened considerable skill and experience. 
 
 " I'm a clumsy fellow," cried he, as he 
 placed the firewood artistically within the 
 bars, over a substratum of brown paper, 
 and disposed the knobs of coal so as to 
 afford the readiest passage for the air and 
 flame. "I'm a clumsy fellow, and not quite 
 up to these things, but after all I think I 
 shall manage it." 
 
 He then applied the candle to the paper, 
 and in two or three seconds a cheerful blaze 
 went crackling up through the wood and 
 coal, and embraced a large copper tea 
 kettle, which, from its dusky colour, had 
 obviously seen much service. 
 
 Though only a guest, I offered to assist, 
 and had the cutting of the bread and 
 butter assigned to me, while Elliot laid the 
 tray and arranged the cups and saucers. 
 " I like this sort of irregular meal," said he, 
 setting the sugar basin, and cream jug in 
 their proper places, " though the governor
 
 AND THE VEIL. 25 
 
 generally makes things go on here like 
 clock-work. But fixed hours don't suit me. 
 I should like to breakfast at midnight, and 
 dine at ten o'clock in the morning, or ten 
 o'clock at night, just as I might fancy." 
 
 "Well," answered I," "provided one dines 
 at all, it doesn't much signify at what hour." 
 
 "Exactly," rejoined he, "I never could 
 understand why people should be slaves to 
 the clock; my notion is, that nothing is so 
 pleasant as independence, and I would pitch 
 form and ceremony to Old Nick, if I had 
 my way." 
 
 Meanwhile, I leant one ear to him and 
 one to the tea kettle, which soon began to 
 make pleasant music on the fire, while a 
 few lazy crickets, waked before their time, 
 chirped drowsily at the back of the grate. 
 There is a wonderful charm about these 
 domestic sounds, which, in certain moods of 
 minds, seem among the sweetest in the 
 great diapason of the universe. They are 
 connected, in fact, with the noblest associa- 
 
 c
 
 26 THE RING 
 
 tions of the hearth, with the ties of kindred 
 and love, with whatever purifies or 
 strengthens us for our great contest with 
 the world. 
 
 At length every thing was ready — the 
 bread and butter cut, the coffee poured out, 
 and frothing in the cups ; and I, who felt 
 the appetite of a wolf, was on the point of 
 falling to, when a person was heard coming 
 slowly down stairs. 
 
 " By heaven's," exclaimed Elliot, " Here's 
 the governor ! " 
 
 And with the words he blew out the 
 candle, and placed a small clothes-horse 
 which happened to have linen on it, before 
 the fire. I felt exceedingly uncomfortable 
 as the footsteps came nearer and nearer, 
 while Elliot, evidently at his wits end, spoke 
 not a word. 
 
 Presently, the kitchen door opened, and 
 in a moment, scanty as was the light, I 
 perceived that our unwelcome visitant was 
 not a man, but a girl. Elliott, who was
 
 AND THE VEIL. 27 
 
 equally quick in making the same discovery, 
 cried, 
 
 "Don't be frightened Jane, its only I and 
 a friend." 
 
 Persons who are much knocked about in 
 the world very early make a proficiency in 
 stoicism, and obtain a mastery over their 
 emotions. Jane did not, like a well-bred 
 lady, shriek, or start, or fall into hysterics ; 
 but, with the coolness of a philosopher, 
 replied, 
 
 "Well, I'm sure, you're up very early, 
 Mr. Edward, and you've lighted the fire 
 too. I thought I heard some rumpus in 
 the house and got up just to see what it 
 was." 
 
 Elliot had lost no time in re-lighting the 
 candle, upon which, Jane, seeing how the 
 land lay, said, 
 
 " I will just go and begin my work, and 
 when you want me you can call." 
 
 " No, no, Jane," said Elliot, " I don't want 
 you to be kicking up a row, you'd bring the 
 
 c 2
 
 28 THE RING 
 
 governor down upon us, you little wretch, 
 before we had drunk our coffee." 
 
 ^' Don't the governor know then ?" cried 
 she, casting a wise look at her young 
 master. 
 
 "Come, come," answered he, "just plant 
 your body there by the chimney corner, and 
 if you behave yourself, we'll give you a cup 
 of coffee, but mind, you must be quite mum 
 — d'ye understand." 
 
 " Oh ! I warrant you," observed she," I 
 know how to keep my own counsel." 
 
 Jane belonged to a very notable class of 
 individuals, who form the link between 
 maid-servants and shoe-boys, above the lat- 
 ter, but considerably below the former: she 
 was about fifteen years of age, and, for any 
 indication in her figure to the contrary, 
 might have been a boy in petticoats. Her 
 physiognomy was equally equivocal, and the 
 only decided evidence of sex w as in her long 
 hair, which she had twisted up awkwardly 
 into the crown of a cap, of a fashion peculiar 
 to Portland Town.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 29 
 
 I think nothing in humanity ugly, other- 
 wise I should have been disposed to range 
 Jane in that category ; for she had small 
 eyes, with eyelashes and eyebrows so light 
 that they were scarcely visible ; her nose 
 was flattish, and her mouth formed for 
 taking in large quantities of bread and 
 butter. She had, moreover, a slight twist 
 in her shape, one shoulder being raised 
 above the other, so as to form some ap- 
 proximation to a hunchback. 
 
 As might have been expected, her dress 
 was of a very humble description ; but in 
 addition to the poverty of the material, it 
 betrayed an estrangement from soap, alto- 
 gether extraordinary. Jane appeared, in 
 fact, never to have washed her face or her 
 gown for a twelvemonth. 
 
 Still, there was an intelligence about her 
 look, which, in spite of dirt and ugliness, 
 rendered her interesting ; especially, as it 
 soon appeared she could talk, by the obser- 
 vations she made on Elliot's irregular hours, 
 
 c 3
 
 30 THE RING 
 
 her knowledge of which, among other 
 things, gave her a sort of command over 
 him. 
 
 I have all my life been partial to a blaz- 
 ing fire, the brightness of which cheers 
 one's mind, as its warmth does one's body. 
 I can look for hours into the flames, which 
 leap about like living things, and by their 
 upward motion, teach us a lesson practised 
 by few, uttering as they mount and tremble, 
 a sort of voice not altogether without its 
 meaning. But when to this, are added, the 
 singing of the tea kettle, the rattle of cups 
 and saucers, and the sound of pleasant 
 voices around a well-covered table, the 
 picture presented to the imagination puts 
 on a particularly fascinating character. 
 
 When we had made some progress in our 
 occupation, I began to observe around me 
 elements of comfort which had not been 
 visible before : the Dutch clock in the 
 corner, towards which Jane now and then 
 cast a scrutinizing glance, the shutters.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 31 
 
 close shut and barred, a good hearth-rug 
 before the fender, and a huge torn cat 
 curled up and purring on one end of it. 
 
 Elliot, moreover, had put on his best 
 looks, and, though no reference was made 
 to anything beyond the moment, our dis- 
 quisitions had certainly a tendency to 
 comfort and encourage me. 
 
 My host exhibited a peculiarity, com- 
 monly visible in men who have a fixed 
 position, when brought in contact with 
 those to whom the future is uncertain. He 
 spoke cheerfully of waiting and looking out, 
 which, though poor, he could well do, 
 because his necessities of the hour were 
 provided for. I own I envied him greatly 
 when I reflected that it was possible for 
 him to calculate on several meals in suc- 
 cession, and that he might, indeed, expe- 
 rience no apprehension respecting the coming 
 time, except such as his own delinquencies 
 occasioned.
 
 32 THE RING 
 
 III. 
 
 At lengthy the cold light of the morning 
 made itself visible between the cracks of the 
 shutters, and I prepared to go, having first 
 given Elliot a promise to call again. He 
 accompanied me to the door, shook hands 
 with me, wished me a good morning, and I 
 soon found myself in the Regent's Park. It 
 was still early, and as there was a drowsi- 
 ness upon me, I stretched myself on one of 
 the seats, and, entertaining no fear whatever 
 of having my pocket picked, presently fell 
 fast asleep. 
 
 I understand very little of the theory of 
 dreams, but have observed, that they often
 
 AND THE VEIL. 33 
 
 deal kindly by the wretched, particularly in 
 early life, perhaps, because the animal 
 spirits, with which they are constructed, are 
 then most abundant. Afterwards, the 
 youthfulness of the mind may be measured 
 by the character of its dreams. 
 
 On the present occasion, I imagined my- 
 self on a verdant platform, surrounded by 
 mountains, near the sea. I was stretched on 
 the soft turf, and a woman sat at my head, 
 speaking words of consolation to me. Her 
 looks, however, were at variance with her 
 language ; for she was pale, and there was a 
 tremulousness in her voice, suggesting ideas 
 of despondency. 
 
 Meanwhile, the waves broke on the 
 pebbles at my feet ; now swelling upwards 
 and almost entirely covering them, and then 
 flowing back through a thousand channels 
 and crevices, with that discordant, though 
 cheering sound, which is immortal along 
 the shores of the sea. It still mingled with 
 the woman's voice, in my ears ; when I
 
 34 THE RING 
 
 awoke, and found around me a group of 
 children at play. 
 
 I had, in fact, slept many hours ; the sun 
 was high, and came streaming upon my face 
 in golden warmth. For a moment I felt 
 almost happy ; till rising upon my feet and 
 recollecting myself, the truth came upon 
 me, that I had no home, no friends, no 
 prospect for the morrow. 
 
 A cloud then descended on my fancy; 
 and avoiding the fields, whose quiet and 
 stillness would have allowed me too much 
 opportunity for reflection, I hastened 
 towards the town, to lose myself in its 
 turmoil, and be stunned by the confusion 
 and whirl of business. 
 
 Nothing is easier than to say, that an 
 able-bodied man in the prime of life, can 
 always earn his bread. The fact is not 
 so. Very often, health and strength are as 
 much perplexed what to do as age and 
 weakness. I looked around me with an 
 enquiring glance, and wished earnestly to
 
 AND THE VEIL. 35 
 
 find some place in the vast machine which 
 I saw performing its evolutions before me. 
 But every nook seemed to be occupied, and 
 tliere was not another hand wanted to fur- 
 ther a single operation. 
 
 This conviction has been experienced by 
 many ; and men have again and again re- 
 marked on it. But it seemed an original 
 calamity to me; and as I walked along sadly 
 down Oxford Street, and Holborn, and 
 across Farringdon Street, and up Snow 
 Hill, I came to the conclusion that I was a 
 mere supernumerary in the world, for whom 
 there was nothing left, but to make my way 
 out of it as speedily as possible. 
 
 It is no wise wonderful, that, in such a 
 temper of mind, I should have found the day 
 too long ; I looked at prints, stopped at 
 book-stalls, and sought to extract from the 
 philosophy which there lies accessible to the 
 passer-by, something wherewith to oppose 
 the suggestions of returning hunger and 
 despair.
 
 36 THE RING 
 
 But as I stood long reading and seemed 
 little inclined to buy, the stall-keepers 
 generally put some civil question which sent 
 me on to the next. 
 
 I would have given much for somewhere to 
 sit down, but there are no public seats in the 
 streets of London — nothing on which weari- 
 ness can repose for an instant. It is a place 
 of business, it is the resort of industry, it is 
 the factory of wealth ; but it contains within 
 its whole circumferences nothing to solace 
 unemployed poverty, or to enable him who 
 has no home to find one in the streets. 
 
 I have met, in my life, with professional 
 stoics who affected to have experienced in 
 such forlorn situations a sort of superb 
 pride, which rendered them indifferent to 
 suffering ; I also andeavoured to call that 
 passion to my aid. 
 
 But when I considered my own insigni- 
 ficance compared with the world, when I 
 perceived that I was but a grasshopper on 
 this vast globe, that millions and millions
 
 AND THE VEIL. 37 
 
 were moving in pageant and procession 
 before me, and that the mighty multitude 
 was instinct in all its parts, with energy, 
 and passion, and will, I felt myself like a 
 particle of water in the ocean ; which is as 
 good, indeed, as any other particle, but must 
 submit, nevertheless, to be tossed up and 
 down incessantly, by the restless impulse 
 which pervades the whole. I severely took 
 myself to task that day, questioned the 
 value of my acquirements, which brought 
 me nothing, and began to detect in my 
 mind the lurking suspicion that the me- 
 chanic and the labourer were more useful 
 members of the body-politic than I, or at 
 least were persons for whom society could 
 more easily find employment. 
 
 During those gloomy hours, I could 
 conceive no way in which I might be 
 useful to mankind. The studies I had 
 pursued, well enough suited to embellish 
 the leisure of a man of fortune, to impart
 
 38 THE RING 
 
 polish and refinement to the pursuits of the 
 statesman, or even to lend a grace to the 
 philosopher's speculations, seemed of no 
 avail in the midst of a busy city, where 
 every man was intent on material gain, and 
 looked upon all else with scorn, if not with 
 aversion. Sorely, therefore, was my spirit 
 troubled. 
 
 Going, by degrees, farther and further 
 from the haunts of wealth and pleasure, I 
 found myself attracted by unknown sympa- 
 thies towards the dwellings of misery. I 
 fancied I could discover a look of superior 
 toleration in the poor, who did not eye me 
 with the repulsive stare affected by the rich, 
 but appeared to regard my dejected counte- 
 nance with compassion. 
 
 Several times, as I went up courts and 
 alleys, where mothers, standing at the 
 door, were distributing bread and butter to 
 their children, I fancied the friendly 
 creatures felt an inclination to invite me to
 
 AND THE VEIL. 39 
 
 join them. But I still appeared^ I suppose, 
 too much like a gentleman, and they 
 allowed me to pass on. 
 
 I have often perplexed myself to discover, 
 in what the criminality of poverty consists, 
 and why we should be so keenly ashamed of 
 it, and have never succeeded. Yet, I now 
 felt weighed down as though I had the 
 guilt of murder on my head, and every 
 time I remembered the emptiness of my 
 pockets, instinctively glanced around me, 
 and imagined that each passer by must 
 also be conscious of the horrid fact. 
 
 I looked, no doubt, like a detected thief, 
 and felt like one ; I could hardly conceive 
 what business I had to be at large. The 
 mind, in fact, involuntarily pursues the 
 process by which felonious habits are 
 acquired, and connects an empty pocket 
 with dishonest methods of filling it, with 
 gaols. Old Baileys, penal settlements, and 
 halters. I shuddered at my own possible 
 atrocity, and felt a strong hand, like that
 
 40 THE RING 
 
 of destiny, thrusting me whether I would 
 or not towards crime, which, certainly, as I 
 drew near, seemed to lose many of its ugly 
 features. 
 
 I was still innocent, however, so far 
 innocent I mean, in the broad sense of the 
 word, as not to have trampled on the 
 decalogue, or commenced active hostilities 
 in the Ishmaelitish war with the world, in 
 which I was about to be engaged. 
 
 Night at length came on, and hungry, 
 weary, dejected, I knew not where to lay 
 my head. Those great establishments 
 which so hospitably offer entertainment to 
 man and beast were closed against me. I 
 possessed no metallic token that society 
 owed me anything, and, in point of fact, it 
 did not ; nor was I in the slightest degree 
 indebted to it, so that in this respect, we 
 stood on perfectly even ground. 
 
 As the dusk thickened, I perceived 
 several members of my own fraternity make 
 their appearance in the streets. Whence
 
 AND THE VEIL. 41 
 
 they came I could not conjecture : they 
 seemed to spring like spectres from walls 
 or out of the earth, and moved forward 
 half shivering in the warm air, because of 
 that vacuum in their system which nature 
 abhors. I should have accosted some of 
 these unhappy outcasts, cultivated their 
 acquaintance, asked counsel of them, and 
 more than once assayed to do so, but that 
 something paralyzed my tongue as often as 
 I made the attempt. 
 
 At length, moving along a narrow street, 
 I observed up a sort of mews, a cart half 
 filled with straw, and the tail-board down. 
 No one stood near it. 
 
 My resolution was immediately formed. 
 But there is generally, in this world, some 
 obstacle between you and the accomplish- 
 ment of your purpose, whatever it may be. 
 Humility itself could not have arraigned my 
 object of ambition^ it being merely to alter 
 the position of my body from the perpendi- 
 cular to the horizontal.
 
 42 THE RING 
 
 Fatigue had caused me to long for this 
 change as for an almost imaginable luxury, 
 both my mental and bodily powers being so 
 completely exhausted, that I would gladly 
 have stretched myself upon the pavement 
 and slept there, but for the police. Indeed, 
 I had several times sought a little rest by 
 sitting on the step of a door, but was inva- 
 riably ordered to move on under pain of 
 being taken to the station house. 
 
 The straw cart, therefore, seemed like a 
 small nook of peace, and had it stood in 
 some green lane, beneath over arching 
 boughs, amid the stillness of the fields, I 
 should at once have sprung into it and been 
 at rest. The gardens of the Hesperides, 
 however, were scarcely guarded by more 
 watchful dragons ; men and women, old and 
 young, girls and boys moved backward and 
 forward as actively as bees on the scented 
 esplanade of their hive. 
 
 Some mothers had brought out chairs, 
 and sat nursing and gossiping before their
 
 AND THE VEIL. 43 
 
 doors; while others thrust their heads out of 
 window, to enjoy at once the pleasure of 
 exercising their lungs and of inhaling that 
 modification of fresh air, which on a sum- 
 mer's night finds its way even into a mews. 
 I wished for a thunderstorm to send them 
 in, and strolled lazily up and down the 
 street several times, exercising my patience. 
 
 At length time came to my aid and 
 cleared the scene of my adversaries, upon 
 which I crept stealthily towards the cart, 
 and mounting with all possible caution and 
 celerity, was soon buried deep in the 
 straw. 
 
 Here I hoped to find refuge from my 
 misery in forgetfulness ; but sleep proved as 
 coy as fortune, and left me ample leisure to 
 philosophize on my situation. 
 
 Several persons passed by the cart, and 
 among others, a policeman, who more than 
 once peered into it with a significant look, 
 which seemed to say, " I know all about it 
 old fellow ; but if you keep yourself quiet.
 
 44 THE RING 
 
 I shall do the same." At least, I gave the 
 honest functionary credit for so much 
 humanity. 
 
 On both sides of the court dusky brick 
 houses rose towards the sky with numerous 
 windows, in every one of which there was a 
 light. The poor are made sociable by their 
 position ; and congregate together, and 
 press as it were close against each other, as 
 though the better to meet the shock of 
 misfortune. Their sighs when they are 
 miserable ascend in company to heaven, 
 whereas, the opulent wretch generally sur- 
 rounds himself with solitude, and gives 
 voice to his sorrow in a large empty space- — 
 in a park, in a castle, in a spacious town- 
 palace, peopled only with domestics or 
 domestic enemies. 
 
 I watched the various windows within 
 eye-range, not for amusement, but with an 
 eager, intense longing, as if I expected the 
 breath of comfort to issue from them. I 
 heard mothers putting their children to bed.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 45 
 
 some scolding angrily, some in sullen 
 silence, as if their thoughts and their occu- 
 pations were strangers ; others singing 
 gaily, or speaking in soothing accents, or 
 teaching their little ones to pray. 
 
 The warmth of the night had caused 
 most of the casements to be open, and 
 enabled me, in many instances, to hear even 
 the words of their humble orisons.
 
 46 THE RING 
 
 IV. 
 
 About twelve o'clock, a man, as I knew by 
 the footstep, came cautiously up the mews, 
 and planting himself with his back against 
 the foot of the cart, coughed twice, and 
 then gave a suppressed whistle. 
 
 I was too anxious to remain undiscovered 
 to risk anything by raising my head to look 
 at him, though I immediately guessed he 
 was bound on no good errand. His signal 
 not being answered, he repeated it, and 
 presently a door opened on the left hand, 
 and I heard the approach of a second 
 person, who, as I found by the voice, w^as 
 a woman.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 47 
 
 It soon appeared that they suspected no 
 listener, for after some few words of endear- 
 ment, the man said, 
 
 " I have brought it with me, and you 
 must do it to-night." 
 
 '' I have told you already/* answered she, 
 " that I won't ; and I now tell you again, 
 that you shan't get me to do that." 
 
 '' Why not ? " inquired he, *' I hate him, 
 and he must be got rid of. The thing 
 won't be suspected, and we'll get him 
 popped under ground off hand." 
 
 '' I can't do it," replied the woman. 
 
 " Oh ! yes, you can," rejoined he, in a 
 coaxing tone, " it's a mere nothing. It will 
 be all over in twenty-four hours." 
 
 His companion sighed, but made no 
 reply. 
 
 " That's a dear creature," cried he, " I 
 knew you would consent, he's good for 
 nothing — mere lumber upon the earth, 
 always ailing." 
 
 "Ah! Tom, Tom," answered she, "you
 
 48 THE RING 
 
 know you have me under your thumb, and 
 that's the reason ." 
 
 The remainder of the sentence was de- 
 livered in so low a whisper that I failed to 
 catch its import, neither did I hear what 
 immediately followed. The words "poison " 
 — " husband " — *' infant " were frequently 
 repeated, but in what sense I know not. 
 By degrees, their whispers became more 
 audible, and the woman said, 
 
 '^ You'll never rest, till you bring me to 
 the gallows." 
 
 " Tush, tush," he replied, " you have 
 rats in the house, and the thing will be 
 accidental," 
 
 The voices once more became inaudible, 
 but in a few minutes I heard a bottle 
 dashed violently against the stones. After 
 which, the woman exclaimed, 
 
 " So help me God. I'll never harm him. 
 So you may do your worst ; I defy you. 
 
 And retreating from her tempter, who 
 sought to detain her by force, she entered
 
 AND THE VEIL. 49 
 
 the house, and slammed the door violently 
 after her. He stood still and silent for a 
 moment, then, in a tone of deep mortifica- 
 tion, muttering to himself, " You may go 
 to hell," strutted out of the mews. 
 
 Nearly along the whole range of buildings 
 the candles had now been extinguished, and 
 the moonlight, which streamed upon it, 
 converted every pane into a sheet of silver ; 
 rendering those uncouth tenements resplen- 
 dent with brightness. 
 
 There is a poetry in every human dwell- 
 ing which the moon appears to fetch out 
 and throw up in strong relief against the 
 sky. Every spot where men and women 
 have trodden, whether in love or hatred, 
 must be peopled with many associations, 
 must have its legends and its traditions, its 
 consciousness of virtue or crime, which 
 would delight or startle us if we could give 
 it a tongue. 
 
 The dialogue I had partly overheard 
 excited my imagination and set me medi- 
 
 D
 
 50 THE RING 
 
 tating. I raised myself on my elbows and 
 looked around me. What a multitude of 
 hearts, thought I, are beating close at hand, 
 contracted with sorrow, or dilated and 
 bounding with joy; and what torrents of 
 impetuous thought. How many well-springs 
 of passion ? how many tissues of crime and 
 agony? It is said that men act savagely 
 when they are hungry, and I can answer 
 for it they speculate savagely, since at that 
 moment all the feelings of Catiline seemed 
 to be transplanted into my breast; little 
 would have tempted me to fire the city. 
 
 No man should legislate on the punish- 
 ment of his fellows, till he knows what it is 
 to be tortured by hunger, and to struggle 
 with the fierce suggestions, the incendiary 
 motives, the implacable resentments against 
 society, which crowd the brain and inflame 
 the heart under its sway. While I was 
 pursuing a train of most felonious and 
 anarchical thoughts, I observed a casement 
 thrown up right above me, and saw two
 
 AND THE VEIL. 51 
 
 heads, those of a man and woman, put forth 
 almost simultaneously. The faces showed 
 pale in the moonlight, the woman's more 
 particularly. 
 
 At first there was a dead silence. They 
 looked at each other or far up into the sky, 
 and that was all. I know not wherefore, 
 but I fancied they were praying for some 
 one whom they both loved tenderly, and it 
 soon appeared that I was right. 
 
 The language in which the revelation was 
 made was not English. It grew up beside 
 the Mediterranean, from which it seemed to 
 borrow its warmth, depth and transparency, 
 and now sounded strangely beneath our 
 Northern sky. They were man and wife, 
 come thither to express to each other their 
 deep anxiety for a darling child, then 
 dangerously ill. 
 
 They loved each other; not that they said 
 so, but that in speaking of their infant the 
 fact manifested itself. It appeared to be 
 the offspring of their souls, and to be loved 
 
 D 2 
 
 UNIVERSmr OF ILUNOIS
 
 52 THE RING 
 
 as strongly. But their love and their child 
 seemed all they had. They alluded, and 
 that not obscurely, to the fact that they 
 were penniless, and that God only knew 
 wherewith they should be able to stay their 
 infant's cravings on the morrow. 
 
 Wretched as I was, I felt there was an 
 anguish keener than mine, and that the two 
 beings before me experienced it. I had 
 but to combat with my own sufferings, but 
 they were sorrowing for the sufferings of 
 their child, visited at once by sickness and 
 want. 
 
 The man's matted hair hung ov^er his 
 forehead, and he now and then put his hand 
 up into it, and appeared, unobserved of his 
 companion, to be quietly tearing it from 
 the roots. There was at times, a fierceness 
 in his words, which the woman felt was not 
 meant for her ; for she continued to reply 
 in language gentle, affectionate, full of 
 solicitude for the dear little boy, whom she 
 seemed to have just soothed to sleep.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 53 
 
 My heart yearned towards these persons, 
 and I wished, vainly no doubt, but still 
 the wish was in me, to succour and relieve 
 them. Ultimately, as the night wore on, 
 they also withdrew from my sight, and 
 oblivion, by degrees, delivered me from 
 everything. 
 
 There is no worse pillow, says the pro- 
 verb, than an empty stomach, and I can 
 bear witness to the truth of the maxim. 
 Go to bed at what hour you please, if you 
 have had neither supper, nor dinner, nor 
 tea the day before, you wdll not sleep 
 soundly, though you should be stretched 
 on a down bed. This the founders of 
 monastic institutions knew^ well, and, there- 
 fore, they ordained spare diet, that the 
 brotherhood might spend restless nights, 
 and be haunted by wild visions, and brought 
 into a fit temper to bait and hunt down 
 mankind. 
 
 Notwithstanding the late hour at which 
 sleep overtook me, I woke before five, fierce 
 
 D 3
 
 54 THE RING 
 
 as a Dominican, with throbbing temples 
 and a strange confusion in my ideas. 
 
 I then made a singular discovery. Ob- 
 serving a slight movement in the straw, I 
 looked, and saw a large pair of bloodshot 
 eyes glaring at me, and presently their 
 owner emerged, and sat bolt upright. 
 When, or how he had got there was a 
 mystery, though it must have been previous 
 to my arrival. It mattered little. There, 
 at any rate he was, a queer, impudent 
 looking vagabond, who, after eyeing me 
 for a second or two, wished me good morn- 
 ing, in broken English. 
 
 I felt no doubt he had escaped from the 
 galleys ; not that I am inclined to put a 
 harsh construction upon ugliness, which as 
 often, perhaps, masks virtue, as beauty 
 does vice ; but that in the physiognomy 
 before me nature had written villain too 
 plainly to be mistaken. He displayed one 
 of those noses called Roman, a good large 
 forehead, and fine dark brown hair. His
 
 AND THE VEIL. 55 
 
 Ugliness resided chiefly in the mouth, which 
 was coarse and sensual, while the chin re- 
 treated into a bull-neck, clothed thinly with 
 beard. 
 
 Had I possessed the shadow of a farthing 
 in my pocket, he would have stolen it in 
 his sleep, by a sort of instinctive necessity. 
 No opportunity of the kind ever could have 
 escaped him. But as I had nothing to 
 lose, I had nothing to fear, so I endured 
 the rascal's neighbourhood with infinite 
 equanimity, till he chose to vanish of his 
 own accord. 
 
 I very soon afterwards followed his 
 example ; but it was not my intention to 
 retreat far. I resolved to lie in wait for the 
 Italian, whom I had beheld over-night at the 
 window, and loitered about, in the full 
 expectation that it would not be long before 
 I should see him pass. I was quite right. 
 About a quarter after seven he emerged 
 from the mews, and walking hesitatingly up 
 the street, paused, with a desponding air, at
 
 56 THE RING 
 
 the door of a chandler's shop, which had 
 just been opened, where he held a sort of 
 colloquy with its owner. 
 
 I approached, and overheard as if by 
 accident, that he was endeavouring to get 
 on credit a little oatmeal, to make gruel for 
 his sick child. The shop-keeper refused, 
 upon the ground, that he must stop some- 
 where, that he could not afford to give away 
 his goods, and that if people did'nt pay him, 
 he couldn't expect to be able to pay others 
 
 But the Italian was not to be put off, and 
 uttered a few syllables in a sort of whisper, 
 upon which the chandler's shopman said, 
 
 "Well, come in, you shall have it this 
 time, but d'ye see, I can't always go on 
 trusting." 
 
 I felt relieved by those words, and mov- 
 ing on a little, waited for the exit of my 
 friend with his oatmeal, and then walked 
 back after him, to the entrance of the mews. 
 Here I paced to and fro for a considerable 
 time, in the expectation that he would again
 
 AND THE VEIL. 57 
 
 make his appearance. I guessed he could 
 not stay at home all day, but must of 
 necessity seek to escape, if for ever so brief 
 a space of time, from the miseries of his 
 home. Nor was I disappointed. 
 
 By and by, out he came, looking gaunt 
 and lank, but ferocious withal, as if he had 
 made up his mind to do something which 
 would produce a change in his condition. 
 He might have been mistaken for a man 
 who had one foot at least in Newgate ; and 
 in other days I should not hare much 
 hesitated to invite him to take a turn with 
 me on Hounslow Heath. 
 
 I really fancied, as I walked down the 
 street, that we were born to achieve some- 
 thing together, were it but a little highway 
 business. So, without any superfluous 
 ceremony, I stepped up to him, and putting 
 several off-hand questions in his own 
 language, made his acquaintance in a trice. 
 
 There is no freemasonry like poverty. 
 We each saw at once that the world had
 
 58 THE. RING 
 
 nearly done its worst upon the other, and 
 resolved to be friends, and try what this 
 determination could accomplish for us, in 
 our somewhat unpromising position. 
 
 It soon appeared that in secular concerns 
 we were about equal, neither of us having a 
 farthing in the world. He lived with his 
 wife and child, in furnished lodgings, and 
 had made away with every article of 
 property they possessed, save the few 
 garments which decency required them to 
 preserve. This also was exactly my case. 
 Out of our wardrobe, therefore, nothing was 
 to be made, though it once or twice 
 occurred to me that the weather was warm 
 enough to allow of a man's going in his 
 shirt sleeves. Upon this suggestion of 
 prudence, however, we did not act. 
 
