VARNEY, THE VAMPYRE; OR, THE FEAST OF BLOOD. CHAPTER CXLVI. [sic] [Chapter 155] THE EFFECTS OF PERSEVARANCE. -- SIR FRANCIS VARNEY AND MARY STEVENS. -- AN EVENING PARTY AND CONVERSATION. The evening was spent agreeable enough at the Bath theatre; Sir Francis Varney having taken the greatest pains to ingratiate himself with Mary Stevens so much and so delicately, that she could not but feel ashamed at her antipathy towards him, and certainly did all she could to get the better of it, and succeeded in some measure in doing so. They all returned home in very good humour with themselves and everything. Captain Fraser and his lady were completely predisposed to look upon Sir Francis Varney as one of the first men in England for rank and breeding; even Mary Stevens was compelled to admit she never saw any one whose demeanour was to be more admired more than his. The next morning they all assembled at the breakfast-table, and were all full of lively images and thoughts of the preceding evening. There was much more of cordiality and intimacy than had been felt among them before; for Sir Francis Varney's courtliness gave way, and he became almost as one of the family. Mary looked upon him with something like wonder, to see how agreeable a man could be whom she disliked. One or two days more passed in this manner; and the dislike of Mary Stevens to Sir Francis, if not less, was at least not so active or violent; but she received him as an old friend. That much emboldened Sir Francis, who again resolved he would speak to her, and that in the presence of her brother and sister, hoping by such a proceeding he should be able to overcome her dislike or fears by his own efforts, aided by Captain and Mrs. Fraser, who would create a diversion in his favour. "I wish not," he said, "to be importunate; but, in a matter that concerns one's future hopes and wishes-- one cannot well slumber over them-- I wish to become one of such a family as that into which I find myself so strangely and accidentally introduced, though I fear I have failed to make myself as acceptable as I could wish." "No one could think Sir Francis Varney otherwise than acceptable," said Captain Fraser; "your services to us alone would be enough to endow us all with the most lively gratitude and admiration, were you only to appear amongst us with no other qualification; but you add those which evidently make any gentleman an ornament to the circle he may grace with his acquaintance and friendship." "You take a favorable view of all that you see, Captain Fraser." "No, no; I merely speak what I think upon a subject which I have had, I may say, some experience. I have myself had some dealings in the world; my profession puts me forward, and I may repeat what I said." "No, no, I will not suffer you to do that; what I wish to do is, to impress, if possible, my fair friend here with favourable sentiments towards myself. I am not as some of the young men of these times, who win by the violence of their suit, which they urge with all the haste of violence to attack and storm the citadel." "That is a very good plan, Sir Francis; why don't you yourself pursue such a system? It must carry the citadel by assault." "No, no," said Mary, "you will not do anything of the kind. Was that the way in which you yourself acted? If so, I am sure I pity my sister; for what can she hope for when she was taken in such a violent manner?" "Oh, no, no; Fraser was the unfortunate victor, who was taken prisoner in the moment of victory." "Yes, that is the fact; I was taken prisoner; but I have since been appointed governor in the enemy's country." "Ha! ha! ha! well, that is a fortunate issue to your adventure. I would that mine were as fortunate-- I love, and yet fear to say so." "Fear never won a fair lady," said Fraser; "so don't be afraid." "What does my fair enemy say her?" "I have said so much upon the subject, sir, before, that I was in hopes I should not have had any occasion to say more." "I am sorry to hear you say so." "Why, it is a pity to render a matter that is settled uncertain, without the prospect of anything being gained by it." "So it is; but I hope that is not the present case, Miss Stevens. My petition, I hope, is not rejected merely because it has suffered so before. I cannot but hope, though despair for ever stare me in the face for it; but perhaps devotion and heartfelt love may make some impresssion upon you, and soften the rigours of a heart that cannot, I am sure, feel any pleasure in the distress of another." "No, no, Sir Francis; you only do me justice in saying so much. I can, indeed, feel no pleasure in such things. You may rely upon it, gratitude alone would prompt me to comply with any request you might make at once and cheerfully; but you must admit that this is a question that alters the complexion of other matters, and what might be proper under other circumstances, cannot be expected under this." "Nor am I so unreasonable as to expect anything of the kind. Now, Miss Stevens, you much mistake Sir Francis Varney if you think him capable of such meanness. I wish you to act from your own unbiassed judgment, and, however painful the result, yet I would in silence put up with your decision. But still I hope you will not act imperatively-- that you will look upon my suit with, at least, not a harsh and averse spirit. Have some compassion upon one who is entirely at your mercy." "Come, Mary, do not act unkindly." "I-- I do not know what to say. I-- I cannot give any other answer." "Nay, I won't hear of such a thing, Mary," said Mrs. Fraser; "now or never. I will not say that you must not be mindful of the past; but you were never ungrateful, that I know. You cannot be otherwise than happy." "You embarrass me." "Miss Stevens, let nothing weigh with you, save your own happiness; that is my object, and my own at the same time." "Say yes, Mary." "I-- I cannot." "Will not! What objection? What on earth could you wish for more?" "Do not press me." "I should be sorry to do so at such a moment, were it decidedly your desire not to give an answer now; but I do beg you will not let me linger longer than necessary. Indeed, I find I cannot exist in your society and be deprived of the hope that I may call you one day mine own." "Do, Mary, say yes-- say yes!" "Will Miss Stevens give me leave to suppose that there may be a time