testimonyto
the
painful
feelings
that
agitated
him
within
.
He
advanced
towards
the
bed
,
and
contemplated
the
countenance
of
his
daughter
for
a
few
moments
with
an
expression
of
profound
sorrow
.
Ellen
opened
her
eyes
,
and
started
up
in
the
bed
,
exclaiming
,
"
My
dear
father
,
in
the
name
of
heaven
,
what
is
the
matter
?
"
"
O
God
!
Ellen
,
"
cried
the
old
man
,
placing
the
light
upon
a
side-table
,
"
tell
me
that
it
is
not
true
—
say
but
one
word
,
to
assure
me
that
you
are
the
pure
and
spotless
girl
I
have
always
deemed
you
to
be
!
"
"
Father
!
"
exclaimed
the
young
lady
,
a
horrible
feeling
taking
possession
of
her
,
"
why
do
you
ask
me
that
question
?
"
"
Because
a
fearful
suspicion
racks
my
brain
,
"
answered
the
old
man
;
"
and
I
could
not
retire
to
rest
until
I
knew
the
truth
—
be
that
truth
what
it
may
.
"
"
My
dear
father
—
you
alarm
me
cruelly
!
"
said
Ellen
,
her
cheeks
at
one
moment
suffused
with
blushes
,
and
then
varying
to
ashy
whiteness
.
"
In
one
word
,
Ellen
,
"
exclaimed
the
old
man
,
"
what
is
the
meaning
of
that
letter
?
"
And
the
almost
distracted
father
threw
the
surgeon
's
note
upon
the
bed
.
In
an
instant
Ellen
remembered
that
she
had
left
it
behind
her
in
the
room
where
she
was
seated
with
her
father
when
she
received
it
.
Joining
her
hands
in
a
paroxysm
of
the
most
acute
mental
agony
,
she
burst
into
tears
,
crying
wildly
,
"
Forgive
me
!
forgive
me
—
my
dear
,
dear
father
!
Do
not
curse
your
wretched
—
wretched
daughter
!
"
And
then
she
bowed
her
head
upon
her
bosom
,
and
seemed
to
await
her
parent
's
reply
in
a
state
of
mind
which
no
pen
can
describe
.
For
some
moments
Mr.
Monroe
maintained
a
profound
silence
:
but
the
quivering
of
his
lip
,
and
the
working
of
the
veins
upon
his
forehead
betrayed
the
terrible
nature
of
the
conflict
of
feelings
which
was
taking
place
within
his
breast
.
At
length
he
also
burst
into
tears
,
and
covering
his
face
with
his
hands
,
exclaimed
,
"
My
God
!
that
I
had
died
ere
I
had
experienced
this
bitter
—
bitter
hour
!
"
These
words
were
uttered
in
a
tone
of
such
intense
agony
,
that
a
mortal
dread
for
her
father
's
reason
and
life
suddenly
sprang
up
in
Ellen
's
mind
.
Throwing
herself
from
the
bed
,
she
fell
upon
her
knees
,
crying
,
"
Forgive
me
,
my
dear
father
.
Oh
!
if
my
child
were
here
,
I
would
hold
it
in
my
arms
towards
you
;
and
,
when
its
innocent
countenance
met
your
eyes
,
you
would
pardon
me
!
"
"
Ellen
!
Ellen
!
thou
hast
broken
thy
father
's
heart
,
"
murmured
Mr.
Monroe
,
averting
his
face
from
his
suppliant
daughter
.
"
Oh
!
heaven
be
thanked
that
thy
mother
has
been
snatched
from
us
!
But
tell
me
,
unhappy
girl
,
who
is
the
villain
that
has
dishonoured
thee
—
for
,
in
the
moment
of
my
intense
agony
,
when
I
read
the
fatal
letter
that
disclosed
thy
dishonour
and
marked
the
name
of
thy
child
,
I
vilely
—
ungratefully
accused
our
generous
benefactor
of
thy
ruin
.
"
"
What
!
Richard
?
—
oh
!
no
,
no
!
"
ejaculated
Ellen
,
in
a
tone
of
ineffable
anguish
;
then
,
as
the
thought
of
who
the
father
of
her
child
really
was
flashed
across
her
memory
,
she
gave
utterance
to
a
terrible
moan
,
and
sank
backwards
,
senseless
,
upon
the
floor
.
"
Ellen
!
Ellen
!
"
cried
the
old
man
:
"
Ellen
—
my
dearest
daughter
,
Ellen
—
oh
!
I
have
killed
her
!
"
At
that
moment
Marian
,
bearing
a
light
,
entered
the
room
.
"
Water
!
water
!
"
exclaimed
the
agonised
father
:
"
she
is
insensible
—
she
is
dying
!
"
Then
hastily
filling
a
tumbler
from
a
decanter
of
water
which
stood
upon
the
toilet-table
,
he
knelt
down
by
the
side
of
his
daughter
,
and
bathed
her
temples
.
In
a
few
moments
Ellen
partially
recovered
,
and
gazed
wildly
around
her
.
"
My
sweet
child
,
"
murmured
the
old
man
,
pressing
her
hand
to
his
lips
,
"
live
—
live
for
me
:
all
shall
be
forgiven
—
all
forgotten
.
I
was
harsh
to
thee
,
my
Ellen
—
to
thee
who
have
always
been
so
fond
,
so
tender
,
and
so
good
to
me
.
"
"
Leave
her
,
sir
,
for
the
present
,
"
said
Marian
:
"
allow
her
to
compose
herself
.
This
discovery
has
been
almost
too
much
for
her
!
"
"
I
will
,
"
returned
Mr.
Monroe
.
"
You
must
stay
with
her
,
good
Marian
;
and
in
the
morning
I
will
come
and
see
her
.
"
The
old
man
then
withdrew
.
CHAPTER
CXX
.
THE
FATHER
AND
DAUGHTER
.
IT
was
nine
o'clock
in
the
morning
.
Ellen
was
lying
,
pale
and
tearful
,
in
her
bed
,
by
the
side
of
which
sate
her
father
.
The
past
night
had
worked
a
fearful
change
in
the
old
man
:
his
countenance
was
haggard
,
his
look
desolate
and
forlorn
.
At
one
moment
his
lips
quivered
as
if
with
concentrated
rage
:
at
another
he
wiped
tears
from
his
eyes
.
Ellen
watched
him
with
the
deepest
interest
.
"
And
you
persist
in
refusing
to
acquaint
me
with
the
name
of
him
who
has
dishonoured
you
?
"
said
the
old
man
,
in
slow
and
measured
terms
.
"
Oh
!
my
dear
father
,
why
will
you
persist
in
torturing
me
?
"
exclaimed
Ellen
.
"
Do
you
think
that
I
have
not
suffered
enough
?
"
"
Oh
!
I
can
well
believe
that
you
have
suffered
,
Ellen
—
suffered
profoundly
,
"
returned
Monroe
;
"
for
you
were
reared
in
the
ways
of
virtue
;
and
you
could
not
have
fallen
into
those
of
crime
without
a
remorse
.
