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under the sun。 Things die and are reproduced only。 And so it is
that the forgotten tale of the great Dumas reappears under the
signature of
THERESA MACWHIRTER。
WHISTLEBINKIE； N。B。； December 1。
REBECCA AND ROWENA。
A ROMANCE UPON ROMANCE。
BY MR。 MICHAEL ANGELO TITMARSH。
CHAPTER I。
THE OVERTURE。COMMENCEMENT OF THE BUSINESS。
Well…beloved novel…readers and gentle patronesses of romance；
assuredly it has often occurred to every one of you； that the books
we delight in have very unsatisfactory conclusions； and end quite
prematurely with page 320 of the third volume。 At that epoch of
the history it is well known that the hero is seldom more than
thirty years old； and the heroine by consequence some seven or
eight years younger； and I would ask any of you whether it is fair
to suppose that people after the above age have nothing worthy of
note in their lives； and cease to exist as they drive away from
Saint George's； Hanover Square？ You； dear young ladies； who get
your knowledge of life from the circulating library； may be led to
imagine that when the marriage business is done； and Emilia is
whisked off in the new travelling…carriage； by the side of the
enraptured Earl； or Belinda； breaking away from the tearful
embraces of her excellent mother； dries her own lovely eyes upon
the throbbing waistcoat of her bridegroomyou may be apt； I say；
to suppose that all is over then； that Emilia and the Earl are
going to be happy for the rest of their lives in his lordship's
romantic castle in the North； and Belinda and her young clergyman
to enjoy uninterrupted bliss in their rose…trellised parsonage in
the West of England： but some there be among the novel…reading
classesold experienced folkswho know better than this。 Some
there be who have been married； and found that they have still
something to see and to do； and to suffer mayhap； and that
adventures； and pains； and pleasures； and taxes； and sunrises and
settings； and the business and joys and griefs of life go on after；
as before the nuptial ceremony。
Therefore I say； it is an unfair advantage which the novelist takes
of hero and heroine； as of his inexperienced reader； to say good…by
to the two former； as soon as ever they are made husband and wife；
and I have often wished that additions should be made to all works
of fiction which have been brought to abrupt terminations in the
manner described； and that we should hear what occurs to the sober
married man； as well as to the ardent bachelor； to the matron； as
well as to the blushing spinster。 And in this respect I admire
（and would desire to imitate；） the noble and prolific French
author； Alexandre Dumas； who carries his heroes from early youth
down to the most venerable old age； and does not let them rest
until they are so old； that it is full time the poor fellows should
get a little peace and quiet。 A hero is much too valuable a
gentleman to be put upon the retired list； in the prime and vigor
of his youth； and I wish to know what lady among us would like to
be put on the shelf； and thought no longer interesting； because she
has a family growing up； and is four or five and thirty years of
age？ I have known ladies at sixty； with hearts as tender and ideas
as romantic as any young misses of sixteen。 Let us have middle…
aged novels then； as well as your extremely juvenile legends： let
the young ones be warned that the old folks have a right to be
interesting： and that a lady may continue to have a heart； although
she is somewhat stouter than she was when a school…girl； and a man
his feelings； although he gets his hair from Truefitt's。
Thus I would desire that the biographies of many of our most
illustrious personages of romance should be continued by fitting
hands； and that they should be heard of； until at least a decent
age。Look at Mr。 James's heroes： they invariably marry young。
Look at Mr。 Dickens's： they disappear from the scene when they are
mere chits。 I trust these authors； who are still alive； will see
the propriety of telling us something more about people in whom we
took a considerable interest； and who must be at present strong and
hearty； and in the full vigor of health and intellect。 And in the
tales of the great Sir Walter （may honor be to his name）； I am sure
there are a number of people who are untimely carried away from us；
and of whom we ought to hear more。
