31. CHAPTER XXXI.
VIEWS OF MISS CLEMENTINA.
When Miss Clementina made this interesting announcement to
Judge Bland—the announcement, namely, that she was in possession
of facts wellnigh amounting to a demonstration of Harley's
married condition—she looked very grave, and for some minutes
preserved silence.
The Judge did not break the silence. He seemed to be waiting,
and it could only be deduced from his slight smile that he was
somewhat incredulous.
“I can easily understand,” said Miss Clementina, at length, “that
what I have said surprises you, brother. I do not expect you to
think as I do until I have told you what I have heard.”
“You have then heard something—something which seems reliable?”
“Yes.”
“One hears, you know, so many reports, for which there is no
foundation whatever. Indeed, I have often been filled with astonishment
at the ingenuity of certain persons in inventing.”
“This is no invention, I fear. Clara Fulkson, who was here this
morning, told me, and you know she is strictly reliable.”
The Judge preserved a polite and suave silence.
“We were speaking of Mr. Harley,” continued Miss Clementina,
“and Clara very naturally asked what had induced him to return
to Virginia. I replied that I presumed he had come back to look
after his estate; but Clara shook her head, and said the impression
with many persons was that Mr. Harley had been followed to
Europe by his wife, and had returned to escape from her.”
“His wife! Has the young man a wife? that is the point.”
“Well, brother, that is, as you say, the point, and Clara Fulkson
tells me what I certainly never knew before, that Mr. Harley had
an affair with a young lady living in or near the Carolinas, and the
young lady, it was supposed, eloped with him.”
“Ah! indeed?”
“Clara declares that she has it on the best authority, and although
she would not give her authority, I am sure that she is
convinced of the truth of this much.”
“That Mr. Harley and a young lady eloped?”
“Yes.”
“And were married?”
“It is supposed so, of course. The story is that there was opposition
of some sort. Mr. Harley had engaged the young lady's
affections, and they went off and were married.”
“Singular! And is the lady living or dead now?”
“She is said positively to be living.”
“Where?” Humph! But tell me, first, your friend Miss Clara's
theory upon the main point in this surprising matter, my dear.
Why has young Mr. Harley always concealed his marriage, and
why do not he and his wife live together?”
“There is said to have been a serious disagreement.”
“A disagreement? For what cause?”
“The cause is said to have been misconduct upon the part of
the lady; and nothing is more probable. I mean that I should
sooner expect almost any one than Mr. Harley, who is a person of
calm and patient temper, not without much sweetness under his
gloom, and could not have misbehaved, I am sure.”
“My opinion of Mr. Harley coincides with yours, dear sister.
Married! Is it possible? And his wife—but there was a separation,
no doubt?”
“It seems so.”
“And Mrs. Harley? Where is she?”
“This is the most curious part. She is said to have joined a
company of strolling-players, and takes delight, people say, in
following Mr. Harley, and harassing him.”
“Humph! All this has a very romantic look, sister.”
“I would not pay any attention to it, were it not for Evelyn.”
“You do not think Mr. Harley capable of paying his addresses
to a young lady whilst his wife—if he has a wife—is living?”
In the first place, brother, he is not paying his addresses to
Evelyn.”
“Yes! yes! You mean, however.”—
“That Evelyn may become—even is—interested in him, regarding
him as an unmarried person.”
“Humph!”
“And then, have you thought of another thing, brother?”
“What?”
“Mr. Harley may have been married in this colony, and divorced,
as he supposes, elsewhere; and yet that form of divorce may not
be binding, or, as I have heard you say, operative, here.”
Judge Bland knit his brows. Miss Clementina was talking the
soundest good sense. There was the chance that she had, by accident,
as it were, touched with her finger the morbid point in Harley;
his supposition might be the actual fact. He might have
been married, might
think himself free, and might not be.
“It would be fearful,” continued Miss Clementina, “if Evelyn's
feelings were engaged; they might go on and marry without fault,
that they knew of, on either side, and might not be married.”
Judge Bland knit his brows more and more.
“You are right, sister,” he said, “There is always the possibility,
and it is our place to take care of the possibilities.”
“Assuredly it is.”
“Your advice is—?”
“To discourage, as far as possible, any intimacy between Evelyn
and Mr. Harley, brother.”
“That will not be difficult, as he seldom comes to Blandfield and
does not go out.”
“Fortunately.”
“And a word will suffice for the rest, I suppose. My daughter
need only have it hinted that there is doubt and mystery about
Mr. Harley.”
Miss Clementina, better acquainted, possibly, with her own sex,
looked dubious.
“Evelyn had best go away,” she said. “until Mr. Harley returns
to Europe, as he soon will, they say. She might accept the invitation
to `Rosewell.' Mrs. Page is longing for her, she says.”
“An excellent idea, sister. I do not share your anxiety fully;
and, to be frank with you, I doubt this whole story about young
Harley. But you were very right to speak.”
“I thought it my duty.”
“Luckily—if there be truth in these rumors—the young gentleman
has entirely ceased visiting us.”
“Yes.”
“And it is doubtful if we will see him again before his return to
Europe.”
Muffled hoof-strokes were heard on the road beneath, and Miss
Clementina went to one of the dormer windows. A light in the
hall shone through the front door.
In the two horsemen who had stopped at the door, and were
dismounting, she recognized Harley and St. Leger.