Suffered
!
but
how
have
I
not
suffered
during
the
last
few
hours
!
When
I
read
that
fearful
secret
,
I
became
a
madman
.
I
had
but
two
ideas
:
my
daughter
was
a
mother
,
and
her
child
's
name
was
Richard
!
What
could
I
think
?
I
went
straight
to
the
room
where
our
benefactor
was
sitting
:
I
closed
the
door
;
I
approached
him
,
with
the
rage
of
a
demon
in
my
breast
,
and
I
said
,
'
Villain
!
is
my
daughter
's
honour
the
price
of
the
hospitality
which
you
have
shown
towards
us
?
'
He
was
thunderstruck
;
and
I
showed
him
the
letter
.
He
burst
into
tears
,
exclaiming
,
'
Could
you
believe
me
capable
of
such
infernal
atrocity
?
'
Then
we
reasoned
together
;
we
conversed
upon
the
subject
;
and
his
noble
frankness
of
manner
convinced
me
that
I
had
erred
—
grossly
erred
!
He
implored
me
to
allow
the
night
to
pass
ere
I
revealed
to
you
the
appalling
discovery
which
I
had
made
:
he
dreaded
the
effects
of
my
excited
state
of
mind
;
he
thought
that
rest
would
calm
me
.
But
there
was
no
rest
for
me
!
I
retired
to
my
room
;
and
there
—
when
alone
—
I
felt
that
I
could
not
endure
meditation
.
I
came
to
your
chamber
;
and
then
—
O
God
!
the
doubt
to
which
I
had
yet
so
fondly
clung
was
dissipated
.
"
"
My
dear
father
,
if
you
knew
all
,
"
said
Ellen
,
weeping
,
"
you
would
pity
me
—
oh
!
you
would
pity
me
!
Do
not
think
that
I
surrendered
myself
to
him
who
is
the
father
of
my
child
,
in
a
moment
of
passion
:
do
not
imagine
that
the
weakness
was
preceded
by
affection
on
my
part
for
him
who
led
me
astray
!
"
"
Unhappy
girl
,
what
mean
you
?
"
ejaculated
Mr.
Monroe
.
"
Would
you
rob
yourself
of
the
only
plea
of
extenuation
which
woman
in
such
a
case
can
offer
?
Speak
,
Ellen
!
"
"
I
will
tell
you
all
—
that
is
,
all
I
know
,
"
added
Ellen
,
with
a
blush
.
"
You
remember
that
when
we
returned
to
live
in
that
horrible
court
in
Golden
Lane
,
the
second
time
we
were
reduced
to
poverty
,
—
you
remember
what
fearful
privations
we
endured
!
At
length
our
misery
reached
a
point
when
it
became
intolerable
;
and
one
morning
you
set
out
with
the
determination
of
seeking
relief
from
the
bounty
of
Richard
Markham
.
"
"
I
well
remember
it
,
"
said
Monroe
.
"
Proceed
.
"
"
You
can
then
call
to
mind
the
circumstance
of
my
absence
when
you
returned
home
to
our
miserable
abode
—
—
"
"
I
do
—
I
do
:
hours
passed
—
I
had
gold
—
and
you
were
absent
!
"
ejaculated
the
old
man
,
with
feverish
impatience
.
"
And
when
I
returned
home
—
late
—
"
continued
Ellen
,
her
voice
scarcely
rising
above
a
whisper
,
and
her
face
,
neck
,
and
bosom
suffused
with
burning
blushes
,
"
did
I
not
bring
you
gold
also
?
"
"
Merciful
heavens
!
"
cried
Monroe
,
starting
from
his
seat
;
"
say
no
more
,
Ellen
—
say
no
more
—
or
I
shall
go
mad
!
Oh
,
God
!
I
comprehend
it
all
!
You
went
and
sold
yourself
to
some
libertine
for
gold
!
"
The
old
man
threw
himself
into
his
daughter
's
arms
,
and
wept
bitterly
.
"
Father
—
dear
father
,
calm
yourself
,
"
said
Ellen
.
"
I
could
not
see
you
want
—
I
had
no
faith
in
the
success
of
your
appeal
to
him
who
has
since
been
our
benefactor
—
I
thought
that
there
was
but
one
resource
left
;
—
but
,
"
she
added
,
her
eyes
kindling
with
the
fire
of
pride
,
while
her
father
sank
back
into
his
seat
,
"
I
call
my
God
to
witness
that
I
acted
not
thus
for
myself
.
Oh
,
no
!
death
sooner
should
have
been
my
fate
.
But
you
,
my
dear
father
,
you
wanted
bread
;
you
were
starving
;
and
that
was
more
than
I
could
bear
!
I
sinned
but
once
—
but
once
;
and
never
,
never
have
I
ceased
to
repent
of
that
fatal
step
—
for
my
one
crime
bore
its
fruit
!
"
Monroe
was
convulsed
with
grief
.
The
tears
trickled
through
the
wrinkled
hands
with
which
he
covered
his
venerable
countenance
;
his
voice
was
lost
in
agonising
sobs
,
and
all
he
could
utter
were
the
words
:
"
Ellen
,
my
daughter
,
it
is
for
me
to
ask
pardon
of
you
!
"
"
No
,
say
not
so
,
dear
father
—
say
not
so
!
"
ejaculated
Miss
Monroe
,
throwing
her
arms
around
him
,
and
kissing
his
forehead
and
his
hands
.
"
No
,
my
dear
father
,
it
was
not
your
fault
,
if
misery
drove
me
to
despair
.
But
now
you
perceive
,
"
she
added
,
solemnly
,
"
that
I
was
more
to
be
pitied
than
to
be
blamed
;
and
—
and
,
"
she
murmured
,
the
falsehood
at
such
a
moment
almost
suffocating
her
,
"
you
understand
why
I
cannot
tell
you
who
was
the
father
of
my
child
!
"
There
was
something
so
terrible
in
the
idea
that
a
young
,
virtuous
,
and
lovely
girl
had
prostituted
herself
to
the
first
unknown
libertine
who
had
bid
a
price
for
her
charms
,
—
something
so
appalling
to
a
father
in
the
thought
that
his
only
child
had
been
urged
by
excess
of
misery
and
profound
affection
for
him
,
to
such
a
dismal
fate
,
that
Monroe
seemed
to
sink
under
the
blow
!
For
some
time
did
his
daughter
vainly
endeavour
to
solace
him
;
and
it
was
only
when
she
herself
began
to
rave
and
beat
her
bosom
with
anguish
and
in
despair
,
that
the
old
man
was
recalled
to
a
sense
of
the
necessity
of
calming
his
almost
invincible
emotions
.
The
father
and
daughter
were
at
length
restored
to
partial
tranquillity
by
each
other
's
endeavours
at
reciprocal
consolation
,
and
were
commingling
their
tears
together
,
when
the
door
opened
.
Markham
,
followed
by
Marian
,
entered
the
room
.