 While busily employed in discussing and 
 projecting, a light suddenly flashed upon us. 
 
 We saw two men in the middle of the 
 street, singing at the top of their cracked 
 voices one of those epidemical airs which
 
 AND THE VEIL. 59 
 
 at times take possession of London. 
 Whatever happens to be the tune in vogue, 
 it persecutes your ears at every corner. 
 The street-singer roars it forth ; the organ- 
 boy grinds it ; the butcher-boy whistles it, 
 and the diminutive kitchen wench, who has 
 no more voice than a broken bellows, mewls 
 it up into your ears as you pass over the 
 area gratings. Nothing is more infectious 
 than a vulgar tune. It finds, of course, 
 congenial encouragement among the mili- 
 tary ; regimental bands play it ; princesses, 
 duchesses, countesses dance to it ; and from 
 the king to the chimney sweep, all, whose 
 heels are made frisky by cat-gut, beat the 
 chalked floor or the dusty pavement to the 
 same vulgar, boisterous, inharmonious suc- 
 cession of quaint and absurd notes. 
 
 Both copper and silver rained down upon 
 the pavement at the feet of the singers, 
 chiefly from the hands of that fairer and more 
 sympathizing part of the creation, which 
 twirls mops, and flourishes parasols. No
 
 60 
 
 THE RING 
 
 matter for the position, woman, high or 
 low, is the same, generous, compassionate, 
 and prone to believe that coin refused in 
 charity, burns a hole in the pocket. My 
 Italian friend and I looked at each other 
 and said nothing, but our resolution was 
 taken. As soon as we found ourselves in a 
 quiet street, we began to touch upon the 
 plan, that had evidently been conceived at 
 the same moment by us both. 
 
 We had voices, good or bad, and re- 
 solved to try the force of them that very 
 night, for desperate as was our condition, 
 we had not yet the courage to pursue our 
 new calling in the face of the sun. We, 
 therefore, agreed to stroll forth into the 
 fields, to discuss the songs we knew, and 
 have a sort of rehearsal, before undertaking 
 to perform together.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 61 
 
 V. 
 
 I HAD now leisure to consider the figure 
 and appearance of my companion. He was 
 a man about thirty-three, rather below than 
 above the middle height, with an irregular 
 but expressive countenance, which had 
 nothing remarkable about it, save the 
 mouth ; that, however, was exceedingly 
 beautiful, and when he smiled, for smile he 
 did as we spoke of our projected rehearsal, 
 there appeared to be a fascination in the 
 play of it perfectly irresistible. 
 
 I am, unfortunately, no painter, not 
 having at my command those words which 
 delineate faces on the ground work of
 
 62 THE RING 
 
 language, and thus give them an imperish- 
 able existence. My friend's face, however, 
 deserved to live for ever. There was an 
 inexhaustible supply of emotion, of hope, of 
 passion, in it. The fine oval was encased 
 in black hair and beard, and a thick pair of 
 moustachios shaded the upper lip, partly 
 concealing the rim of it. The forehead was 
 broad, the eyes large, and the chin grace- 
 fully rounded and dimpled like that of a 
 woman of the south. Over the whole 
 countenance there was that effeminate air 
 which belongs to genius, consisting of the 
 union of softness with strength, of delicate 
 sensibility with great force of will. 
 
 His conversation was impetuous, and 
 replete with vivacity ; his acquisitions were 
 manifold, and he poured forth, on every 
 topic, a torrent of remarks and observa- 
 tions, many of them distinguished for their 
 originality, which, under favorable circum- 
 stances, would have given him the reputa- 
 tion of eloquence.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 63 
 
 Absorbed by our new project, we had 
 soon passed through the Regent's Park, and 
 over Primrose Hill, and found ourselves far 
 in the fields towards Kilburn. Here, sitting 
 down under an oak, at a distance from 
 hedges to escape listeners, we began to 
 try our voices in concert. 
 
 Abstinence had impaired our strength, 
 though our frames were naturally capable 
 of much endurance. The prospect of what 
 we were to gain and enjoy in the evening, 
 kindled a degree of enthusiasim, which 
 blunted the sharp edge of our appetites. 
 
 Coronelli, as if carrying on some secret 
 calculation in his mind, exclaimed : 
 
 '' Yes, that will do, they will both have 
 what they want, and he will get better." 
 
 To any stranger, who should have 
 observed us, we must have appeared two 
 exceedingly merry fellows, with a quantity 
 of surplus joyousness in our constitutions, 
 which we could not possibly restrain. The 
 day seemed well calculated to give birth to
 
 64^ THE RING 
 
 such a feeling. Over head, there was 
 nothing but one intense vault of blue, with 
 the bright sun travelling through it in all 
 its grandeur, shedding around floods of 
 heat and glory, and investing everything 
 with beauty. The hum of life rose on all 
 sides from the earth, over which the breath 
 of gladness breathed audibly. 
 
 The old oak tree at whose foot we sat, 
 shaken gently by the breeze, uttered a 
 pleasant murmur. The bees carried their 
 pastoral music deep into the flower bells ; 
 butterflies, white and variegated, moved 
 through the atmosphere on noiseless wings, 
 which suggested, perhaps, their comparison 
 to the soul ; and lady-birds, in spotted 
 tortoise-shell armour, alighted on the backs 
 of our hands as we sat still on the grass. 
 The birds sang in their merriest key ; while 
 cows here and there, expressed by lowings, 
 the delight with which summer inspired them. 
 
 In these circumstances, we may discover 
 many sources of pleasure open to all, poor
 
 AND THE VEIL. 65 
 
 and rich, wise and ipwise. But such joys 
 are transient in their operation. 
 
 Man's happiness must spring from the 
 exercise of his affections, or can have no 
 existence. The highest measure of intellect 
 will not give it to him, neither will the 
 performance of duty ; since, in spite of his 
 understanding and his ethics, his heart may 
 remain a desert, and this must be filled 
 with powerful emotions, before the whole 
 of our nature can be put in harmony with 
 itself, without which, there is no happiness. 
 
 With respect to Coronelli and myself, it 
 never entered into our thoughts to aspire 
 to happiness, which was a luxury, reserved, 
 in our opinion, for the great and powerful. 
 What we then coveted, was, the means of 
 allaying the humblest of all human cravings. 
 
 Late in the afternoon, a man and woman 
 came into the field to milk the cows, and 
 I know not what angel put it into their 
 heads, to offer us a draught of fresh milk, 
 but they did so, and as we quaffed it
 
 66 THE RING 
 
 eagerly, it appeared more delicious than 
 nectar, and we uttered our thanks in so 
 earnest a tone, that the good people, I fear, 
 thought we were mad.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 67 
 
 VI. 
 
 Refreshed by this fortunate supply, we 
 longed for the evening. It came at length, 
 and with beating hearts, we moved towards 
 that part of London, which was, we hoped, 
 to be the scene of our success and of our 
 humiliation. 
 
 I can never bring myself to mention the 
 name of the square where I first sang 
 in the street, and received sixpence in 
 charity. May God, however, bless the 
 hand that gave it, for at the moment it 
 appeared to me a mine of wealth, and I 
 handed it over to Coronelli, who was so 
 visibly trembling with emotion, that I more
 
 68 THE RING 
 
 than once, thought he would drop on the 
 road as he sang. But in all situations, 
 however low, there is something to- com- 
 pensate for what we endure. 
 
 Even there, with our hats off, and our 
 voices lifted up, obviously with the design 
 to extort relief, our vanity received some 
 food, from the observations made on us by 
 the passers by. Several ladies remarked, 
 what a pity it was, that two men, so 
 handsome and gentlemanly, should be re- 
 duced to so mean a calling ; for vrhich they 
 felt sure we had not been brought up. 
 Similar remarks w-ere frequently repeated, 
 and I refer to them, because they, in part, 
 enabled me to endure the trials to which I 
 found myself exposed. 
 
 Not being properly trained, we con- 
 stantly, in spite of our morning's rehearsal, 
 found ourselves at sixes and sevens, now in 
 a high, now in a low key, and instead of 
 keeping time, running constantly too fast 
 or two slow. Many people laughed at us.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 69 
 
 and some said, we were two foolish fellows, 
 who were doing the thing for a wager. 
 
 There is something inexplicable in the 
 natm'e of our minds that often renders us 
 minutely observant, when it might least be 
 expected of us. Most persons will probably 
 have remarked this, at least I remember, 
 that on this very evening of bewilderment, 
 when vexation and shame almost made me 
 mad, I bestowed a notice on the aspect of 
 London, on its thronging population, its 
 splendour and its opulence, which I never 
 at any other time extended to them. 
 
 I remember well, after the conclusion of 
 our songs, standing at a corner, where two 
 large streets branched off; the double rows 
 of lamps stretching away, till, in the 
 distance, they appeared to mingle with 
 each other, and threw light upon a gay 
 crowd sauntering lazily along, as though 
 their whole business in life were mere 
 personal indulgence. Innumerable carriages 
 rolled by, laden with wealth and beauty ;
 
 70 THE RING 
 
 the shops were one blaze of riches ; and 
 upon the whole it seemed impossible, that, 
 in so magnificent a city, a single creature 
 should be found unprovided with necessaries. 
 I was just bringing the reflection home 
 to ray own bosom, when an elderly gentle- 
 man, who happened to be walking alone 
 close to the kerbstone, stood still to look at 
 us. I was not sufficiently near to observe 
 whether he smiled or not, but, taking a 
 penny from his pocket he beckoned me to 
 him. Had an arrow at that moment 
 pierced my body, I could not have expe- 
 rienced a keener pang of anguish. There 
 lived but one man in the world, who, by 
 witnessing my humiliation, could make me 
 despise myself, and inspire me with devilish 
 thoughts of revenge ; and there he stood, 
 looking down from the level of respecta- 
 bility upon me, exercising his virtues at 
 my expense, and offering me a penny : I 
 covered my eyes with my hands, in the hope 
 that it might prove a delusion of fancy, and
 
 AND THE VEIL. 71 
 
 that it was not he ; but on looking again, 
 my first suspicion was converted into 
 certainty. It was my enemy, who, return- 
 ing his money into his pocket, threw upon 
 me a glance full of triumph, and stepping 
 into the crowd, disappeared. 
 
 The apparition of Kensington gardens 
 was now explained. He was, then, in 
 London, and I could not for one moment 
 doubt, would keep a strict look out after 
 me, that he might satiate his diabolical 
 revenge, and urge me on, if possible, to a 
 death of ignominy. 
 
 My whole frame trembled with agitation, 
 and my heart thumped audibly against my 
 breast. Coronelli observed that there was 
 something the matter, but as I quickly 
 recovered my self-command we resumed 
 our performance, and before ten o'clock 
 found ourselves masters of fifteen shillings, 
 with which Coronelli thought we should be 
 content, and invited me to go home with
 
 72 THE RING 
 
 him, saying, we would sup together. Just 
 as we were finishing our last song, a 
 foreigner stepped up to us, and addressing 
 himself to Coronelli, said, 
 
 '^ You are an Italian, are you not ? " 
 
 My companion replied in the affirmative, 
 upon which the stranger put a shilling into 
 his hand, saying, 
 
 " There — God Mess you — it is very little, 
 but I hope it will do you good." 
 
 After which, he walked hastily away. 
 
 On returning home, if I may be pardoned 
 the expression, we discussed our gains, and 
 Coronelli proposed that we should divide 
 them equally, but as he had others depen- 
 dent on him I suggested a different arrange- 
 ment, to which my companion, with genuine 
 reluctance, ultimately consented. 
 
 He now revealed to me the secret, that 
 he was an artist, who, having failed to 
 obtain vent for his productions, had sunk 
 gradually into the condition in which I
 
 AND THE VEIL. 73 
 
 found him. He had now no consolation, he 
 said, but his wife and child, both of whom 
 he loved to distraction. 
 
 As we approached nearer the mews, his 
 conversation settled more and more on the 
 little boy, whom he had left ill in the 
 morning ; and on reaching his lodgings he 
 raised the knocker thrice and let it return 
 noiselessly to the door, before he could 
 venture to give the single knock which was 
 to summon do\Mi his wife. When at length 
 he mustered courage, she descended, and 
 without allo^nng time for enquiry, exclaimed, 
 
 " Our Antonio is better ; come in, dear." 
 
 Seeing me prepare to follow, she held the 
 door half open, suspiciously. 
 
 ''Ah! I had forgotten," said Coronelli, 
 " this is a friend. Aye, Francesca, a friend, 
 who has brought us wealth and must be 
 welcome." 
 
 She gently inclined her head, but seemed 
 still reluctant to admit me. 
 
 ''My dear Francesca," exclaimed her 
 
 E
 
 74 THE RING 
 
 husband, ^' I tell you this is my friend ; 
 welcome him to our lodging." 
 
 Upon this, she timidly held out to me her 
 hand, which I shook in a cordial manner, 
 and then we ascended the stairs. Coronelli, 
 who laboured to display as much coolness 
 as possible, had scarcely reached the first 
 landing place, when he darted off, and 
 springing up three or four stairs at a time, 
 was in a few seconds in his room, with 
 the child in his arms. 
 
 When Francesca and I entered, he drew 
 forth his share of our evening's gains, and 
 laying it quietly upon the table, said, 
 
 " See, Francesca, there is silver. Let us 
 get something for the child and for 
 ourselves, we are hungry." 
 
 The husband and wife then looked at 
 each other ; I saw there was a difficulty. 
 
 " I call God to witness," cried he, " I 
 have done nothing wrong to obtain this 
 money. I have only begged for it." 
 
 " Begged," exclaimed his wife. '^ Oh,
 
 AND THE VEIL. 75 
 
 heaven's ! Antonio, have you become a 
 beggar for me ? " 
 
 And she leaned her face upon his 
 shoulder and sobbed silently. Her husband 
 replied with much composure, 
 
 " No, Francesca, not for you, but for us 
 all. We have shared good fortune together, 
 and shall we shrink from sharing the evil? 
 My Francesca, I am prepared to encounter 
 whatever may be before me, provided I 
 preserve that which a world's wealth could 
 not purchase." 
 
 There was then silence ; and starting up, 
 he cried, 
 
 " Let me run and buy something. I 
 should have brought it home with me, but 
 my head wanders, and I forgot it." 
 
 The wife, however, insisted on performing 
 this duty herself; and presently returned 
 with some beef-steaks, and a quantity of 
 potatoes ; together with a loaf, upon which 
 we all fell at once, like wolves, and 
 demolished, while the supper was cooking. 
 
 E 2
 
 76 THE RING 
 
 I was very soon at home in this primitive 
 family. Little Antonio allowed himself to 
 be occasionally transferred from his father's 
 knee to mine, turning up, however, his 
 pale visage inquiringly, and evidently 
 wondering at my presence. The disease 
 under which he was labouring appeared to 
 me to be starvation, for when he had eaten 
 a little he seemed better. 
 
 Francesca, who felt much relieved on 
 being informed that we had been paid for 
 singing, and had not actually begged, 
 displayed some tokens of cheerfulness, and 
 even smiled when I related my having 
 lodged so near them the preceding night, 
 and the adventure I met with in the 
 morning. 
 
 She was evidently a woman of great 
 natural vivacity, about twenty-two years of 
 age, with a small, delicate oval countenance, 
 naturally pale, especially when viewed in 
 contrast with her thick dark hair, which 
 hung rather carelessly down her cheeks.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 77 
 
 When the beef-steaks were cooked, and 
 the potatoes boiled, I proposed, that as it 
 was our first meeting we should celebrate 
 the occasion ^^ith a pot of porter, to which 
 my friends readily assented, and the landlady's 
 son, a queer and impudent little urchin, was 
 despatched to fetch it. It is often supposed 
 by the respectable part of the world, that 
 people in a situation different from theirs 
 must needs be miserable. But there are 
 vicissitudes in human feelings, and I, who 
 was so wretched the night before, felt now 
 in comparatively good spirits, thanks to the 
 beef and porter, and human society. 
 
 Nor were my friends less cheerful, 
 especially since little Antonio appeared to 
 relish the change as much as anybody, and 
 laughed and talked incessantly till he went 
 to sleep. 
 
 I then rose to take my leave, but Coronelli 
 thought it possible that the landlady of 
 the house might furnish me with a bed for 
 that night, after which we could consult 
 
 E 3
 
 78 THE RING 
 
 together, and arrange a plan for the 
 future. 
 
 His conjecture about the bedroom proved 
 correct, and the landlady, a tall woman 
 about five-and-thirty, of a slovenly and 
 dissipated air, lighted me to it. Poverty was 
 natural to her and she seemed to enjoy it, 
 which is the case with many other persons. 
 A superior situation, requiring certain moral 
 observances and certain sacrifices to deco- 
 rum, would be irksome to them, w^hereas, the 
 condition of a Pariah, bringing along with it 
 almost unbounded liberty, is that which, if 
 the choice rested with them, they would 
 voluntarily select. 
 
 Mrs. Salmon evidently expected, that, as 
 one of her lodgers, I should enter into 
 conversation with her, for holding the candle 
 in her hand and leaning with one elbow on 
 the mantelpiece in an easy gossiping atti- 
 tude, she spoke in a confidential tone, which 
 seemed to invite a reply. Gin had expanded 
 her sympathies and rendered her communi-
 
 AND THE VEIL. 79 
 
 cative, and she was evidently disposed to 
 favor me with a long story. But as I showed 
 no inclination to listen, she left me rather 
 out of humour than otherwise. 
 
 There are considerable disadvantages 
 attending education and the habit of moving 
 in circles of artificial refinement, among 
 which may be reckoned the pain they expose 
 us to when circumstances take us from our 
 accidental elevation and place us in juxta- 
 position with human diamonds in the rough : 
 in fact, the sting of misery to me, lay almost 
 altogether in this circumstance. I had had 
 the misfortune to be delicately nurtured, 
 and accustomed to associate with persons 
 whose whole object in life was to convert 
 it into a romance — some perhaps would 
 say into a lie. No matter which way we 
 decide on this point ; the effect was, that, 
 by two contradictory instincts, I felt at the 
 same time attracted to and repelled from 
 the humbler classes, whose hospitable man-
 
 so THE RING 
 
 ners and generous impulses delighted me, as 
 much as their blunt and uncouth familiarity 
 offended my self-love. 
 
 Now Mrs. Salmon, though handsome, was 
 intensely vulgar, and as long as she stood 
 before me, I felt humiliated by her presence. 
 When left alone I had time to look about 
 me and examine my dormitory, which, like 
 Gil Bias' mule, seemed to have all the faults 
 that a dormitory could have. It was a 
 small, bare, hungry-looking room, with the 
 associations of a vault about it, which 
 seemed to infuse a chilliness into the summer 
 air. The unpapered walls were covered 
 with devices in charcoal, uncouth and 
 ghastly, and otherwise not in the best 
 possible taste. The bed was such as a 
 criminal might repose on, on his way to 
 Norfolk Island ; and beside it stood the 
 remains of a chair. 
 
 The only place on which a candle could 
 stand was the window-sill, and that was
 
 AND THE VEIL. 81 
 
 almost too narrow to hold one. There was 
 little danger of fire, because there was not 
 an inch of drapery in the room. 
 
 Being in no hurry to sleep, I had time to 
 derive from the aspect of the chamber all 
 the comfort it could afford. Had it been 
 spacious, and curtained at either end with 
 darkness, I might have been better content ; 
 for the mind in certain moods loves the 
 indistinct and the indefinite, because with 
 these fancy can do what it pleases ; whereas, 
 the proximity of naked plaster on all sides 
 suggests the idea of your being built up in 
 a wall. 
 
 However, I put out my candle and crept 
 into bed, expecting that sleep as usual 
 would come to my deliverance ; in which I 
 was mistaken, for Mrs. Salmon's largeness 
 of soul led her to harbour in her house 
 numbers of God's creatures w^hich paid no 
 rent, but employed all their art and industry 
 in amusing those who did, during their
 
 82 THE RING 
 
 waking hours^ which their assiduities tended 
 to prolong. Though no stranger to these 
 active little gentlemen in puce coats, I 
 scarcely ever remember to have found them 
 performing their duties with so much vigour 
 a^ in Mrs. Salmon's garret ; the air, perhaps, 
 of that elevated region having improved 
 both their constitution and their appetite. 
 
 In the short interval between their atten- 
 tions, I could not avoid admiring the change 
 which had been wrought in the aspect of 
 the aparment. The moonlight coming in 
 through the uncurtained window, lay in 
 broad effulgence upon the floor, giving that 
 portion of it the look of a rich pavement of 
 black and white marble. The walls also now 
 seemed invested with ornaments, and to be 
 draped with stillness and repose, interrupted 
 occasionally by the slight rattling of the 
 casement, as the all-visiting wind made its 
 way in. Had I been niched in the loftiest 
 dormitory of some mountain convent, I
 
 AND THE VEIL. 83 
 
 could scarcely have experienced a more 
 hushed serenity. I got up to the window, 
 opened it, and looked out. 
 
 Everybody has remarked the peculiar 
 beauties of London in the morning, before 
 business is awake, and just after pleasure 
 has gone to bed. But it is still more beau- 
 tiful at night, when the moon walks over 
 its roofs, and tinges them with all those 
 spectral hues of which no pencil can repre- 
 sent the peculiarities. There is something 
 cheering about the sight of a chimney, 
 whether active or at rest, but when one 
 sees before one a whole forest of them, and 
 remembers what a world of savoury com- 
 forts lies at their roots, and through how 
 many hearts they shed gladness in their 
 ascent, they assume a moral character. 
 
 The windows too that lie snug beneath 
 them in the roofs are richly suggestive. To 
 how many happy or unquiet souls do they 
 not form the point of communication with 
 the skies. What sighs of rapture or
 
 84 THE RING 
 
 anguish might not at that moment be 
 breathing forth, beneath that thin covering 
 of rafters and slate upon which I was then 
 gazing; for the attic stratum of humanity 
 is visited by as many powerful impulses as 
 those which lie nearer the earth. 
 
 Here and there a light shone dimly 
 through the panes, indicating, perhaps, the 
 chambers where the soul was struggling to 
 escape from its clay tenement, shattered, 
 yet fondly loath to be abandoned and 
 thrown back into the mass of inanimate 
 unconscious matter. At length, my reflec- 
 tions made me drowsy, and getting once 
 more into bed, I soon found myself wander- 
 ing over those sublime expanses, which our 
 spirit unfolds before itself in sleep.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 85 
 
 VII. 
 
 Next day, Coronelli was so ill as to be 
 unable to stir till towards evening ; when 
 by an effort, such as a man in so desperate 
 a situation would make, he appeared to 
 recover himself, and we went out together. 
 Fancying our luck had something to do 
 with locality, we selected for our perform- 
 ance the scene of the preceding night, but 
 were considerably less fortunate, our gains 
 not amounting to one third of what they 
 did before. The middle-aged Italian gen- 
 tleman passed us again, and put, this time 
 in silence, another shilling into Coronelli's 
 hand. 
 
 I notice this little circumstance, because.
 
 86 THE RING 
 
 as will presently appear, it exercised a 
 powerful influence over my destiny. He 
 little thought of what strange consequences 
 that act of generosity was to be prolific, 
 either to himself or to me. T always 
 shudder when I think of that moment. 
 There was something in his manner that 
 fascinated me, and his mild, placid counte- 
 nance, on which it was evident many a 
 storm had broken, though it had not 
 altered its serenity. 
 
 On our way home, it became obvious 
 that Coronelli's illness was serious. His 
 animal spirits had forsaken him, his hands 
 and forehead were burning, his eyes preter- 
 naturally bright. Francesca saw it the 
 moment we entered, and her habitual air of 
 resignation appeared at once to forsake her. 
 She was now tremulous and anxious, and 
 the looks of love she fixed on him, almost 
 perpetually, would have compensated a 
 worse man than Coronelli, even for the 
 tortures of the plague.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 87 
 
 He soon, however, poor fellow, became 
 insensible to her affection ; growing de- 
 lirious before midnight. I advised and 
 procured the attendance of a medical man, 
 who very kindly endeavoured to mitigate 
 the apprehensions of Francesca, saying, 
 with much confidence, that all would be 
 right in the course of a day or two, but 
 that meanwhile, the patient must be kept 
 quiet and taken care of. His real opinion, 
 as he confessed to me on going down stairs, 
 was different. It, in fact, appeared to him 
 more than probable that Coronelli would 
 die ; his disease being one of the worst 
 kinds of fever know n in this country. 
 
 I sat up all night with my poor friend, 
 who was sensible at intervals, and appeared 
 fully to appreciate the attentions I showed 
 him. Towards morning he seemed to grow 
 slightly better, but as night came on there 
 was again a visible change highly unfavour- 
 able, and when I left him, as I was 
 compelled to do to exercise my miserable
 
 88 THE RING 
 
 calling, it seemed doubtful whether or not 
 I should find him alive on my return. 
 But his wife was with him, and whatever 
 care or tenderness could effect, he was, 
 therefore, sure of. 
 
 About nine o'clock, as I stood singing at 
 the corner of the street, I observed the 
 Italian of the two preceding nights come 
 towards me, pause a moment, and then 
 pass on. I concluded that his benevolence 
 was exhausted, or that, not seeing his 
 countryman with me, he cared not to be 
 charitable. This conviction, I dare say, 
 imparted additional harshness to my voice, 
 and helped to thin the little crowd that had 
 previously formed my audience. 
 
 Of this I thought more than of the song, 
 and was getting into a humour of fierce 
 misanthropy, when I felt a hand placed 
 gently on my shoulder. It was his. 
 
 "Friend," said he in his own language, 
 " Where is your companion ? Excuse my 
 inquisitiveness. I take an interest in you 
 hothr
 
 AND THE VEIL. 89 
 
 Laying particular stress upon the last 
 word. 
 
 I told him the real state of the case. 
 
 " Ah ! " cried he, '' is it so ? Then you 
 must take me with you, and I will visit 
 him. It is not, indeed, much that I can do, 
 but I may speak a friendly word, and that 
 is something." 
 
 We did not take a cab, as neither 
 apparently could afford it, and besides, my 
 companion seemed to have other reasons for 
 preferring to walk. We moved through the 
 least frequented streets, and he drew from 
 me by the way all I knew of Coronelli, and 
 accidentally much that concerned myself. 
 
 Everybody has probably observed, once at 
 least in his life, that there are some persons 
 whose language and manner of speaking cast 
 a spell over those who hear them. It is not, 
 perhaps, that there is anything peculiar in 
 their words, or that they are more eloquent 
 than other people, but that their words are 
 delivered with peculiar accompaniments of
 
 90 THE RING 
 
 voice, tone, and gesture, things altogether 
 indescribable, but which do not, therefore, 
 exercise the less influence. 
 
 In the present case the sensations excited 
 were by no means unmixed. Not that I 
 entertained any doubt about the man's 
 character, I believed him to be good, and am 
 not prone to indulge in unfounded suspicions ; 
 but I felt, nevertheless, an inexplicable 
 uneasiness as we walked together, a sort of 
 eager wish to forestall the decisions of time, 
 and to ascertain whether the issues before 
 me were those of good or evil. 
 
 When we reached the court and stood 
 before Mrs. Salmon's door, I became sud- 
 denly sensible of its intense shabbiness. The 
 stone immediately in front of it had been 
 shivered like a pane of glass struck by a ball 
 and in part sunken, and the cavity now 
 formed the receptacle for dust, as in winter 
 for puddle. There was no area ; while the 
 door-knocker and posts seemed to be coated 
 with the dirt of a century.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 91 
 
 We were let in by Mrs. Salmon's little 
 boy, as complete a specimen of youthful 
 audacity as one could easily meet with. I 
 enquired of him how Mr. Coronelli was, 
 
 "Don't know, Sir," replied he, "never 
 axes." 
 
 He then left us to grope our way up in 
 the dark. When we had reached the top 
 landing place, I announced our coming with 
 a knock, which must have betokened my 
 fears. Francesca softly opened the door, 
 and before I could speak, exclaimed, 
 
 "Oh, Mr. Rivers, he is worse, much 
 worse." 
 
 We followed her into the room, and worse 
 sure enough he appeared. Never was agony 
 more visibly depicted than in the face of 
 Francesca Coronelli, as with trembling hand 
 she held the candle for us, while we looked 
 upon her husband's face. She shed no tears, 
 because I suppose she had none left to shed, 
 having long ago exhausted them, neither 
 did she utter many words. But in her
 
 92 THE RING 
 
 cheek and on her lips there were tokens of 
 a mute anguish, which tears, if she could 
 have shed them, would have mitigated. 
 
 The stranger now perceived, that although 
 he had not come on a fruitless errand, his 
 principal design, which was to speak with 
 Coronelli, was frustrated ; he therefore soon 
 left, promising to come again. On wishing 
 me good night, he put softly into my hand 
 a crown piece, and a slip of paper, on which 
 was wTitten the name — Lorenzo della 
 Torre — but without any address. 
 
 The remainder of that night was sad in- 
 deed, and I omit to dwell upon it. Coronelli 
 towards morning recovered his consciousness, 
 but only to enable us the more clearly to 
 perceive how strangely his strength had been 
 overthrown by the fever. Never did I 
 witness so rapid a melting away of human 
 sinews. Within forty-eight hours he had 
 been reduced in appearance to a skeleton, 
 his muscles had collapsed, his blood had 
 retreated from the surface of the body to
 
 AND THE VEIL. 93 
 
 boil and riot within, his eyes were hollow, 
 his lips livid, his breath like that of a 
 furnace. 
 
 In such moments of suffering and humili- 
 ation, however, it is that humanity shows 
 to the best advantage, the humanity I mean 
 of those who watch over the patient, and 
 seem to live in his life, and more than share 
 all his pangs. 
 
 What there was to love in Coronelli did 
 not then appear, but Francesca could 
 discern what was invisible to other eyes ; all 
 that he had been to her in other days, and 
 whatever kindness he might have shewn her, 
 was more than repaid by the affectionate 
 tenderness of those hours. 
 
 The heart stands unveiled by the sick 
 bed. The harsh and unloving wrap them- 
 selves in stoicism or keep away. The 
 gentle, the constant, and the compassionate 
 take that opportunity to display all that is 
 good in them, not by words, perhaps, but by 
 acts infinitely more soothing.
 
 94 THE RING 
 
 Late in the morning Coronelli fell into a 
 sound sleep, and I left him, to seek some 
 mental relief by wandering about the town. 
 
 By mere accident, or through thought- 
 lessness, I passed the end of a particular 
 street which I rather wished to avoid. 
 Desirous of repairing my error, I turned 
 round, and was walking off hastily, when 
 an elderly woman came up to me, and said, 
 
 " Mr. Rivers, I hope you will forgive me, 
 and come back. I am very sorry for what 
 I said on Saturday night, very sorry, I 
 assure you ; and have gone about the 
 neighbourhood every day, to try if I could 
 see you, do forgive me, sir, and come back 
 to your lodgings." 
 
