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The Advocate
A Novel
by Charles Heavysege
Author of "Saul," "Jephthah's Daughter"
&c., &c., &c.
Illustrated by J. Allan
(Engraved by John Henry Walker After Illustrations By J. Allan)
Montreal
Richard Worthington
Great St. James Street
1865
M. Longmoore & Co., Printers
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{{gardnp002.png}} || the advocate ||
hot table of contents
The Advocate
hot table of contents
Chapter 1 ......... 3
Chapter 2 ......... 6
Chapter 3 ......... 12
Chapter 4 ......... 15
Chapter 5 ......... 21
Chapter 6 ......... 26
Chapter 7 ......... 34
Chapter 8 ......... 48
Chapter 9 ......... 53
Chapter 10 ......... 64
Chapter 11 ......... 70
Chapter 12 ......... 89
Chapter 13 ......... 95
Chapter 14 ......... 104
Chapter 15 ......... 112
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{{gardnp003.png}} || the advocate ||
Chapter I.
bad> "Take, oh Uke those lips away,
new> "Take, oh take those lips away,
That so sweetly were forsworn;
And those eyes, the break of day,
bad> Lights that do mislead the mom:
new> Lights that do mislead the morn:
bad> But my kisses bring again,
new> Bat my kisses bring again,
bad> bring again
new> bring again
bad> Seals of lore, but sealed in vain,
new> Seals of love, but sealed in vain,
bad> seal'd in rain."
new> seal'd in vain."
bad> -- Mtamrefor Measure.
new> -- _Measure for Measure._
On a bright day during the month of September,
of the year 1800, two persons were in earnest conver-
bad> sation in a lawyer's ofl&ce in the city of Montreal.
new> sation in a lawyer's office in the city of Montreal.
bad> One of them wae the most distinguished advocate of
new> One of them was the most distinguished advocate of
that place; a man of some three score years, and of a
commanding yet wild and singular aspect. His com-
panion was a well-dressed female of middle age, and
comely, though mournful countenance. Some disa-
greeable topic seemed to have just ruffled both of
their tempers, for her face was moist with tears, and
bad> darkened with an expression of disappointmeifit. His
new> darkened with an expression of disappointment. His
own was slightly marked with annoyance, and, sud-
bad> denly, ceasing to arrange some folded law papers that
new> denly ceasing to arrange some folded law papers that
he held in his hands, and had gathered up from the
table at which he was standing, he exclaimed in tones
bad> of mingled surprise and asperity: " Still at the old
new> of mingled surprise and asperity: "Still at the old
song! still harping, harping, harping! Peace, no
more of it. Heaven would be insufferable with but
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bad> one hjrmn, hell thrice horrible with but one howl,
new> one hymn, hell thrice horrible with but one howl,
earth uninhabitable with but one evil. Oh, variety,
bad> what a charpi hast thou!"
new> what a charm hast thou!"
"Is this, then, all your answer?" enquired the
female, sorrowfully.
"Is it not decisive?" he demanded sharply.
"Woman, away: am I not busy? Is not this the
very Passion week of preparation before the Easter
of the Assizes?" Then with an upward leer of his
eyes, that were now filled with frolicksome humour,
whilst at the corners of his mouth flickered a grim
bad> smile, he continued: " Mona Macdonald, I am neither
new> smile, he continued: "Mona Macdonald, I am neither
selfish nor sensual, though women call me so; not
prone to be provoked to marriage; though Satan in
your shape has for so many years tempted me thereto,
I have still remained in the bachelors' Eden, in spite
of you and the Serpent. Marry you! Do I look in
the humour for mischief? Do I appear vile enough
to commit the unpardonable sin? No, a man may
put himself beyond the reach of mercy by other means
than that."
Mona looked up and sighed, and he continued:
"What more is marriage than mere desert sands,
in which life's current is lost until it reappears in a
parcel of bubbles called babies. What is it but the
fool's end, the knave's means; a warning to the wise,
a snare to the simple; the wantonness of youth, the
weakness of years; a pillory wherein to exercise
patience; what is it but the Church's stocks for the
wayward feet of women. Marry you! To marry is
to commit two souls to the prison of one body; to put
two pigs into one poke; two legs into one boot, two
arms into one sleeve, two heads into one hat, two
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bad> [Illustration: "Do I seem old enough to be a bridegroom?"]
new> [Illustration: "Do I seem old enough to be a bridegroom?"]
