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Leader (1850-1860), 4th November 1854, Edition Town of 2, Page 1053, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      veil it—his blind selfishness . He was a hypocrite , and the elocutionary cant of the drilled Romanist grafted on the evangelical , could not disguise the -worldly purpose under the veil of sanctity : his love knew him for a humbug . Shallow , wearied with the tedium of his own arts , he needed relaxation ; too vapid to find it in love , he sought it in a more palpable form : he drank—quietly , pathologically—but the more revoltingly . And she , his true love , discovered from his incontinent transparent thinking , that she was a convenience , a merchandise , a stage property . Oh ! the lessons of those weary two months . She learned to pierce the meaning of the hypocrite that she had taken to her heart , hideously transparent ; she learned to shudder in the provident manoeuvring arms that encircled her ; she loathed

      herself for the formal caresses that it had once been her pride to receive , and delayed , her recoil from them out of very shame to recognise them . Any other girl -would have sunk—have seen her fate , and yielded to it , prostituted for fife to a religious speculation . She burst from it- Unexplaining , shaming to give her reasons , repulsing caresses , spurning threats , she refused to fulfil herpromise in marrying him ; she preferred to be deserted . And so , bewildering himself with the stimulants he took to fortify his resolve , deliberating whether he should put her wholly in his power , Thadeus , the poor counterfeit of all that is great in man , love , faith , and genius , lost his own intention in . a fit of tearful , mortified scolding , and spitefully taking her at her word , abandoned her in the strange solitude to which he had brousrht her .

      And there she sat where John found her , absolutely alone in the world ; a perfect woman , conscious of her womanhood , deserted though never won ; pining for support , though learning lier own strength and self-reliance in spurning her sole support . When he saw her next morning , he would have returned her ring ; but she refused it . It was one of little value ; a plain gold band , curiously knotted , with a black shield , and on that a silver cross . It had "been given to her as a sign of her faith by the good Abbate Quirini , and she had paltered too much with faiths to wear it ^ John might not he of her first faith , but he belonged to Quirini ' s , she said ; for that was the faith inthings good , and a power to know things bad . John did not feel so conscious of that power , but he kept the ring while she wished ; and ultimately the gift was ratified by the good Quirini . Thus John took the ring without leave , and it was given him by a person he never saw . His first care was to

      find her a lodging ; and her fear of meeting Thadeus again induced him to remove her to another quarter . Richmond was chosen ; then , as she dreaded to meet her abandoner , she went to Hendon , to Barnet , and finally to that cottage out of the beaten path at Cheam . Much of course was learned by fcoth in that time : John learned her whole history ; she learned John ' s simpler life . He could trace her young growth , from the time when her mother appeared a shadow in her memory ; through the convent , with its znild teaching , its innocent amusements , its constant manufacture of little nick-nacks for a pious traffic ; her father ' s bookish lodging and occasional travels to Rome or Naples ; her strange acquaintance with the low church Romeo ; her stern apprenticeship to life in the discovery of his spurious character ; her horror , and her emancipation . But then came a second apprenticeship . At first , and for some time , although she wrote to Quirini telling him oi" her safety , and promising to return ,. she determined to st op in England long enough to prove her complete emancipation from her first

      error ; and she said so . Quirini implored her to return ; but the same strength which had shaken off the missionary kept her to her purpose . She did not , except in the earliest days , need any help from John for her subsistence ; hut he was her only friend , and her gratitude sought to repay him by every way in which she could aid him . She taught him the language which she knew as well as his—dangerous help ! She carried him further into knowledge o £ music—more danger ! She taught him to know herself Tacitly , half unconsciously , she discovered that she had filled a wide vacancy in his life —they were , without equivocation , friends ; but she was the first to discover how difficult it must be for either of them to stop at friendship . Her conversation turned more on Amy , and sought to make John familiar with a certain contentment in plain English life . Aad in truth the honest man never for an instant thought of leaving the path whicli he had invited Amy to walk fcand-in-lmnd . It was only when Speranza , with face pale and firm , told him that she had written to Quirini announcing her return , that John knew what

