Selina Davenport

Italian Vengeance and English Forbearance; a Romance

London:  A. K. Newman, 1828.

Synopsis of Italian Vengeance and English Forbearance

Volume I

Colonel Belgrave, newly discharged from the army, is engaged to marry his cousin, lady Evelina. Their mothers were sisters, and because the two women loved each other dearly, it was their sincerest wish that their children should marry. While Evelina is the epitome of female virtue, Belgrave is a philandering libertine. He proclaims to "love women, love wine, and prefer company to solitude" (22). He has lost most of his money through excessive gambling, gaining exposure to such vices during his time in the army. While he prepares for his upcoming nuptials, Belgrave goes on a "tour of pleasure" (30), over the course of which he is a "favorite with the females" (31).

He seduces an Italian woman named Hippolita, who is "ardent to the extreme" (31). She breaks all ties with her family to run off with Belgrave who has promised to marry her, accompanying him on his tour disguised in male attire and under the assumed name "Di Charini." While the two are traveling, he learns of his uncle's death, and explaining his engagement to Evelina, tells Hippolita that he must stop to see her briefly. She is satisfied with his explanations that the marriage was arranged in childhood and that Evelina most likely does not want to marry him any more than he does her. He stays with Evelina just long enough to renew "his vow of fidelity" and then returns to gambling (30). He loses more money at the gaming table, however, and realizes his only means for saving himself from financial ruin is to follow through with his marriage to his cousin. Belgrave writes a letter explaining his situation to Hippolita, the contents of which enrage her, filling her with a "deep and deadly hatred" (37). After sending the letter, however, Belgrave begins to miss his Italian mistress, realizing that he is deeply in love with her. He attempts to join her and rekindle their passion, but she disappeared on the night she received his letter and is nowhere to be found. Hippolita however, does leave a packet behind for Belgrave, the contents of which include his letter, his miniature which has been trampled and destroyed, and a letter of her own, ominously indicating "a threat of deadly import" (37).

Backtracking a bit to just mere moments prior to Belgrave's visit to Evelina, the chaste young woman overhears the marquis of Tyroconnel and his lord steward discussing the unfortunate exploits of a young army officer about to marry his cousin. The men fear that he will ruin himself and squander his young bride's fortune with all of his gambling debts. Evelina worries that they are referring to her own upcoming nuptials, but is not wholly convinced that they are indeed speaking about Belgrave. Nevertheless, she has her suspicions that Belgrave does not really want to marry her. And yet, because the marriage arrangement was her mother's dying wish, she feels obligated to go through with the marriage. Shortly after Belgrave's arrival in Northumberland, then, they decide on a hasty wedding, which takes place three weeks later, Evelina being "led a victim to the alter" (15).

Once married, Evelina settles into her role as wife, and the couple enjoy themselves before they are to leave for the ancestral estate, Belgrave Abbey. Belgrave entertains a group of friends, including major Campbell, captain Dashwood, and lady Susan Dashwood, among others. Evelina does not enjoy the company of her husband's friends, as they are "noisy, gay, satirical, fond of drinking, gaming, and of everything but rational conversation" (42).

Belgrave relays his affair with Hippolita to Dashwood, explaining his reasons for entering into a marriage of convenience with Evelina. Dashwood relates that he has done much the same in his marriage to Susan. Even so, he insists that Belgrave is better off than himself, since Evelina, at least, is intelligent. His own wife is an insufferable idiot, "a beautiful doll" with no education or sense, and neither he-nor many others-are able to tolerate her mindless blathering (43). In order to escape their unhappy marriages, the two men decide to return to their libertine lifestyles, Dashwood secretly deciding to seduce Evelina away from Belgrave.