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[illustration-backside]
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necks into one noose, two corpses into one coffin, and
this into a wet grave, for marriage is a perennial
spring of tears. Marry! Why should I bind myself
with a vow that I must break, not being by nature
continent and loving? Marry you! Yes, when I
bad> hate you. Have I a siniatrous look to meditate such
new> hate you. Have I a sinistrous look to meditate such
mischief? Do I seem old enough to be a bridegroom?
Pish! I am ashamed to be so importuned."
This badinage was uttered with the fire of youth,
bad> combined with the authority of age, accustopied to
new> combined with the authority of age, accustomed to
be obeyed, and the listener offered no rejoinder; but
the speaker, having approached, gazed into her eyes
with a twinkling smile of mirth, that gradually
changed to one of fondness and pity; and kissing her
bad> respectfully, he added in a soft tone: " Come, come,
new> respectfully, he added in a soft tone: "Come, come,
how is the maid Amanda, how fares our charming
foundling?"
"Well," was quietly replied.
"Mona, I love that girl," he continued, assuming
bad> a tone of deep sincerity, ** for along with the whole
new> a tone of deep sincerity, "for along with the whole
web of your goodness, nature has interwoven into
the fine fabric of her form a thread of my evil -- not
in the grosser sense, -- no, no; still, look after her;
the breath of passion must be stirring in her, and at
her years most maids are tinder to love's dropping
sparks. Remember, there never yet was a nun but
once had tender thoughts. Love comes unto all that
live, and with not less certainty than death's advances
bad> -- ^nay, even the cold, bony frame of death itself, at
new> -- nay, even the cold, bony frame of death itself, at
last comes wooing, and elopes with life. Now, home
and cheer your charge." And he playfully pushed
her from the room, then, throwing himself into his
chair, resumed the interrupted study of his briefs.
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{{gardnp006.png}} || the advocate ||
Chapter II.
bad> "A seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone.
new> "A seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone."
bad> -- AlVs Will Thai Ends Well.
new> -- _All's Well That Ends Well._
The advocate was by birth an Englishman, and a
cadet of an ancient family, who, after having spent a
dissolute youth and early manhood, had come to
Canada. Here he became acquainted with an old,
half-pay Highland officer of Wolfe's Army, who for
his signal services rendered during the operations of
the British force before Quebec, had been rewarded
with a grant of land in that vicinity. Like others
of his countrymen, the Highlander had settled in the
Province, and married into a French Canadian family.
bad> But, soon after their union, his wife died in giving
new> But, soon, after their union, his wife died in giving
birth to a daughter, which he reared to womanhood
bad> with all the strength of an undivided aflfection. The
new> with all the strength of an undivided affection. The
Englishman's frank bearing and singular mental
powers won the admiration of the old soldier, and, at
the same time, dazzled and captivated his comely and
unsophisticated daughter, to whom the stranger was
soon understood to stand in the light of a lover. But
Macdonald -- for such was the name of the warm-
hearted clansman -- was not destined to see his dearest
wishes realized in the union of the two. A sudden
sickness laid low his hardy frame, and, dying, he
called the pair to his bedside, and joined their hands
in anticipation of the rite of wedlock. The father
dead, the lover betook himself to the study of the
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law, and with an extraordinary aptitude and dili-
gence, not only mastered the details of legal practice,
but comprehended, beyond others, the great principles
both of English and of French jurisprudence as prac-
tised in Lower Canada. Ambitious of excellence, he
resolved to complete his studies of the latter in France
itself. Of means he had little, but she, confiding in
his honor, consented that the estate left to her by her
father should be sold, to furnish him with the neces-
sary funds for his maintenance in Paris. In that gay
capital -- whilst taking advantage of libraries, and
sitting at the feet of the Gamaliels of the French Bar,
bad> -- he associated with gamesters and courtezans, and
new> -- he associated with gamesters and courtezans, and
was at length left with resources barely sufficient to
enable him to return to Canada. Settling in Montreal,
his extraordinary acquaintance with both schools of
law, his impassioned and versatile eloquence, his ready
repartee, his habitual, grim and grotesque humour,
bad> his outrageous sallies of wit, his unmercifiil logic, his
new> his outrageous sallies of wit, his unmerciful logic, his
fierce invective, his irony, his sarcasm, and his deep,
irresistible scorn, all heightened by his singularly
expressive personal presence, and eyes kindling with
lambent fire, made him a forensic antagonist with
whom few willingly chose to deal. He soon became
the favorite counsel for the defence. Extensive prac-
tice, and its concomitant, a large income, were now
his, and his betrothed, who, in giving him her
fortune, felt as though she had given him nothing
till with it she had given him herself, day by day
looked for the nuptial tie, and at length besought him
to relieve her from what had become a doubtful and
even a dishonorable position. But such was no longer
in his thoughts. Instead of performing towards her
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his long plighted vows, he sent her to a lonely dwel-
bad> ling on the then unpeopled Ottawa to hide her shame.