 I could see that the kind old woman as 
 she spoke, had tears in her eyes, though 
 she did not wish to show them, and replied, 
 
 " Mrs. Roberts, I do not blame you. It 
 is my misfortunes that are in fault, but if I 
 do come back, you will soon find me a 
 burden and wish me gone again,"
 
 AND THE VEIL. 95 
 
 " No, indeed. Sir," answered she, '' I shall 
 not, besides, my good man and I have had 
 many words upon the subject, and he says 
 I ought to have been more reasonable than 
 to press a gentleman to pay when he had 
 no money. He has been in a sort angry 
 ever since, and I think it would do the old 
 man good to see you again in his house." 
 
 Want of feeling or gratitude has never 
 been numbered among my faults, and the 
 kindness of these honest people moved me 
 strongly. With a composure, therefore, 
 which I had some difficulty in commanding, 
 I said, 
 
 " Mrs. Roberts, if you will have patience 
 with me, I will come back. But I warn 
 you, that I am as poor as when I left, and 
 may possibly be worse oiF yet ; you must 
 think well of the matter, therefore, before 
 you take me in again." 
 
 '' Lord bless you. Sir, I have thought of 
 it, and you may stay for ever, whether you 
 can pay or not."
 
 96 THE RING 
 
 I went back accordingly to my old 
 lodgings, but explaining in part my con- 
 nection with Coronelli, said, I should be 
 out for two or three nights, till it was all 
 over with him one w^ay or another.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 97 
 
 VIII. 
 
 On my way back to the city, I had just 
 passed St. Giles's Church, when I met 
 Elliot, standing at the corner of Monmouth 
 Street. He seemed to be in what is called 
 a brown study, and I was in doubt whether 
 or not I should pass him, but catching a 
 glimpse of me, he cried, with the familiarity 
 of an old acquaintance, 
 
 '' Ah, Rivers, is that you ? What's the 
 best news ? Has fortune changed her 
 mind ? I had almost begun to think we 
 should never meet again." 
 
 There were many chances against it, I 
 replied. However, here I am, you see, 
 
 F
 
 98 THE RING 
 
 though there be little prospect of my 
 reconciliation with fortune." 
 
 He now took my arm, and after moving 
 westward for some time, turned aside into a 
 narrow street, explaining as we walked the 
 business in which he happened to be 
 engaged. He had made the discovery, he 
 said, that a poor foreigner living hard by 
 possessed an exceedingly valuable picture, 
 which his distress might possibly induce him 
 to part with for a trifle, especially, as he 
 appeared not to know what it was worth. 
 
 " I don't want it for myself," said Elliot, 
 " but a friend of mine, who understands that 
 sort of thing, wishes me to manage the 
 business. He himself is a regular dealer, 
 and has already made an offer, which the 
 owner refused. If he were to go again 
 immediately he might be thought too eager, 
 and so induce the old man to hold out. 
 Now% as they are both friends of mine, I 
 have undertaken to manage the affair." 
 " I am glad of it," said I, " because of
 
 AND THE VEIL. 99 
 
 course you will take care that the foreigner 
 is not cheated." 
 
 '* Oh ! " answered he, ^' there will be no 
 cheating in the matter ; but everyone likes 
 to buy as cheap as he can, and if I can 
 make a good bargain I am to have ten 
 pounds for my trouble." 
 
 '^ And what sum," inquired I, " do you 
 intend offering ? " 
 
 "Why," rejoined he, "ninety pounds — 
 quite a little fortune I assure you for the 
 owner, an Italian scholar, who wants the 
 cash to enable him to finish a book, by 
 which he expects to make a great deal of 
 money. He has parted with several of his 
 pictures already, and, between you and me, 
 has little else I fancy to live on." 
 
 " And has he generally got a good price 
 for his pictures ? " I inquired, 
 
 " Pretty fair," answered he, " though he 
 once sold a small piece for forty-five pounds, 
 which the buyer afterwards disposed of for 
 five hundred." 
 
 F 2
 
 100 THE RING 
 
 *^ Then/' said I, '* he surely gave him a 
 little more." 
 
 " Gave him more ! " exclaimed Elliot, 
 '•why that would have awakened his 
 suspicions, and made him set a higher value 
 on the remainder of his stock. Oh, no ! 
 picture dealers don't blunder after that 
 fashion." 
 
 ''And what," I asked, "is the picture 
 you are now going to purchase thought to 
 be worth in the market ? " 
 
 " From two hundred and fifty to three 
 hundred pounds, at least," answered Elliot. 
 " But that is nothing. The very friend, for 
 whom I wish to buy it, was once walking up 
 Wardour Street, and saw in a shop-window 
 an old picture without a frame. It had 
 just been brought in, and was not marked, 
 and the husband being from home, the wife 
 did not know how much to ask for it. 
 
 " As it was dirty and shabby, however, 
 she thought it would be quite safe to say 
 ten pounds. My friend affected to beat her
 
 AND THE VEIL. 101 
 
 down, but there was so much eagerness in 
 his manner that she suspected him, and 
 would not bate a farthing. He, therefore, 
 paid her the money, took the picture in his 
 hands, and was about to walk oiF with it, 
 when the husband came in." 
 
 " ' Sir,' said he, ' I'm glad you've seen 
 that picture, I wanted to show it to you; 
 I have just learned it is worth a hundred 
 and fifty guineas,' 
 
 " ' Stuff and nonsense,' cried my friend, 
 ' I have just bought it of your wife for 
 ten.' 
 
 '' ' Bought it ! ' cried the man, ' why I 
 had set no price on it ; and it was not for 
 sale.' 
 
 " ' At any rate,' replied the dealer, ' I've 
 paid the money, and it is mine.' 
 
 A quarrel now ensued, and the case was 
 brought before the magistrates, who de- 
 cided in favour of my friend, who was the 
 more respectable man of the two. He 
 afterwards sold it for fifteen hundred 
 
 F 3
 
 102 
 
 THE RING 
 
 guineas, and knew its value at the time. 
 It was a rare piece by Salvator Rosa." 
 
 " Why your friend," said I, " is a cheat." 
 
 ''Oh! not at all," answered Elliot, 
 " that's the regular way of dealing in 
 pictures. Everybody gives as little and 
 gets as much as he can for them — it's quite 
 the established practice." 
 
 I made certain reflections in my mind, to 
 which I did not give utterance ; but I wished 
 it had been in my power to put the old 
 Italian on his guard. 
 
 However, when we came to the door of 
 his lodgings, Elliot bade me good bye, first 
 pressing me to call upon him that very 
 evening, when his friend the picture dealer 
 was to be there. I gave instinctively a 
 glance down my exterior, which he compre- 
 hended in a moment, and said, 
 
 " Oh ! never mind that, we all understand 
 each other. There will be no ceremony." 
 
 That day was destined to be one of ren- 
 contres. In walking up Snow Hill, I met
 
 AND THE VEIL. 103 
 
 Signer della Torre, who had been to 
 Coronelli's lodging, and was now returning 
 home in haste, having, as he said, an 
 appointment with a gentleman, who was 
 doubtless now waiting for him. 
 
 He left me, therefore, somewhat ab- 
 ruptly, and it struck me, that he might 
 be the owner of the picture ; that is, the 
 individual about to be victimised by Elliot 
 and his very scrupulous friend. The idea 
 more than once suggested itself, that I 
 ought to run after him, state what I had 
 heard, and thus, perhaps, open his eyes. 
 But how, thought I, do I know that he 
 will take it kindly. We are as yet 
 strangers, and he may think it intrusive 
 and impertinent. Finally, I determined to 
 let things take their own course, and 
 walked quietly on to Coronelli's lodgings. 
 
 I found that Della Torre had brought 
 them several little articles of comfort, and 
 promised, as he said he was about to 
 receive a sura of money, to return again on
 
 104 THE RING 
 
 the following day. My friend appeared, if 
 anything, to be slightly improving ; while 
 little Antonio, who seemed proof against 
 infection, played on the bed beside him, 
 kissing his face all over, pulling his hair, 
 and lisping such expressions of endearment 
 as he was capable of. 
 
 Francesca, when her other duties would 
 permit, sat close to the bedside sewing, the 
 constant employment of her fingers appear- 
 ing to operate soothingly upon the mind. 
 Women, therefore, work at such times, and 
 men would do well as far as possible to 
 follow their example. Grief exercises a less 
 complete power over those who are occu- 
 pied than over the idle. The current of 
 business runs counter to that of sorrow, and 
 always, more or less, mitigates its force. 
 
 I had now leisure to peruse Francesca's 
 face, which seemed to be a volume full of 
 strange readings. I never felt more power- 
 fully the mystery of our organization, 
 mental or physical, than while looking on
 
 AND THE VEIL. 105 
 
 that automaton of flesh and blood, which 
 contained within itself the source of strong 
 influences, and was calculated to cause the 
 the happiness or misery of many. Her eyes 
 were large and dark, and her features sym- 
 metrical, but her complexion was almost 
 colourless as marble. 
 
 I did not wonder at the love of Coronelli, 
 though it was now beset with sore trials, 
 and might probably be exposed to many 
 more, during which aflection often dies, 
 and is succeeded by other feelings. 
 
 Francesca's dress was exceedingly mean, 
 consisting of a poor cotton gown of a sort of 
 faded blue colour. There appeared to be 
 very little under it. It fitted close to the 
 shape, and had originally been neatly 
 made, and, in obedience to the rich contours 
 of the body, fell gracefully about the neck, 
 and was open before, where one side passed 
 over the other. 
 
 I have scarcely ever seen a more beau- 
 tiful figure than hers, which seemed to set
 
 106 THE RING 
 
 off her homely costume, and impart to it 
 an air of elegance, especially when she rose 
 and leaned over the bed, while performing 
 kind offices for her husband. The poor 
 fellow, being too weak and depressed to 
 talk, lay there in almost complete silence, 
 looking up intently in her face, his little 
 boy's hand, perhaps, pressed closely in his 
 own, as if he derived from thence his sole 
 sustenance for soul and body. 
 
 I envied them, notwithstanding their 
 poverty, and to be as happy as Coronelli, 
 would have consented to undergo anything 
 compatible with it.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 107 
 
 IX. 
 
 Resolving to avail myself of Elliot's invi- 
 tation, in the hope that something might 
 spring out of it, I left rather early, and on 
 the way, endeavoured to take out of the 
 hands of fortune the shaping of my destiny 
 It is a bad habit, however, to be always 
 meddling with the future, and fancying it 
 in our power to fashion it, since it throws 
 open the door to a fool's paradise, and ren- 
 ders us more and more unfit to struggle 
 ^\dth the coarse, unromantic force of cir- 
 cumstances, which acts upon us almost 
 perpetually in the world. 
 
 I wondered whom I should meet, and
 
 108 THE RING 
 
 whether or not they would behave civilly 
 to me, considering the shabbiness of my 
 garb. Let me describe myself going out to 
 a party. I had on an old invisible green 
 frock coat, a black satin waistcoat, that had 
 once had whole buttons, and a pair of light 
 drab trousers, which showed to better ad- 
 vantage by night than by day. My stock 
 was frayed above and below, and my hat 
 indented all over. My shirt too might have 
 been whiter, but luckily it had no collar. 
 
 By the time I reached Elliot's door, I 
 had got into a waking dream, and was 
 actively playing over again the part of 
 Alnashcar, though in obedience of course to 
 European prejudices, and gave not the 
 timid knock suited to my condition, but 
 a loud treble rap, which brought little Jane 
 in great haste to the door. She immediately 
 recognized me, and I detected an odd sort 
 of smile on her countenance, which 
 obviously had reference to the breakfast 
 she had seen me eat.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 109 
 
 On being shown into the parlour, I found 
 there Elliot and his friend, Mr. Dwight, the 
 picture dealer, with a pot of ale before them 
 on the table, and each with a cigar in his 
 mouth. 
 
 Mr. Dwight was a striking person, tall, 
 stout, with a ruddy countenance, and 
 stentorian voice, which he generally used 
 unsparingly. His flat, pale blue eyes 
 glittered like glass against the light which 
 fell full upon them, while his heavy purple 
 lips seemed to have so unwdeldly a structure 
 that it was astonishing he could use them so 
 nimbly. His thick light hair was frizzed 
 up fiercely above his forehead, which was 
 broad and lofty. He wore a snufF-coloured 
 frock coat, a very gay waistcoat, and white 
 trousers, often affected by stout men, 
 because they make them appear stouter. 
 
 I wish I could say I was prepossessed in 
 favour of my new acquaintance. But there 
 was something in his voice, and more espe- 
 cially in his laugh, which incited my dislike.
 
 110 THE RING 
 
 He affected immense frankness, and 
 desired to have it believed, that he had not 
 a single thought in his mind which he 
 did not throw out fearlessly before those 
 who talked with him. He was intensely 
 positive and dogmatic, and obviously felt 
 persuaded that he knew everything. No 
 great effort was needed to keep up a con- 
 versation with him, because he supplied 
 nine-tenths of it himself, and would have 
 felt no objection to supply the other tenth 
 also, but that he appeared to have some 
 object in extracting occasionally an obser- 
 vation from me. 
 
 I asked Elliot, if I should not have the 
 pleasure of seeing his father, and he replied, 
 
 " Oh ! no, the governor is engaged in 
 study, and won't make his appearance. 
 But you'll lose nothing, for he does not 
 talk." 
 
 " Nay, nay, Elliot," exclaimed Dwight, 
 " he does talk occasionally, and talk well 
 too, especially when he gets hold of any one
 
 AND THE VEIL. Ill 
 
 who knows something about Michael 
 Angelo, or Leonardo da Vinci." 
 
 I remember one night, it is some years 
 ago now, hearing him discuss with a friend 
 of mine, the comparative merits of sculpture 
 and painting. I'm myself no dab at the 
 chisel, though I can do a little with the 
 brush, but I thought he made out pretty 
 clearly, that marble has the advantage over 
 canvass in many points." 
 
 " And yet," said Elliot, '' he admires the 
 Italian painters, and is always crying them 
 up ; though for my part, I should like to set 
 fire to everything they have left behind 
 them, that there might be some chance for 
 us of the present day." 
 
 " Faith, Elliot," exclaimed his friend, 
 " you're a charitable fellow, and would 
 gladly ruin me at once. Why ! What 
 should I do if the old pictures were 
 gone ?" 
 
 " You could deal in new ones," answered 
 Elliot, *' which you might, now and then
 
 112 THE RING 
 
 pass off for the works of great masters^ just 
 brought to light." 
 
 ^' Hah ! hah ! hah ! " laughed the picture 
 dealer, " that's a good joke. D'ye think I've 
 never done so already. Why I sold a 
 picture the other day for four-hundred and 
 odd pounds, which Van Hyder painted me 
 for twenty-five. He got hold of a piece of 
 old canvass, stretched it on a moth-eaten 
 frame, and in a fortnight manufactured a 
 picture of the fifteenth century, which is 
 now the flower of a certain nobleman's 
 gallery, and commands the admiration of 
 all the knowing ones." 
 
 " It's quite true, I assure you," he said, 
 turning to me, " but that chap's dead now, 
 and I can't get no more pictures of that 
 sort." 
 
 " No," answered Elliot, somewhat piqued, 
 " he was clever at humbug." 
 
 " Aye, and at other things too Elliot. I 
 have now in my shop two pictures by him, 
 that none of your academicians could beat.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 113 
 
 I gave him no more than fifteen pounds a 
 piece for them, and I have again and again 
 refused two hundred and fifty for the pair. 
 There was a great deal of genius in him, I 
 assure you, and if he had lived, take my 
 word for it, he would have made many of 
 your R.A's., look blue ! " 
 
 "Why," observed Elliot, "I shouldn't 
 have wondered at all at that, for he often 
 forced nature herself to look a little 
 blueish." 
 
 " Tut, tut, nature and Van Hyder under- 
 stood each other, and he took no liberties 
 with his old friend, but what she very 
 readily forgave him." 
 
 I wish he had lived, it would have been 
 a great deal in my pocket, but I gave him 
 too much money, and he spent it too freely. 
 The gin killed him. Now I could drink it 
 myself by pailfulls. It agrees with me. 
 When our friend here came in — Riddle, did 
 you say, Elliot." 
 
 " No, Rivers," replied the latter.
 
 114 THE RING 
 
 "Aye, aye, exactly. When our friend 
 Rivers came in, we were talking of the 
 picture I have just bought. Have you ever 
 been in Italy, Mr. Rivers ? " 
 
 I replied in the affirmative, and that I 
 had been educated there. 
 
 •^ Capital," exclaimed he, " well then, 
 you've just arrived in England and have 
 brought along with you a picture, which 
 circumstances induce you to part with. It 
 cost you twelve hundred and fifty pounds, 
 every farthing, and after all the trouble and 
 expense of bringing it over, you only ask 
 fifteen hundred guineas. Sir, if that be the 
 state of the case, I'll get a purchaser for it 
 in a week. You may put it in my shop, 
 just to show to gentlemen, but I should like 
 to be able to refer to you in case of 
 necessity. Upon the whole you would of 
 course gain by the transaction." 
 
 I hinted at the improbability of a person 
 in my situation, possessing so valuable a 
 picture.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 115 
 
 "Ah! yes, exactly/' answered Dwight, 
 " but couldn't you say it was stolen from a 
 convent." 
 
 " Why, I might, to be sure," I answered, 
 " and I might further add that I myself was 
 the thief, but I had rather not, though it 
 may come to that bye and bye. However, 
 just now, I've a fancy to pass for an honest 
 man, though an exceedingly poor one as 
 you see." 
 
 " Exactly," replied Dwight, without being 
 in the least disconcerted, " It is well enough 
 sometimes to pass for an honest man, though 
 you may risk by it the suspicion of being a 
 fool. Honest, I mean in the matter of 
 pictures, for in other things you know it is 
 quite a different affair. Let me see, ah ! 
 well, I've another plan, which I dare say 
 will answer. But Elliot was telling me 
 that you're rather hard up just now, and 
 that you would like something to do." 
 
 I replied in the affirmative, 
 
 *' Well, it strikes me," he answered, " that
 
 116 THE RING 
 
 I can put you into something, a very poor 
 thing to be sure, but still half a loaf, as the 
 old saying is " 
 
 At the prospect of a quarter of a loaf just 
 then, earned by my own honest labour, my 
 whole frame thrilled with delight, and I 
 answered with great earnestness : 
 
 " God bless you, sir, no matter how poor 
 it may be, but if you can get me something 
 to do, I shall be grateful to you as long as 
 I live." 
 
 "Why, exactly," replied he, "and I'll 
 tell you what it is, there is a poor Italian 
 gentleman of my acquaintance, who is 
 writing a book about painting, and there 
 are, it seems, certain documents in the 
 British Museum in rather old English, 
 which he cannot make out. 
 
 " Now, as I was paying him a little 
 money to-day, he asked me, if I couldn't 
 recommend him some one who would do 
 the thing for him, and as Elliot had 
 mentioned you to me, I said, I thought I
 
 AND THE VEIL. 117 
 
 could, SO its just lucky you're come this 
 evening." 
 
 " May I inquire the gentleman's name/' 
 said I. 
 
 '' Delia Torre," replied Dwight. 
 
 '' Delia Torre !" exclaimed I. 
 
 " What, do you know him, then ? " 
 inquired he. 
 
 " Why — yes — no, not exactly, but I 
 have met him, though I knew not who he 
 was, or where he lived." 
 
 " Exactly," replied he, '' but I know him 
 quite well, and you may call upon him to- 
 morrow morning from me, and make the 
 best bargain you can. He's an easy sort of 
 a man, as we know Elliot, don't we ? " 
 
 His friend grinned assent, and puffed 
 away at his cigar. 
 
 The prospect of emerging, by whatever 
 means, from the wretched situation in 
 which I found myself was so pleasant, that 
 from having been moody and sullen, I at 
 once became talkative and gay, and
 
 118 THE RING 
 
 apparently made some way in the estima- 
 tion of my companions, who treated me 
 very civilly and gave me a good supper. 
 
 Still, I found it impossible to disguise 
 from myself their true characters. They were 
 both desperate rogues, and, consequently, it 
 appeared to me certain that they had some 
 sinister end to serve by promoting my 
 interest, though I could not possibly dis- 
 cover what it could be. 
 
 It had previously come to my knowledge, 
 I scarcely knew how, that Elliot was an 
 artist, though from the remarks of Dwight 
 and from certain specimens which hung 
 about the room, it appeared evident that 
 he was totally without ability. He could 
 neither invent nor steal, so that his pro- 
 ductions were as lifeless as those of a 
 drawing master's pupil. Still he possessed 
 all the cant of the profession, talked of 
 ''high art," "the want of patronage," the 
 '* foolish fondness of connoisseurs for the
 
 AND THE VEIL. 119 
 
 Italian masters," and so on, as fluently as a 
 Royal Academician. 
 
 Dwight of course looked upon pictures as 
 a tallow chandler does upon candles, that is, 
 as mere articles of trade. I sympathized 
 neither with the one nor with the other, 
 for though quite ignorant of the subject, I 
 could at least appreciate w^hat was beautiful, 
 and enjoy without reference to gain.
 
 120 THE RING 
 
 When I left, Elliot said he would walk 
 part of the way home with me. The 
 conversation fell, I know not how, on Miss 
 Leigh, upon whose merits Elliot was 
 exceedingly eloquent ; praising at the same 
 time her manners and her disposition, and 
 saying, he wished much to make us 
 acquainted, as he felt sure I should like 
 her. In this opinion I concurred, observing, 
 that I thought her an exceedingly agreeable 
 person. 
 
 " I am much pleased," answered he, 
 " that you approve of my taste ; I assure you 
 she is most fascinating — dances and sings
 
 AND THE VEIL. 121 
 
 like an angel. Oh ! I should like you to 
 hear her talk. I am certain I know no 
 one with whom she would be so much 
 amused as you, since nothing delights her 
 like hearing the descriptions and anecdotes 
 of persons who have seen the world." 
 
 I said, it would afford me much pleasure 
 to become better acquainted with this 
 paragon of her sex ; and having received a 
 promise that I should enjoy that gratifica- 
 tion as soon as possible, I hastened to 
 Coronelli's lodgings, where the news of my 
 approaching good fortune diffused great 
 contentment. The health of the sick man 
 seemed to improve as he listened, while the 
 paleness of Francesca alternately deepened 
 and departed, as different trains of thought 
 passed over her mind. No doubt she 
 feared, that, as misery brought us together, 
 so even the temporary cessation of it would 
 part us. Such, at least, I supposed to be 
 her ideas, and under this impression, I 
 several times referred to future contingen- 
 
 G
 
 122 THE RING 
 
 cies, which implied my belief in the dura- 
 bility of our friendship. 
 
 I had taken home with me a few sweet 
 biscuits for little Antonio, who had become 
 quite fond of me, and looked for my 
 appearance with special delight. On my 
 side, I loved the little fellow ; and some- 
 times when I strove to interpret the 
 promise of his cheek, felt something of the 
 pain which his father, I fancy, would have 
 felt, had he shared my suspicions. 
 
 It will be readily believed, that I was up 
 early next morning and on my way to 
 Delia Torre's, where, trembling with doubt 
 and anxiety, I knocked gently. After 
 waiting a considerable time, I was admitted 
 by an old woman, whom I informed of my 
 wish to see her master. Age had rendered 
 her neither ugly nor crabbed. There was, 
 on the contrary, a mild expression on her 
 countenance which made it agreeable. 
 
 '' Sir," said she, '^ my master has not yet 
 left his room, but if you desire to see him
 
 AND THE VEIL. 123 
 
 you can step in here ; he will be down 
 presently." 
 
 She then showed me into a small parlour, 
 which could not be said to be quite un- 
 furnished, since there were two chairs and 
 a table in it, and on the wall several paint- 
 ings, which, if sold at their full value, 
 w^ould probably have bought the house and 
 furnished it handsomely. But beautiful as 
 they were I found no amusement in looking 
 at them. On the contrary, I sat trembling 
 on my chair, lest the hope by which I had 
 been buoyed up should prove vain. The 
 longer Delia Torre delayed to appear, the 
 keener grew my apprehensions ; and when 
 at length I heard him on the stairs, I 
 fancied that every step made me turn paler 
 and paler. 
 
 At length he entered the room, and the 
 expression of his countenance indicated 
 considerable surprise, and, as I thought, 
 some degree of vexation. He threw back 
 his head slightly, and spreading both his 
 
 G 2
 
 124 THE RING 
 
 hands, extended them towards me. One 
 foot was advanced, but seemed arrested half- 
 way by some sudden emotion. This state 
 of mind continued but for a moment, the 
 next he stepped forward, and said, 
 
 " I am glad to see you, pray be seated. 
 I trust that nothing has happened to Mr. 
 Coronelli." 
 
 He then took the other chair, and 
 placing himself in a friendly manner by my 
 side, continued his interrogations. 
 
 Though I was exceedingly anxious to 
 bring the matter to the right point, I 
 wanted the moral courage to do so, and 
 seized on every pretext which his conversa- 
 tion afforded me to speak of something 
 else. 
 
 At length, however, all subsidiary topics 
 appeared to be exhausted, and I was 
 obliged to touch upon the object of my 
 visit, and to name the person with whose 
 recommendation I came. 
 
 ''So you know Mr. Dwight," inquired
 
 AND THE VEIL. 125 
 
 he, throwing an exceedingly equivocal tone 
 into his words, which might either mean 
 that he thought the worse of me for knowing 
 him, or the worse of him for knowing me. 
 Self-love induced me to interpret it in the 
 former sense, and I hastened to explain the 
 extent of my acquaintance with the picture 
 dealer. 
 
 He seemed relieved. 
 
 "^ I am obliged to Mr. D wight," he then 
 said, " he has described exactly what I want. 
 It is, however, but a small matter, and will 
 not occupy you long." 
 
 He did not allude to the scale of remu- 
 neration, remembering perhaps where we 
 had first met, and thinking that anything 
 w^ould be better than that ; but, saying he 
 would obtain me a ticket of admission for 
 the following day, changed the subject, and 
 spoke again of Coronelli. 
 
 Delia Torre was a considerate man. 
 While we were talking the servant brought 
 in breakfast, w^hich, as his finances had just 
 
 G 3
 
 126 THE RING 
 
 been recruited, was an exceedingly good 
 one — coffee, rolls, eggs, with some nicely 
 broiled slices of Wiltshire bacon. Yet, 
 though naturally gifted with a keen appetite, 
 I could scarcely eat at all, my mind being 
 so intoxicated by the first draught as it 
 were of good fortune, that I felt almost 
 beside myself People of the heroic mould 
 will laugh at such a proof of weakness ; 
 but I am not a hero, and, therefore frankly 
 confess by what small matters I am occa- 
 sionally depressed or elevated. 
 
 And here I may as well reveal the 
 existence of some natural defects in my 
 character, which I could never myself com- 
 prehend. Up to this time, with every desire 
 in the world to please, I had seldom, per- 
 haps never, succeeded in winning the love of 
 man or woman ; I had amused some per- 
 sons, I had attached others, and for a while 
 appeared to have fascinated some few ; but 
 they had all by degrees cooled and left me, 
 or at least failed to come up to my standard
 
 AND THE VEIL. 127 
 
 of affection. I attribute the fault chiefly to 
 myself, but there may likewise have been 
 some fault in others. They had mistaken 
 me as I had them, and an error may have 
 caused the mutual closing of the heart. 
 
 I now wished to win upon the esteem 
 of Delia Torre, not simply because he 
 might be useful to me, but that I liked the 
 man. He had a fine open countenance, 
 serene and radiant with the expression of an 
 inward joy. His large features were most 
 symmetrical and harmonious, and there was 
 a calm brightness in the eye which lit up 
 his whole countenance. Like many other 
 Italians, he shaved his whole face smooth, 
 and cut his hair, which was dashed with 
 grey, almost as close as one of our old 
 Commonwealth's men. 
 
 In person, he was tall and portly, and 
 he was in the habit of smiling unconsciously 
 as he talked, which I have always regarded 
 as a proof of a contented mind. He dressed 
 rather oddly, wearing an ample brown
 
 128 THE RING 
 
 frock coat, purple velvet waistcoat, and 
 lavender-coloured trousers, which had once 
 been much brighter than they looked now. 
 His linen was very white, and the long 
 wristbands came out over his hands, some- 
 thing after the oriental fashion. Though 
 stocks were then in vogue, he wore none, 
 but instead, a small black handkerchief 
 passed once round the neck, and tied in 
 front like a sailor's. His hat had a broad 
 rim and a low crown, like that worn by 
 Spanish licentiates, who may be seen saun- 
 tering in the twilight among the cloisters 
 of Salamanca. 
 
 I left him, better satisfied with myself 
 than I had been for many months, from 
 the idea that he regarded me in a favour- 
 able light.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 129 
 
 XL 
 
 The account I gave of my interview 
 occasioned much gladness to Coronelli and 
 his wife ; and next morning I was at the 
 entrance of the reading-room of the British 
 Museum, long before it was open, and met 
 a few odd looking individuals, who appeared 
 to be no less greedy of knowledge than 
 myself; and, perhaps, for the same reasons, 
 as they looked gaunt and famished, and 
 ready to devour anything intellectual or 
 physical. 
 
 When the door was at length opened, we 
 rushed in with the eagerness of so many 
 Bengal tigers to a late breakfast. Having
 
 130 THE RING 
 
 been duly instructed by the officers, who 
 are among the most obliging people I ever 
 saw, I wrote for the manuscripts I needed, 
 and while waiting for them, looked about 
 the room to acquire some notion of its 
 topography as well as of my fellow- 
 students. 
 
 It appeared to be a place well adapted 
 for literary work but not for study, and 
 evidently contained some of the greatest 
 originals to be found in this sublunary 
 sphere. Opposite me sat an old gentleman 
 who had been whirled round the sun, 
 alternately roasted and frozen, at least 
 eighty times ; yet his appetite for knowledge 
 seemed to be by no means blunted, for he 
 peered into his book as though he expected 
 to reach the age of Methuselah, and to be 
 able to turn his acquisitions to profit all the 
 while. 
 
 In his fits of abstraction, however, he had 
 acquired some odd habits, by the exercise 
 of which he considerably discomposed my
 
 AND THE VEIL. 131 
 
 nerves. Till his books came, he seemed to 
 be in an ecstacy of impatience, utterly 
 unconscious of where he was and by whom 
 surrounded. He would then shake his 
 head deliberately, open his mouth, turn up 
 his eyes to the ceiling, and appear to be 
 snapping at invisible flies. 
 