But
what
was
the
surprise
of
Mr.
Monroe
—
what
was
the
joy
of
Ellen
,
when
Marian
advanced
towards
the
bed
,
and
presented
the
child
to
her
mother
!
"
A
parent
must
not
be
separated
from
her
offspring
,
"
said
Richard
;
"
henceforth
,
Ellen
,
that
infant
must
be
nurtured
by
thee
.
"
"
Oh
!
good
,
generous
friend
,
my
more
than
brother
!
"
exclaimed
Ellen
,
with
an
ebullition
of
feeling
that
might
almost
be
termed
a
wild
paroxysm
of
joy
;
and
she
pressed
the
infant
to
her
bosom
.
"
Richard
,
"
said
Mr.
Monroe
,
"
you
possess
the
noblest
soul
that
ever
yet
blessed
or
adorned
a
human
being
.
"
Marian
stooped
over
the
bed
,
apparently
to
caress
the
sleeping
infant
,
but
in
reality
to
whisper
these
words
in
Ellen
's
ears
:
—
"
Fear
nothing
:
I
was
sent
to
fetch
the
child
;
and
Mr.
Wentworth
will
keep
your
secret
inviolably
.
"
Ellen
cast
a
look
of
profound
gratitude
upon
Marian
;
for
this
welcome
announcement
assured
her
that
the
surgeon
would
never
admit
the
fact
of
possessing
any
clue
,
direct
or
indirect
,
to
the
father
of
the
babe
which
she
held
in
her
arms
.
In
a
few
minutes
,
when
she
had
recovered
herself
from
the
horrible
alarm
that
had
filled
her
mind
lest
Markham
had
himself
been
to
see
Mr.
Wentworth
,
and
had
learnt
that
the
father
of
the
child
was
so
far
known
that
he
had
engaged
to
furnish
the
means
for
its
support
,
—
in
a
few
minutes
,
we
say
,
she
turned
to
her
father
,
and
said
:
"
Our
benefactor
's
goodness
deserves
every
explanation
from
us
;
tell
him
the
extent
of
my
misfortune
—
reveal
to
him
the
origin
and
cause
of
my
shame
—
let
nothing
be
concealed
.
"
"
Ellen
,
"
said
Richard
,
"
I
know
all
!
Forgive
me
,
but
I
reached
the
door
of
your
room
when
you
were
telling
your
sad
tale
to
your
father
;
and
I
paused
—
because
I
considered
that
it
was
improper
to
interrupt
you
at
such
a
moment
.
And
,
if
I
overheard
that
affecting
narrative
,
it
was
not
a
mean
curiosity
which
made
me
stop
to
listen
—
it
was
the
deep
interest
which
I
now
more
than
ever
feel
in
your
behalf
.
"
"
And
you
do
not
despise
me
?
"
said
Ellen
,
hanging
down
her
head
.
"
Despise
you
!
"
ejaculated
Richard
,
"
I
deeply
sympathise
with
you
!
Oh
,
no
!
you
are
not
criminal
;
you
are
unfortunate
.
Your
soul
is
pure
and
spotless
.
"
"
But
the
world
—
what
will
the
world
think
,
"
said
Ellen
,
"
when
I
am
seen
with
this
babe
in
my
arms
?
"
"
The
world
has
not
treated
you
so
well
,
Ellen
,
"
returned
Markham
,
"
that
its
smiles
should
be
deeply
valued
.
Let
the
world
say
what
it
will
,
it
would
be
unnatural
—
inhuman
—
to
separate
a
mother
from
her
child
;
unless
,
indeed
,
"
he
added
,
"
it
is
your
desire
that
that
innocent
should
be
nursed
among
strangers
.
"
"
Oh
,
no
—
no
!
"
exclaimed
Ellen
.
"
But
my
unhappy
situation
shall
not
menace
your
tranquillity
;
nor
shall
the
tongue
of
scandal
gather
food
from
the
fact
of
the
residence
of
an
unwedded
mother
beneath
your
roof
.
I
will
retire
,
with
my
father
,
to
some
secluded
spot
—
—
"
"
Ellen
,
"
interrupted
Markham
,
"
were
I
to
permit
that
arrangement
,
it
would
seem
as
if
I
were
not
sincere
in
the
interest
and
commiseration
,
instead
of
the
blame
,
which
I
ere
now
expressed
concerning
you
.
No
:
unless
you
and
your
father
be
wearied
of
the
monotonous
life
which
you
lead
with
me
,
here
will
you
both
continue
to
dwell
;
and
let
the
world
indulge
in
its
idle
comments
as
it
will
.
"
"
Your
benevolence
finds
a
reason
for
every
good
deed
which
you
practise
,
"
said
Ellen
.
"
Ah
!
Richard
,
you
should
have
been
born
a
prince
,
with
a
princely
fortune
:
how
many
thousands
would
then
have
been
benefited
by
your
boundless
philanthropy
.
"
"
My
own
misfortunes
have
taught
me
to
feel
for
those
of
others
,
"
answered
Richard
;
"
and
if
the
world
were
more
anxious
than
it
is
to
substitute
sympathy
for
vituperation
,
society
would
not
be
the
compound
of
selfishness
,
slander
,
envy
,
and
malignity
,
that
it
now
is
.
"
"
It
is
settled
,
then
,
Richard
,
"
murmured
Ellen
,
"
that
my
babe
shall
henceforth
experience
a
mother
's
care
!
"
And
Ellen
covered
her
child
with
kisses
and
with
tears
.
At
that
moment
the
infant
awoke
;
and
a
smile
played
over
its
innocent
countenance
.
Ellen
pressed
it
more
closely
and
more
fondly
to
her
bosom
.
CHAPTER
CXXI
.
HIS
CHILD
!
MR.
GREENWOOD
was
sitting
in
his
study
,
—
the
handsomely
fitted-up
room
which
we
have
before
described
,
—
the
same
morning
on
which
the
babe
was
restored
to
its
mother
,
through
the
admirable
feeling
of
Richard
Markham
.
Mr.
Greenwood
was
studying
speeches
for
the
ensuing
session
of
Parliament
.
He
employed
two
secretaries
who
composed
his
orations
;
one
did
the
dry
details
,
and
the
other
the
declamatory
and
rhetorical
portions
.
Each
received
thirty
shillings
a
week
,
and
worked
from
nine
in
the
morning
until
nine
at
night
,
with
half
an
hour
three
times
a
day
for
meals
—
which
said
meals
were
enjoyed
at
their
own
expense
.
And
then
Mr.
Greenwood
hoped
to
reap
all
the
honours
resulting
from
this
drudgery
on
the
part
of
his
clerks
.
The
studies
of
the
Member
of
Parliament
were
interrupted
by
the
introduction
of
Mr.
Arthur
Chichester
.
"
I
am
off
to
France
to-morrow
,
"
said
this
gentleman
,
throwing
himself
lazily
upon
a
sofa
;
"
and
I
called
to
see
if
I
could
do
any
thing
for
you
on
that
side
of
the
water
.