new> ling on the then unpeopled Ottawa to hide her shame,
There she remained till the scandal of their connec-
tion was forgotten, and he brought her, along with
her female child, a creature of surpassing beauty, to
bad> * a new retreat, called Stillyside, bought by him for
new> a new retreat, called Stillyside, bought by him for
that purpose, and situated behind the bluff known as
bad> Mount Royal, or popularly the " mountain," that lifts
new> Mount Royal, or popularly the "mountain," that lifts
its wooded sides in the rear of, and gives name to,
the City of Montreal. During these years of their
bad> separation, whilst laborious in his profession, he con-
new> separation, whilst laborious in his profession, he
bad> tinued to indulge his vein for pleasure; not openly
new> continued to indulge his vein for pleasure; not openly
bad> and abroad, as in his earlier days, but in the semi-
new> and abroad, as in his earlier days, but in the
bad> secrecy of his home; and with a still increasing
new> semi-secrecy of his home; and with a still increasing
bad> income^ his expenditure from this ungracious cause
new> income, his expenditure from this ungracious cause
also augmented. Moreover, in those days, the province
was, in great measure, ruled by irresponsible officials,
and often unscrupulous but energetic adventurers
like himself; -- men of powerful parts and free lives,
whom a community of race, religion, language, and
interest, united in a sort of Masonic association,
bad> whereof his house became one of the centres of re-
new> whereof his house became one of the centres of
bad> union. There, aware of his gentle descent, and im-
new> reunion. There, aware of his gentle descent, and
bad> pressed with his transcendent abilities.; charmed
new> impressed with his transcendent abilities; charmed
with his conversation -- as pithy as it was apt to be
impure -- his wit, his taste, his information, his judg-
ment; sensible, too, of the excellence of his wines,
bad> and luxuriance of his table^ around which military
new> and luxuriance of his table, around which military
officer and civil servant, merchant and judge, were
accustomed to assemble, rank and office were forgot-
ten, etiquette laid aside, and abandon ruled the hour.
Votaries of Venus and of Bacchus were all of them,
however disguised; and, secure in that close conclave,
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bad> [Illustration "As if at the jests of another Yorick,
new> [Illustration "As if at the jests of another Yorick,
bad> raised over the table a long, eruptive roar."]
new> raised over the table a long, eruptive roar."]
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[illustration-backside]
[[8b]]
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where no pure female presence was found to check
the bacchanalian song, or forbid the ribald jest, all
bad> sat to listen to and applaud their host's inimitable
new> sat to listen to and applaud, their host's inimitable
stories, his grotesque descriptions, his wayward
thoughts and fantastic images; to hearken to his
bad> close analysis, his robust reasoning, his wondrous pa-
new> close analysis, his robust reasoning, his wondrous
bad> thos, his sublime exaggeration; and, as the wine cir-
new> pathos, his sublime exaggeration; and, as the wine
bad> culated, to observe yet mgre his chameleon aspect
new> circulated, to observe yet more his chameleon aspect
and Protean character unfold itself; now grovelling
like the Paradisal toad, wherein, at the ear of Eve,
was hidden the form of Lucifer; now, touched by the
Ithuriel spear of some keen conception, suddenly
soaring, like to the bright expanded shape of the
bad> surprised and fallen Archangel, till the guests them-
new> surprised and fallen Archangel, till the guests
bad> selves, like the startled Ithuriel recoiling froiji the
new> themselves, like the startled Ithuriel recoiling from the
instant apparition of the fiend, drew back in amaze-
ment, or, as if at the jests of another Yorick, raised
over the table a long, eruptive roar. Nor was that
all. For a moment he would assume the moralist,
bad> the theologian, or, -- leaving both revelation and the
new> the theologian, or, -- leaving both revelation, and the
pandects, -- become the philosopher, pacing the uni-
verse for occult truth; or the metaphysician, track-
ing the region of the supersensuous; and, over every
theme, flying on mocking mental pinions, seeming an
intellectual satan, passing through the region of vain
questionings and doubtful disquisition, dim out to the
abyss. And thus he lived, using, and abusing, his
rare gifts; no virtuous and accomplished wife presid-
ing at these feasts, ever degenerating into orgies, or
giving sanctity to these walls; within which were
bad> gathered the brightest, gayest, noblest, most power-
new> gathered the brightest, gayest, noblest, most
bad> ful -- often most dissolute -- of the land. But now
new> powerful -- often most dissolute -- of the land. But now
the guests were thinned in numbers by death, by
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bad> marriage, by worn out passions) and many a fierce
new> marriage, by worn out passions; and many a fierce
spirit had been tamed by adversity, till the mirth
had grown to be half moody, and the saturnalia
gross rather in intention than in fact.