 While I was fascinated by the antics of 
 this old gentleman, another, in a distant 
 corner of the room, began to play a sort of 
 tune with his nose, which he had trained 
 and disciplined so as to imitate with 
 tolerable exactness the sound of a trumpet. 
 
 All eyes were instantly fixed upon him, 
 but closing his own, as determined not to 
 be put out of countenance, he continued his 
 interesting performance, till he was tired ; 
 after which he relapsed into the study of 
 German metaphysics, till the desire to be 
 musical seized him again. 
 
 Close to me sat a gentleman whose mode 
 of entertaining himself was still more 
 offensive. He appeared to have in his
 
 132 THE RING 
 
 mouth an instrument composed of many 
 small wires, with which he contrived, by 
 means which I need not explain, to produce 
 a noise resembling that which would be 
 caused by a quantity of water rushing 
 impetuously through a miniature sluice. 
 While thus engaged he was busy, as I after- 
 wards learned, in inventing horrible stories 
 which he supposed to be pathetic, though 
 they were in truth only absurd. However^, 
 he was intensely satisfied with himself, and 
 probably the happiest man there. 
 
 I have a prodigious respect for knowledge, 
 and shall not, therefore, be suspected of 
 thinking lightly of the repositories in which 
 it is piled up ; but I, nevertheless, hate the 
 British Museum, which, with all its conve- 
 niences and civilities, and it would be 
 impossible anywhere to meet with more, 
 has invariably exercised a depressing 
 influence on my mind. The sciences there 
 seem to be transmuted into so many 
 mummies, old, stale, moth-eaten, smelling
 
 AND THE VEIL. 133 
 
 of the antediluvian world, and unfit to be 
 associated ^^ith the bustling present. 
 
 Disappointment, moreover, sits enthroned 
 upon the shelves. How many hearts have 
 ached — how many brains have been turned — 
 how many lives and affections sacrificed, to 
 pile up that Pelion upon Ossa of parchment, 
 calfskin, and paper, which we there behold ! 
 There lies some fatal mistake at the root of 
 all our studies. Our aim in this life is to 
 acquire power, moral or intellectual, and 
 through that power to accumulate the ma- 
 terials of happiness. But too generally, 
 while we are engaged in this enterprise, the 
 faculty to enjoy departs from us, and when, 
 at last, we seem to have reached the gaol 
 of our wishes, and stand up like giants 
 invested with mental panoply, we often 
 make the bitter discovery that it is too 
 late to use our arms, and are crushed into 
 the grave by the weight of our disappointed 
 hopes. 
 
 While visited with some such unwelcome
 
 134 THE RING 
 
 reflections as these, happening accidentally 
 to glance at a table which lay in shadow at 
 the right hand of the room, I observed a 
 physiognomy and a figure, the sight of which 
 instantly turned all the milk of human 
 kindness in me to gall. 
 
 There sat a man, who, though seemingly 
 engaged in reading, did nothing but gaze 
 at me. We had met but too often before. 
 He had dropped like a canker-worm into 
 the large full blown chalice of my fortunes, 
 and converted it into dust and ashes. He 
 had done more, had maligned and blackened 
 me, thrown discord into the cup of friend- 
 ship, and poisoned the whole current of my 
 life. And there he now sat, looking with a 
 triumphant smile on the wretch whom he 
 had brought to want a morsel of bread. 
 
 Our eyes met, and the fires of inextin- 
 guishable hatred flashed in them. I felt an 
 almost irresistible impulse to spring across 
 the room, and throttle him there, in the 
 sight of all those witnesses. My heart was
 
 AND THE VEIL. 135 
 
 inflamed with fury, my temples throbbed 
 tumultuously, and my hand for trembling 
 refused to hold the pen. 
 
 At length a better train of thoughts came 
 to my aid, and recollecting how many now 
 depended on my exertions, I endeavoured to 
 resume my task, but could not. My eyes 
 wandered incessantly towards my enemy, 
 whose presence I felt foreboded me no good. 
 
 And was he one whose external aspect 
 betokened an evil character, and put men 
 upon their guard ? 
 
 The combinations of language, though 
 in themselves infinite, fail sometimes to 
 delineate a countenance with picturesque 
 fidelity. 
 
 Ryland was a handsome man of about 
 sixty-five. His features were tolerably 
 regular, his forehead broad, his eyes large, 
 his nose straight, his mouth very well 
 formed, and his chin round. There was, 
 however, a squareness in the jaw which 
 imparted to the face a heavy animal look.
 
 136 THE RING 
 
 while the forehead appeared to be squeezed 
 down by some invisible pressure. There 
 was no display of muscles in the cheek, no 
 elevations and depressions, but an uniform 
 smooth surface extending from the ear to 
 the nose, of a brownish red-colour, inter- 
 mingled with patches of paleness. 
 
 Into such a face it seemed difficult to 
 throw much expression, and habitually he 
 had a demure, cat-like look, which many 
 people mistook for extreme mildness. 
 
 When his evil passions were excited this 
 artificial mildness broke away like a mist ; 
 the muscles became developed as if by 
 some volcanic power, flashing forth from the 
 heart, until the whole countenance put on 
 an expression so malignant that it often 
 appeared fiendish. He had, however, from 
 boyhood undergone so complete a training 
 and disciplining by the system of Loyola, 
 that, although nature thus vindicated her 
 empire for a moment, art soon predomi- 
 nated, and reduced the face to the condition
 
 AND THE VEIL. 137 
 
 most in harmony with the designs of its 
 wearer. 
 
 He was quiet and gentlemanly in his 
 manners, and displayed a good deal of 
 polish and refinement. Most persons liked 
 him, as they disliked me ; for, whereas, I 
 was impetuous and prone to opposition, he 
 yielded gracefully, or appeared to yield, to 
 the whims and fancies of every one, by 
 which means he made them pliant to his 
 purposes. 
 
 Presently, he rose from his chair, and, 
 with his usual gait of calculation, walked 
 down the broad central passage between the 
 tables, keeping his eye, as if by accident, 
 fixed upon mine. As he drew near the spot 
 where I sat, he slackened his pace a little, 
 and glancing significantly over me from 
 head to foot, followed the motion of his eye 
 with his finger, pointing, unobserved of 
 others, at my costume and at his own, that 
 I might understand he was aware of my 
 wretchedness, and gloried in it.
 
 138 THE RING 
 
 Then, throwing a look of mingled pity 
 and contempt into his countenance, he 
 stooped to pick up a bit of paper which 
 he had purposely dropped, and in doing so 
 whispered one insulting word, which reached, 
 I believe, my ear alone. He then moved on 
 towards the stand on which the catalogues 
 are arranged. I sat still, while plans of 
 vengeance passed rapidly through my mind. 
 
 I looked back over the past ; I examined 
 the track of his villany ; I contrasted his 
 present position with my own ; I en- 
 deavoured to pierce into futurity, to see 
 how it was likely to fare with us both here- 
 after, and all contributed to excite and 
 madden me. 
 
 Unable to continue my labours, I 
 snatched my papers and my hat and rushed 
 out. For some time, the boiling agitation 
 of my mind rendered all consecutive think- 
 ing impossible. It never occurred to me to 
 look behind, and observe whether or not 
 I was watched.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 139 
 
 At length, however, I did so, and there 
 was the man following at a certain distance, 
 and casting, as he moved along, the most 
 benign and paternal looks on the crowds 
 that passed him. 
 
 At the sight, the thought flashed across 
 my mind, which of us is the devil ? I have 
 doubtless the greater appearance of it ; for I 
 am perturbed and angry., and my face is 
 enveloped in frowns, while menaces and 
 curses cluster round my tongue. He with 
 mellifluous voice, a composed and dignified 
 air, casts blessings and smiles on all around 
 him. I began to lose faith in my own 
 character, and to be appalled by the despe- 
 rate suggestions that thronged my fancy. 
 
 The first thing, however, was to escape 
 from my pursuer ; so, striking into narrow 
 streets and diving into courts and alleys, I 
 distanced him in a short time, and reached 
 my lodgings, as I trusted, unobserved ; but 
 on going to the window, which I did with 
 the greatest caution, I perceived through
 
 140 THE RING 
 
 the blinds the meek, bland countenance 
 from which I was flying, scanning the house 
 from top to bottom. 
 
 To mislead my persecutor, I immediately 
 went forth again, passed near him, attracted 
 his attention, and then moved off towards 
 the city, still followed by the old rogue at a 
 distance. In the vicinity of Smithfield, 
 however, I contrived effectually to give him 
 the slip. 
 
 Francesca and Coronelli, observing me 
 enter in a state of excitement, which I 
 could not conceal, inquired so affectionately 
 into the cause, that I could scarcely resist 
 the temptation to recite the story of my 
 past life. Nevertheless, I did resist, though 
 I could not avoid raising in the minds of 
 those sincere friends strong suspicions and 
 misgivings respecting me.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 141 
 
 PART THE SECOND. 
 
 I. 
 
 I MUST now jump over a short space of time, 
 observing merely that Coronelli recovered, 
 though his worldly condition, save by my 
 assistance, did not improve, I saw Elliot 
 often, and he gained so much upon my good 
 opinion, that I began to think the instinctive 
 suspicions which nature had at first 
 impelled me to entertain of him, would 
 prove altogether groundless. 
 
 Frequently too, as my wardrobe became
 
 142 THE RING 
 
 more respectable, I was invited to become 
 the partner of his walks with Miss Leigh, 
 who seemed by degrees to evince a partiality 
 for my conversation. Being so well 
 instructed in her history as I was, I ought, 
 doubtless, to have been proof against the 
 fascination of her manner ; but instead of 
 this, I put in practice the very few arts of 
 which I was master, to win more and more 
 upon her regard. 
 
 I invariably, when alone, condemned 
 myself for this — recapitulated my objections 
 to her character, criticised her manners 
 with severity, and resolved at our next 
 meeting to treat her coldly, were it but out 
 of a sense of duty towards Elliot, whose 
 friend I now called myself. 
 
 But the moment I met Miss Leigh, all 
 my fine resolutions vanished, while she on 
 her part seemed to be engaged in a serious 
 struggle, not knowing what to do, 
 apparently preferring me, and yet being 
 conscious that by every principle of morality,
 
 AND THE VEIL. 143 
 
 she was bound to give both heart and hand 
 to her former lover. 
 
 Meanwhile, Elliot's conduct conveyed no 
 intimation of jealousy or suspicion. On the 
 contrary, he never seemed so well pleased as 
 when he saw me displaying all the resources 
 of my mind to attract the attention of his 
 Fanny ; and used to make frequent reference 
 to the pleasure they might expect from my 
 acquaintance, when they should have a 
 home of their own to which they could 
 invite me. 
 
 We generally met at the house of Mrs. 
 Mortlake, an elderly aunt of Miss Leigh, 
 who had herself led a gay life, and was, 
 therefore, the worst of all possible com- 
 panions for a young woman. She was now 
 a widow, and having a great deal of 
 property and no children, was tolerated by 
 her stricter relatives out of consideration for 
 what she had to leave. 
 
 No person could doubt that Mrs. 
 Mortlake had been a handsome woman in
 
 144 THE RING 
 
 her time, but all the efforts she made to 
 disguise the ravages of the old fellow with 
 the scythe served only to attract attention 
 to them. She, however, avenged herself 
 by detesting and libelling all young women, 
 not even sparing the gentle Fanny, who 
 submitted to have her personal attractions 
 disparaged, in the firm persuasion that 
 nothing could possibly destroy their 
 influence. Her vanity made her tolerant 
 of ill-natured criticisms, she laughed when 
 the brightness of her blue eyes was called in 
 question, and when the dimensions of her 
 small mouth were exaggerated, showed a set 
 of white teeth and ruddy lips which literally 
 threw Mrs. Mortlake into despair, 
 
 The lynx eyes of this good lady soon 
 enabled her to perceive that Fanny's heart 
 was a little volatile, and for sometime hung 
 midway on the wing between Elliot and me, 
 but at length rather inclined to my side. 
 
 One evening we had been invited to take 
 tea at Mrs. Mortlake's, with two or three
 
 AND THE VEIL. 145 
 
 Other friends, who instead of coming, how- 
 ever, sent excuses. We little, I believe 
 regretted their absence, at least I did not : 
 for Elliot happening accidentally to be en- 
 gaged in conversation with the aunt, I 
 enjoyed an almost entire monopoly of 
 Fanny. 
 
 About half-past nine o'clock a message 
 came to Elliot from his father, stating that 
 a gentleman had called on important and 
 pressing business, which required his im- 
 mediate attention. He abruptly left us, 
 therefore, merely saying as he shook hands 
 with me, 
 
 " You must see Fanny home. Rivers. 
 She will feel no objection to being escorted 
 by you'' 
 
 AMien he was gone, I began to reflect 
 upon something very peculiar in his manner, 
 and especially in the tone in which he pro- 
 nounced the last word he had made use of. 
 It struck me that he was jealous, and yet 
 there was so much heartiness and warmth 
 
 H
 
 146 THE RING 
 
 about him, that this could scarcely be. I 
 became silent and abstracted, which, Fanny- 
 observing, began to rally me upon it, 
 saying, she supposed I was afraid to trust 
 myself to talk with her, now that my 
 guardian angel was gone. 
 
 To my surprise, Mrs. Mortlake also 
 joined her, remarking upon my moodiness 
 as they termed it, which induced me to 
 exert myself to escape from the suspicion 
 which had taken possession of their fancy ; 
 and in a short time our conversation flowed 
 as gaily as ever. 
 
 Our hostess now insisted that we should 
 stay to supper, which we were easily 
 persuaded to do, as we both seemed 
 desirous to prolong the unusual pleasure of 
 that evening. Mrs. Mortlake left us 
 frequently, on some hospitable duty or 
 other; and once, returning noiselessly into 
 the drawing-room, she found me with Miss 
 Leigh's hand in mine, and pouring forth a 
 torrent of the wildest protestations of love
 
 AND THE VEIL. 147 
 
 and constancy. We were both a little 
 confused, but she appeared not to have 
 noticed anything, and only exerted herself 
 the more to render us pleased with each 
 other. 
 
 On descending, we found a superb supper 
 laid out, consisting of fowl and game, with 
 all sorts of delicacies, not forgetting claret 
 and champagne. I had long been unaccus- 
 tomed to such fare, and its effect upon 
 my system was consequently very great. 
 My mirth, I fear, was somewhat too exu- 
 berant to be decorous. Even the ladies, 
 however, laughed and talked more than 
 usual ; and when we rose to take our leave, 
 we appeared to be in wonderfully good 
 humour with one another. 
 
 On our way to her house. Miss Leigh 
 and I came to an understanding, which 
 reflected little credit on either of us- — she 
 agreeing to forsake her lover, and I to 
 betray my trust and play false to my friend. 
 In such moments, however, reason is not 
 
 H 2
 
 148 THE RING 
 
 often consulted, I mean by persons such as 
 we were ; and if the suspicion occasionally 
 crossed me, that my proceedings were not 
 quite as they ought to be, passion soon 
 silenced the voice of conscience as well as of 
 honour, and left me completely a prey to 
 the force of circumstances. 
 
 While wishing each other good night we 
 arranged a meeting for the following even- 
 ing, when I was to be admitted secretly 
 into her father's house. 
 
 I had scarcely walked twenty yards from 
 the door, before I observed my evil genius, 
 standing still in the middle of the pavement, 
 exactly under a lamp, his right elbow rest- 
 ing in the palm of his left hand, and the 
 forefinger of his dexter placed significantly 
 on the side of his nose. He had the air of 
 being engaged in contented meditation. I 
 was not exactly in a quarrelsome temper, 
 but being very much excited, it was easy to 
 give any direction to my passions ; and 
 finding myself perpetually dogged by my
 
 AND THE VEIL. 149 
 
 persecutor, I rushed forward, with the in- 
 tention of knocking him down. He under- 
 stood my design, but neither moved out of 
 the way nor put himself in an attitude of 
 defence : he only took off his hat, and 
 bending slightly forward, showed me his bald 
 head, which age should have made reverend. 
 He had gained his point. 
 
 I stopped short, and turning round upon 
 my heel, walked away without speaking a 
 word. But I was not, therefore, the more 
 tranquil ; and the circumstance which 
 seemed to exasperate me most, was, my 
 ignorance of the means by which he con- 
 trived to discover my movements. Dolt 
 that I was, not to reflect on the machinery 
 at his command, which would have enabled 
 him to detect the nature of my thoughts in 
 their mute cradles. 
 
 All the fierce and vindictive feelings of 
 my nature were roused ; I revolved many a 
 scheme of revenge, and there was nothing, 
 short of assassination, of which I would not 
 
 H 3
 
 150 
 
 THE RING 
 
 have been willingly guilty to rid myself of 
 this wretch. I hope I never thought of 
 killing him, and yet I know not what sug- 
 gestions flitted across my brain. I can only 
 remember, that when I lay down in my bed, 
 I was in a condition of mind much better 
 suited to Pandemonium than to a christian 
 chamber. I fell asleep and had a dream : 
 
 I fancied myself placed on some im- 
 measurable height, whence I could look 
 down upon a boundless plain, sunny and 
 warm, and covered with the softest grass 
 and wild flowers. On this plain a creature 
 lay asleep, naked, in form a woman, but of 
 many leagues in length ; and as I looked 
 upon her, she grew transparent, and the 
 whole human race appeared to be enclosed 
 within her bosom, floating in a crystal 
 fluid, absorbed in inexpressible happiness. 
 Over her head trees of ancient luxuriance 
 waved gently, while the ripples of an un- 
 troubled ocean broke murmuring in the 
 distance, and shining rivers glided round
 
 AND THE VEIL. 151 
 
 about her, reflecting here and there from 
 their glassy surface a few wandering clouds. 
 
 I gazed upon the scene with inexpressible 
 delight ; and a voice, scarcely audible, 
 whispered in my ear : " That is nature, the 
 great mother of the universe, should not her 
 children love each other ? You see whence 
 they spring." 
 
 Presently the figure returned to its 
 original state, and I beheld by her side 
 numerous creatures of my own species, who, 
 instead of soothing her slumbers with 
 gratitude, were marshalled against each 
 other in strife, shouting and menacing, and 
 wielding weapons of destruction in their 
 hands. They rushed forward, they plunged 
 their weapons into each other's bodies, they 
 fell in agony to the earth, and a ruddy 
 stream trickled along the grass, and tinged 
 the white and fair side of her that bore 
 them. 
 
 Still she slept, nor could all their wicked- 
 ness arouse her ; but I thought I could
 
 152 
 
 THE RING 
 
 detect in her countenance the indication of 
 keen pangs and fearful suffering within. 
 I sympathized with her deeply— longed to 
 sink upon her breast — the word " mother " 
 escaped my lips ; and throwing myself from 
 the giddy pinnacle on which I stood, I felt 
 the air yielding beneath me, and with a 
 start and shudder I awoke. 
 
 It was a calm night, and London 
 appeared to be hushed into an unnatural 
 stillness. I longed, however, for noise, 
 longed for anything that might deliver me 
 from the armies of awful thoughts which 
 crowded upon my brain. I never, till then, 
 understood how fearful a thing it is to 
 struggle in darkness with your own ideas, 
 when they appear to hem your soul round 
 in phalanxes, more invincible than those of 
 Macedon, inflicting present torture, and 
 suggesting the apprehension of infinitely 
 worse to come. 
 
 Whence they issue you cannot tell ! but 
 the womb of night spawns them forth in
 
 AND THE VEIL. 153 
 
 myriads, and they crowd upon, and press 
 round you, till the air you breathe seems 
 sulphurous and suffocating. 
 
 What I then endured can, perhaps, enter 
 into the heart of no other man to conceive. 
 Although my enemies were but shadows 
 and phantoms the efforts I made to repulse 
 them caused the big-drops to fall like rain 
 along my face, while my whole body 
 trembled like that of a man upon the 
 rack. 
 
 I could not for some time rise, neither 
 was I able to utter a sound. It seemed to 
 me, that the guilt of murder weighed upon 
 me, that I had destroyed one of the creatures 
 which God had created in his own image 
 and likeness, that I belonged to the frater- 
 nity of Cain, and that whole ages of agony 
 would not suffice to restore me to the 
 tranquillity of innocence. This, however, 
 was only the dark rim of the sphere of 
 dreams, thrust up into the waking world. 
 My fancy shook off the slumberous influence
 
 154 THE RING 
 
 by degrees, and the horrible disk descended 
 by little and little, and at length disap- 
 peared below the horizon. 
 
 I then felt with inexpressible joy that I 
 was not criminal, that there was no blood 
 upon my hands, that the old man from 
 whose wickedness I suffered remained 
 uninjured by me. I then firmly resolved 
 never to lift my hand against my fellow, and 
 not being aware of the frailty of all human 
 resolutions, was delivered, by the force of my 
 own vow, from the clustering fears which 
 for so many hours had been stinging and 
 maddening me. A calm, sweet sleep came to 
 my relief, and in the morning I resumed 
 my habitual duties, with something like 
 composure.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 155 
 
 II. 
 
 There are many persons who would 
 probably be guilty of a great deal of wicked- 
 ness if they had the proper instruments to 
 work with, and I think I am one of these. 
 But the mischief I have done has been 
 limited by circumstances. I have in general 
 not found things pliant, and have had to 
 exert much energy in order to accomplish 
 any sin. 
 
 In the present case, however, the path 
 seemed smooth and easy to tread. Miss 
 Leigh had a maid deep in her confidence, 
 who scrupled at nothing, and possessed a 
 genius fertile in expedients. She loved
 
 156 THE RING 
 
 mystery and intrigue for their own sake, 
 and was never so happy as when engaged in 
 weaving or unravelling them. 
 
 It was agreed that I should pass by the 
 house about eleven o'clock, and give with 
 my cane three taps on the pavement, upon 
 which the door should immediately be 
 opened. I reached the place of rendezvous 
 half an hour too early, not without fear that 
 I should meet my persecutor there. In this, 
 however, I was agreeably disappointed, for 
 having walked twice the whole length of 
 the street, I felt convinced that he was, that 
 night, elsewhere engaged. As this pleasant 
 conviction was gaining ground in my mind, 
 a person, whose footstep I had not heard, 
 touched me familiarly on the elbow, and 
 looking round I saw that it was Elliot. 
 
 " Where are you going old fellow ?" said 
 he, " any where particular ? as, if you've 
 nothing better in view, I wish you would go 
 home and sup with me." 
 
 Never was there a meeting more unfortu-
 
 AND THE VEIL. 157 
 
 nate. I felt perplexed beyond measure, 
 and literally knew not what to reply. Dis- 
 appointment and anger rose suddenly in my 
 mind, and I at length answered with some 
 degree of impatience : 
 
 " Not to-night, Elliot, I have to see a 
 friend." 
 
 " A female friend, eh ! " inquired he, 
 knowingly. 
 
 " Nonsense," cried I, ^' the women are 
 always uppermost in your thoughts." 
 
 " Oh, never mind," answered he, '^ don't 
 get into a passion about it, but if you've 
 any time to spare, just walk a short way 
 with me, I've something to tell you." 
 
 With the words he put his arm in mine, 
 and we moved on together, though I could 
 scarcely conceal my extreme reluctance. 
 Commanding my voice, however, as well as 
 I could, and affecting a tone of gaiety, I 
 inquired, what he had to communicate. 
 
 "Why," he replied, "I received this 
 afternoon, a very odd note from Fanny,
 
 158 THE RING 
 
 saying, that her father was heginning to 
 grow more strict, and she could not, there- 
 fore, reckon upon nearly so much liberty as 
 she used to have ; that I must not call as 
 usual, and above all things not in the even- 
 ing. She made also some very singular 
 allusions to you, which I confess I don't at 
 all understand." 
 
 '' To me," I exclaimed with a choking 
 voice, the consciousness of wrong almost 
 overcoming me. 
 
 " Yes," answered he, " and I'll tell you 
 what she says ; I think these are her words, 
 ' We have hitherto, my dear Edward, paid 
 too little attention to appearances, as your 
 friend Rivers, if you consult him, will 
 allow.'" 
 
 " Now," continued Elliot, " she must 
 have talked with you on this point. Just 
 explain the whole matter to me. There is 
 some mystery in it, and I wish you would 
 clear it up ; not that I am in the least 
 jealous. Rivers, I assure you no such thought
 
 AND THE VEIL. 159 
 
 enters my head ; but you must own it is a 
 little odd, that she should refer me to you." 
 
 " Why, it is odd," I answered, "especially 
 as she has never opened her lips to me on 
 the subject." 
 
 " Are you sure ?" inquired Elliot 
 anxiously. 
 
 " Perfectly," said I, " indeed, there has 
 not been the remotest reference to the 
 matter, in any conversation she has had 
 with me." 
 
 " That is extraordinary," he muttered. 
 "Well there's no understanding women at all. 
 But I must tell you, that I have noticed a 
 very great change in Fanny of late ; she no 
 longer displays any eagerness to meet me, 
 and when we are talking often shows signs 
 of inattention and impatience. I think she 
 must be getting fond of somebody else, 
 and " 
 
 Here he paused, stopped, and looked 
 down upon the ground. My whole frame 
 trembled ; shame, anger, regret, disap-
 
 160 THE RING 
 
 pointment, and other tumultuous feelings 
 swept through my heart in succession. 
 Sometimes I was on the point of accusing 
 myself, confessing my treachery, and im- 
 ploring his forgiveness. Then pride step- 
 ping in, represented such a proceeding as 
 humiliating ; and it must be owned, that 
 my situation, in whatever way viewed, was 
 far from being a pleasant one. Fondness, 
 however prevailed over everything, and 
 prompted me to play the Jesuit with my 
 ingenuous friend. 
 
 While we were thus engaged, the clock 
 struck a quarter to eleven. We had 
 evidently not come to the end of Elliot's 
 disclosures, and were walking as far as 
 possible from South Audley Street, towards 
 which it would have been highly imprudent 
 in me to invite him to return. I several 
 times sought to bring the conversation to a 
 close, saying, I would call on him next day, 
 but that I really had an appointment now, 
 which I must keep.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 161 
 
 " Well, my dear fellow," said he, " T do 
 not wish to hinder you, but which way are 
 you going ? I'll walk to the door with you." 
 
 At this, T would have laughed, but could 
 not. On the contrary, I was angry, and 
 suffered too many symptoms of ill-humour 
 to escape me, especially as the clock at 
 length struck eleven. I now started and 
 would have made off, barely wishing him 
 good night ; but that he seized me by the 
 arm, and said, 
 
 " Nay, stop a moment, the worst remains 
 to be told ; Fanny informed me " 
 
 But I would not hear him out ; slipping 
 my arm from his grasp, I dashed down the 
 street as if escaping from a policeman, and 
 looking behind me to see whether or not he 
 was in chase, I had the satisfaction to 
 perceive him walking off in another 
 direction. 
 
 I had, however, missed my appointment, 
 and it would be at least twenty minutes past 
 eleven before I could reach South Audley
 
 162 
 
 THE RING 
 
 Street. I, therefore, still continued running 
 till I was quite of out breath. Several 
 policeman eyed me, as if with the intention 
 of arresting my progress. At length, how- 
 ever, I was forced to slacken my pace ; when 
 turning short round the corner of a street, I 
 came bang against Ryland, and sent him 
 staggering out into the road. 
 
 He was a man, as I have said, of tried 
 patience ; but at this unexpected salute, he 
 was thrown off his guard, and wished me in 
 a much warmer place than I felt any 
 inclination to visit. My cane was instinc- 
 tively raised as if to inflict summary 
 chastisement, but at that instant, my dream 
 flashed across my mind, and I moved on. I 
 had now fallen into the clutches of a new 
 tormentor ; for I could hear his footsteps in 
 my rear, and as he no doubt knew my point 
 of destination, I felt it would be almost 
 impossible to escape. Still, determining to 
 try the effect of policy, I diverged consider- 
 ably from my proper track, not doubting
 
 AND THE \TEIL. 163 
 
 that he would follow me. But the old 
 gentleman was not so to be deluded. He 
 marched forward straight towards South 
 Audley Street, and when, having made 
 several detours, I approached Miss Leigh's 
 house, I beheld him pacing to and fro on 
 the opposite pavement. 
 
 It w^as now twelve o'clock, and I was 
 nearly at my wit's end. To all appearance 
 he had made up his mind to walk there till 
 morning, though it puzzled me confound- 
 edly to guess why he should be at so much 
 pains to annoy me, now that I was poor, 
 and so obscure that my actions could 
 scarcely affect any one but myself. 
 
 For reasons of his own, he was not of this 
 opinion, but evidently desired to obtain an 
 exact knowledge of my doings, to serve 
 some purpose, the nature of which I could 
 but dimly conjecture. I greatly increased 
 my irritation by asking myself what Fanny 
 would think of me ; by imagining I should 
 be given up, and that the incident might
 
 164 THE RING 
 
 occasion our total separation. As a last 
 resource, I stepped up to a policeman, and 
 said, 
 
 " I think that old fellow can be on no 
 good errand. He must be planning some 
 mischief. IVe been watching him for 
 some time." 
 
 " And so have I/' replied the policeman, 
 " I think he's no great shakes, but you shall 
 see how I'll start him." 
 
 Then, marching towards the delinquent 
 with long strides and an air of supreme 
 authority, — 
 
 '' I say, old chap," he cried, " you'd 
 better move off, and that pretty sharp too, 
 or else I'll take you to the station-house. 
 I've had my eye upon you for the last 
 hour." 
 
 The other attempted to remonstrate, and 
 at length confessed he was watching me." 
 
 '' Oh, aye !" said the policeman, " that's 
 very fine, but it won't do at all, so if you 
 don't be off at once, I shall take you."
 
 AND THE VEIL. 165 
 
 And suiting the action to the word, was 
 about to lay hold of his arm, when my tor- 
 mentor, finding himself out-generalled, 
 consented to make himself scarce. During 
 the discussion, they had turned the corner, 
 and having given the three taps upon the 
 pavement, the door opened gently, and I 
 was safe. 
 
 I found Fanny standing tiptoe on the 
 stairs, with a small taper in one hand, and 
 the forefinger of the other pressed, like that 
 of Harpocrates, against her lips ; not a word 
 consequently was spoken, till we reached a 
 small parlour, which seemed to project 
 beyond the basement of the house. Here I 
 offered my explanations, which more than 
 once provoked loud bursts of laughter, 
 which, I thought must awaken not only the 
 whole house, but the neighbourhood ; I men- 
 tioned the note she had written to Elliot. 
 
