Mayne Reid Part 11

"Very sorry to hear of the illness of Madame Reid and of your own indisposition. Bronchitis--that curse of the London climate--is a very trying affair; we know only too much of it.

"Many, many thanks for your kind offer, which I gladly accept as far as your powerful pen is concerned. I am indeed in need of it, the more so as I have no time to write myself--have scarcely time to breathe.

"We must try and make this Chancery suit a glorious triumph to my country's rights and to the great principles involved in it, and I think we may if only the press is not allowed to relax its support.

"The papers--at least most of them--are well disposed--even _The Times_--only think!

"So write! write! write! is the word now more than ever.

"The _Daily News_ will, I think, accept any good article on the subject--at least I expect them to do so--the _Morning Star_ still more, and of the _Morning Advertiser_ I feel perfectly sure.

"I shall try to see you in the course of to-morrow, if possible--if not, then after to-morrow for certainty.

"Yours very faithfully,

"Kossuth.

"Captain Mayne Reid."

In October, 1853, a meeting was held at the London Tavern, under the presidency of Lord Dudley Stuart, to express sympathy with Turkey.

Captain Mayne Reid was present, and spoke effectively against secret diplomacy.

"Secret diplomacy! There was not a phrase in the language that was more repugnant to the hearts and the ears of Englishmen. Secret diplomacy!

There was dishonour in the sound--there was positive and palpable meanness in the thought.

"What has secret diplomacy done for England? Was it by secret diplomacy that this mighty nation had been built up? If they looked back upon their former history they would find that the tricksters of foreign countries had always out-tricked the tricksters of England. He could understand some mean and petty nation having resort to secret diplomacy; but he could not understand why England should have recourse to it.

Their first duty was to know what was right; and having ascertained that, to demand it in the most open and straightforward manner. He was no lover of war; he would be glad to see the sword turned into the plough share; but he believed the time had come when war was not only just, but a strict and holy necessity. They were bound by treaty to protect the integrity of Turkey. Throw interest to the winds, their honour called upon them."

A week later, on the 22nd of October, the British and French fleets entered the Bosphorus, determined to prevent the dismemberment of Turkey, although it was not until the following March that war was declared against Russia.

At Christmas 1853 "The Young Voyageurs," a sequel to "The Boy Hunters,"

was published. The dedication was:

"Kind Father, Gentle and Affectionate Mother, Accept this tribute of a Son's grat.i.tude.

"Mayne Reid."

Of this book the _Nonconformist_ says:

"As a writer of books for boys, commend us above all men living to Captain Mayne Reid.

"We venture to add, that we should like to see _men_ of any age who could deny that its perusal gave them both pleasure and instruction."

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

"THE CAPTAIN AND HIS CHILD WIFE."

Captain Mayne Reid had now met his fate; not in the dark-eyed Mexican senorita, but a fair little English girl, a child scarce thirteen years of age. Her name was Elizabeth Hyde, the only daughter of George William Hyde, a lineal descendant of the first Earl of Clarendon.

In his novel of "The Child Wife," he describes his first meeting this young girl: "In less than ten minutes after, he was in love with a child! There are those who will deem this an improbability.

Nevertheless it was true; for we are recording an actual experience."

Later on he says to his friend Roseveldt: "That child has impressed me with a feeling I never had before. Her strange look has done it. I feel as if she had sounded the bottom of my soul! It may be fate, destiny, but as I live, Roseveldt, I have a presentiment she will yet be my wife!"

The courts.h.i.+p was in itself a romance. Elizabeth Hyde was living in London with Mrs Hyde, the widow of her Uncle Clarendon, who brought her up after her mother's death. At Mrs Hyde's house Captain Reid was one evening a guest. Afterwards he told his wife, "I fell in love with you that evening at first sight." The next morning her aunt said, "Captain Mayne Reid has quite fallen in love with you." Elizabeth answered, "You can tell him _I_ have not fallen in love with him." A short time afterwards to the question of some one who had not seen the "lion,"

"What is Captain Reid like?" she replied, "Oh, he is a middle-aged gentleman." This was repeated to Captain Reid, and he afterwards allowed that his vanity was much wounded at the time. A few weeks pa.s.sed and the "middle-aged gentleman" was quite forgotten. Other matters occupied Elizabeth Hyde's thoughts. One day she was alone in the drawing-room making a doll's outfit. Captain Reid entered the room, but she did not recognise him. He looked surprised, and said, "Do you not remember me?" As he had a very foreign appearance, she exclaimed, "Oh, yes, you are Monsieur--" Then he mentioned his name. He asked how old she was, and, on hearing, said, "You are getting old enough to have a lover, and you must have me."