Miss Marian Gorden, a faithful childhood friend, accompanies Evelina to Belgrave Abbey. The two women spend much of their time together on the grounds of the estate, enjoying the lake, mountains, surrounding woods, and especially the crumbling ruins of an old chapel. It is their favorite pastime to sit on the ruins "reciting and reading" the "admired passages from the finest poets of the age" (49). Marian plays her lute one day, singing a highly emotional and tearful song, when a man's voice finishes her verse. No one is to be found, but Marian determines to locate its source. Apparently, there is a man by the name of Mr. Howland residing with the family next door. He can neither speak nor talk, so she knows it cannot be him who she heard singing on the ruins. She returns several times to the ruins in order to track down the owner of mysterious voice, and eventually finds a man reclining on the rocks. He cannot speak and she therefore assumes that he is Mr. Howland. He teaches Marian sign language, which she learns instantly, enabling them to communicate henceforth in eloquent prose. He explains that he has been ruined by a false friend, and is now "an exile from home, a friendless, miserable outcast from society" (60). She pities him, and he asks to see her again, as long as she keeps the meeting and his past secret from Evelina. She agrees, but that night alone in her room, resolves to go back to see him only once. She dreams about going to the ruins during a storm, finding both Belgrave and Dashwood there, and in the dream, Belgrave shoots Mr. Howland.

The next day, Marian goes to the ruins to find Mr. Howland. This time, he speaks to her aloud, as he was actually only pretending to be deaf and dumb. Howland warns her of coming danger as footsteps approach. The pair hide in a recess in the ruins, as two figures arrive. One is Belgrave, but his companion is completely concealed by a cloak and hat and therefore unidentifiable. The concealed figure calls Belgrave a "cold systematic murderer of the happiness of others," and warns him to end his deceitful ways (75-6). Belgrave comes close to shooting the disguised person, but he stops himself. The figure leaves and Belgrave follows. Marian is now quite worried about the dangerous side of her dear friend's husband and is certain that the conversation Evelina overhead at the party was indeed about Belgrave.

Belgrave attempts to learn the identity of the disguised person on the ruins, to no avail. He continues to pine for Hippolita, even placing an ad in papers looking for her. Dashwood encourages and aids him in his search, in order to facilitate his own devices in obtaining Evelina for himself. Dashwood also influences major Campbell, encouraging him to develop feelings for Marian. Belgrave decides he will help Campbell win the heart and hand of the wealthy Marian in order to settle his debts with the major. Meanwhile, Evelina worries that Belgrave pays more attention to lady Susan than to herself.

The party prepares to depart for London. Upon learning that Marian will soon leave the Abbey, Howland is quite saddened, and he leaves a packet for her, explaining his life story. His mother died in giving birth to him, devastating his father who could not bear the existence of the newborn infant. Howland is disowned and grows up in a nearby cottage, under the care of Judith, his kind and loving nurse. His father eventually moves away, taking Howland's older brother William with him. Howland is in time returned to his rightful rank when his uncle, upon returning from India, adopts him as his heir. He joins the military, where he meets Belgrave, whose mother had been friends with Howland's uncle. Howland's friendship with Belgrave is doomed from the start, however, because the young man is "heartless and unprincipled in his opinions of women" and is too much consumed with vice (120). Howland is soon disinherited by his uncle because someone has been telling him that he has been gambling away his money and generally acting improperly, which of course is untrue. Howland's regiment joins the war and a youth comes to him seeking protection. Apparently, the youth has been with Belgrave and knows that he had been in correspondence with Howland's uncle. It seems that it has been Belgrave all along who was attempting to ruin Howland's reputation, in order that he might instead become the heir to the family's fortune. The youth is injured in battle and dies, leaving a packet for Howland, which Howland does not read immediately. He attempts to reconcile with his uncle, but is unable to, since the gentleman passed away during the course of the war. His estate is subsequently divided between William, Howland's older and estranged brother, and Belgrave, who in slandering Howland's good name had successfully gained the uncle's favor. Howland returns to the small cottage of his childhood and finally examines the packet from the youth. Inside is one of the letters Belgrave sent to his uncle, proving his guilt in ruining Howland. The packet also includes a letter explaining the youth's true identity, which is actually that of Isabella Maynard, one of the innocent women Belgrave seduced along the way. When she learned of Belgrave's scheme, she immediately developed a deep hatred for her lover and vowed to do all within her power to save Howland from ruination. As Howland finishes reading the letter, a mysterious woman enters the cottage and attempts to stab him. He stops her and she explains that she was only trying to protect herself. She is on her way to London, hot on the trail of a man who has seduced and abandoned her, and on whom she seeks revenge. In the meantime, she would like a place to stay and Howland allows her stay on in the cottage. Since he now has the proof he needs to regain his fortune, he plans to set out for London himself in order to track down Belgrave and decides to travel with the woman. Once there, they will go their separate ways, but will remain in contact, keeping each other constantly informed of their progress. Once in London, however, Howland learns that Belgrave is actually at Belgrave Abbey in Ireland. In order to keep surveillance over him Howland stays with a neighboring family, pretending to be deaf and dumb in order to escape the notice of Belgrave. At the end of the letter that Marian has been reading, Howland reveals his true identity: he is actually the noble and famous captain Henry Arlingford. He warns Marian to be careful with her money and promises to watch over her.

