St Ives | Page 6

each visit, so that she should return
to me; and this was a matter of nice management. I had done it the last
time--it seemed impossible she should not come again after our
interview; and for the next I had speedily ripened a fresh plan. A
prisoner, if he has one great disability for a lover, has yet one
considerable advantage: there is nothing to distract him, and he can
spend all his hours ripening his love and preparing its manifestations. I
had been then some days upon a piece of carving,--no less than the
emblem of Scotland, the Lion Rampant. This I proceeded to finish with
what skill I was possessed of; and when at last I could do no more to it

(and, you may be sure, was already regretting I had done so much),
added on the base the following dedication. -
A LA BELLE FLORA LE PRISONNIER RECONNAISSANT A. D.
ST. Y. D. K.
I put my heart into the carving of these letters. What was done with so
much ardour, it seemed scarce possible that any should behold with
indifference; and the initials would at least suggest to her my noble
birth. I thought it better to suggest: I felt that mystery was my
stock-in-trade; the contrast between my rank and manners, between my
speech and my clothing, and the fact that she could only think of me by
a combination of letters, must all tend to increase her interest and
engage her heart.
This done, there was nothing left for me but to wait and to hope. And
there is nothing further from my character: in love and in war, I am all
for the forward movement; and these days of waiting made my
purgatory. It is a fact that I loved her a great deal better at the end of
them, for love comes, like bread, from a perpetual rehandling. And
besides, I was fallen into a panic of fear. How, if she came no more,
how was I to continue to endure my empty days? how was I to fall back
and find my interest in the major's lessons, the lieutenant's chess, in a
twopenny sale in the market, or a halfpenny addition to the prison fare?
Days went by, and weeks; I had not the courage to calculate, and to-day
I have not the courage to remember; but at last she was there. At last I
saw her approach me in the company of a boy about her own age, and
whom I divined at once to be her brother.
I rose and bowed in silence.
'This is my brother, Mr. Ronald Gilchrist,' said she. 'I have told him of
your sufferings. He is so sorry for you!'
'It is more than I have the right to ask,' I replied; 'but among gentlefolk
these generous sentiments are natural. If your brother and I were to
meet in the field, we should meet like tigers; but when he sees me here
disarmed and helpless, he forgets his animosity.' (At which, as I had
ventured to expect, this beardless champion coloured to the ears for
pleasure.) 'Ah, my dear young lady,' I continued, 'there are many of
your countrymen languishing in my country, even as I do here. I can
but hope there is found some French lady to convey to each of them the
priceless consolation of her sympathy. You have given me alms; and

more than alms--hope; and while you were absent I was not forgetful.
Suffer me to be able to tell myself that I have at least tried to make a
return; and for the prisoner's sake deign to accept this trifle.'
So saying, I offered her my lion, which she took, looked at in some
embarrassment, and then, catching sight of the dedication, broke out
with a cry.
'Why, how did you know my name?' she exclaimed.
'When names are so appropriate, they should be easily guessed,' said I,
bowing. 'But indeed, there was no magic in the matter. A lady called
you by name on the day I found your handkerchief, and I was quick to
remark and cherish it.'
'It is very, very beautiful,' said she, 'and I shall be always proud of the
inscription.--Come, Ronald, we must be going.' She bowed to me as a
lady bows to her equal, and passed on (I could have sworn) with a
heightened colour.
I was overjoyed: my innocent ruse had succeeded; she had taken my
gift without a hint of payment, and she would scarce sleep in peace till
she had made it up to me. No greenhorn in matters of the heart, I was
besides aware that I had now a resident ambassador at the court of my
lady. The lion might be ill chiselled; it was mine.