University of Virginia Library

7. CHAPTER VII.

On the following morning, at an early hour, Mrs.
Lee visited the distressed Virginia, who was now more
composed; and the worthy lady successfully exerted
her talents in endeavoring to calm the mind, and fortify
the courage, of her young friend. Although artful and
politic, she was really a benevolent woman, in all cases
where the interests of others did not interfere with her
own; and being sincerely attached to Virginia, she now
devoted herself assiduously to the task of administering
comfort to the mourner. Her common sense, her practical
business habits, and that delicate perception of propriety
in matters of feeling, which all women possess in a
greater or less degree, enabled her to do this with much
effect; and, after leading Miss Pendleton into the garden,
where they could converse without interruption,
she began to speak in a kind and rational manner of
that young lady's prospects, and, carefully avoiding
those topics which would be merely calculated to
awaken sensibility, soon engaged her in earnest consultation.
Virginia acknowledged that Major Heyward had
more than once assured her, that, on his death, she
would inherit his estate, but he had never mentioned his
will in her presence, nor did she know whether he had
ever executed such an instrument.

“On that subject,” said Mrs. Lee, “my own information
is more accurate. Knowing the determination of
my excellent friend, to make you the sole heiress of his

property, I repeatedly hinted to him the necessity of
making a will, and the propriety of performing this duty
without delay, and in the most careful manner. He
afterwards informed me that it was duly executed. I
have no doubt, my dear Virginia, that my evidence,
with that of the gentleman who wrote the will, and of
the witnesses to its execution, will restore you to your
rights.”

“Do not speak of that,” replied Virginia firmly;
“owing every thing, as I do, to the benevolence of my
uncle, I should be most ungrateful, to appear in a court
of justice, engaged in a contest with his legal heirs.”

“My dear Virginia, how often have I reminded you,
that feeling is a deceitful guide in the serious concerns
of life! You are no longer a young girl, protected by
a fond guardian, and sporting in the beams of affluence,
without any other care than that of imparting to
others a share of the happiness which you enjoyed
yourself. You are now a woman, your own mistress,
having duties to perform, and rights to assert; and
you cannot, my dear, testify your respect for the memory
of Major Heyward more suitably, than by insisting
upon the exact execution of his own views in relation
to his estate. Besides, are you aware who your opponents
would be?”

“Indeed, I do not know exactly—my uncle had no
very near relations.”

“He had not, but a great many who are very distant;
and the embers will hardly be cold on his ruined hearth-stone,
before a number of claimants will be fiercely
engaged in litigation for this noble estate.”

Virginia melted to tears. Contending emotions of
pride, and affection for the dead, swelled her heart. A
number of affecting associations arose in her memory,
and the thought that the spot which had so long
been the abode of peace, happiness, and hospitality, was
about to become the scene of bitter contention, filled her
mind with sorrow. “Dear Mrs. Lee!” she exclaimed,
“I shall never be a party to so disgraceful a contest.
Oh, no! never, never!”

“I venerate your affection for the memory of Major
Heyward,” replied her friend, calmly: “it is natural,
and perfectly right. But, my dear, what obligations do
you owe to his relations?”

“None, particularly. They have always treated me
with respect and cordiality.”

“Except in a few instances,” urged the politic Mrs.
Lee, in an insinuating manner. “Openly they could
not do otherwise, for the very stones would have cried
out, at the slightest incivility to the dear girl that
we all loved and admired so much. Besides, you were
the presumptive heiress of a fine estate, and, as mistress
of your uncle's mansion, dispensed its hospitalities.
But you forget that you have sometimes been charged
with holding your head higher than became you, and
with having used some address in procuring the execution
of this very will. Even I have been accused of
interested motives in my exertions on your behalf.”

Virginia turned pale with emotion, and that spirit,
which, on some occasions animated her heart, and gave
a surprising degree of decision and vigor to the conceptions
of her mind, flashed for a moment in her eye. But

the sensibility of a delicate mind overcame all other
feelings. Unconscious of a sordid motive, she shrunk
with indescribable repugnance from the thought of
encountering a suspicion of that description, and begged
Mrs. Lee to change the subject.

“You have now,” said she, “given the strongest reason
why I should not set up any claim to this property.
The bare idea of having ever been suspected of entertaining
the interested views at which you hint, is too
shocking. Not for worlds, would I do an act, or give
the sanction of my name to any proceeding, which
might bring the disinterestedness of my conduct into
question, or throw the slightest shade upon the purity
of my affection for my dear uncle. Let his relatives
take the estate. It will be happiness enough for me, to
be grateful for his goodness, and to love his memory.”