The next morning, before leaving for London, Marian finds a note warning her to "beware of the tartan" (171). It appears to be written by a woman, and is signed "a friend" (172). She is puzzled, but continues on to London to join Evelina and the rest of the party. Everyone attends a ball upon arriving in London. There, Marian meets Henry's brother, William, and the marquis of Tyroconnel greets Belgrave. The two men had been friends as children, and the marquis therefore has always attempted to defend Belgrave's honor, despite the many rumors that suggest otherwise.

Henry follows the group to London, unseen. He is in love with Marian, but realizes he cannot marry her because he is too poor. He of course wants to confront Belgrave with his evidence against him, in order to restore himself to his rightful rank; but at the same time, he is reluctant to act because in so doing, he would also risk ruining the innocent lady Evelina. In order to support himself while in London, he becomes a tutor to the Tyroconnel family. The marquis is so impressed with Henry's manners and education that he is sure that he is a gentleman who has fallen on hard times. As such, he attempts to befriend Howland, certain that they are of similar rank. The marquis, not realizing Henry's true identity, confides in him his desire to find captain Arlingford and attempt to exonerate him. He too, wishes to shield Evelina from any scandal, however.

During the war, Henry had two servants, Mary and Dennis, a husband and wife who held much admiration for their dear captain Arlingford. They find him in London, wishing very much to work for him again. Since he cannot pay them, he is unable to honor their request; however, he does ask them to watch over Marian for him.

While at the ball, Marian gives Belgrave some money to help him with his gambling debts. She soon receives a note accusing her of not being careful with her money, as she had earlier been warned to do. The letter is signed Rosalie De M-, and it asks Marian to meet her the following day. She is to ask for a person named Di Charini. When they meet the next day, Rosalie-who is actually Hippolita-explains her involvement with Belgrave. She is pregnant with his child and has been spying on Belgrave and Evelina through a veil of "deadly hate" (239). She wants Marian's help in destroying her seducer.

It is meanwhile suspected that Susan is in love with someone other than her husband. She may be "weak and thoughtless," but her interest with another man is not thought to be immoral because Dashwood treats her abominably (247). A masked ball is hosted by the marchioness of Dougless, at which Marian speaks with Henry, who warns her of Rosalie's dangerous nature, Evelina is further duped by the seeming kindhearted behavior of Dashwood, and Campbell continues his attempts at winning Marian over. Susan uses the guise of the masquerade to run off with her lover, whose identity is unknown.