 " Of course," observed she, " I wish to 
 break with him gently. Besides, you must 
 know, there has been an old gentleman
 
 166 THE RING 
 
 to day with my father. We have not seen 
 him for years, though formerly, in my 
 mother's time, he used to visit here 
 constantly. 
 
 My maid Ann, who is exceedingly 
 attached to me, contrived to overhear a 
 part of their conversation, and she said, 
 that your name as well as Elliot* s was often 
 brought up, and that the stranger spoke 
 very bitterly against you ; can you guess 
 his motives ? 
 
 " I almost fancy I can," was my reply, 
 " but the explanation would betray me into 
 a long story, and deprive me of conversation 
 infinitely more interesting." 
 
 "You are mistaken, Mowbray," she 
 replied, " nothing could have greater interest 
 for me, than the story of your life, so pray 
 begin at once and relate it." 
 
 "Another time, Fanny," answered I, 
 my face acquiring a livid hue, as I spoke. 
 "Let it be another time. I am not sufficiently 
 master of myself to tell it now."
 
 AND THE VEIL. 167 
 
 She was struck by the earnest vehemence 
 of my manner, and still more by the death- 
 like paleness which overspread my face. 
 
 " Good God !" exclaimed she " there is 
 some mystery in this, and you must clear it 
 up, Mowbray." 
 
 " Fanny," said I, " let it be another time. 
 I pledge myself to do so, but not now." 
 
 " It is plain," answered she, " that you 
 do not love me sufficiently to confide in 
 me." 
 
 " Nay," replied I, " it is precisely because 
 I do love you, that I shun the labyrinth of 
 horror into which you would betray me. 
 Believe me, therefore, I cannot be more 
 explicit at present. Hereafter you shall 
 know all." 
 
 The suspicion more than once suggested 
 itself, that she herself was in possession of 
 some secret, from the sole keeping of which 
 she would gladly be delivered, if she dared. 
 How the idea passed from her mind to mine 
 I never could conceive. She certainly gave
 
 168 THE RING 
 
 it no expression, but rather sought, by 
 an affected sprightliness of manner and gay 
 and graceful pleasantry, to conceal the truth, 
 that she also had a canker at her heart. 
 
 I had looked forward with intense long- 
 ing to this interview, imagining that my 
 whole soul would be bathed in rapture. 
 But how different was the event ! Our 
 minds, in their approach to each other, 
 found there was some insuperable bar to 
 unrestricted confidence. 
 
 We had both much to conceal, and 
 experienced no doubt what others have felt : 
 that conversation often appears freer, and 
 imparts more delight when the presence of 
 others places some slight restraint upon it, 
 than when emancipated from the sway of 
 outer laws, it passes under the check of 
 others infinitely more imperious, because 
 inherent in the very nature of things. At 
 least so it turned out in the present instance. 
 Our meeting was pre-eminently unjoyous ; 
 and if we loved, it seemed evident that we
 
 AND THE VEIL. 169 
 
 were both influenced by a sort of trembling 
 timidity, which forbade for the time the 
 further growth of the sentiment. 
 
 In our parting, therefore, there was little 
 satisfaction and much regret. Never more 
 than then, did I experience the truth of the 
 poet's words : 
 
 •■ Full in the fount of joy's delicious springs, 
 
 '• Some bitter o'er the flowers its bubbling venom flings."
 
 170 THE RING 
 
 III. 
 
 I STILL plied my occupation at the Museum, 
 and appeared to give so much satisfaction 
 to Delia Torre that often when I returned 
 from my day's task he invited me to dine 
 and spend the evening with him, so that 
 our intimacy began by degrees to assume 
 something of the character of friendship. 
 
 He was subject to the gout, from which, 
 at times, he suffered a sort of martyrdom ; 
 his joints swelling, and his whole body ap- 
 pearing to be but one point of pain. At 
 such times he wished generally to be alone ; 
 but one night, when I called somewhat later
 
 AND THE VEIL. 171 
 
 than usual, I found him in bed, where, 
 nevertheless, he desired to speak with me. 
 
 I cannot say much for the chamber into 
 which I was shown. It was naked and 
 desolate, save that here and there on the 
 walls hung a picture stripped of its frame, 
 which had possibly been sold. 
 
 As I placed myself in a chair by the bed- 
 side, Barbara said she would take advantage 
 of my presence to go out and make some 
 necessary purchases, observing, that she sup- 
 posed I would not leave until she returned. 
 To this I replied in the affirmative. My 
 friend at the time was suffering grievously, 
 but seemed, nevertheless, glad to see me ; 
 and, as often as the pain would permit, 
 explained and discussed most agreeably the 
 nature of the work on which he was 
 engaged. 
 
 He likewise spoke of Coronelli and his 
 prospects, and suggested the possibility of 
 my translating into English, for the periodi- 
 cals, some of those very beautiful poems 
 
 I 2
 
 1 72 THE RING 
 
 which we both of us knew him to have 
 written. I caught at the idea, and ex- 
 pressed myself grateful for the suggestion ; 
 after which we diverged into a variety of 
 other topics. By degrees, a drowsiness 
 came over him, and he sunk into a sound 
 sleep. 
 
 A single small candle burned on a deal 
 dressing table, at the further end of the 
 room, which it could scarcely be said to 
 light. My friend lay on an old massive 
 four post bedstead, with moreen curtains, 
 which had been crimson once, but were now 
 of a nondescript hue, verging upon dirty 
 brown. 
 
 Yet, in the obscurity which now pervaded 
 the chamber, they wore an air of grandeur, 
 falling in massive folds towards the floor 
 like the sections of a vast festoon. Another 
 time I might have been tempted to examine 
 the pictures suspended on the walls. They 
 were evidently of rare beauty ; some repre- 
 senting pastoral scenes in Italy, or where
 
 I 
 
 AND THE VEIL. 173 
 
 the Arcadian mountains encircle those 
 delicious valleys, which inspired the rural 
 poets of the old world. 
 
 But I had my own hopes and fears to 
 employ me, and I found them quite enough. 
 I recurred to my interview with Fanny, and, 
 to no purpose, perplexed and wearied myself 
 in the attempt to trace the cause of the 
 great change which a few nights had 
 wrought in her. I then pondered upon the 
 strange chance which had made my arch- 
 enemy acquainted with her father, and on the 
 consequences likely to flow from that 
 circumstance. 
 
 While thus engaged, I heard something 
 like a light foot on the staircase, far up in 
 the house. It seemed to be descending, but 
 became audible only at intervals. I am not 
 above measure given to superstition, but 
 supposing Delia Torre to be the sole 
 inhabitant of the house, and that his servant 
 had now gone out, I did feel a little odd. 
 The step continued to descend, and, as the 
 
 I 3
 
 174 THE RING 
 
 stairs were exceedingly dilapidated, their 
 creaking was occasionally rather loud. I 
 concluded it was some lodger, of whose 
 existence Barbara had not thought it neces- 
 sary to inform me, and remained still in 
 my chair, expecting the person, whoever it 
 might be, to pass the landing place and 
 descend to the ground floor. 
 
 To my surprise, however, I heard the 
 handle of the door turn, the door itself 
 thrown back softly, and saw a figure, draped 
 from head to foot in white, enter the room, 
 bearing a candle in the left hand. I 
 examined it with a scrutinizing gaze, and 
 bsheld a lovely pale face surrounded, like 
 that of a nun, with plaited folds of snowy 
 muslin, while a large cross and chain of jet 
 hung suspended in striking contrast down 
 the breast. 
 
 I rose mechanically from my chair, when 
 my visitant, observing me for the first time, 
 uttered a slight shriek and dropped the 
 candle from her hand. Then after a
 
 AND THE VEIL. 175 
 
 moment's pause, she advanced a few steps, 
 exclaiming in Italian : 
 
 " Sir — my father — my father — what are 
 you doing here ? " 
 
 I was about to stammer forth some ex- 
 planation when Delia Torre awoke ; and 
 before a word was uttered, the lady and he 
 exchanged mutually looks of inquiry. 
 Their silence, which was strangely pro- 
 longed, made me uncomfortable. Delia 
 Torre seemed in fact to have forgotten my 
 presence. 
 
 At length, he said, ^^Come here Angelica : 
 this is a friend who has been of great service 
 to me. Mr. Rivers — my daughter." 
 
 Angelica, having picked up her candle 
 and laid it deliberately on the table, ad- 
 vanced timidly towards the bed, casting as 
 she did so, several looks of suspicion at me. 
 
 " You need not be afraid, dear," said her 
 father, " Mr. Rivers is really my friend, and 
 I am greatly indebted to him for advancing 
 the work, to the completion of which we
 
 1 76 THE RING 
 
 both look forward with so much hope. Sit 
 down on the bedside, my child." 
 
 Angelica did as she was desired, and 
 putting her hand in her father's, sat mute 
 and motionless with downcast eyes. 
 
 At that moment it never entered into my 
 thoughts that she could possibly be any- 
 thing to me. I saw the nun in all her 
 aspect, and fancied her already to belong 
 to the other world, rather than to this. 
 Yet it was impossible not to admire her 
 sweet pale countenance and fine graceful 
 figure. The head-dress entirely covered 
 her hair, but the eyebrows and eyelashes 
 were dark, and the complexion such as the 
 sun ripens in the South. 
 
 Most persons have observed, that in pale 
 women the lips are sometimes singularly 
 ruddy, and contrast strikingly with the 
 whiteness of the face. Angelica's did, and 
 were, besides, so exquisitely formed, that 
 they imparted a sort of glorious expression 
 to the whole aspect.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 177 
 
 Yet I looked on her as on a picture^ and 
 when at length she spoke, her voice seemed 
 that of abstract and secluded devotion, 
 rather than of anything belonging to earth. 
 By degrees, we became all three engaged 
 n conversation ; and once or twice when I 
 was speaking very earnestly, I observed her 
 look at me with a mingled expression of 
 curiosity and surprise. 
 
 I have never deceived myself on my own 
 personal appearance ; I am not handsome. 
 My features, perhaps, on the whole, are 
 good, but they are spoiled by a lurking 
 fierceness, betokening a large infusion of 
 the savage within. This is owing, I 
 suppose, to the prevalence of those un- 
 trained and undisciplined passions, which 
 have made me their sport from the cradle, 
 hurried me into excesses, and exposed me 
 to those suspicions which, however un- 
 founded, have been the bane of my life. I 
 could not, therefore, and did not imagine 
 that there was anything in my manner or
 
 ITS THE RING 
 
 appearance, that could possibly awaken a 
 single feeling of interest in Delia Torre's 
 daughter. 
 
 On her part, she looked more like one of 
 those sunny visions which one sometimes 
 sees in a dream than anything I had been 
 accustomed to gaze on. Yet I could not 
 take my eyes from her. I felt the same as 
 when looking on a beautiful infant ; or an 
 antique marble ; or a summer sky ; or on the 
 ocean, when it stretches its broad blue 
 bosom beneath it, and looks like another 
 sky in its indescribable serenity. 
 
 Her presence produced a hush in my 
 spirits, a sort of delicious calm, like that 
 which a good man may be supposed to feel 
 in prayer. I never experienced anything 
 like it. With such sensations human love 
 has nothing to do. She beamed upon my 
 fancy like a star, and that was all. 
 
 Delia Torre himself, for whom I had 
 already begun to conceive a very strong 
 friendship, rose greatly in my estimation that
 
 AND THE VEIL. 179 
 
 evening, through the display he uncon- 
 sciously made of one of the noblest of all 
 human feelings — a father's love. There is, 
 perhaps, no tenderness like that with which 
 a father regards a beloved daughter. She 
 appears to him like his own soul, trans- 
 planted into a finer tenement, and invested 
 vnih graces and beauties which it never 
 possessed in his rougher frame. It is his 
 own image, therefore, that he loves in his 
 daughter, but too far removed from self to 
 be tainted with selfishness. 
 
 I know not how, nor why it was, but 
 when I observed Delia Torre gazing from 
 his sickbed on his affectionate and beautiful 
 child, I mechanically called to mind that 
 verse of Genesis, " And God saw all that he 
 had made, and behold it was very good." 
 
 In Angelica, goodness seemed pre- 
 dominant, so as to absorb every other 
 quality. Yet it never occurred to me that I 
 could love her ; and when at length I left.
 
 180 THE RING 
 
 and wished them good night, it was exactly 
 like stepping out of the sunshine into shade. 
 I had lost the sense of brightness I before 
 experienced, but nothing more.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 181 
 
 IV. 
 
 Next morning I received a note from 
 Fanny, containing fresh proof that my old 
 enemy was actively at work, endeavom-ing 
 to blast the prospects which appeared to 
 be unfolding themselves before me. She 
 said I must without fail see her that even- 
 ing, to explain certain things which had 
 been told her by a person whom she could 
 not name ; I knew in a moment, to whom 
 and to what she alluded, but felt so inex- 
 pressible a repugnance to speak, even with 
 her on the subject, that I more than once 
 came to the resolution never to see her 
 more.
 
 182 THE RING 
 
 It would have been far better had I 
 abided by that resolve, as I should have 
 avoided a discovery, the most fearful that a 
 man circumstanced as I was could make. 
 But there is a sort of fascination in evil 
 which operates like destiny, and smiles us 
 forward to the edge of the gulf, into which 
 our evil genius would precipitate us. 
 
 I kept my appointment, when I found 
 that my worst fears had been realized. I 
 shall not repeat or describe our conversa- 
 tion. For some time she shrunk from me 
 as from a sort of moral upas ; but by 
 entering into details and statements, and 
 still more by an exhibition of that sincerity 
 and frankness, which I trust are natural to 
 me, I succeeded in removing her doubts. 
 
 There are some features in a man's cha- 
 racter, which he cannot explain even to 
 himself, though left unexplained they may 
 expose him to the charge of absurdity or 
 extravagance. According to appearances, I 
 ought, at the time of which I speak, to have
 
 AND THE VEIL. 183 
 
 been quite miserable ; to have had a cloud 
 perpetually on my face ; to have been filled 
 with apprehensions and forebodings ; and to 
 have moved on sullenly from calamity to 
 calamity. But, shall I confess the truth, the 
 contrary was the case ; I had health and 
 animal spirits, and boundless hopes, so that 
 misfortune itself found my character, like an 
 eel, too slippery to take a firm hold of it. 
 I was besides over head and ears in love ; 
 and as I never calculated consequences, I 
 expected an infinite duration of happiness. 
 I had likewise the consciousness of doing 
 some little good daily ; for, acting on the 
 suggestion of Delia Torre, I was enabled 
 considerably to alleviate the wretchedness 
 of Coronelli and those whom he loved. 
 
 Nevertheless, this did not altogether 
 reconcile me to myself, for I felt that I 
 was playing towards Elliot the part of a 
 double-dealer, and I fancied he was begin- 
 ning to suspect me. 
 
 But when people are engaged in doing
 
 184 THE RING 
 
 wrong, the conscience has sometimes a 
 knack of suspending its judgment, and 
 waiting till the thing is done, which is to 
 bring repentance along with it. Often- 
 times also there is a sort of glorying in 
 the human heart, when it is engaged in the 
 perpetration of mischief, which by a strange 
 sort of sophistry converts guilt into heroism, 
 and makes a man proud of that which 
 should most cause his shame. 
 
 But morality just then was not my forte. 
 Thrown among persons of easy principles, 
 I readily accommodated myself to their 
 fluctuating theories; not only omitting to 
 look beyond this life, but scarcely reflecting 
 at all on the consequences which, even here, 
 must inevitably os^ertake such conduct as 
 mine. 
 
 What was worse, I became the means of 
 involving Coronelli in relations with Elliot, 
 through blameless motives I confess, but 
 still even without the attempt to look ahead ; 
 though circumstances very soon compelled
 
 AND THE VEIL. 185 
 
 me to regard with deep anxiety the results 
 of my folly. One evening, by special 
 invitation, I took my friend along with me 
 to Elliot's, where we were told w^e should 
 meet a number of persons of wit and 
 talent. 
 
 We found most of the guests there before 
 us : persons little inclined to ceremony, but 
 rather intent on making the most of oppor- 
 tunities, and enjoying themselves while they 
 could. Most conspicuous among the guests 
 was my friend Dwight, who had the largest 
 face and the loudest voice of any man I 
 have ever known. 
 
 Immediately on my entrance, he took me 
 up towards the window and introduced me 
 to a funny little individual, whom he called 
 Dr. Crick, who dashed at once into conver- 
 sation with me, on the mysteries of his own 
 profession. He explained the character and 
 history of every person present ; gave me a 
 whole budget of anecdotes, most of them 
 scandalous, in illustration of their private
 
 186 THE RING 
 
 lives, and was so infinitely confidential, that 
 I could not doubt he had taken a great 
 fancy to me. 
 
 As I afterwards saw more of him than 
 was altogether for my good^ the reader may 
 possibly wish to know what sort of man he 
 was. How long Dr. Crick had been in this 
 sublunary world no man exactly knew. 
 Even he himself appeared, from the varia- 
 tions he introduced into his accounts, to be 
 in considerable doubt upon the point. It 
 is of no consequence. He had a small 
 agile wiry figure, stood bolt upright, and 
 displayed one of the most unreadable 
 physiognomies I ever met with. 
 
 He looked as simple as a child, and had 
 generally a friendly smile upon his lips, 
 which strongly recommended him. His 
 face, broad above, terminated below in a 
 pointed chin, from which the sharpest razor 
 out of Birmingham could never completely 
 clear away the beard. His skin appeared 
 to have been saturated with a decoction of
 
 AND THE VEIL. 187 
 
 walnut juice, and to have been completely 
 puckered up by par-boiling, so that every 
 hair of his beard enjoyed the advantage of 
 nestling in a little hollow, beyond the visita- 
 tion of steel. His whiskers, somewhat 
 lighter than his reddish-brown hair, pro- 
 jected towards the mouth, and were 
 shaven off below to make room for a stiff 
 shirt collar, which would have almost 
 performed of itself the office of a razor. 
 He had a large, good-looking nose, a high 
 forehead, and eyes which were never at rest. 
 I have seldom met with the equal of Dr. 
 Crick, for volubility of tongue, or agility of 
 limb, or expansiveness of stomach. He 
 could utter more words in an hour, than 
 any other man in an hour and a half ; could 
 dance the polka on one leg ; and, when 
 strongly tempted by opportunity, could 
 stow away comfortably seven pounds of 
 beef-steak for breakfast. Of this last feat 
 he was particularly proud, so that he 
 always related it, when desirous of making
 
 188 THE RING 
 
 way with the ladies, his great ambition 
 being, to be mistaken for a ghoul. 
 
 But the most striking characteristic 
 about him, was the utter absence of the 
 moral sense. He could not of course live 
 among other men without observing, chat 
 upon the subject of ethics they held certain 
 notions, and had agreed to call this right, 
 and that wrong, But for the soul of him 
 he never could discover why. As far as 
 possible, however, he humoured their 
 prejudices by acting like his neighbours, 
 though this on his part was a mere piece of 
 philosophical condescension, because all 
 actions appeared to him of the same 
 quality. Nothing he ever did disturbed his 
 rest. He would forward the development 
 of animal vitality, or extinguish it, with 
 equal coolness ; and it was this wonderful 
 equanimity, which, as I afterwards heard, 
 recommended him so strongly to Elliot,
 
 AND THE VEIL. 189 
 
 V. 
 
 With this flexible Esculapian I soon 
 became so free, that he talked, like an old 
 friend, of my private concerns, in which I 
 found him well versed. 
 
 '' You are employed just now," said he, 
 " in copying documents for Mr. Delia 
 Torre!" 
 
 I replied in the affirmative. 
 
 " Just so," said the Doctor, " Well, there 
 is a friend of mine, a parson — and between 
 ourselves a devilish queer parson he is — 
 who wants a good deal of copying done : 
 in the sermon way, of course, " added he 
 with a knowing wink, " for he is a man of the
 
 190 THE RING 
 
 world, so busily engaged in looking after the 
 main chance, that he has no time for writing 
 and that sort of thing ; so he gets a quantity 
 of the proper stuff copied from old books 
 in the Museum, and licks it into shape to 
 suit his congregation, after which, it goes 
 off bang up, I assure you." 
 
 '' He must be an ingenious man," I 
 observed. 
 
 "Just so," replied Dr. Crick, "a very 
 ingenious man, but a trifle Jewish. You 
 won't mind that however, for you'll get 
 something out of him. Dr. Links, that's his 
 name. He is to see me to-morrow on 
 business, and I'll speak of you to him. 
 But stay, could not you take a cup of tea 
 with me in the evening? and I'll ask Links 
 to meet you. Yes, yes, exactly — you'll 
 come. He is a fine, plain fellow, no non- 
 sense ; and just step this way, here's another 
 friend of mine who may be of great use 
 to you." 
 
 He then seized me by the arm, and
 
 AND THE VEIL. 191 
 
 darting towards the opposite corner of the 
 room, introduced me to a diminuitive 
 philosopher in spectacles, who all but 
 equalled Dr. Crick himself in rapidity of 
 utterance, and excelled him a hundred-fold 
 in ingenuity and reach of thought. 
 
 I was now like a ship under the influence 
 of the trade-winds, which, impelled forward 
 by the force of one unvarying current of air, 
 finds no necessity to shift a sail, disturb the 
 anchor, or move the rudder. I had but to 
 remain acquiscient, with my faculties just 
 sufficiently expanded to receive the impulse 
 communicated to them by that torrent of 
 ideas which poured forward, pell-mell, with- 
 out intermission. 
 
 But Crick, unable to find a listener of 
 equal aptitude, soon extricated me from the 
 clutches of his friend, Mr. Professor 
 Rosemeyer. Our communications were 
 carried on in the midst of a minature Babel, 
 where every man roared at the top of his 
 voice, each being anxious that his pun, or
 
 192 THE RING 
 
 jest, or sagacions remark, should be noticed 
 by the company. 
 
 I looked now and then at Coronelli, who 
 appeared to be perfectly stunned by the 
 noise, and bewildered by the smoke ; for 
 meerschaums and cigars were scenting the 
 air in rivalry, while gin or brandy and 
 water assisted in keeping up the animal 
 spirits. 
 
 Had any apostle of teetotalism been pre- 
 sent he would have abjured his creed. 
 Nothing promotes benevolence like brandy. 
 It may be looked upon as a sort of liquid 
 philanthropy, which enlarges the heart, 
 exalts the feelings, gives wings to wit and 
 humour, and knocks off from about a man 
 all those strong intrenchments of selfishness 
 which render him inaccessible to his fellows. 
 
 Water, I admit, is a good thing in its 
 way, but it never awakens the charities of 
 humanity like brandy. Smoke too tends to 
 sublimate the wits, while it dissipates the 
 asperities of our nature. I have heard a
 
 AND THE VEIL. 193 
 
 great philosopher say, that a man never 
 looks so happy as with a cigar in his 
 mouth, when the blue smoke ascends, curl- 
 ing round the nose, like morning mist 
 round a promontory. 
 
 And there is something in the remark, for 
 all Elliot's friends, on the evening of which 
 I am speaking, became at once so wise and 
 so saturated with the milk of human kind- 
 ness, that each improvised on the spot a 
 new system of philosophy, and, if his arms 
 had been long enough, would have hugged 
 the whole world from pure affection. 
 
 In the midst of this din, Dr. Crick and I 
 contrived to carry on an interesting conver- 
 sation, which, through a series of the most 
 labyrinthine passages, conducted us, I know 
 not how, to the subject of Miss Leigh. 
 
 " I understand," said my new friend, '' that 
 you are looking a little sweet upon her, and 
 I can tell you Elliot is getting jealous." 
 
 "Jealous!" I exclaimed with affected 
 surprize. 
 
 K
 
 194 THE RING 
 
 " Why, a trifle or so/' replied Crick. 
 " But it is mere nonsense ; he does not 
 care about her or any other woman. His 
 object is just the cash, though, I do not say 
 he would not prefer Fanny Leigh, if she 
 were wealthy, to most other persons." 
 
 '' Then you know Miss Leigh ! " said I, 
 
 '^ Just so," answered the doctor, '* I 
 attend the family, not that, in fact, they give 
 me much to do, but when there is anything 
 the matter I am always called in." His 
 countenance, involuntarily, as he said this, 
 assumed a curious expression, which indi- 
 cated that he was smiling inwardly at some- 
 thing to which he did not think proper to 
 give utterance. 
 
 I felt annoyed. Besides a sort of suspicion 
 of I knew not what crossed my mind ; for the 
 doctor seemed, as he spoke, to be labouring 
 to resist an inclination to be communicative, 
 in which, notwithstanding all my efforts to 
 stimulate his loquaciousness, he completely 
 succeeded. Being rather out of humour, I
 
 AND THE VEIL. 195 
 
 left him to go and speak with Coronelli ; but 
 resolved, on the following evening, to return 
 to the point. 
 
 I found my Italian friend trying to talk 
 with Elliot, in which he succeeded but 
 badly, on account of his broken English. 
 I was pleased, nevertheless, to observe that 
 our host was speaking to him in a tone of 
 much kindness, and expressing a wish to 
 see him often. 
 
 " The governor," said he, when I came 
 up, " is gone down for a few weeks into the 
 country, so that I am my own master, 
 and, therefore, shall be delighted to see 
 you and Mr. Coronelli whenever you can 
 call." 
 
 A short, square man, dressed in rusty 
 black, with a white choker, now joined us, 
 smiling very blandly upon everybody. He 
 had a thick fell of dark hair, an oily, sallow 
 face which had never been washed, and a 
 set of heavy features, through which you 
 could perceive every instant, flashes of 
 
 K 2
 
 196 THE RING 
 
 serene vanity, that proved him to be on* the 
 best possible terms with himself. 
 
 A bright idea now seemed to strike 
 Elliot. Introducing the stranger to us as a 
 great philosopher, he said, 
 
 '' I think my friend Burton here might 
 be of use to you, Mr. Coronelli. He knows 
 a number of editors, and, from your conver- 
 sation, I feel assured that you could write 
 criticisms on art which they would be glad 
 to accept." 
 
 " It would greatly rejoice me," observed 
 Mr. Burton, " to be of service to a gentle- 
 man whose mind is doubtless full of the 
 harmonies of the South. I, myself, occasion- 
 ally express an opinion on the process by 
 which ideas are projected out of the intel- 
 lectual sphere into the domain of matter — 
 translated as it were into forms, and thus 
 invested with perpetuity ; and it would be 
 charming to find a critic capable of de- 
 veloping the theory of universal art, so as 
 to aid the present generation to forestall all 
 the discoveries of the time to come."
 
 AND THE VEIL. 197 
 
 Having delivered himself of this jargon, 
 he took me aside, and, exactly as if we had 
 been old acquaintances, said, 
 
 " It is highly satisfactory to notice, that 
 men of superior mental endowments, in 
 obedience to a certain law of sympathy, 
 easily make each other's acquaintance. 
 But — ■ — " and here he lowered his voice to 
 a whisper — " it surprises one to observe 
 the crafty and ingenuous jump together." 
 
 " I do not quite see your drift," said I. 
 
 " One is sometimes slow in these mat- 
 ters," replied he, " but I allude to your 
 familiarity with Dr. Crick, who, if I may 
 venture to say so, is a man not exactly — 
 not precisely — you know, perhaps, what I 
 mean ?" 
 
 *' No, indeed I don't," answ^ered I, though 
 I felt that I should like to know. 
 
 " Well, then," he replied, " the individual, 
 to whom allusion has been made is what 
 people call a ' humbug ;' which I mention, 
 not out of any want of charity towards him, 
 
 K 3
 
 198 THE RING 
 
 but because it would gratify one to prevent 
 a young man from being betrayed into 
 wrong courses. You see I am somewhat 
 confiding, but it rejoices one to be of service 
 when one can." 
 
 So saying, he shook me very warmly by 
 the hand, and shortly after left the room.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 199 
 
 VI. 
 
 Ox our way home, I learned from Coro- 
 nelli the exact nature of the conversation 
 he had had with Elliot, who, having made 
 very particular inquiries respecting his 
 situation and family, had promised to visit 
 him. An idea immediately flashed across 
 my mind which made me uneasy, though 
 it was of a nature which would hardly 
 admit of my mentioning it to Coronelli, 
 who might possibly have mis-interpreted me 
 in more ways than one.. 
 
 There was, however, a particular member 
 of his family, in whom Elliot was a likely 
 person to take too much interest. I may be
 
 200 THE RING 
 
 accused of ungenerous suspicion, and a 
 Machiavellian method of interpreting human 
 nature, creditable rather to my head than 
 to my heart. The charge may be well 
 founded ; though people have often acted 
 much worse towards me, than at the outset 
 I gave them credit for. 
 
 In the present instance, the elements of a 
 whole tragedy presented themselves to my 
 imagination as we conversed, and if I could 
 have persuaded myself that the forebodings 
 which then haunted me would be realized, I 
 might possibly have prevented the weaving 
 of one of the subtlest and most sanguinary 
 webs of villany, I have ever beheld. But 
 apprehensive that by giving utterance to 
 my thoughts, I might occasion unnecessary 
 disturbance in the mind of Coronelli, I 
 unfortunately remained silent, and kept my 
 surmises to myself. 
 
 There is nothing I regard with so much 
 envy in others as that constitutional 
 stoicism which enables them to go through
 
 AND THE VEIL. 201 
 
 the world without bemg greatly moved by 
 its trials, especially when others, not 
 themselves, are the chief sufferers. It is a 
 marvellous thing to be able to stand 
 unmoved amid the storms of passion, and to 
 comfort yourself wuth the assurance that, 
 according to the old adage, everything will 
 rub out when it is dry. Unluckily, when I 
 am wounded I feel ; and the surest way to 
 reach me has always been through those I 
 love. 
 
 The opportunity was now presented me 
 of making the discovery of how much 
 misery the affections may be made the 
 source, and to what extent our happiness 
 depends on a correct appreciation of those 
 around us. 
 
 It would, perhaps, have been well for me 
 had I kept my appointment with Dr. Crick ; 
 but as I was engaged in putting myself in 
 order, to pay my respects to his bohea. Miss 
 Leigh's maid came to overthrow all my 
 arrangements with him.
 
 202 THE RING 
 
 Ann, was a fine, tall, handsome girl, who, 
 had she been born to better fortune, might 
 have made a considerable figure in the 
 world. As it was, she by no means thought 
 meanly of herself, which appeared evident 
 from the extravagant style of her dress and 
 her affectation of gentihty. 
 
 I have already remarked that among 
 my failings, which, heaven knows, are suffi- 
 ciently numerous, personal vanity has never 
 been one ; and, consequently, I am not in 
 the habit of thinking that every woman I 
 see is in love with me. On the contrary, I 
 have believed it to be a work of much diffi- 
 culty to get a kind word or a kind look 
 from any one, partly from my unprepos- 
 sessing manners and person, and partly on 
 account of my firm belief in certain poetical 
 attributes possessed by women. 
 
