Doctor Vandyke :: :: University of Virginia Library

Ruthven surveyed the gathering before
him with unmistakable curiosity
and astonishment; but, suppressing immediately
all indications of surprise, said
to Colonel Brand in his grave and courtly
voice:

“I received your note, sir, and trust
that I have not compelled you to await
me.”

As he spoke he drew from his breast
his watch, and added, after looking at
it:

“I am glad to find that I am punc
tual, having just the hour mentioned in
your note.”

Colonel Brand bowed.

“Strict punctuality was immaterial,
my lord,” was his ceremonious reply;
“and Mr. Innis, a necessary personage
in this family meeting, has just arrived.”

“Mr. Innis?” said Ruthven, turning
his head. He spoke almost unconsciously,
but was quickly aware of the unceremonious
character of his words, and added:

“I beg that Mr. Innis will pardon the
apparent discourtesy of my question. I
had forgotten that he is a close and
valued member of your family, sir.”

Colonel Brand inclined his head, preserving
his cold, almost stiff air of ceremony.

“It was absolutely necessary, as you
will ere long become aware, that Mr.
Innis should attend at this very painful
interview,” he said, “and should have
his part in what is to take place.”

Ruthven again bowed, and said:

“Certainly, sir; but may I venture
to say that Lady Brand and Miss Brand
appear unwell and agitated? Is their
presence necessary?”

“Absolutely necessary.”

“Then this is a family consultation?”

“A family meeting, at all events, my
lord; and, though I shall speak for my
wife and daughters, it is their own desire
to be present when I do so.”

“That terminates the discussion, sir;
pray pardon the seeming intrusion of my
advice. I had feared that a business discussion
would perhaps embarrass or annoy
the ladies. As it is not so, their
presence is a satisfaction to me. I derive
too much pleasure from the society
of those toward whom I hope even to
sustain more intimate relations.”

Colonel Brand was silent. It was
easy to see that he was greatly agitated.
His face was pale, and his breathing
labored. He looked around him, found

that every one was waiting, and at length
said:

“I see that you expect me to speak,
gentlemen, and I can no longer delay my
very painful communication.—Lord Ruthven,
yesterday I was a gentleman of large
landed estate, living in affluence and luxury:
to-day I am wellnigh penniless—
nearly a beggar! A moment, my lord:
your astonishment is natural, but I beg
that you will withhold it until I have
terminated my necessary explanation. I
shall proceed to put yourself and Mr. Innis,
who is equally ignorant, in possession
of the facts, and inform you of the
unexpected manner in which I became
aware of the real situation of affairs.”

The ladies had not moved. Lady
Brand continued to hold Honoria's hand
—her sister to lean composedly upon the
back of Meta's chair. Innis and Ruthven
alone exhibited curiosity and astonishment.

“I shall address myself to you, my
lord,” continued Colonel Brand, in an
agitated voice, “as Mr. Innis is more or
less familiar with the subject of which I
shall speak. The estate of `Rivanna,'
upon which I live, and which is justly
regarded as one of the most princely in
the colony, was formerly the property
of Colonel Seaton, a gentleman of many
accomplishments and very high character.
He was never married, and, to dissipate
his loneliness, he adopted two
nieces, cousins, who were greatly beloved
by him, and stood to him in the
relation of children. Of these, it was
supposed that the elder niece was the
favorite; but, on the death of Colonel
Seaton, it was ascertained that he had
devised his estate of Rivanna to the
younger, my wife, leaving an inconsiderable
estate to the elder. The origin
of this disproportion was never accurately
ascertained. It could only be conjectured
that the elder young lady, who
was very impulsive and high-spirited,
had had some misunderstanding with her
uncle, and that he had punished her by
bestowing the bulk of his property upon
her cousin. Something was said of Colonel
Seaton's disapproval of a preferred
suitor of the elder young lady. But these
points are not important. Colonel Seaton
died, leaving Rivanna to his younger
niece. The elder married Mr. Innis, of
`Lodore,' and died, leaving an only
child, Mr. Edmund Innis, now present.
My marriage had taken place some
months before, and, in right of my wife,
I became the proprietor of the estate of
Rivanna. This estate now passes to the
representative of the elder niece of Colonel
Seaton, Mr. Edmund Innis.”

