New York Published by J Mason De 110

GUY FAWKES.

AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE.

BY W. HARRISON AINSWORTH, ESQ.

ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK.

BOOK THE SECOND.

CHAPTER V.

THE CAPTURE OF VIVIANA,

On the morning after his encounter with Guy Fawkes, Humphrey Chetham, accompanied by Martin Heydocke, took his way to Lambeth Marsh. With a throbbing heart he approached the miserable dwelling he knew to be inhabited by Viviana, and could scarcely summon courage to knock at the door. His first summons not being answered, he repeated it more loudly, and he then perceived the face of Father Oldcorne at the window, who, having satisfied himself that it was a friend, admitted him and his attendant.

'You were expected, my son,' said the priest, after a friendly greeting. Guy Fawkes has prepared Viviana for your coming.' 'Will she not see me?' demanded the young merchant, uneasily. 'I believe so,' replied Oldcorne. But I will apprise her of your arrival. Be seated, my son.'

He then carefully fastened the door, and repaired to Viviana's chamber, leaving Chetham in that state of tremor and anxiety which a lover, hoping to behold his mistress, only knows.

It was some time before Viviana appeared, and the young merchant, whose heart beat violently at the sound of her footstep, was startled by the alteration in her looks, and the extreme coldness of her manner. Oldcorne was with her, and motioning Martin Hey

docke to follow him, the youthful pair were left alone.

'You desire to see me, I am given to understand, sir,' observed Viviana, in a freezing tone.

'I have journeyed to London for that express purpose,' replied Humphrey Chetham, tremulously.

'I am much beholden to you, sir,' returned Viviana, in the same repelling tone as before; but I regret you should have taken so much trouble on my account.'

'To serve you is happiness, not trouble, Viviana,' replied Humphrey Chetham, ardently; and I am overjoyed at finding an opportunity of proving my devotion.'

'I have yet to learn what service I must thank you for,' she returned.

'I can scarcely say that I am warranted in thus intruding upon you,' replied Chetham, greatly abashed; but, having learnt from my servant, Martin Heydocke, that Doctor Dee had set out for London, with the view of seeking you out, and withdrawing you from your present associates, I was determined to be beforehand with him, and to acquaint you, if possible, with his intentions.'

'What you say surprises me,' replied Viviana. 'Doctor Dee has no right to interfere with my actions. Nor should I obey him were he to counsel me, as is scarcely probable, to quit my companions.'

'I know not what connection there may be between you to justify the interposition of his authority,' replied Chetham; 'neither did I tarry to inquire. But, presuming from what I heard, that he would attempt to exercise some control over you, I set out at once, and, without guide to your retreat, or the slightest knowledge of it, was fortunate enough, on the very night of my arrival in London, to chance upon Guy Fawkes, who directed me to you.'

'I am aware of it,' was the chilling answer.

'I will not avouch,' pursued Chetham, passionately, that I have not been actuated as much by an irrepressible desire to see you again, as by anxiety to apprise you of Doctor Dee's coming. I wanted only a slight excuse to myself to induce me to yield to my inclinations. Your departure made me wretched. I thought I had more control over myself. But I find I cannot live without you.'

'Alas! alas!' cried Viviana, in a troubled tone, and losing all her self-command. I expected this. Why-why did you come ?' 'I have told you my motive,' replied Chetham; but, oh! do not reproach me!'

'I do not desire to do so,' returned Viviana, with a look of agony. 'I bitterly reproach myself that I cannot meet you as of old. But I would rather-far rather have encountered Doctor Dee, had he come hither resolved to exert all his magical power to force me away, than have met you.'

Have I unwittingly offended you, Viviana?' asked Chetham, in astonishment.

'Oh! no-no-no!' she replied, 'you have not offended me;

but-'

'But what?' he cried, anxiously.

'I would rather have died than see you,' she answered.

'I will not inquire wherefore,' rejoined Chetham, 'because I too well divine the cause. I am no longer what I was to you.'

'Press this matter no further, I pray of you,' returned Viviana, in much confusion, and blushing deeply. I shall ever esteem you,-ever feel the warmest gratitude to you. And what matters it whether my heart is estranged from you or not, since I can never wed you?' 'What matters it?' repeated the young merchant in accents of

despair, it matters much. Drowning love will cling to straws. The thought that I was beloved by you, though I could never hope to possess your hand, reconciled me, in some degree, to my fate. But now,' he added, covering his face with his hands,-'now, my heart is crushed.'