"
"
No
,
nothing
,
"
answered
Greenwood
.
"
Do
you
propose
to
make
a
long
stay
in
France
?
"
"
I
shall
honour
Paris
with
my
presence
for
about
a
month
,
"
said
Chichester
.
"
During
which
time
,
"
added
Greenwood
,
with
a
smile
,
"
you
will
contrive
to
get
rid
of
all
the
money
which
Mrs.
Viola
Chichester
so
generously
supplied
.
"
"
Generously
indeed
!
"
said
Chichester
,
laughing
heartily
.
"
So
far
from
thinking
of
running
through
the
money
,
I
hope
to
double
it
.
Although
the
public
gambling-houses
have
been
abolished
in
France
,
there
is
plenty
of
play
at
the
private
clubs
.
But
you
must
not
imagine
that
I
have
a
perfect
fortune
in
my
possession
:
the
means
adopted
to
obtain
the
cash
cost
a
mint
of
money
:
then
were
five
hundred
pounds
to
Tomlinson
for
his
assistance
;
five
hundred
to
you
for
your
aid
,
advice
,
and
advances
—
(
there
is
a
splendid
alliteration
for
you
!
)
—
and
three
hundred
to
poor
Anthony
Tidkins
.
"
"
Poor
indeed
!
"
ejaculated
Greenwood
.
"
According
to
what
you
told
me
,
the
miserable
wretch
must
be
in
a
blessed
state
of
pecuniary
nudity
.
"
"
It
was
perfectly
true
,
"
said
Chichester
.
"
When
he
came
to
meet
me
and
Tomlinson
on
the
night
that
Viola
was
to
be
released
,
in
the
dark
alley
adjoining
his
house
,
he
was
like
a
furious
hyena
.
It
seems
that
he
had
awoke
up
ten
minutes
before
the
hour
appointed
for
our
meeting
,
and
then
discovered
his
loss
as
I
before
described
it
to
you
.
"
"
I
should
not
like
to
have
such
a
man
as
my
enemy
,
"
observed
Greenwood
,
carelessly
.
"
Nor
I
either
.
Bless
me
,
how
he
did
swear
!
I
never
heard
such
imprecations
come
from
a
human
being
's
mouth
before
.
He
vowed
that
he
would
undertake
no
other
business
,
nor
devote
himself
to
any
other
pursuit
,
until
he
had
traced
the
woman
who
had
robbed
him
,
and
avenged
himself
upon
her
.
Flaying
alive
,
he
said
,
was
too
good
for
her
!
Well
,
I
gave
him
twenty
pounds
,
poor
devil
,
through
good
nature
;
and
Tomlinson
gave
him
ten
through
fear
;
for
it
appears
that
this
Tidkins
exercises
some
extraordinary
influence
over
that
cowardly
stock-broker
—
"
"
Ahem
!
"
said
Greenwood
.
"
And
so
poor
Tidkins
,
"
he
added
,
"
did
not
set
out
on
his
travels
after
the
thief
empty-handed
?
"
"
By
no
means
.
But
he
is
a
useful
fellow
,
and
one
might
want
him
again
.
"
"
True
,
"
said
Greenwood
:
"
he
is
one
of
the
necessary
implements
which
men
of
the
world
must
make
use
of
at
times
,
to
carve
out
their
way
to
fortune
.
Hare
you
heard
any
thing
of
your
beloved
wife
?
"
"
Nothing
more
than
what
I
have
already
told
you
,
"
answered
Chichester
.
"
She
has
given
up
her
abode
at
the
Cambridge
Heath
gate
,
and
taken
apartments
at
a
house
in
the
very
heart
of
the
City
,
and
where
there
are
plenty
of
other
lodgers
.
She
is
determined
to
be
secure
.
However
,
"
continued
Chichester
,
with
a
smile
,
"
so
long
as
she
holds
her
tongue
about
that
little
matter
—
which
she
seems
inclined
to
do
—
she
need
not
fear
any
further
molestation
from
me
.
"
"
I
question
whether
you
would
have
released
her
that
evening
,
had
she
not
made
her
escape
,
"
said
Greenwood
.
"
Oh
,
indeed
I
should
,
"
returned
Chichester
;
"
I
did
not
wish
to
push
things
too
far
;
and
I
really
believe
that
another
week
's
confinement
in
that
terrible
place
,
which
I
have
described
to
you
,
would
have
turned
her
mad
in
reality
.
Then
again
,
I
should
have
been
afraid
of
that
cowardly
,
snivelling
fool
,
Tomlinson
,
who
insisted
upon
accompanying
me
to
ensure
her
release
.
That
man
has
every
inclination
to
be
a
downright
rogue
;
but
he
lacks
the
courage
.
"
"
Have
you
seen
your
friend
Harborough
lately
?
"
inquired
Greenwood
.
"
To
tell
you
the
truth
,
he
is
going
with
me
on
my
present
expedition
to
Paris
.
His
name
,
you
know
,
sounds
well
:
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
,
Bart
.
,
son-in-law
of
Lord
Tremordyn
,
—
eh
?
"
"
His
name
must
be
somewhat
worn
out
,
I
should
imagine
,
"
observed
Greenwood
,
playing
with
his
watch-chain
.
"
Have
you
seen
Lady
Cecilia
?
"
"
No
:
she
has
her
suite
of
apartments
,
and
Sir
Rupert
has
his
—
they
do
not
interfere
with
each
other
.
Sir
Rupert
,
however
,
notices
that
Lady
Cecilia
has
a
great
many
visitors
of
the
male
sex
;
and
amongst
others
,
an
officer
of
the
grenadier
guards
,
seven
feet
seven
inches
high
,
including
his
bear-skin
cap.
"
"
Indeed
!
Lady
Cecilia
is
then
becoming
a
confirmed
demirep
,
"
observed
Greenwood
,
without
pausing
to
think
who
helped
to
make
her
so
.
"
There
is
no
doubt
of
that
,
"
said
Chichester
.
"
But
you
seem
up
to
your
neck
in
business
as
usual
.
"
"
Yes
:
I
am
busily
engaged
in
behalf
of
the
Tory
party
,
"
answered
Greenwood
.
"
The
future
Premier
has
great
confidence
in
me
.
I
have
bought
him
over
seven
votes
from
the
Whig
side
during
the
recess
;
and
the
moment
the
Tories
succeed
to
power
,
I
shall
be
rewarded
with
a
baronetcy
.
"
"
You
are
making
your
way
famously
in
the
world
,
"
said
Chichester
,
rising
to
leave
.
"
Pretty
well
—
pretty
well
,
"
returned
Greenwood
,
with
a
complacent
smile
.
Chichester
then
shook
hands
with
his
friend
,
and
departed
.
Half
an
hour
elapsed
,
during
which
Mr.
Greenwood
pursued
his
studies
,
when
he
was
again
interrupted
by
the
entrance
of
a
visitor
.
This
time
it
was
Mr.