      he was to lose . Did she , he asked , go from the fear of Thadeus ? No ; she still revolted from the idea of meeting him , but felt safe in John ' s protecting caro . She did not say more . Not long afterwards , walking by herself , she saw the missionary , and fled to her house ; but he had seen her . He forced himself upon her in Smith ' s absence . Ho told the people of the house that ho was her husband , Smith her seducer ; but who could disbelieve her ? Importunities and threats haunted her ; Smith removed her , and she was again traced . Liko many wwik mun , Thadeus valued her tho more , as her loss became more certain . His " love" grew fierce with opposition and with jealousy ; common elements in an ordinary passion . About tho same time Dutton entered on his strange enterprise , and he was mistaken , when soon occasionally , for an accomplice of Thadcus . She only the move resolved to depart . Sneranza was informed of all that passed at Brixton . She knew as

      distinctly as if she had watched them how Dutton tho mean succeeded in weaning Amy from her faithful John ; and indignation at tho slight put upon so noblo a man perhaps justified Snerunzn , if she sullbred John to perceive her sympathy—or , rather , if she suffered herself to indulge it ; for slio concealed nothing . Though Ntill resolved to leave Kngland , her view of tho future beyond grew unsettled . Amy had almost openly transferred her trust and affection to Dutton ; Thadoiia had more than once encountered Smith , and had oven attempted his life . Tho meannesses , tho troncherios , tho importunities of others , wero leaving Snuran / . n and John allios against unsought ibea . Even still Sooran / . a sought no pretext in these circumstances for altering hov resolve , or letting John part from his plighted word . She urged him to rescue Amy . But there wns one diiT ' orenco between tine women ; u fact , not a question of right , or wronp , which was fatal to her advice . Amy , perhaps , would have boon astonished if hIhi hud known huw little the two conversed upon Homo subjects ; how littlo , especially , pusaud between thoiu of lovw-liko fninilinrity . To . John Spornnzu was always u trust , and she must return to Ituly free , not only from equivocal relations or from doubt fill

      pledge , but from any restraint upon her own mind , her will and choice . Resolution , pride , and a strong respect for independence of w ill , lay deep in the characters of both . Often did it happen , for all his superior faculties that John could not comprehend the purpose of Amy , or follow the course of her feelings ; she was so different in emotion and motive from himself . With Speranza it was the reverse . If she were struck with a strong feolingj as that of admiration at some noble act , —if her pride were hurt at any unconsidered remark of his , a chance not unknown—if events caused a resistless though unuttered emotion of affection to rush upon her—John knew it all , for he felt the same . It is often said that love is stronger between opposites than between those who are alike . But that perfect oneness of thought and sensation , which is the perfectness of love , cannot be , save where the thoughts and sensations are of one type in one mould . John learned that

      truth of Speranza just when Amy ' s devotion to Dutton , when Thadeus's persecution , and Speranza ' s approaching departure made them see too plainly for affectation of denial , that he was free , that her safety lay in him , and that to separate would be to sacrifice life , in vain . The proposition had been calmly expounded by him as he stood with his arm unwontedly round her waist , and assented to by her as she sat on the garden-gate looking down upon him , when the hidden Dutton saw him kiss her hand . " But , ma ' am , " said Jarrett , when he had told so much of this story as was discreet , " Mr . Smith had not entered into any engagement a month ago—not , in fact , until after the morning when Mr . Dutton mentioned your marriage . " " I am afraid , sir , that , in his impatience , Mr . Smith made a slight mistake : we were married this moraine . "

      Jarrett looked at Dutton , who returned a look of pale entreaty ; and the principal was silent . "I have been told , sir , " said Mrs . Button , inquiringly , " that the—the person's name is not Stanhope ?" "It is not , ina ' am ; the young lady will , however , retain that name until , once only in her life , she signs her real name : she does not intend to raise family questions ; and I , who pique myself , Mrs . Button , on neither despising nor courting great connexions , perfectly agree with her . Mr . Dutton , "rising—" you will , I am sure , excuse me , but at your convenience our lawyers will complete arrangements , for I am anxious to settle Mr . Smith as the Co . But do not harass yourself ; if in anyway I can consistently serve you , I shall be most happy , " —with a parting bow—" for the sake of Mrs . Dutton . " Dutton saw their visitor to the door , while his wife sought the woman ' s haven' from her embarrassment—her handkerchief .