 It never, therefore, occurred to me that 
 I had made an impression on the heart of 
 Fanny's maid, and I had, consequently, 
 hitherto set down the interest she seemed
 
 AND THE VEIL. 203 
 
 to take in me purely to the account of her 
 good nature ; nor did any other idea suggest 
 itself to me now, though I had afterwards 
 good reason to imagine that Ann's too sus- 
 ceptible nature had led her to think more 
 of me than I deserved. 
 
 As I had only a bed room in the house, 
 I was allowed to see persons, who called, in 
 my landlady's parlour. Here I found Ann 
 standing by the window, gazing with ap- 
 parent intentness at some very pretty 
 flowers, the fragrance of which, the breeze 
 entering through the open ^nndow, diffused 
 through the room. I saw at once, however, 
 that her thoughts were busied with some- 
 thing very different from the flowers at 
 which she seemed to be looking. The fore- 
 finger of her right hand was pressed against 
 her cheek, while with her left arm she 
 appeared to embrace herself, as if needing 
 some external support. 
 
 As she turned round on my entrance, 
 there was a fixed earnestness in her eyes.
 
 204 THE RING 
 
 which at once suggested that she had some- 
 thing important to communicate. I desired 
 her to sit down, but she declined, observing 
 that she could not remain more than a 
 few minutes. 
 
 " But if you will come to South Audley 
 Street, this evening, Mr. Rivers," said she, 
 " I will show you what no language of 
 mine could make you believe." 
 
 There was something in her tone and 
 manner which, uniting with her words, 
 excited in me extreme alarm. It was at 
 once evident that what she said referred to 
 Miss Leigh. With as much composure as 
 I could command, I said, 
 
 " Explain yourself Ann, what is it that 
 you have to disclose ?" 
 
 " I have now " she replied, " no time for 
 explanation, but this evening, if you think 
 proper, you shall learn much that it con- 
 cerns you to know. I may be doing wrong, 
 I feel I am incurring great risk, but for 
 your sake, sir, I must speak out, that I
 
 AND THE VEIL. 205 
 
 may save you from everlasting misery and 
 disgrace." 
 
 I seized her arm and exclaimed : 
 
 "You shall not leave this room before 
 you have told me all. I will — I must — hear 
 it now. You have filled me with suspicions 
 and fears which I cannot endure. Speak 
 out then — you would say something of 
 Fanny — let me hear it." 
 
 " Sir," answered she, '^ I am Miss Leigh's 
 maid, and in a quarter of an hour from 
 this moment must be in her room. I have 
 hazarded much already, and shall hazard 
 more by seeing you this evening. Still, I 
 have made up my mind, and if you will 
 come to me, you shall know all. It may 
 and must pain you, but it is right that you 
 should be undeceived." 
 
 On leaving the room, she, with apparent 
 unconsciousness, held out to me her hand, 
 which I took and pressed in a friendly man- 
 ner. There was at the moment a strange 
 expression in her countenance, indicative of
 
 206 THE RING 
 
 triumph and pride. But I scarcely sought 
 to comprehend it then. My mind was busy 
 with the evening's mystery; and with 
 trembling and anxious step I proceeded, 
 considerably before the time, towards the 
 place of rendezvous.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 207 
 
 VII. 
 
 Most persons have, in the course of their 
 lives, experienced the humiliation of being 
 compelled to think w^orse of people than 
 they did at the outset of their acquaintance. 
 Sometimes they are merely ashamed to 
 acknowledge to themselves that they have 
 formed a wrong judgment, and possessed less 
 penetration than they used to take credit 
 for. But when the affections are concerned, 
 a thousand other motives, by a species of 
 sophistry to which the heart is always 
 more or less accustomed, combine to render 
 us loath to be undeceived. We seek to
 
 208 THE RING 
 
 uphold the credit of those we love, since 
 their descent and moral loss of caste would 
 imply ours also. For if they be unworthy, 
 we who love them can scarcely be thought 
 to cherish noble and generous sentiments. 
 
 But we have been deceived, it may be 
 said ? Who, however, are the usual 
 objects of deception, but the weak and 
 undiscerning ? 
 
 As I moved along the street, scarcely 
 knowing exactly whether it was night or 
 day, I found it impossible to reason with 
 myself. All the faculties of my mind were 
 in an uproar. I built up and demolished a 
 thousand forms of treachery, and came 
 ultimately to the conclusion that it was the 
 maid who was false, and that she must have 
 some selfish purpose to serve by exciting 
 my suspicions. 
 
 On reaching the door I found it slightly 
 open, and was admitted without knocking; 
 Ann, being so impatient for my arrival that.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 209 
 
 during the last half hour, she had remained 
 walking backward and forward in the 
 passage. 
 
 " I am alone in the house, Mr. Rivers, and 
 the family will not return till late, so there 
 will be plenty of time for my explanations." 
 
 This she said while conducting me into 
 the parlour, where, notwithstanding the 
 time of year, there was a bright fire. 
 Lighting the candles leisurely, and moving 
 about the room as if hardly knowing what 
 she did, she appeared to be possessed by 
 some new idea, which filled her mind 
 entirely. My aspect, which must have been 
 sombre if not ferocious, had no effect what- 
 ever upon her. 
 
 Tall, handsome, and dressed with extreme 
 elegance, she had more the air of a countess 
 than of a lady's maid, and at the moment, as 
 I afterwards found, cherished the expectation 
 of being Mrs. Rivers at least. Ann was no 
 mean proficient in amorous strategy. She 
 understood tolerably well the character of
 
 210 THE RING 
 
 men, and had studied my own particular 
 idiosyncracies with success. 
 
 Nevertheless, on the present occasion, she 
 made a very wrong move, because I was 
 not in the temper to be pleased with a gay, 
 laughing manner. All my thoughts, senti- 
 ments, and feelings, bore a tragic impress, 
 and it would have been difficult for a woman 
 much more deeply versed than she, in the 
 management of the passions, to substitute a 
 livelier frame of mind for my stern and 
 savage humour. 
 
 Observing that she show^ed no inclination 
 to commence her painful disclosures, I said, 
 abruptly, 
 
 " Suspense is torture to me. Enter, 
 therefore, at once upon the subject that 
 has brought me here." 
 
 " I fear I have been a little too hasty, 
 Mr. Rivers," replied she, '^ especially since 
 I see you are as much grieved as if there 
 were but one pretty woman in the world. 
 If you lose Miss Leigh, you need not.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 211 
 
 surely, break your heart about it ; there 
 are many others quite as good as she." 
 
 " What others may be is nothing to the 
 purpose/' I said, '' because I love Miss 
 Leigh." 
 
 " Then you are very much to be pitied." 
 
 "Pitied! Why so?" 
 
 " Because she never loved — or, never 
 ought to have loved you." 
 
 " What ! Never loved,— when— " 
 
 " Oh ! sir, you don't understand my 
 mistress ! She is a woman of very large 
 heart, and can love — I can't say, I am sure, 
 how many at the same time." 
 
 " Madam," I said, starting to my feet, 
 and losing in a moment all self-command, 
 " you must prove that you know something 
 to justify this language, or else, — " 
 
 "Do be patient with me, Mr. Rivers. 
 What I do, I am doing entirely for your 
 sake. It is not me that she has injured : 
 on the contrary, I have received from her 
 nothing but kindness, "
 
 212 THE RING 
 
 " And in return for that kindness you 
 have overwhelmed her with calumny!" 
 
 *' Calumny ! You will give it a different 
 name, when I shall have explained myself." 
 
 " Then proceed. Tell me the worst, tell 
 me all." 
 
 '* Impossible !" 
 
 ^' On the contrary, it is both possible and 
 necessary, and since you have gone so far, 
 and tortured my mind with doubts and 
 suspicions, I insist on your proceeding." 
 
 My manner now became so fierce and 
 menacing, that Ann lost her gaiety, and 
 began to tremble. I was beside myself 
 with excitement. I felt I was on the brink 
 of some fearful revelation, and that the 
 woman whom I saw standing there had it 
 in her power to overwhelm me with anguish. 
 I had been wrought up to a pitch of fury, 
 and shouted to her, that if she did not go 
 on I would tear the secret from her heart." 
 
 " Sir," exclaimed the girl, " you frighten 
 me out of my wits. I did not intend to
 
 AND THE VEIL. 213 
 
 vex you so. I only wished to put you on 
 your guard against a woman^ who would 
 cajole you into a marriage of humiliation 
 and disgrace." 
 
 " Let your motives be what they may, 
 and I do not pause now to examine them, 
 why do you persist in your mock mystery ? 
 Have done with your enigmas, and let me 
 know the worst." 
 
 " That is my wish ; I mean to tell you all. 
 But, dear Mr. Rivers, you flurry me so, that 
 I really don't know what I was going to 
 say, or where or how to begin." 
 
 This she uttered with a look of the most 
 earnest deprecation, and with her eyes full 
 of tears. But my heart was hardened 
 against her ; and so without the least com- 
 passion or compunction I reiterated my 
 unmeaning threats. 
 
 " I will force you," I exclaimed, '' to tell 
 me on what facts you base your assertions. 
 I have loved Miss Leigh — I have idolized 
 her — I have doated on her ; and now, if I
 
 214 THE RING 
 
 am to put the least faith in your represen- 
 tations, I must look on her very acquaint- 
 ance as disreputable." 
 
 " I beseech you," she said, " do not be so 
 agitated. I am not maligning Miss Leigh. 
 With all that she is, and all that she has 
 been I am familiar ; and I pledge myself 
 hereafter, to-morrow if you please, to make 
 good every word I have asserted. But I 
 am now so excited — faint — ill, that I am 
 altogether unequal to the task." 
 
 What my own appearance at that mo- 
 ment may have been is more than I can 
 say, but hers had certainly, since I entered, 
 undergone a wonderful change. The ex- 
 pression of her face was a blending of 
 deprecation, coaxing, and terror. 
 
 Her original object had, undoubtedly, 
 been to detach me skilfully from her 
 mistress, and, in the same proportion, to 
 attach me to herself. But she had over- 
 shot the mark, or at least feared she had. 
 It seemed doubtful to her, moreover.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 215 
 
 whether to gain me would in reality be any 
 gain at all. Ann had never contemplated 
 me as a frenzied and dangerous lover, who, 
 in a paroxysm of fury, might destroy what 
 he worshipped. She, therefore, grew very 
 pale, and, with unaffected solicitude, en- 
 treated me to suffer her to defer the 
 explanation she had promised. 
 
 By this time, however, I was incapable 
 of hearing reason, and paced the room in a 
 frantic manner, from time to time muttering 
 exclamations, and applying to her epithets 
 which she could not have considered com- 
 plimentary. Most men, I hope, have known 
 what it is to play the fool, at least once in 
 their lives, and, therefore, may not be 
 disposed to be too hard upon me. At any 
 rate, I was playing the fool then ; for 
 though the poor girl expressed her willing- 
 ness to tell me all she knew, I was no 
 longer in a condition to hear her. 
 
 While I was in this state of eruption — my 
 passions boiling over like lava, until every
 
 216 THE RING 
 
 thing around me looked flame-coloured, 
 I heard a loud, peremptory knock at the 
 door, and Ann left me, to answer it. Could 
 that be his voice ? It was. 
 
 " Plague and confusion, I exclaimed to 
 myself. Here is that cast-iron Esculapius 
 come after me !" Never was man more 
 mistaken. If he had not altogether for- 
 gotten having invited me, he acted with as 
 much coolness as if he had : for immediately 
 I heard him go along the passage, and 
 ascend the stairs with Ann. 
 
 This unaccountable apparition of Dr. 
 Crick turned my thoughts into a new 
 channel. His tone, when he accosted Ann, 
 was very familiar, but he was familiar with 
 everybody, and therefore, no particular 
 inference could be drawn from that ; still, 
 his coming perplexed me, and for a while I 
 went on speculating on its probable object; 
 but, my devouring suspicions, doubts, and 
 apprehensions soon returned, and racked 
 my imagination. I now remembered the
 
 AND THE VEIL. 217 
 
 warnings given me at Elliot's, by Burton. 
 He had bidden me beware of this man, and 
 would hardly have done so without reason. 
 Was he in league with Ryland ? or were he 
 and Elliot carrying on some dark intrigue, 
 for purposes which I could not divine ? 
 
 T listened for a foot-step, but absolute 
 silence reigned throughout the house, 
 except, that I could hear the ticking of the 
 kitchen clock, and the light tapping made 
 by a cats' claws, as she moved leisurely over 
 the oilcloth in the passage. 
 
 What had Ann done with her fellow 
 servants ? Were they below ? Were they 
 gone to bed ? Or, had she taken upon 
 herself to give them a holiday ? 
 
 We often talk of killing time, which, 
 while we indulge in this unmeaning babble, 
 is noiselessly killing us. Our very life 
 blood, in fact, ebbs out, regularly, with 
 every grain of sand that falls through the 
 hour-glass. There is a terrible phantom, 
 standing on the unseen shores of existence, 
 
 L
 
 218 THE RING 
 
 which pulls us perpetually, by invisible 
 cords^ towards him, and that phantom is 
 death. But we are not conscious of the 
 movement ; and, as if we advanced volun- 
 tarily, go on with sportiveness and gaiety, 
 till suddenly we fall into his bony arms, 
 and he flings us behind him, into the un- 
 fathomable gulph of oblivion. 
 
 It was with the fingers of this monster 
 that I now played. Once or twice the idea 
 occurred to me, that I might be acting, 
 without knowing it, a part in some ghastly 
 tragedy ; that Miss Leigh, in reality, was 
 a blameless victim, and that her maid 
 might be set on by others to malign and 
 ruin her. 
 
 How could I be weak enough to believe 
 that this girl, so little known to me, who 
 had no reasons that I could perceive for 
 taking any interest in my fate, would 
 hazard her situation by betraying her 
 mistress for my sake.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 219 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Time passed on, and I remained walking 
 backward and forward in the parlour, my 
 excitement and indignation increasing every 
 moment. Had she and Dr. Crick left the 
 house ? If so, and I were found there by 
 the family on its return, what account 
 could I give of myself ? I opened the door, 
 went out into the passage, and listened. 
 
 The cat, emerging from its hiding-place 
 in the darkness, now came to me, and 
 twisted and purred about my feet ; now 
 rubbing its head in a friendly manner 
 against my legs, and now frisking away 
 that I might be tempted to follow it. 
 
 L 2
 
 220 THE RING 
 
 But^ when our passions are roused, we 
 can experience no interest in anything 
 gentle or innocent ; I could never willingly 
 hurt the meanest of God's creatures. Yet 
 I was then in so savage a mood, that I 
 pushed the cat from me with impatience. 
 But it would not be so repulsed : it came 
 again, in spite of my ill-humour, and 
 purred so softly about me, that I felt 
 compunction for my roughness, and stooped 
 down and smoothed it. 
 
 This may appear extremely inconsistent 
 with the state of perturbation in which I 
 was at the moment. But I do not under- 
 take to explain the contradictions of human 
 nature, I only relate what occurred. 
 
 Just at this moment, a door opened on 
 the first floor, and Ann and the doctor 
 came out upon the landing-place, the 
 former at the same time speaking in a very 
 angry tone, while the latter, with immove- 
 able tranquillity, replied, 
 
 '' Just so ; it shall be exactly as you
 
 AND THE VEIL. 221 
 
 please. It does not in the least signify to 
 me, as I am merely consulted in a 
 professional way." 
 
 " But, Mr. Rivers, let me tell you, is a 
 man who will stand no nonsense." 
 
 I went in and shut the door. The 
 doctor came lightly down stairs and was in 
 the street in a twinkling. Ann, when she 
 returned to me, looked angry and 
 disturbed. 
 
 '' That was Dr. Crick," she said. 
 
 '' Oh ! yes, I know his voice," I replied, 
 "but never mind him, come at once to 
 your mistress." 
 
 There is often something in the human 
 countenance, which, by some inexplicable 
 process, excites in us profound anxiety and 
 apprehension. Ann's face was full of 
 meaning, and so, also, were her manner and 
 her gestures. But, though she had at first 
 intended to unbosom herself to me, some- 
 thing had now occurred to alter her 
 resolutions. The more she talked, the 
 
 L 3
 
 222 THE RING 
 
 more inscrutable she became. Sternness 
 and severity are inimical to confidence. It 
 is softness, it is gentleness, it is a winning 
 voice, it is a soothing and bewitching 
 manner, that set flowing the fountains of 
 the heart, and bring to light its hidden 
 treasures. 
 
 Though at that time incapable of making 
 such reflections, I gradually began to 
 resume my habitual manner with women, 
 and should soon have put Ann into a com- 
 municative mood, but that Miss Leigh, and 
 her father returned much earlier than was 
 expected. Had they come into the parlour, 
 it would not have signified, as I was in the 
 habit of calling. But, I felt at that moment 
 no inclination to see Fanny. It is true, 
 nothing had been distinctly explained to me ; 
 but by broken expressions, by suggestions, 
 by tones, by looks, the economy of my 
 emotions had been disturbed. We feel the 
 thunder-storm in the air long before the 
 electric cloud appears. An invisible avant
 
 AND THE VEIL. 223 
 
 courier indicates its approach to our whole 
 nervous system, so that we experience no 
 surprize when the lightning begins to 
 flash and the thunder to roar above. It is 
 very much the same with calamity : I 
 thoroughly comprehended that something 
 was about to happen, which would cast me 
 down from the level of delight and happiness 
 into the depths of suffering. 
 
 I had looked upon the possession of 
 Fanny's heart as a thing without which I 
 could not exist. From her I derived all 
 that coloured and rendered life beautiful. 
 Right or wrong, she had acquired an 
 irresistible influence over me, and it was, 
 therefore, impossible for me to look forward 
 to the loss of her, without extreme anguish 
 of mind. 
 
 Yet, a review of all the circumstances 
 which had occurred since we first met now 
 made me apprehend the worst ; Ann's hints 
 and explanations formed only a part of 
 the causes which awakened my alarms.
 
 224 THE RING 
 
 Numerous half forgotten facts^ words dropped 
 by Elliot or by Fanny herself, slight and 
 trivial acts which the mind had scarcely 
 registered at the time, tones of voice, 
 peculiarities of gesture, thronged tumul- 
 tuously together into my memory, and by 
 their united force, bewildered and almost 
 maddened me. 
 
 I left the house in an indescribable 
 state of excitement, and heard nothing, 
 except Ann's promise to be with me on the 
 following morning, at eleven o'clock. 
 
 While copying at the British Museum, I 
 had formed, accidently, the acquaintance of 
 a man, who exercised in the sequel, a 
 powerful influence over me and my fortunes. 
 He had not inherited from his ancestors a 
 very aristocratic name ; he belonged to the 
 universal clan of Smith, and his god-fathers 
 had bestowed upon him the name of 
 Wilmot. 
 
 While pacing next morning to and fro in 
 my room, waiting for the arrival of Fanny's
 
 AND THE VEIL. 225 
 
 maid, in that state of excitement and 
 anxiety which I have invariably found to 
 be the companion of sin, Mrs. Roberts 
 entered, and said, there was a gentleman 
 in the parlour below, who desired to speak 
 with me. This was provoking. In the 
 course of twenty minutes it would be eleven 
 o'clock, when Ann, I could not doubt, would 
 be with me, in order to throw some light 
 on the character and position of my Fanny. 
 My Fanny ! Oh, no — Elliot's Fanny or 
 anybody's Fanny, but not mine. A gulph, 
 black as Acheron and wide as space, now 
 divided her from me. Never were my arms 
 again to encompass her ; never in tears or 
 smiles, in deep agony or in over-running 
 bliss was she to be by my side. 
 
 How had I come to this conclusion ? 
 Was my opinion based on experience, on 
 knowledge, on anything, but the mere 
 promptings of an excited imagination ? Ann 
 had asserted and denied many things ; had 
 accused her mistress and acquitted her ;
 
 226 THE RING 
 
 had desired to bring about between us a 
 separation, which should not be an absolute 
 quarrel. But did not her motives lie pal- 
 pably on the surface of her conduct ? Was 
 she not, in her own view of the matter, 
 deeply interested in estranging me from her 
 mistress ? I retraced my steps. Love, the 
 old, fierce, unreasoning love of Fanny re- 
 turned to me. I would not think her false. 
 Why had I ever listened to her accuser ? 
 Why had I not brought them face to face ? 
 I would do so still. Thank heaven the op- 
 portunity had not yet passed away ; I had 
 not deserted — I had not grieved — I had not 
 insulted her — I had only listened to calum- 
 nies, for they could be no other.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 227 
 
 IX, 
 
 Much of this train of thought rushed 
 through my mind as I descended the stairs, 
 very reluctantly I confess, to see my visitor ; 
 whom, on entering the parlour, I found to 
 be Wilmot Smith. 
 
 Disappointment, impatience, and some- 
 thing very much like anger, sat upon my 
 countenance ; but he either did not per- 
 ceive them, or was good natured enough to 
 overlook their presence. 
 
 I am come. Rivers, he said, to give you 
 some work, much more profitable than 
 copying, though still not exactly what I 
 could wish.
 
 228 THE RING 
 
 I was not in the humour to discuss 
 business ; but yet could not be sufficiently 
 ungracious to receive with coldness a service 
 so well meant. 
 
 " What is it. Smith ?" I inquired. 
 
 " The translation of a work from the 
 French. It has been given me to do, but 
 I am too busy ; you will, therefore, not be 
 depriving me of any advantage, but, on the 
 contrary, will very much oblige me, as I 
 should like to do something at once for the 
 publisher and for you." 
 
 I said, " I was not used to translation, 
 and feared I should do his recommendation 
 no credit." 
 
 " Oh ! never mind that," said Smith, 
 " I'll look over the manuscript, and give it a 
 touch here and there, if necessary. But 
 you must set about it directly. The whole 
 will be wanted in a few days, and you will 
 get thirty pounds for the job." 
 
 Smith had brought the book with him, 
 and insisted on my trying my hand. Just
 
 AND THE VEIL. 229 
 
 as I ^had laid out the paper before me, and, 
 with pen in hand, was meditating the first 
 sentence, Ann knocked at the door, ere 
 the clock had done striking eleven. I 
 trembled and turned pale, which my friend 
 observed, though at the moment he took no 
 notice of it. 
 
 Mrs. Roberts now opened the parlour 
 door, and said, there was a person in the 
 passage who wished to speak with me. I 
 excused myself to Smith, and went out 
 to her. 
 
 " Ann," I said, " your explanation must 
 be for another time. I have a gentleman 
 with me, on business, and have no other 
 room into which I can ask you." 
 
 " Take me up into your own," answered 
 Ann, "what I have to say, concerns you 
 more than any business can ! " 
 
 I returned into the parlour, and entreated 
 Smith, as a great favour, to excuse me for a 
 quarter of an hour ; to which he readily 
 consented. I then went and consulted Mrs.
 
 230 THE RING 
 
 Roberts, who showed us into a little break- 
 fast parlour, on the kitchen floor. 
 
 Ann had indeed extraordinary disclosures 
 to make — disclosures which, while they set 
 up an eternal barrier between me and 
 Fanny, ought, at the same time, to have 
 given a new character and colour to my own 
 life. But it was much easier to desert and 
 condemn her, than to reform myself. The 
 indignation excited in me by her deception 
 and faithlessness was genuine and fierce. 
 I knew no language strong enough to 
 express my reprobation of her conduct ; and, 
 yet, had I honestly looked into my own 
 heart, and examined my own conduct, I 
 should, perhaps, have found myself much 
 the worse of the two. 
 
 But this was what I never thought of. 
 It required deeper humiliations and greater 
 sufferings to awaken in me a real desire for 
 amendment of life. The pangs I now felt 
 were merely those of wounded self-love, ^s 
 clearly appeared from this : that instead of
 
 AND THE VEIL. 231 
 
 pausing in my career^ I only diverted my 
 passions into a new channel, and went on 
 quite as recklessly as before. 
 
 With all Ann's art, she failed to conceal 
 from me, the fact, that in motives and 
 conduct she differed very little from her 
 mistress. Over parts of her narrative there 
 hung a deep mystery ; yet, inadvertantly, 
 and obviously against her will, she made me 
 sensible that Doctor Crick had played a 
 more important part than I imagined in 
 the Leigh family. 
 
 Presently, she let fall the name of Ryland, 
 and thus at once rivetted my attention to 
 her words. He had, she said, on the day 
 before, been closeted for nearly an hour 
 with her master, and curiosity had led her 
 to over-hear as much as possible of their 
 conversation. My name had been often 
 mentioned, together with that of one Signor 
 della Torre. I listened with breathless 
 attention, and inquired what the old villian 
 had said of him.
 
 232 THE RING 
 
 " Villian !" exclaimed Ann, " why, he is a 
 very good priest." 
 
 ^^ Never mind that," cried I, with 
 vehemence, '^ what did he say of Delia 
 Torre ?" 
 
 '' I cannot inform you," she replied. I 
 only know that Mr. Leigh, when he had 
 heard him out, observed, ' The course you 
 mean to pursue, is by far the best. He 
 must be unmasked. But it is right I should 
 tell you, that there is very great danger, 
 because, as I have learnt from my daughter, 
 
 there is a Mr. ' "I could not catch 
 
 the name," said Ann, '^ nor anything more 
 than a few detached words, which, taken 
 apart, had no meaning." 
 
 I hoped, by questions, to extract from her 
 something more distinct, but to no puopose. 
 She had already related all she knew, but 
 intentionally, as it seemed to me, in an 
 obscure rambling sort of way, whick took up 
 a great deal of time, and made me forget 
 that Smith was waiting for me.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 233 
 
 At length, however, she quitted me, just 
 as Mrs. Roberts's kitchen clock was striking 
 twelve. I feared my friend might have 
 become impatient and left, but I found him 
 in the parlour ; and when I began to make 
 apologies, he stopped me, by saying, 
 
 " Don't trouble yourself. I heard a 
 woman's voice in the passage, and I dare 
 say she is very pretty and very fascinating, 
 and all that, so I can sympathize with you. 
 But let us now go on with the translation. 
 I don't at all want to see how well you can 
 do it, but how speedily. So, just translate 
 a page." 
 
 He then lighted his cigar, and sitting 
 down close to an open window, began to 
 send out the smoke in fragrant clouds into 
 the street. I had very soon accomplished 
 my task, upon which he examined it, and 
 said it was capital. 
 
 "Set to work," he said, "banish all 
 thoughts of the women, and let me have 
 the whole manuscript by Sunday night.
 
 234 THE RING 
 
 On Monday morning I will take it to the 
 bookseller's, and by three o'clock the hard 
 cash shall be in your fist." 
 
 " You had better send me the sheets in 
 portions, that I may just cast my eye over 
 them ; though from what you have done, I 
 hardly think it will be necessary. I would 
 ask you to bring them to my house, but it 
 would occasion loss of time ; so now my boy 
 put your shoulder to the wheel, and push 
 on like a steam-engine." 
 
 He then got up, took his hat, and with 
 his cigar still lighted, shook hands with 
 me, wished me good morning, and went 
 away.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 235 
 
 X. 
 
 I AM almost afraid to describe this man, 
 lest I should appear to be dealing in gross 
 exaggeration. He was in person about the 
 middle height, of a light yet powerful 
 figure, with grey eyes, black hair, and 
 extremely handsome ; so handsome, indeed, 
 that he often appeared to be a revival of 
 one of the old epic poets — all the splendour 
 of whose imagination seemed to be playing 
 like lambent fire about his face. He wore 
 his hair and his beard rather long, with 
 thick moustachios, which partly concealed 
 his beautiful mouth. To have seen him, 
 you would have thought he had been the
 
 236 THE RING 
 
 descendant of all the Percys and the 
 Howards ; though his father was only a 
 farmer in Norfolk, of the name of Smith, 
 where, at the very time at which I was 
 speaking, he was probably in a green old 
 age, still whistling at the plough. 
 
 If there be anything in descent, God 
 only knows how Smith became possessed of 
 his grand soul. Without making the least 
 pretence, he compelled all who approached 
 him, to feel that he was a true philosopher, 
 above the world, yet by no means in- 
 different to its best interests. He envied 
 no one, and despised no one. He loved 
 intellect, and science, and art, and litera- 
 ture ; but was tolerant of ignorance, and 
 even of vanity and self-conceit. 
 
 He had married very young ; and his 
 wife, who had brought him three children, 
 could not I thought fail to be a charming 
 woman. But he never spoke of her, except 
 by accident ; yet, I fancied that when her 
 name did happen to pass his lips, it came
 
 AND THE VEIL. 237 
 
 forth like a revelation of love. — He did not 
 actually smile, yet the sound seemed to 
 produce an additional harmony in his 
 features, as if a world of glorious associa- 
 tions had involuntarily been called up by it. 
 
 As soon as I became acquainted with this 
 man, I began to experience shame at my 
 own failings. Notwithstanding all his 
 abilities, he was poor enough — being hardly 
 able to support his wife and children in 
 suitable comfort. Yet, somehow, there was 
 an air about him, which inspired you with 
 the com-iction, that he was one of the mag- 
 nates of the earth. To say he was genteel 
 or a gentleman, would by no means express 
 what I mean. He had the air of an heroic 
 prince, in those far back ages, when princes 
 were heroes, and seemed to have been born 
 to sway the opinions and extort the 
 admiration of mankind. 
 
 His walk was at once erect and humble. 
 His eyes barely enabled him to see his way 
 along the streets; for the mind within was
 
 238 THE RING 
 
 SO occupied, that he observed little or 
 nothing external. To literature he had 
 devoted himself, because it appeared the 
 only profession which would enable him to 
 develope his character, in exact conformity 
 with his own theory of man. But of his 
 character more hereafter. 
 
 I will now only add, that everybody 
 turned to gaze at him as he walked, and 
 that no one who knew him ever forgot his 
 features, so much did he look like the incar- 
 nation of intellect. 
 
 I am not, by any means, unaware of the 
 opinions entertained by the world, and 
 more especially by the great, of every modi- 
 fication of labour. It is considered, I know, 
 to be degrading. People think with pity of 
 the individual who toils, who shuts himself 
 up in his cellar or in his garret, who 
 spreads paper before him, and, after ranging 
 over the whole universe of thought, pours 
 his soul, with all the wealth of ideas it may 
 have gathered, upon the submissive page.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 239 
 
 But let them indulge their scorn. The 
 man who can do this, will not even conde- 
 scend to return it. He has a task set him 
 by providence, and he accomplishes it ; not 
 altogether without the consciousness that 
 he is aiding in bettering the condition of 
 his kind. 
 