Yet ever amidst these distracting pleasures his
heart reverted, first, to the woody wilds of Ottawa,
and afterwards, to the sylvan shades of Stillyside,
which latter he still took delight to visit and adorn;
bad> cherishing its mistress, and watching aver and nur-
new> cherishing its mistress, and watching over and nurturing
bad> turing her child, the fruit of her fondness and of his
new> her child, the fruit of her fondness and of his
falsehood; -- but commonly known and publicly ac-
knowledged, only as her foster daughter, and, in his
own prouder circle, as his ward. For himself, he
never occupied other than a handsome suburban re-
sidence, situated between the city and the foot of
bad> Mount Eoyal, and whose doors Mona Macdonald sel-
new> Mount Royal, and whose doors Mona Macdonald seldom
bad> dom entered; and when she did so, it was to be
new> entered; and when she did so, it was to be
scowled upon by its menial mistress, a French Cana-
dian, named Babet Blais, who viewed the melancholy
visitor with angry and jealous eyes. Into this house
many comely Abigails had come and gone; but
Babet Blais remained in spite of him, having, as she
deemed, acquired a wife's settlement and privileges,
by virtue of the presence of a dwarfish, swarthy
bad> creature, half oaf, half imp, their mutual oflfspring.
new> creature, half oaf, half imp, their mutual offspring.
This strange being, as if in mockery, for he was ugly
from the womb, was named Narcisse, and flitted
bad> ajDout the house rather than made it his home; rarely
new> about the house rather than made it his home; rarely
entering it, except in his father's absence, and then
chiefly to obtain largess from his mother, who loved
and indulged him the more because others disliked
bad> or despised him. Eeckless, stupid, savage; ignoble
new> or despised him. Reckless, stupid, savage; ignoble
and stubborn; with thick, black, stubby hair, and
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dark, bushy, beetling brows; his protuberant eyes
filled with cunning, and burning with a lustre like
live coals; deep-chested, and with shoulders raised
bad> and roundedi giving him an air of pugnacity; snarl
new> and rounded, giving him an air of pugnacity; snarl
written upon his countenance, and pride in the pose
of his pygmean figure; dull, dissolute, and disobe-
dient, he was, nevertheless, the idol of his mother.
She, poor woman, reverenced, almost worshipped,
him, as being something superior to her plebeian self,
bad> by reason of the father's part that was in him; won-
new> by reason of the father's part that was in him;
bad> dering how his sire should be so blind to his merits,
new> wondering how his sire should be so blind to his merits,
and so severe upon his alleged faults and foibles.
She the rather encouraged him in his irregularities
since others rebuked them, and was the more liberal
towards him, because of his father's stint; deeming
his vices and extravagance to be not only excusable,
but proper, in one who had to uphold and play the
part of a gentleman. His father strove to instil into
bad> him some knowledge of. law, but soon relinquished
new> him some knowledge of law, but soon relinquished
the distasteful and hopeless task, and articled him to
a Notary, who, for a tempting premium, consented to
take him into his office. But, instead of applying
himself there, he spent most of his time in idleness
and debauchery; by night frequenting the abodes of
vice and infamy, and by day, haunting the doors and
bad> corridors of the court-house, in the latter always in-
new> corridors of the court-house, in the latter always
bad> stinctively seeking to avoid a rencontre with his sul-
new> instinctively seeking to avoid a rencontre with his
bad> len and offended parent.
new> sullen and offended parent.