The "middle-aged gentleman" did not, however, come up to her standard.

Her uncle was her ideal.

After this Captain Reid made long and frequent visits to the aunt's house, but saw the niece very little. With her, indeed, he found so little favour that she intentionally avoided his society. Mrs Hyde began to believe herself the attraction, as Mayne Reid spent hours in her society. All is fair in love and war.

An old Quaker lady--a great friend, who was frequently at the house at the time of Mayne Reid's visits--was under the same impression, and at the first visit she paid after his marriage, said to Mayne Reid, in her quaint fas.h.i.+on, "Why, Mayne, I always thought thou wast after Eliza"

(Mrs Reid's aunt).

At last Elizabeth was beginning to feel some interest in her "lover."

It was pity at first, as she had a notion he was a refugee, having lately heard his name in connection with the Hungarian refugees, though to her childish mind a refugee had no definite meaning. She thought, however, it was something to be sorry for.

One day Captain Reid brought her "The Scalp Hunters," asking her to read it, and saying she would find herself there. This book was written and published before the Captain saw her, but he said it was a foreshadowing, and that at first sight of her he had exclaimed to himself, "This is Zoe!"

Mrs Hyde was now about to marry again--a clergyman--and to reside in a distant suburb of London. Just before her removal, Captain Mayne Reid called to say he was going on a visit to Paris, and to wish goodbye.

Mrs Hyde was not at home. He said to Elizabeth, "I shall not know where to find you when I return." But she did not enlighten him on the subject, little thinking how long it would be ere they met again.

After Mrs Hyde's marriage, Elizabeth went to her father in the country.

There did not seem any probability of Captain Reid and herself ever meeting again, but she could not forget him for a single day during the interval which elapsed.

Two years after, in the winter of 1853, without the least knowledge that his Zoe was there, fate brought Captain Reid to the town at which she was then staying, where he had been invited to address a public meeting on behalf of the Polish Refugees.

Zoe was one of the audience at the Mechanics' Hall, where the meeting was held, accompanied by some friends.

The following is a quotation from a description which Mrs Reid wrote down:--"An electric thrill seemed to pa.s.s through me as Captain Reid entered the room. Instantly, as though drawn by an invisible hand, and without a word to my friends, I left my seat and followed in the direction I saw him take. There was a platform at one end, occupied by the speakers and a few ladies and gentlemen. He took his seat on the platform, and I mine also, just opposite to him. We did not speak, but our eyes met.

"At last it all came to an end--near midnight. The audience were fast dispersing in the body of the hall, the lights were being extinguished.

The few who remained on the platform were hand-shaking and congratulating the speakers. Captain Reid had a number around him. I might also have joined them--we were then standing only a few feet apart--but something held me back.

"The place was now almost in darkness--all were leaving the platform. I caught a glimpse of my father hurrying towards me, and could just dimly see two or three gentlemen evidently waiting for the Captain, who was still conversing with one person.

"It seemed as though we were again about to be severed. At that moment he came towards me, grasped my hand, and I just caught the hurried words:--'I leave for London by the next train. Send me your address.'

Speech seemed to have left me, but it flashed upon me that I was in ignorance of _his_, and managed to stammer out:--'I do not know where.'

He instantly handed me his card, and was gone.

"My father lifted me down from the platform and we groped our way out in the darkness.

"I then learned that Captain Mayne Reid had only arrived that evening, and was obliged to leave by the midnight train for London.

"On awaking the next morning, I immediately sprang out of bed to see if the card which I had left on my table the previous night was still there--or if it had not all been a dream. But there was the card, with the name and address in full.