      " That's well over , " said Button , returning to the hymeneal drawingroom , and great in the passing strength of fears newly relieved by Jarrett ' s unexpected delicacy . " Now , my dear , we have the end of all Mr . Smith's undermining ways and canting hypocrisies ! Do not be down-hearted love , " — his voice fining to catlike tenderness ;— "do not mind that Jarrett ' s coarse indelicacy . The man ' s a humbug !''

      Untitled Article

      Jullien the immortal ( may the shadow of his big drum never grow less !) has once more opened at Drury Lank , to immense audiences , welcomed back from the "West with tempestuous enthusiasm . He is still , we rejoice to say , Jdli . ikn , in the fullest sense , and he commands a band of the old excellence with all his old fire and mastery . It is pleasant to find Druuit Lane rescued from the spasmodic efforts of lyrical tragedians , and crammed by a real audience in the highest state of enjoyment . The salle is arranged with the usual comfort and elegance ; the music ranges from the most classical to the most eccentric and "taking , " and is always to perfection . The effect of the " British Army Quadrille" on that miscellaneous public , largely sprinkled with " gents , " is absolutelydelirious , and our National Anthem is relieved by that pretty troubadour song of la Koine Hortense , Partant pour la St / rie , amidst the extravagant demonstrations of ecstatic s bs . Still , on tho whole it is a hearty and honest fanaticism , and there is much good feeling aad genuine emotion at the heart of these tumultuous vulgarities . During the short season of these concerts ( only one month ) , we are promised an " Allied Annies Quadrille , " and no doubt Sebastopol will fall in time to furnish ML Jullien with an inspiration worthy of the victory .

      The Imperial Band of Guides gave a concert at Exktkk Hall , on Thursday , for the benefit of the French charitable socioty whoso good offices tho present Emperor of Franco has reason to acknowledge . Tlio Guides -wore received by an audience of about two thousand with all tho honours due to tho representatives of our brave allies . Their playing is chiefly remarkable for its Lightness and delicacy , and their instruments « iro not to bo excelled in purity and rich clearness of tone . They do not , lio-wovor , interpret the majestic character of our national an thorn ; on Saturday last , at tho Crystal Talaeo , they appeared to us to spoil the effect by hurrying tho time ; on Thursday tho mistake wus in the other direction , and in both cases tho effect wus to efface- the grandeur of the music . Partant pour la Sr / ric , tho French impoial air , is , it must bo confessed , a very weak , thin piece of prettinoss for military music . It is a charming' old air as a solo , or as a song . Franco will not easily improve upon hur Marseillaise , with which Napoleon tho First conquered Kuropo . Perhaps when tho war becomes Kuropoan thp " Mai'Kcillaise" will bo tho battle-hymn of Franco again , and Partant pour la Si / jw bo dismissed to tho London :

      Untitled Article

      Nothing theatrical to record , savo tho huoocss of tho Battle of the Alma ut Asti . kv' 8 , and of a patriotic and military drama at tho , Sijkui : y , in wliioh the whole campaign , up to tho storming of SubasLopol , is diominienUy , allegorically , and episodically represented . Tho writer of tliu piooo at Ahtlkv ' h appeals to the British "lovo of a lord , " represented in tho boxes , by making tho Duke of Cambridge and l'rinoo Napoleon his heroes . ; tho Muiiuky is Josh exclusive in its bestowal of tho laurel crown , and goes at tho gallery , where tho friends of the private soldier niny bo sitting . Mr . ChnrleH Kctin , following tho " Surrey sido " - in not Slioreditch on the Surrey side?—with his usual alacrity , announces n translation of Schami / I for next week . Tho French drama , by J ' uul I \ h . ' » irico , luul a tremendous run at tho PoitTifl iSx . Majuin , with JM < flinguo us tho J ' roplict- Warrior . Mr . Jtydcr , wo hour , is to bo tho Sc / iunn / l of tho I ' uiHvuaa ' n .

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      Untitled Article

      November 4 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 1053 —« ^—^ !^ LJ _ r '—T ^ ZLl— \ Z ' ~ TLL—Z—1 I ' . ^__! '" - - — - ¦ ' - ¦ ' ¦¦ —¦ . „

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 4, 1854, page 1053, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2063/page/21/