Tomlinson
,
the
stock-broker
.
After
having
transacted
a
little
pecuniary
business
together
,
Greenwood
said
,
"
What
have
you
done
with
the
old
man
?
"
"
I
have
taken
a
lodging
for
him
in
an
obscure
street
of
Bethnal
Green
,
and
there
he
is
residing
,
"
answered
Tomlinson
.
"
My
plan
was
better
,
"
observed
Greenwood
,
dogmatically
:
"
you
should
have
had
him
locked
up
in
one
of
Tidkins
's
subterranean
cells
,
and
allowed
three
or
four
shillings
a
week
for
his
maintenance
.
"
"
Impossible
!
"
cried
Tomlinson
,
indignantly
.
"
I
could
never
have
acted
so
unmanly
—
so
ungrateful
—
so
atrocious
a
part
.
"
"
Well
,
just
as
you
please
,
"
returned
the
Member
of
Parliament
:
"
of
course
,
you
know
best
.
"
"
We
will
not
discuss
that
point
,
"
said
Tomlinson
.
"
That
is
precisely
what
I
said
some
time
since
to
a
deputation
from
the
free
and
independent
electors
of
Rottenborough
,
when
they
sent
to
remonstrate
with
me
on
a
certain
portion
of
my
parliamentary
conduct
,
"
observed
Mr.
Greenwood
.
At
this
moment
Lafleur
entered
and
whispered
something
in
his
master
's
ear
.
Tomlinson
took
his
leave
,
and
the
valet
proceeded
to
admit
Marian
into
the
presence
of
his
master
.
"
Ah
!
"
exclaimed
Mr.
Greenwood
:
"
any
thing
wrong
,
Marian
?
"
"
That
may
be
according
to
the
light
in
which
you
view
the
news
I
am
come
to
communicate
,
sir
,
"
replied
the
servant
.
"
In
a
word
,
Miss
Monroe
's
father
and
Mr.
Markham
have
discovered
all
.
"
"
All
!
no
—
not
all
!
"
cried
Greenwood
,
turning
deadly
pale
;
"
surely
Ellen
could
not
—
—
"
"
When
I
said
all
,
sir
,
"
replied
Marian
,
"
I
was
wrong
.
Mr.
Monroe
and
my
master
have
discovered
that
Miss
Ellen
is
a
mother
;
and
her
child
is
now
with
her
.
"
"
What
!
at
Markham
Place
?
"
demanded
Greenwood
.
"
Yes
,
sir
.
"
"
And
is
it
known
also
who
—
what
person
—
the
father
,
I
mean
—
—
"
"
Miss
Ellen
has
maintained
that
a
profound
secret
,
sir
,
"
said
Marian
.
"
Thank
heaven
!
"
ejaculated
Greenwood
,
now
breathing
freely
.
"
But
Mr.
Wentworth
—
the
surgeon
—
—
"
"
He
has
also
promised
to
remain
dumb
relative
to
what
little
he
knows
.
You
are
best
aware
,
sir
,
whether
Miss
Monroe
has
studied
your
wishes
,
or
your
interests
,
in
remaining
silent
herself
relative
to
you
,
and
in
recommending
Mr.
Wentworth
,
through
me
,
to
say
nothing
that
may
prove
that
she
is
really
acquainted
with
the
father
of
her
child
.
"
"
But
how
was
the
discovery
made
?
Tell
me
all
,
"
exclaimed
Greenwood
impatiently
.
"
The
explanation
is
short
.
Mr.
Wentworth
sent
a
note
relative
to
the
health
of
the
infant
,
last
evening
,
to
Miss
Monroe
;
and
she
inadvertently
left
it
upon
the
table
in
the
same
room
where
her
father
was
sitting
.
"
"
And
her
father
—
and
Richard
—
Mr.
Markham
,
I
mean
,
"
said
Greenwood
,
"
are
acquainted
but
with
the
bare
fact
that
she
is
a
mother
?
"
"
That
is
all
,
sir
.
But
,
oh
!
if
you
only
knew
the
excuse
that
Miss
Ellen
made
to
avoid
additional
explanations
,
"
continued
Marian
,
"
you
yourself
—
yes
,
you
,
sir
,
would
be
affected
.
"
"
What
was
that
excuse
?
"
demanded
Greenwood
.
"
I
can
scarcely
believe
for
one
moment
that
it
was
true
,
"
said
Marian
,
musing
,
rather
than
replying
to
his
question
.
"
But
what
was
it
?
"
cried
the
Member
of
Parliament
,
impatiently
.
"
Oh
!
she
spoke
of
the
misery
to
which
her
father
and
herself
had
once
been
reduced
,
and
she
said
that
,
prompted
by
despair
,
she
had
sold
her
virtue
to
one
whom
she
knew
not
—
whom
she
had
never
seen
before
nor
since
.
"
"
Ah
!
she
said
that
,
"
murmured
Greenwood
.
"
And
were
her
father
and
your
master
satisfied
?
"
"
The
old
man
wept
well-nigh
to
break
his
heart
,
and
Mr.
Markham
said
that
henceforth
the
child
should
stay
with
its
mother
in
his
house
.
Oh
!
sir
,
there
lives
not
a
man
of
nobler
disposition
than
my
master
:
he
is
all
that
is
generous
,
humane
,
liberal
,
and
upright
!
"
Mr.
Greenwood
turned
aside
,
and
appeared
to
contemplate
some
papers
with
deep
interest
for
nearly
a
minute
;
and
then
he
passed
a
handkerchief
rapidly
over
his
face
.
Marian
thought
,
as
she
afterwards
informed
Ellen
,
that
he
wiped
tears
from
his
eyes
!
He
made
no
reply
,
however
,
to
her
observations
;
but
rang
the
bell
for
his
French
valet
.
When
Lafleur
entered
the
room
,
Mr.
Greenwood
said
,
"
You
will
proceed
immediately
to
the
abode
of
Mr.
Wentworth
,
at
Holloway
:
you
will
hand
him
from
me
this
bank-note
for
fifty
pounds
;
and
you
will
say
to
him
these
words
:
'
As
the
child
has
been
removed
through
an
unforeseen
occurrence
from
your
care
,
its
father
sends
you
this
as
a
small
token
of
his
gratitude
for
the
kindness
you
have
manifested
towards
it
;
and
he
hopes
that
,
should
you
be
questioned
upon
the
subject
,
you
will
not
reveal
the
fact
that
you
ever
had
the
slightest
communication
from
its
father
.
'
Go
—
and
return
quickly
.
"
Lafleur
received
the
bank-note
,
bowed
,
and
left
the
room
.
"
You
can
inform
Miss
Monroe
of
the
step
which
I
have
thus
taken
to
ensure
the
surgeon
's
secrecy
,
"
said
Greenwood
,
addressing
himself
to
Marian
.
"
I
shall
not
fail
to
do
so
,
sir
,
"
answered
the
servant
.
She
then
withdrew
.