Nay, say not so,' cried Viviana, in a voice of the deepest emotion. 'I do love you-as a sister.'

"That is small comfort,' rejoined Chetham, bitterly. 'I echo your own wish. Would we had never met again! I might, at least, have deluded myself into the belief that you loved me.'

'It would have been better so,' she returned. 'I would inflict pain on no one-far less on you, whom I regard so much, and to whom I owe so much.'

'You owe me nothing, Viviana,' rejoined Chetham. All I desired was to serve you. In the midst of the dangers we have shared together, I felt no alarm except for your sake. I have done nothing -nothing. Would I had died for you!'

'Calm yourself, sir, I entreat,' she returned.

'You did love me once?' demanded Chetham, suddenly. 'I thought so,' she answered

The young merchant uttered an exclamation of anguish, and a mournful pause ensued, broken only by his groans.

'Answer me, Viviana,' he said, turning abruptly upon her,-'answer me, and, in mercy, answer truly-do you love another?'

'It is a question I cannot answer,' she replied, becoming ashy pale.

'Your looks speak for you!' he vociferated, in a terrible tone'you do! His name ?-his name?—that I may wreak my vengeance upon him.'

'Your violence terrifies me,' returned Viviana, withdrawing the hand he had seized. 'I must put an end to this interview.'

'Pardon me, Viviana!' cried Chetham, falling on his knees before her-'in pity pardon me! I am not myself. I shall be calmer presently. But if you knew the anguish of the wound you have inflicted, you would not add to it.'

'Heaven knows I would not!' she returned, motioning him to rise. 'And, if it will lighten your suffering, know that the love I feel for another-if love, indeed, it be,-is as hopeless as your own. But it is not a love of which even you could be jealous. It is a higher and a holier passion. It is affection mixed with admiration, and purified from all its grossness. It is more, perhaps, than the love of a daughter for her father-but it is nothing more. I shall never wed him I love could not if I would. Nay, I would shun him, if I did not feel that the hour will soon come when the extent of my affection must be proved.'

This is strange sophistry,' returned Chetham; ' and you may deceive yourself by it, but you cannot deceive me. You love as all ardent natures do love. But in what way do you mean to prove affection?'

your

Perhaps by the sacrifice of my life,' she answered.

'I can tell you who is the object of your affections!' said Chetham. It is Guy Fawkes.'

'I will not deny it,' replied Viviana; 'he is.'

Hear me, then,' exclaimed Chetham, who appeared inexpressibly relieved by the discovery he had made; 'in my passage across the river with him last night, our conversation turned on the one subject ever nearest my heart, yourself,-and Guy Fawkes not only bade me not despair, but promised to aid my suit.'

And he kept his word,' replied Viviana, 'for, while announcing your proposed visit, he urged me strongly in your behalf.'

'Then he knows not of your love for hiin?' demanded Chetham. 'He not only knows it not, but never shall know it from me,— nor must he know it from you, sir,' rejoined Viviana, energetically. 'Fear it not,' said Chetham, sighing. 'It is a secret I shall carefully preserve.'

And now that you are in possession of it,' she answered, 'I no longer feel your presence as a restraint. Let me still regard you as a friend.'

and as a

'Be it so,' replied Humphrey Chetham, mournfully; friend let me entreat you to quit this place, and abandon your present associates. I will not seek to turn your heart from Fawkes— nor will I try to regain the love I have lost. But let me implore you to pause ere you irretrievably mix yourself up with the fortunes of one so desperate. I am too well aware that he is engaged in a fearful plot against the state,-though I know not its precise nature.' 'You will not betray him?' she cried.

'I will not, though he is my rival,' returned Chetham. But others may-nay, perhaps have done so already.'

'Whom do you suspect?' demanded Viviana, in the greatest alarm.

'I fear Doctor Dee,' replied the young merchant; but I know nothing certainly. My servant, Martin Heydocke, who is in the Doctor's confidence, intimated as much to me, and I have reason to think that his journey to town, under the pretext of searching for you, is undertaken for the purpose of tracing out the conspirators, and delivering them to the Government.'

'Is he arrived in London ?' inquired Viviana, eagerly.

'I should think not,' returned Chetham. I passed him four days ago, on this side Leicester, in company with Kelly and Topcliffe.'