 I shall, therefore, not abstain from referring 
 now and then to my literary labours, which, 
 if they have not acquired me fame, have at 
 least enabled me to taste a large amount 
 of happiness, partly through study itself, 
 but chiefly by other means, the nature of 
 which will appear as we proceed. 
 
 I ought to remark, that, as I needed now 
 and then a mouthful of fresh air, I ran 
 down to inquire after Delia Torre's health, 
 not entirely, perhaps, without the hope of 
 obtaining another glimpse of Angelica. It 
 is perfectly true that, at the time, I was 
 quite unworthy to converse with her — 
 unworthy almost to retain her image in my 
 mind, yet, do what I would, I could not
 
 240 THE RING 
 
 dismiss it. The idea of Miss Leigh was 
 now rapidly drifting away, and mingling 
 with the things that had been. Lucy — but 
 I need not refer to her now : the time will 
 soon come for me to explain our relations 
 to each other. 
 
 Meanwhile, I worked with all the im- 
 petuous energy of my character, cheered by 
 the prospect of Delia Torre's returning 
 health ; and, on Monday afternoon, when I 
 had obtained the sweet reward of my honest 
 toil, hastened to Windmill Street, with the 
 intention of placing some portion of it at 
 my friend's disposal. 
 
 Having knocked and waited a long 
 while, I began to imagine that something 
 must have happened, and that the inhabi- 
 tants of the house had all fled. I knocked 
 again and again, and was beginning to 
 think of going away, when a window was 
 opened suddenly, near the roof, but though 
 I looked up quickly, I could observe no 
 head thrust out. Presently, however, I
 
 AND THE VEIL. 241 
 
 heard a footstep in the passage, and the 
 door was opened by Angelica herself, who 
 looked pale as a corpse. 
 
 " Ah ! Mr. Rivers/' she exclaimed, '' you 
 are come to witness a sad sight. My 
 father," she added, as I bent upon her a 
 gaze of mingled surprise and inquiry, *^ my 
 father is dying." 
 
 " God forbid !" I exclaimed, in a tone of 
 extreme vehemence and alarm, which con- 
 vinced her of the deep interest I took in 
 him. 
 
 '' Yes, Mr. Rivers, it is but too true. 
 But come, he has asked for you frequently, 
 and I am sure you will suffer me to lead 
 you to his bedside, though I fear the fever 
 from which he is suffering, is infectious." 
 
 " Oh ! think not of that," I replied, "but 
 take me to him." 
 
 Without any further delay, she closed 
 the door, and led the way up stairs. Poor 
 Delia Torre! he was indeed ill, yet it 
 struck me immediately that he would not 
 
 M
 
 242 THE RING 
 
 die, and this persuasion I as soon as 
 possible communicated to his daughter. 
 
 Hopeful by nature, she was quite willing 
 to take a cheerful view, and, therefore, put 
 faith in my prediction, without inquiring on 
 what authority I uttered it. Presently, 
 Delia Torre desired her to leave us for a 
 short time. Without waiting for him to 
 say what he had evidently intended, I 
 abruptly told my tale, related what I had 
 been doing the last week, and without 
 much circumlocution, said, I had come to 
 ask him to share my good fortune with me. 
 The dear old man drew me towards him, 
 and, with tears in his eyes, kissed me on 
 both cheeks. 
 
 " God bless you. Rivers," said he, '' you 
 have quite rendered unnecessary what I was 
 going to say ; but I meant to ask you, as a 
 great favour, to take one of my little 
 pictures to Mr. Dwight, and get whatever 
 you could for it." 
 
 " Damn Mr. Dwight ! " I exclaimed, un-
 
 AND THE VEIL. 243 
 
 able to repress my indignation. " He has 
 cheated you enough already. With my 
 consent he shall cheat you no more. I 
 would work night and day — translate — 
 write — do anything, rather than he should 
 plunder you as he has done." 
 
 ^'Well, well/' answered Delia Torre, 
 " when we are in difficulties, my dear friend, 
 we must submit patiently to what befalls 
 us, but it has gone very hard with me for 
 some time. Everything has been short in 
 the house. I have needed very little 
 myself, but Angelica and Barbara, poor 
 things, I fear they have not fared very 
 plentifully." 
 
 His words went like daggers to my heart ; 
 and I muttered inw^ardly a firm resolution, 
 to stick by this man and his child, as long 
 as heaven should bless me with life. 
 
 Barbara, he told me, was in the next 
 room, too ill to move ; and he did not 
 scruple to add, that he fancied her illness 
 had been brought on by the scanty suste- 
 
 M 2
 
 244 THE RING 
 
 nance he had been able to procure for 
 her. 
 
 " Say no more, my dear friend," I 
 exclaimed, " but bid your daughter let me 
 out, and I will return immediately." 
 
 I then called to Angelica, who was 
 attending to poor Barbara, and in a minute 
 was in the street, looking about the shops. 
 The first thing I purchased was a basket, 
 which I immediately filled with bread and 
 butter, and tea, and coffee, with some grits, 
 and arrow root ; and to complete my stock, I 
 added three or four delicate mutton chops, 
 with a splendid bottle of port. 
 
 I then ran back, and was again admitted 
 by Angelica. Supposing her to be altogether 
 ignorant of domestic affairs, I inquired the 
 way to the kitchen, and having been shown, 
 I set down my burden and began to prepare 
 to light the fire. But Angelica immediately 
 turned up her white sleeves, and said, 
 
 '' No, Mr. Rivers, that is my duty." 
 
 I would not listen to her, but saying I
 
 AND THE VEIL. 245 
 
 was quite used to it, I took some sticks 
 which I saw lying on the hob, and setting to 
 work, in a short time a blazing fire shot 
 its cheerful warmth across the apartment. 
 I desired Angelica to attend to her father 
 and Barbara, but she said, the former was 
 asleep, and that the best she could do for 
 the latter, w^ould be to take her something 
 to eat. So, while she busied herself in 
 making a little gruel for both her patients, 
 I broiled the chops, and entreated her to sit 
 down and eat. 
 
 This, however, she refused until she had 
 attended to her father and her nurse, in 
 which I assisted her. She then returned 
 with me to the kitchen, w^here, on an old 
 deal table, Angelica and I ate our first meal 
 together, for I also was hungry and had 
 cooked an ample supply for us both. 
 
 When we see persons in what may be 
 called their dramatic situation, we are very 
 apt to mislead ourselves respecting them. 
 I had begun to imagine Angelica a creature 
 
 M 3
 
 246 THE RING 
 
 of mere romance, at the best, of piety. 
 But she was also a domestic woman, one 
 who understood everything connected with 
 the comforts of a house, and though she had 
 suffered me to light the fire and broil the 
 chops, it was merely in order to let me have 
 my own way, because she could have done 
 both much better than I.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 24? 
 
 XI. 
 
 Poverty forms between any two indi- 
 viduals, whom it has not corrupted, the best 
 of all possible introductions. Left thus to 
 ourselves, Angelica and I became friends 
 almost at once. The affection she displayed 
 towards her father, may be said to have 
 been the first thing which made me love her. 
 Not that I reasoned upon the subject, and 
 arrived logically at the conclusion, that she, 
 who was so exemplary in one relation of 
 life, would prove equally exemplary in every 
 other ; but, that the beauty and tenderness 
 of her conduct produced their natural effect 
 upon my mind.
 
 248 THE RING 
 
 Angelica had left the kitchen door wide 
 open, and I noticed that while we were 
 conversing together she only half listened to 
 me. At the first sound from the rooms 
 above, she was on her feet, hastily ascending 
 the stairs. When Delia Torre had eaten a 
 little and drank a glass of wine, his 
 affectionate daughter became convinced, he 
 would very soon be better. 
 
 Barbara also, having once or twice taken 
 a little nourishment, began to exhibit signs 
 of improvement, and in a short time both 
 the patients fell into a sound sweet sleep. 
 
 Left entirely alone with Angelica, I 
 conversed with her on a variety of topics, — 
 on her own country, with which I was far 
 more familiar than she — on the literature of 
 Italy, on which, recluse as she was, she had 
 the advantage of me — and afterwards on 
 religion, which I soon found to be with her 
 a favourite though a most dangerous topic. 
 
 It became evident to me at once, that on 
 this all important subject we should not
 
 AND THE VEIL. 249 
 
 agree; and, therefore, without exhibiting any 
 violent desire to escape from it, I managed, 
 by degrees, to turn the stream of our con- 
 versation into some less perilous channel. 
 
 Though she had long been a resident in 
 England, she knew nothing of our manners, 
 of our literature, or even of our language. 
 With French her acquaintance was slight, 
 and, therefore, in our interview we made 
 use exclusively of her own mother tongue, 
 which, now almost for the first time, 
 appeared really musical to me. 
 
 We entertain generally notions altogether 
 false about the Italian. In the mouths of 
 some persons, and even in the style of most 
 writers, it is a heavy, lumbering, slovenly 
 dialect, deformed by a quaint phraseology ; 
 inferior to the Latin in grandeur, in per- 
 spicuity to the French, and in true poetical 
 harmony and expression ranking far below 
 our own. It is, in fact, the language of 
 music masters, opera singers, and friars ; 
 and if it has occasionally exhibited strength.
 
 250 THE RING 
 
 the circumstance has been owing much 
 more to the genius of an individual than to 
 that of the language. 
 
 Full of big words, and essentially deficient 
 in conciseness, it is greatly inferior to the 
 Spanish, into which the Arabs, during their 
 domination in the Peninsula, poured much 
 of the vitality and fire of the East. 
 
 Should Italy ever become free, she will 
 have almost entirely to reconstruct her 
 dialect, which is not properly adapted to 
 express the rapid and powerful emotions, in 
 which the energetic life of a Republic 
 manifests itself. 
 
 Angelica, whom I have neglected, to 
 indulge in this pedantic digression, was a 
 person well calculated, in various ways, to 
 interest one profoundly. Her voice 
 naturally sweet and low, had, nevertheless, 
 a drawl in it, which I sometimes almost 
 fancied disagreeable. It was not by any 
 means characteristic of the voice itself, but 
 the result of bad habit, or rather, perhaps.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 251 
 
 the expression of a mind deficient in 
 energy — not from any natural defect, but 
 from the absence of a fixed purpose in life. 
 
 She was suspended, as it were, between 
 heaven and earth, her natural feelings and 
 affections inclining her towards the latter, 
 her mystical enthusiasm and an artificial 
 sense of duty, towards the former. She 
 appeared to me a vital problem, which it 
 would be interesting and instructive to 
 solve. 
 
 Sometimes she made use of words, which 
 seemed to have no meaning, though they 
 were intended to express forms of thought 
 and belief, having an unquestionable exist- 
 ence in her own mind ; and at such times 
 her countenance assumed a very perplexing 
 expression, radiant in part, and, if I may so 
 say, blank in part. 
 
 As we sat before the kitchen fire-place, 
 which, I may observe by the way, had no 
 fender, she mechanically -pushed back her 
 head-dress, and allowed me to discover
 
 252 THE RING 
 
 immense masses of auburn liair^ descending 
 in shining ringlets towards her neck. I 
 seemed never, till then, to have observed 
 all her beauty. From time to time she 
 looked at the mantel-piece, or rather 
 turned her eyes in that direction, while her 
 thoughts were so occupied with other 
 things, that she probably saw nothing ; and 
 then I enjoyed an opportunity of gazing at 
 her profile, which was singularly classical. 
 
 She was not one of those women in 
 whom their admirers find something more 
 beautiful than beauty itself. Her features 
 were symmetrical and regular, beyond any 
 I have ever seen ; but this, instead of im- 
 parting to her countenance severity or 
 insipidity, rendered it more exquisitely soft 
 and feminine than it is in my power to 
 express. 
 
 Rather above the middle height, with, as 
 I have said, bright auburn hair, such as 
 Sasso Ferrato sometimes gives to his virgins, 
 her eyes were large, and of a liquid dark
 
 AND THE VEIL. 253 
 
 blue, with a tinge of the violet. Occa- 
 sionally, one sees such magnificent lustrous 
 eyes in Italy and Northern Greece, as well 
 as in England, when the eyelashes which 
 fringe the lids are darker than the hair, and 
 throw a softening shadow upon the eye. 
 Her eyebrows also w^ere dark, though not 
 so dark as the lashes ; they were besides 
 slightly arched and silky, and seemed to 
 expand under the forehead to support its 
 lofty whiteness. Angelica was one of those 
 w^omen with broad, smooth, intellectual 
 brows, who are the despair of frivolous men. 
 Though ignorant of the world, she was 
 deeply thoughtful, and the signs of it ap- 
 peared unmistakeably in her countenance. 
 Her head was beautifully formed, though, 
 from the luxuriant profusion of hair which 
 floated round it, its size could not be con- 
 jectured. In vulgar faces, there is nothing 
 so vulgar as the nose ; and, yet in faces of 
 perfect beauty that is the feature which
 
 254 THE RING 
 
 imparts an air of sublimity to the counte- 
 nance. People often persuade themselves, 
 that in order to reach the utmost delicacy 
 and sweetness of expression, there must 
 be a slight irregularity in the features. But 
 such persons have never seen real beauty, 
 otherwise they would not attempt to search 
 for anything beyond. 
 
 To possess perfect symmetry and pro- 
 portion indicates the same quality in the 
 mind ; and the extreme of loveliness is that 
 which inspires the extreme of love. The 
 eyes are the interpreters of the soul ; the 
 lips are the interpreters of the heart. 
 Therefore, in beautiful women it is the 
 mouth that is the seat of the greatest 
 beauty. With a beautiful mouth no woman 
 can be ugly, whereas, if all the other fea- 
 tures were inferior, a beautiful mouth 
 would redeem all else. About it tenderness, 
 sweetness, grace, and delicacy have their 
 dwelling place.
 
 AND IHE VEIL. 255 
 
 In Angelica the chin was round and 
 dimpled, and there was a tint, by Virgil 
 called the purple light of love, diffused over 
 the cheeks which were of the most downy 
 softness.
 
 256 THE RING 
 
 XII. 
 
 When I left in the evening, which I did very 
 early, I already felt that a new direction had 
 been given to my mind. The fascination, 
 however, whether for good or for evil, had 
 caused me to neglect a duty. I ought to 
 have lost no time in proceeding to Coronelli, 
 who, possibly, needed no less than Delia 
 Torre, the aid I was now able to afford 
 him. On stepping into the omnibus in 
 Piccadilly, I found myself side by side with 
 Dr. Crick, whose voluble tongue was imme- 
 diately in full activity. He was not by any 
 means a person of vindictive character, 
 neither did he at all resent the infringement
 
 AND THE VEIL. 257 
 
 of small social rules. He only alluded, in a 
 slightly reproachful tone, to my not having 
 kept the appointment I had made with 
 him some days before. 
 
 " Why doctor," I replied, " we both for- 
 got our appointment, and appear to have 
 been acted upon by the same attraction." 
 
 "Yes — just so," he replied, "Miss Leigh 
 is a most fascinating person, though she is 
 at present, poor thing, in some little trouble. 
 Which way are you going ?" 
 
 "Into the City," said I. 
 
 " Just so, " replied the doctor. " Conduc- 
 tor, hold hard ; this gentleman and I want 
 to get out : and without consulting me at 
 all, he stopped the omnibus and pulled me 
 through the door after him. 
 
 " Let us," said he, " get into some quiet 
 obscure street, I have something very par- 
 ticular to say to you." 
 
 As soon as we had escaped from the 
 Babel of sounds, which stun and bewilder 
 us in the great thoroughfares. Dr. Crick
 
 258 THE RING 
 
 began to enter boldly, but adroitly, on a 
 subject to which he had more than once 
 alluded before. 
 
 '' I find " he said " that you have learned 
 from Ann, how matters stand with our 
 friend Miss Leigh." 
 
 " How have you found it ? " I inquired. 
 
 '^ Oh ! never mind, I'll tell you that some 
 other time. Ann is one of my patients, and 
 
 so ; but apropos of Miss Leigh you 
 
 know, as I have observed, all about her — 
 and you see she is rather awkwardly 
 situated." 
 
 I shall not repeat the dialogue that 
 ensued, because Dr. Crick's language was 
 not always such as to be susceptible of 
 repetition. To be just to him, however, I 
 must confess that he meant nothing wrong, 
 because, according to his theory, nothing 
 which for our interest or convenience we 
 desire to do, ever is so. 
 
 On this subject, as I have already, I 
 believe, remarked, he entertained the most
 
 AND THE VEIL. 259 
 
 original ideas. Why people should ever 
 trouble themselves about what the world 
 calls morals, it surpassed his ingenuity to 
 comprehend. 
 
 He considered man a perfectly free agent, 
 which implied, that in all circumstances he 
 may do whatever he pleases. 
 
 On the present occasion, it perplexed me 
 greatly to imagine, why he took so deep an 
 interest in the affairs of the Leigh family. 
 Elliot, of course, was what might be called 
 his friend, but that term, in his vocabulary, 
 only signified an individual that might be 
 made use of. As far as I could perceive, 
 however, it was the artist who, in this case, 
 made use of the philosopher. 
 
 Both of them, as it appeared in the sequel, 
 had formed an imperfect estimate of my 
 taste and prudence, for which, considering all 
 things, they were perhaps excusable. I had 
 acted very foolishly, and given people reason 
 to imagine, that Hymen had only to nod to 
 me from any church door, and I would rush
 
 260 THE RING 
 
 in, and light his torch, with the first woman 
 who offered herself. Dr. Crick was clearly 
 of this opinion, and became unusually 
 eloquent on the advantages which would 
 accrue to me, from delivering Fanny out of 
 her present embarrassments, by authorizing 
 her to substitute the name of Rivers for 
 Leigh. This in his view was a very light 
 matter. 
 
 '' It does not much signify," said he, 
 " who is your wife," provided you get on in 
 the world; and I can assure you, that Miss 
 Leigh has splendid expectations. When 
 her father is extinguished, and I have long 
 treated him for the gout, she will possess a 
 very handsome fortune. And then she has 
 an aunt you know — Mrs. Mortlake, who 
 intends, I am told, to leave her a pretty 
 penny." 
 
 ^^But you forget her antecedents Dr. 
 Crick." 
 
 " Oh, not at all — to a man of sense such 
 things are a mere bagatelle. Life is not a
 
 AND THE VEIL. 261 
 
 bundle of fancies, crochets, and chimeras, 
 but the power to do as you like — to love as 
 you like, and make as many people as pos- 
 sible subservient to you. This you are 
 aware is to be done by money, and Fanny 
 will be mistress, perhaps before long, of 
 two thousand a year at least." 
 
 " Then why don't you " 
 
 " Yes, just so, I have been thinking of it. 
 But I am awkwardly situated, here, there, 
 everywhere, with a fancy for travel and ad- 
 venture. No knack for wives and children, 
 and all that sort of thing. Besides I am 
 not at all vain, and Miss Leigh wants a 
 handsome husband like yourself." 
 
 '' She does not seem always " 
 
 " Oh, just so, Elliot's devilish ugly I 
 confess. But there is no accounting for 
 women's fancies. However, what's your 
 decision ? " 
 
 " Why doctor, to remain free, that I may 
 hop about the world like you, here, there, 
 everywhere."
 
 262 THE RING 
 
 "Just SO. You are going I suppose to 
 Mr. Coronelli's — his wife is very handsome. 
 — Our ways part here, I fancy, — good 
 night. 
 
 And in the twinkling of an eye he darted 
 off, and was lost in the crowd. Had my 
 little wiry friend made his avatar in 
 Germany, he would certainly have been 
 taken for the man from below. Mephis- 
 topheles was a fool to him. He knew 
 everybody and everything, and appeared to 
 mov^e through the great current of the 
 world, with the waves, or against them, 
 just as it suited his fancy. He was never 
 irritated or grieved, or glad or sorry. He 
 did what he did, merely because he liked 
 to do it, and not because it was better or 
 worse than anything else. The individuals 
 around him he regarded as so many chess- 
 men on a board, to be placed here or 
 there as he thought necessary. At the 
 period referred to, he seemed desirous of 
 moving me in conjunction with a queen, to
 
 AND THE VEIL. 263 
 
 some castle of gorgeous appearance, which 
 he thought likely to captivate my imagina- 
 tion; but not finding the scheme answer, 
 he laid it quietly aside, and went along the 
 streets musing pleasantly on some new 
 plan. 
 
 Though not at that time much given to 
 reflection, I could not, when the doctor had 
 left me, help thinking a little on my own 
 conduct. It was not exactly my fault, 
 perhaps, that I had fallen in with unscru- 
 pulous associates, because, something like 
 destiny had forced them on me. I might, 
 nevertheless, have resisted their influence a 
 great deal more than I had. But after all, 
 was it they who influenced me ? Did not 
 my own ill-regulated passions invite them 
 to make a shuttlecock of me ? Nothing 
 humiliates a man so much, as the convic- 
 tion that he has been made a tool of ; that 
 while he imagines himself to be a free 
 agent, he has all the while been obeying 
 the will of another, and, in many instances.
 
 264 THE RING 
 
 of one every way inferior to himself. 
 Looking back, I now perceived distinctly, 
 that while I had been overwhelming myself 
 with reproaches for acting disingenuously 
 towards Elliot, I had in point of fact, nearly 
 been caught in a trap, laid for me by him 
 and Dr. Crick. Having discovered or 
 persuaded himself, that the husband of the 
 aunt would be the master of the family 
 wealth, the worthy artist had resolved to 
 desert the niece, and to facilitate his scheme, 
 and prevent noisy discussions, thought of 
 providing her with a husband perfectly 
 to her liking. I was the individual pitched 
 upon to console the versatile Fanny, but 
 the selection proved so little flattering to 
 my vanity, that when I came to see the 
 affair in its true light, I could almost have 
 taken rat's-bane through mere vexation.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 265 
 
 XIII. 
 
 When I arrived at Coronelli's lodgings, 
 I found that what is commonly called good 
 fortune, had preceded me. Elliot had been 
 there, and by way of earnest, had given 
 Coronelli a sum of money, small enough to 
 be sure, but not inconsiderable in reference 
 to his circumstances. Still, my assistance 
 was by no means unnecessary, for Francesca 
 wanted a dress before she could even appear 
 decently in the streets, and little Antonio 
 required to be renovated as well as his 
 father. 
 
 I felt that here, no less than at Delia 
 Torre's, I was a most welcome guest ; not 
 
 N
 
 266 THE RING 
 
 because I brought money with me, but 
 because they had somehow learnt to love 
 me for my own sake. 
 
 On this particular evening, however, their 
 warmest welcome could not chase away the 
 gloom which hung so thick over my soul. 
 Though really innocent as far as the designs 
 of Elliot and Crick were concerned, I yet 
 felt as though I had been a participator in 
 some great crime ; for even to know their 
 intentions appeared to me an act of 
 wickedness in itself. My apprehensions 
 were augmented, when Coronelli had 
 explained to me the proceedings and con- 
 versation of Elliot. 
 
 My poor unsuspecting friend, who had 
 already commenced operations, was to spend 
 the day with the English artist in his 
 studio, for which he was to receive some 
 small pittance a week. His knowledge of 
 painting was incomparably greater than 
 that of Elliot himself ; which is not, perhaps, 
 saying much for it ; but I knew well, that
 
 AND THE VEIL. 267 
 
 ray Portland Town friend stood in no need 
 of assistance of any kind, and only did what 
 he was now doing in the hope of thus being 
 enabled to carry out the design which I saw 
 at once he had formed against Francesca. 
 
 With the money T had put in his hands, 
 Coronelli now went out to take his wife's 
 clothes out of pawn, and to buy something 
 for supper. I felt the greatest possible 
 desire to put Francesca on her guard 
 against her enemy, but knew not how to set 
 about it ; because I perceived, as was 
 perfectly natural in a person so unsophisti- 
 cated, gratitude had inspired her with a 
 very good opinion of him. 
 
 " Is not Mr. Elliot," she said, '' a very 
 excellent man ? Antonio likes him 
 extremely, and he has really been very 
 kind to us." 
 
 Observing that I did not immediately 
 answer, she said. 
 
 *' I see by your face that you do not 
 agree with me." 
 
 2 N
 
 268 THE RING 
 
 " Not exactly," I answered, " Mr. Elliot 
 has no doubt his good points, but " 
 
 And here I stopped, hardly knowing how 
 to proceed. 
 
 Francesca regarded me with an inquisi- 
 tive and almost sceptical expression of 
 countenance, and then putting her finger 
 on my arm, said, 
 
 " Speak, Mr. Rivers, but do not be 
 prejudiced ; he seems well-disposed and 
 extremely generous." 
 
 '' If that be your fixed opinion" I replied, 
 " it is much better for me to say nothing." 
 
 '' Now you are unkind," said she ; " you 
 are our oldest and best friend. If you 
 know anything bad, therefore, of Mr. 
 Elliot, why do you hesitate to tell me ?" 
 
 ^^ I hesitate," I replied, " for several 
 reasons, but chiefly because I would not 
 make your husband unhappy. He has, I 
 am aware, the most unbounded confidence 
 in you ; but yet, if he knew Mr. Elliot, he 
 would certainly feel anything but comfort- 
 able at admitting him into this room."
 
 AND THE VEIL. 269 
 
 " What do you mean ? " she inquired, 
 with a look of deep and earnest solicitude. 
 
 '' I mean," said I, " that Mr. Elliot is a 
 man of bad principles, and is kind to your 
 husband merely because you are beautiful." 
 
 Her face, at these words, became very 
 pale. She remained silent for a moment, 
 and then exclaimed, 
 
 " Oh ! God, we are ruined then, for I 
 cannot see him after this, and yet I must 
 not communicate my reasons to Antonio, 
 otherwise he would throw up his employ- 
 ment at once, since I know he would perish 
 rather than that any insult should be 
 offered to me. Thank you, dear Mr. 
 Rivers ; but do not mention your suspicions 
 to Antonio. I am now on my guard, and 
 shall know how to act." 
 
 When I saw her next day, this charming 
 w^oman was neatly dressed, and her figure, 
 which had appeared magnificent even in 
 the meanest garb, now seemed literally 
 bewitching. Her delicate features were 
 
 N 3
 
 270 THE RIXG 
 
 calm and sweet, and were lighted up by the 
 brilliance of her dark eyes, which appeared 
 within the last few days to have greatly 
 dilated. 
 
 Elliot, she told me, had called in the 
 morning, but remembering what I had said, 
 she had gone down and spoken with him at 
 the street door. He observed, that busi- 
 ness had brought him into the city, and 
 that being near their lodgings he could not 
 resist the pleasure of inquiring about little 
 Antonio. She thanked him for the interest 
 he took in the child, but resisted all his 
 eloquent hints to be invited upstairs. This 
 was good; but knowing Elliot as I did, I 
 could not altogether extirpate from my 
 mind the fear, that he would at least sow 
 the seeds of unhappiness in those two loving 
 hearts, which had hitherto resisted the 
 influence of good and bad fortune, and 
 clung more closely together the more they 
 had been buffeted by storms. 
 
 I experienced a sort of reverential aiFec-
 
 AND THE VLIL. 271 
 
 tion for Francesca, sweet as the feeling which 
 binds us to our sisters. No doubt ever 
 crossed my mind that her love for her 
 husband was not only pure but the leading- 
 feature of her life ; even the affection she 
 bore her child seemed subordinate to it. 
 How fearful a crime would it have been, 
 therefore, to introduce distrust, and 
 suspicion, and coldness, and reserve, and 
 perhaps, guilt itself into this little Eden of 
 the heart ; and yet Elliot, I could not doubt, 
 meditated no less. 
 
 Though placing the greatest faith in 
 Francesca's integrity, I could not be alto- 
 gether without apprehension, knowing as I 
 did the craftiness and daring of the man. 
 I had done my duty, however, by putting 
 her on her guard.
 
 272 THE RING 
 
 XIV. 
 
 When we write the history of our own lives, 
 we often leave undescribed the greatest and 
 most important part of them. Hitherto, 
 for example, I have dwelt almost exclusively 
 on the things w^hich occupied my spare 
 hours, and succeeded to the business of the 
 day, but by no means formed it. 
 
 ^The reason, perhaps, may be, that the 
 world in general can take no interest in the 
 details of labour, or even of study. Persons 
 otherwise engaged, would, in fact, hardly be 
 able to derive any instruction from an 
 account of the manner in which an author 
 spends his time. If you speak of a painter,
 
 AND THE VEIL. 273 
 
 or a sculptor, you have material forms to 
 present to the imagination : you have a 
 studio, filled, perhaps, with the works of 
 former artists, to be used as models, or 
 at least as aids ; you have canvass, frames, 
 easels, colours, clay, marble, and so on ; you 
 have living models of greater or less 
 beauty; you have their studies out of doors; 
 their wanderings in search of the pic- 
 turesque ; and their whole intercourse, so to 
 speak, with nature. 
 
 But the author deals with essences so 
 subtile and impalpable, that they can only 
 be represented to others in the entire result 
 of his labours — a book. The world with 
 which he deals is an invisible world. 
 
 You see him sitting, perhaps, in an empty 
 room, or a room with nothing in it but a 
 table and a chair, pens, ink, and paper. 
 Provided there be light, it matters to 
 him very little whence it comes, whether 
 from the sun, from gas, or from a tallow 
 candle. The man himself may be un-
 
 274 THE RING 
 
 promising in his exterior. If there be 
 beauty in him, it is often hidden by a rough 
 material crust, which suggests no pleasing, 
 no great, no sublime ideas. His habiliments 
 may be mean ; his form, bent or withered ; 
 his countenance, shriveled by time, or 
 overshadowed by melancholy. Still, if there 
 be genius in him, he dips his pen when he 
 writes in the golden existences of the mind, 
 and calls forth from that burning and 
 seraphic world pictures and combinations 
 to live and glow on his page for ever. 
 
 In his strange little body there is really 
 contained an universe of beauty and 
 loveliness, of emotions, passions, aspirations 
 of bright memories, and glorious antici- 
 pations. Were you to see him at work you 
 would perceive nothing but an automaton — 
 a thing in the form of a man, tracing with a 
 dark fluid dripping from pointed steel, a few 
 mysterious characters on a white ground. 
 But the extremities of that automaton must 
 be directed by an immortal spirit, which.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 275 
 
 breathing through the mechanism of the 
 brain, and conveying its commands through 
 the nerves, commissions those fingers to 
 unveil new forms of beauty, or to disclose 
 everlasting truths to the world. 
 
 To some extent, no doubt, authorship is 
 instinct. No man knows exactly how he 
 writes, or even why he writes, seeing it is not 
 in general for the great gain it brings. More 
 money by far is so be made by standing behind 
 a counter, and selling tea and sugar ; by 
 modelling clay in the shape of coats and trou- 
 sers ; by reproducing upon canvass the figures 
 of pigs and cows ; or by painting in succession 
 a number of those insipid faces, which meet 
 us at every corner of the street. 
 