When
the
door
closed
behind
her
,
Greenwood
threw
himself
back
in
his
chair
,
murmuring
,
"
My
child
beneath
Richard
's
roof
!
"
CHAPTER
CXXII
.
A
CHANGE
OF
FORTUNE
.
IT
was
about
three
o'clock
in
the
afternoon
that
the
Earl
of
Warrington
alighted
from
his
horse
at
the
door
of
Mrs.
Arlington
's
residence
in
Dover
Street
.
Giving
his
horse
in
charge
to
his
mounted
groom
,
the
nobleman
entered
the
dwelling
.
The
Enchantress
received
him
in
the
drawing-room
;
but
,
to
her
surprise
,
the
air
of
the
earl
was
cold
and
formal
.
He
seated
himself
in
a
chair
at
a
distance
from
the
sofa
which
Diana
occupied
;
and
for
some
moments
he
uttered
not
a
word
.
A
sentiment
of
pride
prevented
her
from
saying
any
thing
to
elicit
an
explanation
of
his
ceremonial
manner
,
because
she
was
not
aware
that
she
was
guilty
of
a
fault
meriting
such
treatment
.
At
length
that
silence
,
most
embarrassing
to
both
,
was
broken
by
the
earl
.
"
Diana
,
"
he
said
,
"
we
must
separate
.
You
have
conducted
yourself
in
a
manner
that
has
made
me
the
laughing-stock
of
all
who
know
me
.
"
"
My
lord
!
"
exclaimed
Diana
,
perfectly
astonished
at
this
accusation
;
"
you
must
have
been
misinformed
;
or
you
are
bantering
me
.
"
"
Neither
the
one
nor
the
other
,
"
replied
the
earl
.
"
You
may
probably
conceive
whether
I
am
inclined
to
jest
,
when
I
state
that
your
kind
consideration
towards
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
has
reached
my
ears
.
"
"
Indeed
,
my
lord
!
"
cried
Diana
.
"
I
do
not
attempt
to
deny
that
I
forwarded
,
anonymously
,
to
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
a
sum
of
money
to
extricate
him
from
a
fearful
embarrassment
.
"
"
It
would
be
unmanly
in
me
to
do
more
than
remind
you
whence
came
that
money
which
you
could
afford
to
fling
away
upon
an
unprincipled
profligate
,
"
said
the
Earl
of
Warrington
;
"
at
the
same
time
,
you
cannot
suppose
that
it
is
pleasant
to
my
feelings
to
learn
that
the
world
makes
itself
merry
at
my
expense
.
"
"
Your
lordship
is
aware
that
I
am
the
last
person
in
existence
to
do
aught
to
occasion
you
the
slightest
uneasiness
.
Perhaps
I
was
wrong
—
—
"
"
You
cannot
,
with
your
good
sense
,
think
otherwise
.
But
let
us
not
dispute
upon
the
point
:
the
thing
is
done
,
and
cannot
be
recalled
;
but
its
effect
is
fatal
to
our
connection
.
"
"
Your
lordship
does
not
mean
—
—
"
"
I
mean
that
we
must
separate
,
Diana
,
"
interrupted
the
nobleman
,
firmly
.
"
Is
my
fault
irreparable
in
your
eyes
?
"
asked
the
Enchantress
,
tears
trickling
down
her
cheeks
.
"
No
man
can
endure
ridicule
—
and
I
am
particularly
sensitive
in
that
respect
.
"
"
But
where
did
you
learn
that
such
was
the
result
of
my
foolish
kindness
?
"
said
Diana
,
almost
bewildered
by
the
suddenness
with
which
this
blow
had
come
upon
her
.
"
I
will
give
you
every
explanation
you
require
,
as
in
duty
bound
,
"
replied
the
earl
.
"
Captain
Fitzhardinge
,
an
officer
in
the
Grenadier
Guards
,
is
an
acquaintance
of
mine
.
He
is
a
visitor
at
the
house
of
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
;
and
last
evening
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
told
him
what
she
called
a
capital
anecdote
of
how
she
had
cheated
her
husband
out
of
a
thousand
pounds
.
Then
,
it
appears
,
they
laughed
heartily
at
this
excellent
joke
;
and
Lady
Cecilia
proceeded
to
inform
him
that
she
had
discovered
whence
the
handsome
subsidy
emanated
.
She
concluded
,
in
terms
more
galling
than
polite
,
by
ridiculing
the
Earl
of
Warrington
,
who
was
foolish
enough
to
supply
Mrs.
Arlington
so
munificently
with
money
,
that
she
was
enabled
to
spare
some
for
her
ancient
lovers
.
You
have
asked
me
for
the
plain
truth
,
and
I
have
told
it
,
as
Captain
Fitzhardinge
stated
it
to
me
.
"
"
And
thus
a
trivial
indiscretion
on
my
part
has
created
all
this
mischief
,
"
sobbed
the
Enchantress
.
"
You
have
acted
most
unwisely
,
Diana
:
I
will
not
go
so
far
as
to
say
that
you
must
have
had
some
particular
motive
in
forwarding
that
money
to
one
who
—
—
"
"
Heaven
knows
the
purity
of
my
motive
!
"
exclaimed
Diana
,
wiping
away
her
tears
,
and
glancing
proudly
towards
the
nobleman
.
"
The
world
will
scarcely
admit
that
purity
of
motive
in
such
a
case
was
possible
.
Consider
the
inferences
that
must
be
drawn
—
—
"
"
And
do
you
,
my
lord
,
believe
that
any
unworthy
reason
of
that
kind
led
me
to
assist
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
?
"
demanded
the
Enchantress
.
"
If
I
may
judge
by
your
outward
conduct
towards
me
,
I
should
give
a
decided
negative
in
reply
to
your
question
.
But
we
should
no
longer
be
happy
in
each
other
's
society
,
while
the
least
ground
for
unpleasant
suspicions
existed
.
We
will
,
then
,
separate
—
but
separate
as
good
friends
.
"
"
Be
it
so
,
my
lord
,
"
said
Diana
,
the
flush
of
injured
pride
dyeing
her
cheeks
,
while
she
conquered
the
emotions
that
rose
in
her
bosom
.
"
The
lease
of
this
house
,
and
every
thing
it
contains
,
are
yours
,
"
continued
the
earl
,
after
a
moment
's
pause
:
"
in
this
pocket-book
there
is
a
cheque
—
—
"
"
No
,
my
lord
,
"
interrupted
Diana
;
"
your
bounty
has
already
done
much
for
me
—
more
than
you
seem
to
think
I
have
deserved
:
I
cannot
accept
another
favour
at
your
lordship
's
hands
.
"
The
Earl
of
Warrington
was
struck
by
this
answer
,
which
proved
that
his
mistress
was
not
selfish
;
and
for
a
few
moments
he
was
upon
the
point
of
making
overtures
for
a
reconciliation
.