My dear Rebecca； daughter of Isaac of York； has always； in my mind；
been one of these； nor can I ever believe that such a woman； so
admirable； so tender； so heroic； so beautiful； could disappear
altogether before such another woman as Rowena； that vapid； flaxen…
headed creature； who is； in my humble opinion； unworthy of Ivanhoe；
and unworthy of her place as heroine。 Had both of them got their
rights； it ever seemed to me that Rebecca would have had the
husband； and Rowena would have gone off to a convent and shut
herself up； where I； for one； would never have taken the trouble
of inquiring for her。
But after all she married Ivanhoe。 What is to be done？ There is
no help for it。 There it is in black and white at the end of the
third volume of Sir Walter Scott's chronicle； that the couple were
joined together in matrimony。 And must the Disinherited Knight；
whose blood has been fired by the suns of Palestine； and whose
heart has been warmed in the company of the tender and beautiful
Rebecca； sit down contented for life by the side of such a frigid
piece of propriety as that icy； faultless； prim； niminy…piminy
Rowena？ Forbid it fate； forbid it poetical justice！ There is a
simple plan for setting matters right； and giving all parties their
due； which is here submitted to the novel…reader。 Ivanhoe's
history MUST have had a continuation； and it is this which ensues。
I may be wrong in some particulars of the narrative；as what
writer will not be？but of the main incidents of the history； I
have in my own mind no sort of doubt； and confidently submit them
to that generous public which likes to see virtue righted； true
love rewarded； and the brilliant Fairy descend out of the blazing
chariot at the end of the pantomime； and make Harlequin and
Columbine happy。 What； if reality be not so； gentlemen and ladies；
and if； after dancing a variety of jigs and antics； and jumping in
and out of endless trap…doors and windows； through life's shifting
scenes； no fairy comes down to make US comfortable at the close of
the performance？ Ah！ let us give our honest novel…folks the
benefit of their position； and not be envious of their good luck。
No person who has read the preceding volumes of this history； as
the famous chronicler of Abbotsford has recorded them； can doubt
for a moment what was the result of the marriage between Sir
Wilfrid of Ivanhoe and Lady Rowena。 Those who have marked her
conduct during her maidenhood； her distinguished politeness； her
spotless modesty of demeanor； her unalterable coolness under all
circumstances； and her lofty and gentlewomanlike bearing； must be
sure that her married conduct would equal her spinster behavior；
and that Rowena the wife would be a pattern of correctness for all
the matrons of England。
Such was the fact。 For miles around Rotherwood her character for
piety was known。 Her castle was a rendezvous for all the clergy
and monks of the district； whom she fed with the richest viands；
while she pinched herself upon pulse and water。 There was not an
invalid in the three Ridings； Saxon or Norman； but the palfrey of
the Lady Rowena might be seen journeying to his door； in company
with Father Glauber； her almoner； and Brother Thomas of Epsom； her
leech。 She lighted up all the churches in Yorkshire with wax…
candles； the offerings of her piety。 The bells of her chapel began
to ring at two o'clock in the morning； and all the domestics of
Rotherwood were called upon to attend at matins； at complins； at
nones； at vespers； and at sermon。 I need not say that fasting was
observed with all the rigors of the Church； and that those of the
servants of the Lady Rowena were looked upon with most favor whose
hair…shirts were the roughest； and who flagellated themselves with
the most becoming perseverance。
Whether it was that this discipline cleared poor Wamba's wits or
cooled his humor； it is certain that he became the most melancholy
fool in England； and if ever he ventured upon a pun to the
shuddering poor servitors； who were mumbling their dry crusts below
the salt； it was such a faint and stale joke that noboby dared to
laugh at the innuendoes of the unfortunate wag； and a sickly smile
was the best applause he could muster。 Once； indeed； when Guffo；
the goose…boy （a half…witted poor wretch）； laughed outright at a
lamentably stale pun which Wamba palmed upon him at supper…time；
（it was dark； and the torches being brought in； Wamba said； 〃Guffo；
they c