Volume II

Everyone is upset at Susan's disappearance, and Dashwood vows his revenge on her seducer. Belgrave chastises Marian for her coldness to major Campbell, in fact suspecting that she is in love with another man. Evelina and Marian seek "rest and refinement" in the Tyroconnel House, having become weary of their recent exposure to "tiresome and frivolous conversation of fashionable nonsense" (11). At the Hall, Marian learns that the family employs a tutor, Mr. Howland, and Marian suspects it is her own Henry Arlingford. She heads off to see Rosalie the next day, who has recently been quite ill. Rosalie accuses Henry of being a coward for not presenting Belgrave with the evidence he has against him and demanding that his property be restored to him. Marian defends Henry, explaining that he is exhibiting Christian forbearance and does not want to ruin the innocent Evelina in the process or reclaiming his fortune.

When Marian returns home, Mary presents her with a letter from a young orphan girl named Rose Delaval who is trying to make a living by selling her artwork. Marian decides to help her in any way she can. She then asks Mary to secretly take a large sum of money to the tutor at Tyroconnel House. She wants to provide Henry with means to leave his current situation, if he so chooses. Mary is unaware of Marian's attachment to Henry and wishes she could encourage them to fall in love. Marian swears that if she ever marries, "it will not be for riches," but rather she will choose "a husband whose fortune will consist in the treasures of his heart" (32).

Belgrave encourages Campbell to run off with Marion using force, and Dashwood continues to search for his missing wife. The Belgraves are invited to spend a few days at sir William Arlingford's, to celebrate the coming out of his cousin Mr. Fortescue, an orphan and William's pet. Marian and Fortescue become attached to one another, since Fortescue reminds her so much of Henry. Dashwood continues to leak information regarding all the terrible deeds Belgrave has done in order to turn Evelina against him.

Evelina becomes ill from attending too many social events and sends Marian in her place to the Fortescue party, resolving to find someone else to keep her company. Rose arrives to meet Marian, and Evelina is quite taken with her. She hires Rose to be her companion. Apparently, Rose's mother died in a shipwreck when she was only a small child. Her father, Mr. Delaval, bought a small cottage nearby, where they live quite modestly. A neighbor, Edward Fortescue-the same Fortescue who is presently having a coming out party-befriended Rose as a youth, and though they were still quite young at the time, they pledged themselves to one another. Edward, however, was forced away from Rose because William did not approve of the match, since Rose is of a lower rank. Edward pays for Rose's education, and pines for her despite their distance from one another. In becoming Evelina's companion, Miss Delaval assumes the name Miss Aylmer so Fortescue won't recognize her immediately. She wants to make sure his attachment to her is genuine before she reveals herself to him.

Edward's brother, known simply as Fortescue, asks Marian for help in obtaining the hand of Olivia Rochdale. She has been betrothed to a man she has never met, but Fortescue is in love with her and wants her for himself. They elope, only to learn that Fortescue is in actuality the man with whom her father, lord Rochdale, wished to unite her. Lord Rochdale is exceedingly happy to learn that they are married. He meets Rose and she reminds him very much of his first love, who ran off with another man. He develops romantic feelings for the girl, despite their age difference, and plans to propose to her.

Henry eventually leaves his position as tutor at Tyroconnel Hall, but returns the money Marian gave him, unused. On the way back to his cottage, he runs into a drunkard, stumbling down the road. It turns out to be Belgrave; Henry suspects that he is actively ruining the life of some poor, innocent maiden nearby. He soon discovers that Belgrave has in fact run away with lady Susan, and is keeping her in the cottage next door to his own. Henry, disguised as a fortuneteller, helps Susan escape and returns her to her parents. Susan's lack of intellect is especially evident at this point, since she, too, had been in the dark regarding Belgrave's identity. She actually believed his name was Mr. Stanley, even though she and Dashwood had been staying with Belgrave and his entourage since his wedding to Evelina. Nevertheless, she feels great remorse over her affair with Stanley/Belgrave. Much to her relief, she is forgiven by her parents for her ill actions and accompanies them on a tour of Europe, where they plan to remain for a few years.