But
the
dread
of
ridicule
—
the
fear
of
being
laughed
at
as
a
man
who
kept
a
mistress
for
the
benefit
of
others
—
the
horror
of
being
made
the
laughing-stock
of
all
the
rakes
and
demireps
in
London
,
smothered
the
lenient
feelings
that
had
awoke
in
his
breast
.
"
You
refuse
to
accept
this
token
of
my
friendship
,
Diana
?
"
he
said
.
"
I
must
beg
most
respectfully
to
decline
it
,
my
lord
—
with
fervent
gratitude
,
nevertheless
,
for
your
generosity
.
"
Again
the
earl
wavered
.
He
looked
at
that
beautiful
woman
who
had
been
so
charming
and
fascinating
a
companion
,
—
who
had
advised
him
as
a
faithful
friend
in
various
matters
upon
which
he
had
consulted
her
,
—
and
who
,
to
all
appearances
,
had
conducted
herself
so
well
towards
him
,
save
in
this
one
instance
;
—
he
gazed
upon
her
for
a
few
moments
,
and
his
stern
resolves
melted
rapidly
away
.
"
Diana
,
"
he
said
,
"
we
—
—
"
At
that
moment
the
sounds
of
voices
in
the
street
caused
him
to
turn
his
head
towards
the
window
;
and
he
perceived
Captain
Fitzhardinge
and
another
gentleman
riding
by
on
horseback
.
They
were
laughing
heartily
,
and
gazing
towards
the
house
.
The
Earl
of
Warrington
's
sensitive
mind
instantly
suggested
to
him
the
idea
that
the
anecdote
of
the
thousand
pounds
was
being
again
retailed
,
and
most
probably
accompanied
by
the
intimation
that
that
was
the
house
of
the
complaisant
Earl
of
Warrington
's
mistress
!
The
Enchantress
,
with
that
keen
perception
which
characterises
woman
,
had
seen
all
that
was
passing
in
the
earl
's
mind
,
—
had
observed
him
waver
twice
,
and
had
felt
convinced
on
the
second
occasion
that
he
would
court
a
reconciliation
.
But
when
those
voices
and
that
hearty
laughter
from
the
street
fell
upon
her
ears
,
and
when
she
saw
the
blood
rush
to
the
earl
's
countenance
as
he
glanced
in
that
direction
,
she
knew
that
all
was
over
.
The
earl
rose
and
said
,
"
Give
me
your
hand
,
Diana
:
we
will
part
,
as
I
said
,
good
friends
;
and
remember
that
I
shall
always
be
ready
to
serve
you
.
Farewell
!
"
"
Farewell
,
my
lord
,
"
returned
Mrs.
Arlington
,
extending
her
hand
,
which
the
nobleman
pressed
with
lingering
tenderness
.
Then
,
afraid
of
another
access
of
weakness
,
the
Earl
of
Warrington
wrung
her
hand
warmly
,
and
precipitated
himself
from
the
room
.
The
Enchantress
hurried
to
the
window
,
concealed
herself
behind
the
curtain
,
and
watched
him
as
he
mounted
his
horse
to
depart
.
He
did
not
glance
once
upwards
to
the
window
:
perhaps
he
knew
that
she
was
there
!
And
yet
her
pride
prompted
her
to
conceal
herself
in
that
manner
.
When
he
was
out
of
sight
she
threw
herself
upon
the
sofa
and
wept
.
"
Oh
!
if
I
had
but
said
one
word
when
his
hand
pressed
mine
,
"
she
exclaimed
,
"
I
might
still
have
retained
him
!
He
is
gone
!
—
my
best
,
my
only
friend
!
"
But
Diana
was
not
a
woman
to
give
way
to
grief
for
any
length
of
time
.
She
possessed
great
mental
fortitude
,
which
,
though
subdued
for
a
short
space
,
soon
rose
predominant
over
this
cruel
affliction
.
She
then
began
to
reflect
upon
her
position
.
She
had
a
house
beautifully
furnished
;
and
she
possessed
a
considerable
sum
of
ready
money
.
She
had
therefore
no
disquietude
for
the
present
,
and
but
little
apprehension
for
the
future
;
for
she
knew
that
her
personal
beauty
and
mental
qualifications
would
at
any
moment
bring
another
lover
to
her
feet
.
But
she
seriously
thought
of
renouncing
the
species
of
life
to
which
she
had
for
some
years
been
devoted
:
she
longed
to
live
independently
and
respectably
.
In
this
frame
of
mind
she
passed
the
remainder
of
the
day
,
pondering
upon
a
variety
of
plans
in
accordance
with
her
new
desire
.
She
retired
early
to
rest
;
but
,
not
feeling
an
inclination
to
sleep
,
she
amused
herself
with
a
book
.
The
candle
stood
upon
a
table
by
the
side
of
the
bed
;
and
Diana
,
luxuriously
propped
up
by
the
downy
pillows
,
culled
the
choicest
flowers
from
Byron
's
miscellaneous
poetic
wreath
.
An
hour
elapsed
;
and
at
length
she
grew
sleepy
.
The
book
fell
from
her
hand
,
and
her
eye-lids
closed
.
Then
she
remembered
no
more
until
she
was
suddenly
aroused
by
a
sensation
of
acute
pain
:
she
started
up
,
and
found
the
bed
enveloped
in
flames
.
She
sprang
upon
the
floor
;
but
her
night-dress
was
on
fire
:
—
she
threw
herself
on
the
carpet
,
and
rolled
over
and
over
in
terrible
agony
,
piercing
screams
issuing
from
her
lips
.
Those
screams
were
echoed
by
loud
cries
of
"
Fire
!
"
from
the
street
;
and
then
there
was
a
rush
of
footsteps
upon
the
stairs
.
The
door
of
the
chamber
was
forced
open
;
and
Diana
was
caught
up
in
the
arms
of
a
policeman
,
who
had
effected
an
entry
into
the
house
through
the
ground-floor
windows
.
She
was
carried
in
a
state
of
insensibility
down
into
the
parlour
,
where
a
cloak
was
hastily
thrown
over
her
,
and
she
was
conveyed
to
a
neighbouring
hotel
.
Fortunately
a
medical
man
was
passing
at
the
moment
;
and
he
tendered
his
aid
.
Meantime
the
fire
spread
with
astonishing
rapidity
.
The
servants
were
extricated
from
the
burning
pile
;
but
little
property
was
saved
.
A
considerable
time
elapsed
before
the
engines
arrived
;
and
when
they
did
reach
the
spot
,
an
adequate
supply
of
water
could
not
be
procured
,
as
the
springs
were
ice-bound
by
the
frost
.
An
immense
crowd
collected
in
the
street
;
and
all
was
bustle
or
curiosity
.
The
broad
red
flames
shot
upward
with
a
roar
like
that
of
a
furnace
:
the
scene
for
a
great
distance
round
was
as
light
as
noon-day
;
and
the
heavens
immediately
above
appeared
to
be
on
fire
.
At
one
time
the
neighbouring
houses
were
endangered
;
but
suddenly
the
roof
of
the
burning
tenement
fell
in
with
a
terrific
crash
;
and
then
the
conflagration
seemed
smothered
.