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Chapter III.
bad> "Haply despair hath seized her.*
new> "Haply despair hath seized her."
bad> ??missing line here
new> -- _Cymbeline._
It was now evening, and the landscape lay steeped
in yellow sunshine; when Mona Macdonald rode
slowly homewards, silent and buried in gloom. Her
way lay around the base of the mountain. But nei-
ther its adjacent and majestic sides on the one hand,
nor the placid, mellow-tinted, and sky-bounded plain
on the other were regarded by her. Her thoughts
bad> were still with the advocate in his ofl&ce, or with
new> were still with the advocate in his office, or with
her departed father in her native home below Que-
bec, as he and she had lived and loved each other
bad> ther6, nearly twenty years before. Thus preoccu-
new> there, nearly twenty years before. Thus preoccupied,
bad> pied, she lent no heed to the landscape, although be-
new> she lent no heed to the landscape, although before
bad> fore her was the broad, descending sun, and behind
new> her was the broad, descending sun, and behind
bad> her was the mighty Saint Lawrence basking in. bur-
new> her was the mighty Saint Lawrence basking in burnished
bad> nished gold; and soon another stream, a branch of the
new> gold; and soon another stream, a branch of the
bad> Ottawa, appeared in the distance, the two clasping be-
new> Ottawa, appeared in the distance, the two clasping
bad> tween them as in a zone the Island of Montreal.
new> between them as in a zone the Island of Montreal.
But neither the note of birds, the lowing of cattle,
bad> the barking of dogs, the churr of the bullfrog, the
new> the barking, of dogs, the churr of the bullfrog, the
distant human voices coming faintly over the lea, nor
yet the elysean landscape were seen or heard; and
not until the carriage drew up at Stillyside, and the
bark of a lap-dog, on the top of the distant steps,
that led to the verandah in front of the house, struck
her ear, did she fully awake from her mournful re-
verie. Then, alighting, she passed through a postern
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that hung at the side of folding gates, and, winding
her way up a walk bordered with shrubs and flowers,
approached the dwelling, that stood upon a knoll.
At that moment the sound of a cowbell in the con-
tiguous mountain coppice told the slow approach of a
dappled dairy, in charge of a swarthy French Cana-
dian youth. All else was quiet about the place, that
seemed to be lying in a sort of listless, half dreamy
tranquillity and halcyon repose. The mansion itself
was spacious, and built of the grey limestone of the
district. Woodbine and hop, clematis and the Vir-
bad> ginia creeper half concealed its rugged exterior, and
new> ginia creeper half concealed; its rugged exterior, and
clothed in tangled luxuriance the verandah that
extended along the front. The roof was covered
bad> with shingles, painted red; and ijx it were a number
new> with shingles, painted red; and in it were a number
of dormer windows, which, like all the other win-
dows, were hidden with closed green blinds or shut-
ters. Swallows were darting about the eaves, and
wheeling around a fountain and jet d'eau in front,
that were fed by a mountain spring behind the
bad> house; whilst from one of the rather numerous chim-
new> house; whilst from one of the rather numerous
bad> neys a frail wreath of blue smoke crept, and
new> chimneys a frail wreath of blue smoke crept, and
lingered lazily about the lightning rod, before it
rose and melted away into the pure evening sky.
But by this time the lap-dog had come forwards to
meet her, and now ran in advance, emitting a fitful
and joyous bark; and as she ascended the steps the
door was opened by a servant, who, having admitted
her, closed it again; but not before a stranger might,
from without, have witnessed a fair and youthful fe-
male figure swiftly descend the stairs into the hall,
and, throwing her arms around the neck of the re-
bad> turned traveller, greet her with an affectionate sa-
new> turned traveller, greet her with an affectionate
[[13]]
{{gardnp014.png}} || the advocate ||
bad> lute. A large, grey mastiflf now appeared from the
new> salute. A large, grey mastiff now appeared from the
rear of the building, and, while the driver was
removing sundry parcels from the carriage, took a
bad> few slow and solemn turns* about the knoll, then, on
new> few slow and solemn turns about the knoll, then, on
the departure of man and vehicle, retired for the
bad> night to his kennel, leaving the scene as quiet aa be-
new> night to his kennel, leaving the scene as quiet as