Mrs. Lee knew well the decision of her young friend's
character, and, aware of her inflexibility on points which
involved principle, or touched her feelings of delicacy,
determined, like an able politician, to change her mode
of attack, and to resort to arguments which she had
before resolved studiously to conceal. And the manner
in which she opened her batteries anew, was after the
following fashion:

“There are two claimants to this property, of whose
pretensions you are probably not aware, and it is right
that you should be informed in relation to them. The
first of these is, my son George.”

“Indeed! I heartily wish my cousin George success.”

“Your wishes, my dear, are not his own. He has not
the slightest disposition, or the most remote intention, to

set up any claim, unless it may become necessary for
your interest. With the exception of one person, whom
I will presently name, my son is undoubtedly the nearest
relative of our deceased friend. There are several
others, however, who claim to stand in the same degree
of consanguinity. Now, what I would suggest is, that
as my son has never for a moment thought of placing
his claim in competition with yours, you might, should
your own right to the property be thought doubtful, or
should you persist in refusing to assert it, avail yourself
of his. Understand me, my dear—do not get impatient
—all that I propose is the use of his name, agency, and
friendship, to procure that which is undoubtedly your
own; and when the intimacy between our families is
considered—when you recollect that from infancy you
have shared my affection with him, there can be no
impropriety in his assuming towards you the place of a
brother. I have surely some claim, my dear Virginia,
to the privilege of discharging towards you the duties
of a mother; and if George can never call you by a
dearer title, you may, you ought, to give him the confidence
and affection of a sister. Confide to us the management
of your affairs, and rest assured that your
name shall never be used in a manner that shall implicate
your delicacy.”

Virginia was affected and embarrassed. There was
a mixture of policy, and of genuine affection, in the
whole conversation of her friend, so characteristic of the
woman, that it touched while it perplexed her. But she
remained firm to her purpose, and decidedly, though
with delicacy and feeling, declined the proposal. Mrs.

Lee was puzzled, but not defeated. She now artfully
alluded to the magnitude of the estate, and to the almost
unbounded influence which the possession of great
wealth would give to a young lady, who was so eminently
endowed with beauty, intellect, and accomplishments,
as her young friend. Failing in all her appeals
to the affections and the ambition of our heroine, she
now determined to awaken, if possible, her resentment.

“The other name, which I have withheld out of
respect for your feelings, is that of this Mr. Fennimore.”

Virginia turned upon her friend a mingled look of
surprise and curiosity, but made no reply.

“He is more nearly related to the late Major Heyward,
than either of the other would-be heirs; supposing
it to be possible for him to establish his identity with the
person whose name he bears, which I suspect is rather
doubtful.”

“Can you suppose it possible, that Mr. Fennimore
would be guilty of an imposture?”

“I suppose nothing, my dear; the law will require
him to prove that he is really the person he pretends to
be; and this, I imagine, will not be in his power. It is
hinted, moreover, that being aware of the disposition
which your uncle had made of his property, the object
of his visit at Walnut-Hill was to induce Major Heyward
to revoke his will, and that, failing in this, he has
possessed himself of that instrument, by means, of which
we have all witnessed the dreadful effects.”

Miss Pendleton became deadly pale, on hearing this
insinuation. The allusion to the melancholy event,
which had deprived her of a home and a protector,

was in itself sufficiently distressing; but the foul accusation
against the handsome stranger, whose image was
associated in her mind with the recollection of a few of
the most happy hours of her life, shocked and sickened
her heart. Determined to listen no longer to what she
could not consider as any thing but slander, unwilling
to offend one whose schemes in relation to herself had
been mingled with a long series of valuable kindnesses,
and dispirited by the afflicting troubles which seemed to
thicken in her path, and to add new embarrassments to
her situation, she now enjoined her friend to change the
subject, in tones of such pathetic supplication, as left
no room for denial. They returned to the house, and
Mrs. Lee soon after took her leave.

To prevent further importunity on the subject which
had so greatly distressed her feelings, Miss Pendleton
addressed a note to Mrs. Lee on the following morning,
informing that lady of her intention to accompany her
friends, the Mountfords, in their proposed journey to
Kentucky, to which country they were about to remove,
and where Virginia had an uncle, who had more than
once invited her to accept a home under his roof.