when I may be rewared for my patience? I will not press you for a plain answer now, but give me some token that I am not to remain unhappy." "Come, Mary, come-- Sir Francis gives you every indulgence." But Mary was obstinate some time longer, until Sir Francis, in a transport, pressed her hand, and placed it to his lips; at the same time she suffered her silence to be construed into a consent to his wishes. * * * * * "Well, Sir Francis," said Captain Fraser, "let me congratulate you in having subdued the enemy, and you, Mary, in having such a conqueror. I protest it was a hard fought battle, and one that I could not tell who would prove trumphant." "I feel well assured you may congratulate me, Captain Fraser. I congratulate myself, I assure you; therefore you may do so to me." "I do heartily." "Thank you; I shall be happy. But what are the tactics for the night?" "What are we to do?" "Yes, precisely." "Oh, suppose we have a nice party among ourselves. We can amuse ourselves, I dare say. I am fatigued myself, and care not to go out to-night. We have all gone out so lately that it will be a change and a rest." "So it will," said Miss Stevens. "I am really glad that we shall have one night, on which we can retire at early hours." "Are you willing, Sir Francis, to spend a dull evening?" "It cannot be dull, at all events, in such company. I shall be happy to remain with you, indeed. I feel that a quiet, happy evening is a thing that would be very acceptable to me, at least; but still I can do as you please." "Then we'll have a quiet evening among ourselves." "Have you heard anything more about the murder that took place the other day?" "No," replied Sir Francis. "Have you?" "I have," said Mrs. Fraser. "What have you heard?" inquired Sir Francis. "I will tell you," replied Mrs. Fraser. "You recollect that the nephew had been suspected of having murdered the two women, and committed a robbery afterwards." "Yes, yes; I heard so much." "Well, they ahve taken the nephew now, and he has been examined before a police-constable, and will be again examined in another day or two." "Indeed! they have made quick work of it. How can they suspect he had any hand in the affair?" "I believe they knew he had been very poor, and had been very impatient for the old woman's death, that he might have it all. Now, such a line of conduct was bad, and has caused persons to suspect him; and, also, the fact, that he has got a quantity of gold about him, for the possession of which he cannot account." "Ay, that seems bad; but what kind of excuse can he give for the possession of such treasure-- he is surely not silent?" "Oh, dear, no, he is not silent. All he says, however, is, that his aunt gave it him to leave the country with." "That is strange-- very singular." "It is, and that is why they disbelieve it; besides; he had made no preparations for his departure, that have yet been discovered-- besides, his shoes were evidently soiled with human blood, and the footsteps in the passage and on the stairs-- at least, some of them, were exactly of the same size." "That is a strong proof." "So it is; but there appears to have been an accomplice, for there are other footmarks of a different size, much larger and longer." "Dear me," said Varney; "didn't you say there were many people who ran up stairs after the man, who got away?" "Yes; to be sure." "Well, some of them might have left a foot-print." "Well, I suppose they might, and yet they must have reasons for saying that these footsteps were those of an accomplice; perhaps they were fresher than the others, or it may be they have a different appearance from the more recent ones." "It may be so." "However it may be; it is quite certain that he has done the deed; whether he had any help or not, he, at least, will be punished." "No doubt he ought to suffer for such a deed; it is that which gives security to the rest of society." "But it was a dreadful thing. A murder committed by a friend or relation is, I think, more heinous, if possible, than when committed casually, by ordinary murderers, whose sole crimes are murder and robbery." "To be sure; when any tie that can bind one individual to another is broken, who would have taken precautions against such as those whom we value; but he was ungrateful, and killed his benefactress-- for such she had been." -+- Next Time: The Wedding Morning. -- The Progress of Justice, and the Discovery of the Murderer. -- The Dissipation of a Scene. +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+ | This Varney the Vampyre e-text was entered by members of the | | Science Fiction Round Table #1 (SFRT1) on the Genie online | | service. | | The Varney Project, a reincarnation of this "penny dreadful" bit | | of fiction, was begun in November of 1993 by James Macdonald and | | should take about four years for re-serialization. | | These chapters are being posted once a week to the Round Table | | Bulletin Board and are also being placed in the Round Table File | | Library. | | For further information concerning Varney e-texts, please send | | email to: | | h.liu@juno.com | +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+ ============================================================================== The Varney Project Chapter 155 Ver 1.01 06/02/1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ General notes on this chapter Source: H.Liu entry from the Arno edition, 1970, text is reprint of 1847 edition Drop capital: No Figures in source: 1 Page numbers in source: 672-675 Sections: 2 Approximate number of characters: Number of paragraphs: Comments: Chapter appears mis-numbered as CXLVI. Sir Francis continues his pursuit of Mary Stevens for a few days, and the Frasers continue to urge Mary to accept him. Varney's perserverance is ultimately rewarded, with Mary Stevens tacitly giving her consent, by discontinuing her protests. Later, more rumours are discusssed regarding the implication of the nephew in the murder of the rich elderly woman. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Modification History Version Date Who What changes made -------- -------- ------------- ---------------------------------- 1.00 12/14/1996 H.Liu Initial gold version, rough proof read. 1.01 06/02/1997 H.Liu added Genie info to trailer ==================================End of File=================================