 Probably, also, there may be considerable 
 pleasure in the exercise of all these forms of 
 industry. But from the very confession of 
 those who live by them, that pleasure is poor 
 indeed compared with the delight which 
 springs from generating new ideas in the 
 mind. This is the supreme happiness of
 
 276 THE RING 
 
 life ; this is the joy which resembles the joy 
 of gods, and which is able to reconcile those 
 who taste it with poverty, with neglect, with 
 suffering, and with death. 
 
 It really does not signify, to the man 
 who creates intellectual forms, whether 
 others are disposed to recognise his power 
 or not. They act in this matter to the best 
 of their ability. What is on a level with 
 tlieir comprehension they will and do 
 recognise, and that too with great pride 
 and eagerness. What is a little above 
 them they try to appreciate, and if they 
 fail, the fact is not to be imputed to them 
 as a crime. But the ideas which move 
 altogether above their intellects, they can 
 obviously have no sympathy with, or 
 scarcely be conscious of their existence. 
 These address themselves to few, but the 
 admiration of those few is sufficient ; and 
 if there were a mind above all others which 
 could find no fit audience in this world, 
 he would content himself with the inter-
 
 AND THE VEIL. 277 
 
 course he could hold with his own thoughts, 
 and pass away calmly into oblivion, in 
 company with those humble spirits which 
 may almost be said to have no ideas at all. 
 
 Such are my notions of authorship. In 
 practice, if a man can be content with 
 little — almost with nothing, it is often 
 highly amusing. When I began to ex- 
 perience the pleasure of letting loose the 
 feelings of my soul upon paper, I used at 
 night to build my fire, and then go to bed. 
 
 In summer I rose very early, and in 
 winter long before day ; I got up, groped 
 about for the lucifers, and when I had 
 surrounded myself with light, I would 
 speedily call forth into existence my 
 pleasant companion in the chimney. I 
 would then draw my table close to the 
 hearth, put my feet upon the fender, and 
 with a twisted bit of paper light my cigar. 
 
 Soothed by the music of the flames, 
 which sing mysteriously as they shoot up- 
 wards, and converse in low whispers with
 
 278 THE RING 
 
 each other, or endeavour to communicate a 
 revelation from the material to the intel- 
 lectual v^orld ; soothed also by the narcotic 
 fumes which ascended gently to the brain, I 
 was soon visited by thick coming fancies. 
 
 Persons with a vast apparatus of luxury 
 at their command, may smile with pity at 
 my enjoyments. But that does not signify. 
 They were real enjoyments to me, never- 
 theless, and I now enjoy them over again 
 by endeavouring to describe them. 
 
 In the theory of pleasure, as in that of 
 the universe, nothing comes out of nothing. 
 To obtain any real enjoyment you must do 
 something for it. When things come to 
 you without effort and almost uninvited, 
 you may take them, perhaps, but you take 
 them languidly, as if you did not care 
 whether you took them or not ; but when 
 you obtain what you get through a process 
 of industry, simple or complicated, brief or 
 protracted, you learn to set a value on it, 
 and extract a sweetness from it which
 
 AND THE VEIL. 279 
 
 scarcely ever is found in the mere gifts of 
 fortune. 
 
 I mean by this to explain why I enjoyed 
 my breakfast, when I had not only earned 
 but got it ready myself. Mrs. Roberts 
 would, no doubt, have done this for me, as 
 she was a very kind old woman ; but I pre- 
 ferred taking the matter out of her hands, 
 especially as I never found it to interfere 
 with my morning's studies. There were 
 three things going on at the same time, the 
 kettle was getting hot, my cigar was 
 smoking, and I was reading a book. 
 
 Sometimes I neglected the two latter 
 duties in order to make myself a little toast. 
 Most persons have been cheered at some time 
 or other of their lives by the singing of the 
 tea kettle, and many great authors have 
 celebrated it. But the theme will never be 
 altogether exhausted. As my kettle sang, 
 my own spirit often sang in concert ; for 
 though, as I have said, I lived in the midst 
 of clouds, and doubts, and difficulties, they
 
 280 THE RING 
 
 never had the power altogether to destroy 
 my buoyancy of spirit. Happiness came 
 to me in spite of the world ; and from the 
 moment when I began to love Angelica 
 that happiness assumed a higher character^ 
 and diffused itself more deliciously over 
 my soul. 
 
 Let the rich man take my word for this, 
 he has never relished his breakfast as I did, 
 when I poured out my tea in brimming 
 cups, placed my toast just within reach, 
 and then, with some favourite volumes of 
 Greek poetry in my hand, leaned back 
 before a cheerful fire, and ate, drank, and 
 read at the same time. 
 
 By way of parenthesis, the amethystine 
 eyes of Angelica would now and then 
 sparkle between the sentences, and presently 
 drift away into the background, to make 
 room for the impassioned sobs of Medea, or 
 the watchman on the palace roof of Mycenae, 
 or the gentle wailings of Tecmessa over the 
 madness of her lord.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 281 
 
 XV. 
 
 All this I thought very pleasant ; but when 
 breakfast was over, I set about what I called 
 my hard work, or in other words began to 
 write. Authors who have conquered the 
 difficulties of their art, if any one can 
 ever be said to have accomplished this 
 achievement, derive gratification from the 
 wielding of their extraordinary powers. 
 Young and unfledged writers like myself, 
 derive pleasure from the sense of progress. 
 T felt there was a good deal in my mind, 
 though for the most part it might almost 
 as well not have been there, since by no 
 effort of mine could I bring it out, or at
 
 282 THE RING 
 
 least in any shape agreeable to others. 
 Many owners of our intellectual mines 
 remain poor all their lives, for want of 
 knowing how to work it. The ore may be 
 rich and plentiful, but the man has not 
 paid the price of labour, for the necessary 
 tools and implements ; or else, if he has 
 acquired a supply of these, he does not 
 know how to wield them with dexterity. 
 
 This was exactly my case, but I put my 
 faith in time and industry ; and, as honest, 
 thoughtless fellows have whistled at the 
 plough, so I whistled at my table, I mean 
 internally, for I had no time for the labial 
 operation. I was too busy, too pleased, too 
 absorbed, to need that I should give vent to 
 my animal spirits, by imitating a thrush or 
 a blackbird. 
 
 This, though not unmixed with worldly 
 considerations, was what might be called 
 the spiritual part of my life. There was 
 another of which I have reason to be much 
 less proud. But from the entanglements of
 
 AND THE VEIL. 283 
 
 this, I was now gradually emerging, though 
 I had not altogether escaped. 
 
 Most persons have, some time or another, 
 been admitted into a painter's working 
 room. It is unnecessary, therefore, to 
 describe minutely that in which I usually 
 found Elliot. It was not a studio built 
 exactly for the purpose, but an apartment 
 in which one window out of three had been 
 carried up to the ceiling, in order to obtain 
 what is technically called a "good light." 
 For the same purpose, the lower shutters 
 were kept constantly closed, so that the 
 rays streamed inwards in a square column, 
 their rich effulgence almost kindling the 
 objects on which they fell. 
 
 In one corner stood a lay figure ; in 
 another, a pianoforte ; here thrown carelessly 
 on a table beside a glass, cases of paint- 
 bladders, megilp jars, and phials of oil, 
 lay a pair of boxing gloves, a guitar, and a 
 flute ; there a set of foils hung suspended 
 against the wall. Easels, pencils, pallets.
 
 284 THE RING 
 
 torsos of all sizes, legs and arms, helmets 
 of various forms, and fragments of ancient 
 armour lay scattered around in picturesque 
 confusion. 
 
 Back in a corner, behind the piano, was 
 a skeleton, dangling by the nape of the 
 neck from the ceiling, representing, perhaps, 
 the manner in which its owner had escaped 
 from this sublunary prison-house. It was 
 designed originally, no doubt, to assist Mr. 
 Elliot in his osteological studies; but the 
 thick layers of dust now settling fast on every 
 shelf and projection, which our frame when 
 stripped of its integuments presents, 
 furnished manifest proof that it was not 
 often called upon to further the progress of 
 science. 
 
 Another of our artist suppeditaments, as 
 Lord Bacon would say, was a portfolio of 
 engravings after the old masters, which, as it 
 contained a rich store-house of hints, I 
 might perhaps say something more, 
 appeared to be in tolerably constant use.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 285 
 
 There was besides, a number of chairs of 
 antique fashion, and richly covered with 
 seats of crimson damask, deeply fringed. 
 Upon these lay scattered about numerous 
 original drawings ; some complete, others 
 half finished ; some produced by a master's 
 hand, others rudely sketched as by a hand 
 untrained and never meant for the pencil. 
 
 Much taste was exhibited in the choice of 
 the engravings that, in conjunction with a 
 few old pictures, adorned the walls. Among 
 them was a small cabinet piece by Van 
 Hyder, a contemporary artist, not so well 
 known as he deserves to be — representing a 
 party of Calabrian banditti taking shelter 
 under a ledge of rocks from a storm. 
 
 With respect to Mr. Elliot's own pro- 
 ductions, it might be said that they showed 
 far more ability than skill or application. 
 He had in him, no doubt, some of the 
 elements of an artist, but either through 
 idleness, haste, or caprice, had neglected to 
 make the most of them. His portraits.
 
 286 THE RING 
 
 consequently, were in most cases extremely 
 imperfect — capital likenesses, but rough 
 ones, which always required the touch of 
 Coronelli to render them passable. 
 
 Elliot was now engaged on three different 
 pictures : the one a fancy piece, representing 
 Queen Elizabeth receiving the news of 
 Mary Stuart's Execution, which Coronelli 
 was finishing up. In the other, were repro- 
 duced the attractions of a Country Squire 
 in his hunting costume. The third, was 
 the portrait of a Mrs. Seymour, which that 
 lady herself, together with her husband, was 
 this day, precisely at twelve o'clock, to 
 come and see. 
 
 The artists had scarcely flourished their 
 pencils half an hour, ere business of some 
 kind or another called Elliot away for a short 
 time. In his absence two unexpected visitors 
 dropped in. These were Mr. Hinkley, a 
 print-seller, and Sharp his confidential ad- 
 viser. With Signor Coronelli they were 
 already slightly acquainted, but at me, as a
 
 AND THE VEIL. 287 
 
 new importation, they stared a good deal 
 before entering upon the sounding of my 
 cranium. 
 
 After whisking and darting about for 
 some time — now launching forth into 
 raptures at the prodigious genius of Elliot, 
 now becoming minute and technical, 
 enlarging upon " fat bits of colour," " fine 
 bits of effect," " breadth of tone," " chiaro 
 scuro," etc., Mr. Hinkley advanced his red 
 whiskers almost close to my cheek, and 
 cried, 
 
 '' Prodigiously fine. Sir ! don't you think 
 Mr. Elliot a great painter ? " 
 
 " Sir, I'm no judge," I replied. 
 
 Mr. Hinkley started back, cast a look of 
 contemptuous pity at me, and then turning 
 to Sharp, proceeded with his eulogiums. 
 He protested he had never beheld any- 
 thing so fine as Queen Elizabeth's nose. It 
 was a royal nose, he said, a right royal nose. 
 
 " Ah ! Sir," he added, addressing himself
 
 288 THE RING 
 
 to Coronelli, '' a woman who had got sich a 
 nose as that, could not fail to whack the 
 Spanish Armado." 
 
 Sharp, whose cue it was to re-echo the 
 opinions of his patron, edging in his word, 
 cut short the intended reply of the Italian. 
 
 " You are quite right, Mr. Hinkley," 
 exclaimed he. 
 
 " Fm a hartist myself, and admires the 
 hart as much as any on 'em, but never seed 
 no such thing as that. It's a real queen's 
 nose. Sir, and will make the fortune of the 
 engraving. — I'm blest if it don't." 
 
 " Gentlemen," observed Coronelli, " it's 
 a little too high for my taste. I'm fond of 
 curves anywhere but in a nose, more 
 especially if that nose be a woman's. It 
 always communicates to the countenance an 
 air of cunning." 
 
 " Sir," exclaimed Mr. Sharp, whose 
 principle feature strongly resembled that of 
 an Arabian vulture, " we holds different
 
 AND THE VEIL. 289 
 
 notions here in England. Don't you re- 
 member that song ? 
 
 '* A nose should be beautiful Sir, if t'would please us, 
 " And the true line of beauty's a cun'e." 
 
 Mr. Hinkley, at this moment, discovered 
 a fresh beauty in the picture he had agreed 
 to engrave. 
 
 " I say Sharp," cried he, " isn't that 
 fine ? That serious air of the royal per- 
 sonage. She looks all in a brown study, 
 but she's pleased though ; and the corner of 
 her eye seems to say, ' Now haven't I 
 nicked her?'" 
 
 " Exactly," replied Sharp, '' another 
 person with a different sort of nose would 
 have been struck all of a heap ; but she 
 was a sort of female Hatlas, and could bear 
 the globe in the Hadelaide gallery upon her 
 shoulders." 
 
 Both myself and Coronelli, though 
 neither of us in the liveliest humour in the 
 world, burst into an immoderate fit of 
 laughter at this original dialogue. Mr. Sharp
 
 290 THE RING 
 
 was a very big man, who stood little short 
 of six feet out of his shoes ; while his com- 
 panion Hinkley scarcely exceeded in height 
 the dingy Lascar that sweeps the crossing 
 at the bottom of Rupert Street. The voice 
 of the print-seller seemed to ascend in an 
 angle of seventy-five degrees, until it met 
 the colossal ear of Sharp, whence, w^hirling 
 round in a spacious labyrinth, it found its 
 way somehow or other out of the mouth, 
 and descended again to tickle the ear of 
 Hinkley, who seemed, in fact, to be dia- 
 logueing with an echo. 
 
 Mr. Sharp was in reality his factotum : 
 composed his puffs, set a value on all works 
 of art offered him for sale, and occasionally 
 got up an illustrated book himself, just to 
 show, as he expressed it, *' that he knew a 
 thing or two about hart." 
 
 In the midst of their raptures, Elliot 
 himself entered, upon w^hich a quart of 
 quicksilver appeared to be poured down 
 into the heels of Mr. Hinkley's boots, for
 
 AND THE VEIL. 291 
 
 with a spring, which would have done credit 
 to one of the jumpers at Olympia, he cleared 
 a' third]] of the floor at a bound, and 
 seizing the astonished painter by the arm, 
 which he shook in a paroxysm of delight, 
 squeaked forth the words, 
 
 " I congratulate you, Mr. Elliot. You 
 have produced a splendid picter. I've seen 
 nothink like it nowhere in the hexhibitions. 
 There's not an R.A. among them. Sir, that's 
 done any think hequal to it. It's full of fat 
 bits of colour. Sir, and that royal nose. Sir, 
 oh ! isn't it a nose ! Sir, all the hamateurs 
 are already after me about it ; and the 
 engravers. Sir, every one of them are itching 
 to have a finger in the pie. It'll make your 
 fortune, Mr. Elliot; for won't I blow my 
 trumpet above a bit ! Won't I make the 
 paragraphs fly ! Won't I champagne the 
 dogs of heditors, who all knows their way 
 to my box, as well as the beadle knows his 
 way to the parish church ! " 
 
 ^' It is exactly as Mr. Hinkley says," 
 
 o 2
 
 292 THE RING 
 
 observed Mr. Sharp. " Sir, there's no man 
 what meddles with hart, that doesn't drop 
 in at Mr. Hinkley's. It's a sort of gratis 
 hexhibition. Sir, where all the knowing ones 
 that buys picters flocks like bullocks to 
 Smithfield." 
 
 " Well, at this rate," replied Elliot, " 'tis 
 to be hoped that the engraving will go 
 off." 
 
 '' Go off. Sir," exclaimed Mr. Hinkley, 
 '' It shall go off. There's nothing produced 
 in my shop that doesn't sell. I am 
 universally " 
 
 What Mr. Hinkley intended to add, was 
 never known ; for just at that moment a 
 bustle was heard on the landing place, the 
 door flew open, and in rushed a gigantic 
 rufiian, with little Jane at his heels. The 
 fellow flourished a huge bludgeon in his 
 right hand, which, after staring fiercely at 
 every body present, he threw upon the 
 floor. 
 
 He then, to borrow a phrase from Mr.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 293 
 
 Sharp, began to peel, flinging his greasy 
 hat on one chair, his coat on another, 
 tearing off his waistcoat, and next his shirt, 
 until, before the smartest tongue present 
 could say Jack Robinson, he stood before 
 us in all but pur is naturalibus. 
 
 Astonishment, as Milton says of the 
 devil's, held us mute ; until the frantic 
 colossus, rushing forward, siezed Hinkley 
 by the leg and arm, and lifting him up as 
 though he intended to dash out his brains 
 against the nearest wall, he bellowed forth 
 in the most ferocious tone, 
 
 *^ Now ain't I a fine Ercles, and this ere 
 chap my lickus." 
 
 Elliot now began to see something of the 
 point of the joke. 
 
 " I suppose my good fellow," said he, 
 " you're a model." 
 
 And without interfering in the least for 
 the deliverance of Hinkley, he paced to and 
 fro, looking with intense admiration at the 
 muscles of his huge back, many of them 
 
 o 3
 
 294 THE RING 
 
 thrown out in fine relief by the act of 
 flourishing Hinkley in the air. The latter, 
 as soon as he could recover from his terror, 
 roared out in a voice half choked with rage, 
 
 *' Why, what the devil. Sir ? How dare 
 you take this liberty with me, Sir ? Put me 
 down. Sir, I say this moment. Damn it. Sir, 
 I'm a citizen, and what's more a magistrate, 
 and I'll have you sent to the treadmill for 
 this, as sure as my name is Hinkley. 
 Sharp, man, why the devil don't you pitch 
 into him ? Put me down, I say, you rascal, 
 or I'll kick you in the face." 
 
 " I'll forgive you, if you can, you 
 diminutive varmint ; and you Mr. Sharp or 
 Blunt, I'd fidvise you not to come within 
 haul of my tackle, or else I'll split your 
 bowsprit for you." 
 
 It was now thought high time to release 
 the print-seller from his aerial situation, 
 though Elliot pretended he w^ould willingly 
 have given ten guineas to be allowed to 
 sketch the group in its first attitude.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 295 
 
 Upon inquiry, it proved that the intruder 
 was a sailor, who, when his cash ran 
 low, sometimes served artists for a model. 
 The general construction of his frame was 
 so magnificent — trunk, limbs, head — that 
 his drunken extravagance and the insolent 
 audacity of his manners were generally 
 overlooked. Having accidentally discovered 
 Elliot's habitat, and being in want of a 
 guinea, he had adopted the stratagem 
 above described.
 
 296 THE RING 
 
 XVI. 
 
 I HAVE now arrived at a part of my nar- 
 rative upon which I enter with reluctance 
 and trembling. Sin is never pleasant in 
 retrospect. The reader will, and should 
 condemn me ; but however angry may be 
 his condemnation, it can never in sorrow- 
 fulness or severity equal my own. My 
 guilt was of no common order, but, with an 
 audacity borrowed from the first criminal, 
 overstepped the most sacred limits of social 
 life. 
 
 All the reasons that could ever combine 
 to restrain any man in the paths of duty 
 concurred to preserve me : education, the
 
 AND THE VEIL. 297 
 
 traditions of a virtuous family, some lingering 
 sense of religion, the friendly counsels of 
 Wilmot Smith, — above all the love I 
 imagined myself to feel for Angelica. 
 
 But, wickedness at that time seemed to 
 have some inexplicable fascination for me, 
 so that I could not so much be said to 
 yield to temptation as to seek it. 
 
 Certain at least it is, that when any 
 opportunity of doing e^dl presented itself, I 
 seized upon it with promptness and avidity, 
 as if some glory as well as happiness would 
 accrue to me from trampling upon the best 
 and holiest of all ethical laws. 
 
 The narrative however of w^hat I did, will 
 be sufficient, without any commentary, to fix 
 the place which my character, as it then was, 
 should hold in the estimation of the 
 reader. 
 
 I have already alluded slightly to the 
 fact, that Elliot was engaged in painting 
 the portrait of a Mrs. Seymour, who, 
 together with her husband, a gentleman of
 
 298 THE RING 
 
 large fortune, was expected at twelve o'clock 
 on the day of Hinkley's adventure with the 
 sailor. The sketch which Elliot had already 
 made, suggested to my mind the idea of so 
 much loveliness, that I conceived a strong 
 wish to behold the original, and, therefore, 
 remained till she came. 
 
 Mrs. Seymour had no sooner entered, than 
 I felt myself attracted towards her in an 
 extraordinary manner. All persons acknow- 
 ledged her to be beautiful, she was tall, 
 slender, fair, with large, bright, blue eyes, 
 and a complexion of singular brilliance. 
 But what first struck me was her voice. 
 I have heard many voices richer, some voices 
 sweeter, but never any more fascinating — 
 she drew me to her side as if by magic. 
 
 Her husband, a tall, fine man, much 
 superior to me in personal appearance, was 
 pleased by the attention I showed her, and 
 invited me to his house. Could he have 
 foreseen what was to follow, he would sooner 
 have invited the pestilence. Bewitched by
 
 AND THE VEIL. 299 
 
 this woman's beauty, I forgot everything 
 except my authorship. Nothing could ever 
 withdraw me from that. Whether in good or 
 bad fortune, in sorrow, in anxiety, in terror, 
 in apprehension for the morrow, I still found 
 myself under the necessity, when I had once 
 fairly begun to write, to disburden myself 
 daily of my daily thoughts. 
 
 I must also make some other reservations ; 
 I did not neglect Delia Torre, or Coronelli ; 
 but all the other women with whom I had by 
 this time become acquainted, including even 
 Angelica herself, were thrown aside, in order 
 that I might devote the whole of my leisure 
 hours to Mrs. Seymour. 
 
 I ought not to disguise her failings any 
 more than my own : she had three 
 children, which should have been sufficient 
 to make her pause ; she had besides, a 
 husband, whom she professed to love ; she 
 had a mother, who doated on her ; she had 
 sisters, younger than herself, who looked 
 up to her for an example.
 
 300 THE RING 
 
 I, also, had numerous reasons for restrain- 
 ing me : but one should have been sufficient. 
 I was meditating a great crime : the 
 detaching of a woman from her allegiance 
 to the man she loved — the poisoning of her 
 affections as a mother and as a daughter. 
 It might likewise happen, that on my 
 account she would become an outcast from 
 society, and be hurried through shame, 
 ignominy, and poverty, to a premature 
 grave. All this I can perceive very dis- 
 tinctly now, but when the consciousness 
 would have been of use to me, I was really 
 not conscious of the evil of my doings. On 
 the contrary, like the opium-eater of 
 Lebanon, I appeared to have been suddenly 
 transported to Paradise or the Indies, where 
 all around me was light, and splendour, and 
 
 joy. 
 
 Under the influence of Cecilia Seymour, 
 I realised the fable of the lotus-eaters ; and 
 for a while she was real Nepenthe to me. 
 
 As the autumn came on, we devoted its
 
 AND THE VEIL. 301 
 
 long evenings to walks in the lanes and 
 among the fields, on the north side of 
 London. Our practice was, to take a cab, 
 and drive out two or three miles into the 
 country ; we would then dismiss our vehicle, 
 and stroll leisurely home. 
 
 How Cecilia's husband was all this while 
 employed, I know not. But he at length 
 began to observe her movements, and 
 became inquisitive respecting the way in 
 which she spent her evenings. Had he 
 remained at home, our walks and our 
 interviews would have been impossible ; but 
 he was every evening at his club, or out 
 among his friends, smoking, drinking, and 
 enjoying himself in his own particular way. 
 Of this, Cecilia had previously not com- 
 plained, but now, in excuse of her own 
 conduct, she began to view it with disap- 
 proval. It would have greatly embarassed 
 her, however, had Mr. Seymour suddenly 
 grown more domestic. 
 
 One evening, when we were considerably
 
 302 THE RING 
 
 farther than usual from home, I observed, 
 while strolling through a shady lane, two 
 men, who appeared to be watching us, and 
 my conscience immediately suggested that 
 one of them was Cecilia's husband. Had 
 they walked before, or followed us, my 
 suspicions might have been less excited ; 
 but they got into the fields, and, as I could 
 now and then perceive through gates or 
 breaks in the hedges, crept along stealthily, 
 measuring their pace with ours. 
 
 Not desiring to alarm my companion, 
 who, absorbed, perhaps, by her own thoughts 
 and feelings, took little notice of external 
 things, T made no allusion to our disagree- 
 able neighbours ; but presently she heard 
 the rustling of their footsteps on the grass, 
 and catching a glimpse of them at the same 
 time, exclaimed : 
 
 ^^ Surely that is Walter!" 
 
 T confessed that the idea had occurred 
 to me, and said, I would clear up the point 
 at the next turning in the road, where
 
 AND THE VEIL. 303 
 
 the path through the fields terminated 
 at a stile. This she at first opposed with 
 much fear and trembling; but I soon con- 
 vinced her that as we had certainly been 
 seen by the persons in the field, whoever 
 they might be, it would be of no manner of 
 use to seek to elude them. 
 
 *' But look " she cried, '^ they are both 
 armed. Dearest Mowbray, let us turn back 
 and hide ourselves." 
 
 *' Nonsense love," I replied, '' with this 
 stout cudgel in my hand, I am more than a 
 match for them both." 
 
 Though naturally fearless beyond most 
 women, she yet anticipated with extreme 
 terror my encountering her husband under 
 such circumstances, especially, as his brother 
 Charles, w^hom she supposed to be with 
 him, was still more fiery and impetuous 
 than himself. By degrees, however, I pre- 
 vailed upon her to let me have my own 
 way, and, while she walked on a little, I
 
 304 THE RING 
 
 planted myself on the stile, and awaited the 
 coming up of our pursuers. 
 
 On seeing me they stopped abruptly, and 
 began to speak together. Just then the 
 moon broke from behind a cloud, and I 
 beheld the two men distinctly. One of 
 them was exactly about Seymour's size, the 
 other I almost fancied from his dress be- 
 longed to the police force. 
 
 Determined to satisfy myself, I leaped 
 into the field, and advanced at a brisk pace 
 towards those whom I could not otherwise 
 designate than as my enemies. But, what- 
 ever may have been their reasons, they 
 turned round, and fled with all possible 
 speed in opposite directions. Upon this, as 
 there w^as nothing to be gained, I returned 
 to the stile, where I found Cecilia in a state 
 of extreme agitation. 
 
 To calm her mind, I endeavoured to show 
 that we must both have been mistaken, 
 since Seymour could have had no motive for
 
 AND THE VEIL. 305 
 
 running away, but would rather have con- 
 fronted me, and brought matters at once 
 to the worst. But the conviction produced 
 by logic will not always quiet the pertur- 
 bation of the heart. Our cheerfulness had 
 been completely put to flight, and, notwith- 
 standing all my efforts^ I found it was not 
 to be recovered. 
 
 Melancholy, however, in our situation, 
 was far more dangerous than merriment ; 
 because it disposed the mind to confound 
 its own secret tendencies with the irresisti- 
 ble influences of fate. 
 
 It was a cool autumnal night. The 
 clouds, after breaking and slightly dispersing 
 several times, at length closed, and built 
 themselves up overhead into one impenetra- 
 ble dome of grey. No doubt, the humidity 
 of the atmosphere aff'ected our frames, and 
 through them our feelings. The fallen 
 leaves, which lay in thick patches here and 
 there, rustled under our feet, and reminded 
 us of the decay of the year.
 
 306 THE RING 
 
 In spite of appearances, Cecilia, I am 
 thoroughly convinced, had never meditated 
 the slightest evil. She was pleased to be 
 with me, to hear my voice, to receive my 
 ideas into her mind, to be excited, to be 
 hurried away by the imagination ; but it 
 never occurred to her, that in this way she 
 would probably end by loving me without 
 reserve. 
 
 For my part, I could scarcely be said to 
 reflect on the matter at all. I loved 
 Cecilia with a blind, unreasoning passion, 
 and persuaded myself, that to be in posses- 
 sion of her heart was to ascend the very 
 summit of felicity. She was fascinated by 
 my devotion, and subdued by my vehe- 
 mence and impetuosity. 
 
 Such was the state of our minds on the 
 evening in question. The wind rose and 
 blew strongly in gusts, the sky became 
 more thickly vaulted with clouds, and 
 presently, after some threatening, the rain 
 descended in torrents.
 
 AND THE VEIL. 307 
 
 Fortunately, close to the road, but within 
 the enclosure of a field, we perceived several 
 haystacks and a small shed, into which we 
 retreated for shelter. There, while the 
 storm raged without, we, for the first titie 
 reviewed our position, and determined to 
 place it beyond the power of fortune to 
 divide our hearts. I 
 
 There is sometimes a strange melancholy 
 in the descending rain, which takes posses- 
 sion of us with double force when we havei 
 been more than usually excited. 
 
 The violence of the storm having abated, 
 we left our place of shelter, and descending 
 into the road, made the best of our wav 
 towards London. 
 
 I would not be understood to mean that 
 my melancholy was connected with unhappi- 
 ness, quite the reverse ; but, I was in that 
 temper of mind, which causes us to feel 
 something like delight in anticipating 
 misfortune. To be sure I had experienced 
 my share of it, and, therefore, it may seem
 
 308 THE RING 
 
 rather surprising, that I should have looked 
 forward with anything but horror to a 
 repetition of the same sufferings. But' there 
 arq' persons, for whom happiness would be 
 too much, if they did not voluntarily press 
 their breasts against some thorn, which, by 
 piercing and wounding them, may seem to 
 satisfy their Nemesis. I was one of these. 
 
 We now walked forward with our arms 
 around each other, conversing in soft, low 
 whispers, as if unwilling that the air itself 
 should become conscious of our joy. 
 
 Ere we had advanced half a mile, we 
 observed before us our indefatigable tor- 
 mentors, sauntering along leisurely, as if to 
 allow us time to come up with them. 
 Cecilia wore a thick veil, I desired her to 
 draw it close about her face, and we stepped 
 on in order, if possible, to overtake these 
 mysterious individuals : she had made up 
 her mind to whatever might happen, and, if 
 a quarrel with her husband were inevitable, 
 the sooner it took place the better. Our
 
 AND THE VEIL. 309 
 
 persecutors, however, resembled a will-o'-the- 
 wisp, for in a dark part of the road we lost 
 them entirely, and during the remainder of 
 the walk they did not reappear. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 J. MARTIN, PRINTER, 9, LISSON GROVE, MARYLEBONE.
 
 — ^^».