Henry's brother William becomes ill, and Henry hopes for his demise, since William was never a loving brother, and his death would restore Henry to his rightful position without having to expose Belgrave and ruin Evelina. Marian, meanwhile, is upset at Henry's having returned the bank notes to her, unused. She worries that Henry is too proud to accept her aid. Rosalie falls deathly ill, and Marian goes to her aid. Rosalie, seemingly on the brink of death, gives birth to a son, explaining to Marian that she will send him to live with her family in Italy, as he is Belgrave's illegitimate child and would be shunned by his father. When Marian leaves Rosalie, she runs into Henry. They proclaim their love for one another, deciding to marry as soon as Henry reclaims his fortune.

Volume III

Belgrave, Dashwood, Evelina, Marian, and the rest of the group plan to leave London and return to the Abbey. Before they depart, lord Rochale hosts a party. As Evelina's companion, Rose Alymer attends the affair, decked out in her finest attire. She dances with Edward, who finally realizes she is in fact Rose Delaval, the young girl with whom he has been in love since his youth. As it turns out, her mother was the woman whom lord Rochdale had hoped to marry in his own youth. However, before Rochdale has a chance to attempt to win Rose's affections and propose to her, Edward renews his pledge to her, and proposes to her himself. She accepts and wedding plans are made.

In a small cottage near the Abbey, a young widow, Sara Gayton, lives with her five children. Marian frequently visits them, bestowing them with gifts and helping them with their finances. Sara's one remaining unanswered wish is to know whether or not her first and only true love, James Harlow, is alive. Marian tracks him down, reunites the couple, and wedding plans are put into motion. Frequent trips between the Abbey and the cottage allow ample opportunity for Marian to pass by the ruins and encounter danger. Campbell attacks her one night, and attempts to abscond with her, but Rosalie, disguised as a man, saves Marian from this ill fate. Rosalie reminds her of the earlier missive she sent, telling her to "beware the tartan." The note was in reference to major Campbell's ill nature. Marian is exceedingly grateful that her life has been saved, and is now forever indebted to the dangerous Italian.

Within a few months, Henry's brother William dies, elevating Henry to his rightful rank. Now that he is on the same level as his beloved Marian, he feels comfortable in marrying her. A double wedding ceremony is performed, uniting Rose with Edward and Marian with Henry.

Evelina gives birth to a son, and Marian does her best to guard him. But, during the night she falls asleep, and Rosalie steals the infant. She allows Marian to visit the infant and promises her that if she should die, then Marian may care for the boy-as long as she promises to keep his heritage a secret. Marian does not want to turn Rosalie against her for fear that she will harm the child, so she and the nurse tell everyone that the baby died in the night. Belgrave is especially upset by the news. He then receives a letter from Rosalie telling him that she had given birth to his illegitimate son. He is certain that God is punishing him for his ill deeds. He goes to the ruins, and Dashwood, having learned that Belgrave had been his own wife's seducer, confronts him, challenging him to a dual. Rosalie, in disguise, leaps out of the shadows and takes the pistols. She demands Belgrave join her in a dual in order to save the reputation of Hippolita. Belgrave shoots straight up in the air, but she shoots him in the chest. He falls, and now that her revenge has been carried through, she is no longer angry. She runs to his side, and stabs herself. Belgrave has enough energy left to tell Henry and the marquis, who have just arrived on the scene, that he wishes for the two men to serve as the guardian's to his child, should he ever be found. He asks them to tell Evelina that he blesses her with his "parting breath," and that he hopes she will "enjoy that happiness in domestic life, which she is so well qualified to bestow" (270). He also requests that he be buried next to Hippolita. Then, Belgrave attempts to utter a final prayer, "but his upraised hands fell on his bosom" and, giving a "convulsive shudder," dies before he has a chance to complete it (270).

-- Prepared by Jaclyn Cruikshank, University of Nebraska, April 2006.
© Jaclyn Cruikshank, 2006.