Colonel Brand turned, and bowed
with formal ceremony to the young man,
who gazed at him in silent astonishment,
and seemed to regard the whole
scene as a dream.

“The ground of Mr. Innis's claim to
the estate,” continued Colonel Brand,
“or, rather, the title by which he holds
it from this moment, is derived from a
later will of Colonel Seaton's, only recently
discovered by a member of my
family. This will entirely annuls the
first—is indisputable, and perfectly regular
and formal—if it were not, the intent
of the testator is so clearly expressed,
in his own writing, that I should not oppose
for a moment the effect of the instrument.”

Innis let his head fall, and uttered a
deep sigh. Then, a flash of the eye indicated
that some sudden thought had
passed through his mind. He said nothing,
however, and Colonel Brand continued:

“The will of Colonel Seaton was discovered
in an extraordinary manner.
During the last autumn, a party of young
ladies, then on a visit to Rivanna, determined
to indulge in the very absurd and
superstitious ceremony of `eating the
dumb-cake,' as it is called—some highly-objectionable
mummery, connected with
procuring buckets of water from a particular

locality, looking into a mirror at
midnight, and other folly. Not to dwell
further upon this unfortunate incident
than is necessary, Honoria was selected
to undergo the trial. And this poor
child”—he pointed, as he spoke, to Meta
—“who had then the misfortune to labor
under mental infirmity, determined to
frighten her cousin. She accordingly
went to Honoria's chamber, and—as she
has revealed to us since her happy restoration
to health—sought for a place of
concealment. There were no closets,
but in one corner stood an old linen-chest
which had not been opened for
years. The key had been long lost; but
Meta, in her solitary explorations of
garrets and dark closets, had discovered
the key—a large and peculiar one—and
succeeded in opening the chest, which
she designed using as a hiding-place.
This she, however, found to be impossible.
The chest was filled with nondescript
articles — old worn-out clothes,
papers, and other things. She accordingly
abandoned the idea of hiding
there—took her place behind the curtains
of the bed, and, on her cousin's
entry, succeeded, in a manner it is needless
to dwell upon, in very seriously and
almost fatally frightening Honoria. Not
further to dwell upon this very unpleasant
incident — Meta, after her cousin's
recovery, returned to pry into the chest,
and carried off many articles to store
away in private receptacles — among
others, this paper” — Colonel Brand
drew from his breast a folded document,
yellow with age—“which, in some manner,
became mixed up with the articles
of her wardrobe when they were placed
in a trunk to be brought to Williamsburg.
Of the character of the paper,
the poor child knew nothing, and it was
only discovered by accident yesterday,
when she at once declared whence it had
come, Of the authenticity of the paper
there can be no doubt. You may see for
yourselves, gentlemen!”

With marks of great agitation, the
speaker unfolded the paper.

“See—the last will and testament of
Henry Seaton, of Rivanna, in the county
of Albemarle, Esq.—written, I am informed
by Lady Brand, in his own handwriting,
signed, sealed, and attested by
two witnesses, both dead, I am further
informed, a number of years since, but
whose writing could doubtless be identified.
That is, however, of no importance,
as the paper is in Colonel Seaton's handwriting.
You will perceive the date—
several months later than that of the will
under which Lady Brand holds the estate.
You will see, at a glance, that
Colonel Seaton devises his entire landed
estate to the elder of his nieces—the
mother of the gentleman here present,
Mr. Edmund Innis.”

Colonel Brand, with a trembling hand,
laid the paper on the table.

“You will now understand, my lord,”
he added, with an effort, “what I meant
in saying that I and my family are beggared.”