But
in
a
few
minutes
the
flame
shot
upwards
once
more
;
and
another
hour
elapsed
ere
it
was
completely
subdued
.
The
newspapers
announced
next
morning
that
Mrs.
Arlington
's
property
was
not
insured
,
and
that
the
lady
herself
lay
in
a
most
precarious
state
at
the
hotel
to
which
she
had
been
conveyed
.
CHAPTER
CXXIII
.
ARISTOCRATIC
MORALS
.
IT
was
still
dark
,
though
past
seven
o'clock
,
on
the
morning
which
succeeded
the
fire
,
when
a
somewhat
strange
scene
occurred
at
the
house
of
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
in
Tavistock
Square
.
The
baronet
,
in
his
slippers
and
dressing-gown
,
cautiously
descended
the
stairs
,
guiding
himself
with
his
left
hand
placed
upon
the
balustrade
,
and
conducting
a
young
female
with
his
right
.
They
maintained
a
profound
silence
,
and
stole
down
so
carefully
that
it
was
easy
to
perceive
they
were
fearful
of
alarming
the
household
.
But
while
he
was
still
descending
the
stairs
,
leading
the
young
female
,
who
was
fully
dressed
even
to
her
bonnet
and
shawl
,
the
following
thoughts
passed
rapidly
through
the
mind
of
the
baronet
.
"
After
all
,
it
is
absurd
for
me
to
take
this
trouble
to
get
my
new
mistress
secretly
out
of
the
house
.
Why
should
she
not
walk
boldly
in
and
out
,
night
or
day
,
I
wonder
?
'
Pon
my
honour
,
I
have
a
great
mind
that
she
should
!
But
,
no
—
whatever
agreement
exists
between
me
and
Lady
Cecilia
,
a
certain
degree
of
decency
must
be
observed
before
the
servants
,
and
for
the
sake
of
one
's
character
with
the
neighbours
.
After
all
,
prudence
is
perhaps
the
best
system
.
"
His
thoughts
were
at
this
moment
interrupted
by
steps
upon
the
stairs
,
which
evidently
were
not
the
echoes
of
those
of
himself
and
his
paramour
.
He
paused
and
listened
.
Those
steps
were
descending
with
great
apparent
caution
,
and
yet
a
little
more
heavily
than
was
quite
consistent
with
entire
secrecy
.
The
baronet
led
his
mistress
hastily
after
him
,
crossed
the
hall
,
and
then
drew
her
along
with
him
into
an
obscure
corner
near
the
front-door
.
"
Silence
,
Caroline
—
silence
,
"
he
whispered
:
"
it
is
most
likely
the
housemaid
.
"
The
baronet
and
his
mistress
accordingly
remained
as
quiet
as
mice
in
the
corner
where
they
were
concealed
.
Meantime
the
steps
gradually
drew
nearer
and
nearer
;
and
now
and
then
a
low
and
suppressed
whisper
on
the
stairs
met
the
baronet
's
ears
.
A
vague
suspicion
that
some
adventure
,
which
those
who
were
interested
in
it
were
anxious
to
conduct
with
as
much
secrecy
as
possible
,
was
in
progress
,
now
entered
the
mind
of
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
.
He
accordingly
became
all
attention
.
And
now
the
steps
ceased
to
echo
upon
the
stairs
,
but
advanced
towards
the
front
door
.
The
hall
was
pitch-dark
;
but
the
baronet
was
satisfied
that
two
persons
—
a
male
and
female
—
were
the
actors
in
the
proceeding
which
now
interested
him
;
and
all
doubt
on
this
head
was
banished
from
his
mind
when
they
halted
within
a
few
feet
of
the
corner
where
he
and
his
mistress
were
concealed
.
Then
the
whispering
between
the
two
persons
whose
conduct
he
was
watching
re-commenced
.
"
Farewell
,
dearest
Cecilia
,
"
said
the
low
and
subdued
voice
of
a
man
.
"
Farewell
,
beloved
Fitzhardinge
,
"
answered
another
voice
,
with
whose
intonation
,
in
spite
of
the
whisper
in
which
it
spoke
,
the
baronet
was
full
well
acquainted
.
Then
there
was
the
billing
murmur
of
kisses
,
which
continued
for
some
moments
.
"
When
shall
we
meet
again
,
dearest
?
"
demanded
Fitzhardinge
,
still
in
the
same
low
tone
.
"
To-night
—
at
the
usual
hour
I
will
admit
you
,
"
returned
Lady
Cecilia
.
"
Sir
Rupert
goes
to
France
to-night
with
his
splendid
friend
Chichester
.
"
"
Thank
heaven
for
that
blessing
!
"
said
the
Grenadier
Guardsman
.
"
And
now
,
adieu
,
sweet
Cecilia
,
until
this
evening
!
But
,
tell
me
,
before
I
depart
—
shall
I
always
find
you
the
same
warm
,
loving
,
devoted
,
fond
creature
you
now
are
?
"
"
Always
—
always
to
you
,
"
was
the
murmuring
reply
.
Then
kisses
were
exchanged
again
.
"
And
am
I
indeed
the
first
whom
you
have
ever
really
loved
?
am
I
the
only
one
who
has
ever
tasted
the
pleasures
of
heaven
in
your
arms
,
save
your
husband
?
"
continued
the
officer
,
intoxicated
with
the
reminiscences
of
the
night
of
bliss
which
he
had
enjoyed
with
his
paramour
:
"
Oh
!
tell
me
so
once
again
—
only
once
!
"
"
You
know
that
you
alone
could
have
tempted
me
to
weakness
,
Fitzhardinge
,
"
answered
the
fair
,
but
guilty
patrician
lady
:
"
you
alone
could
have
induced
me
to
forget
my
marriage
vows
!
"
"
Now
I
shall
depart
happy
,
my
beloved
Cecilia
,
"
said
the
officer
;
and
again
he
imprinted
burning
kisses
upon
the
lady
's
lips
.
He
then
turned
towards
the
front-door
,
and
endeavoured
to
remove
the
chain
:
but
it
had
become
entangled
with
the
key
in
some
way
or
another
;
and
he
could
not
detach
it
.
"
What
is
the
matter
?
"
inquired
Cecilia
,
anxiously
.
"
This
infernal
chain
is
fast
,
"
answered
the
officer
;
"
and
all
I
can
do
will
not
move
it
.
"
"
Let
me
try
,
"
said
the
lady
;
but
her
attempt
was
as
vain
as
that
of
her
lover
.
"
What
is
to
be
done
?
"
asked
Fitzhardinge
.
"
God
knows
!
"
returned
Cecilia
;
"
and
it
is
growing
late
!
In
half-an-hour
it
will
be
day-light
.
Besides
,
the
servants
will
be
about
presently
.
"
"
The
devil
!
"
said
the
officer
,
impatiently
.
"
Stay
,
"
whispered
Lady
Cecilia
:
"
I
will
go
to
the
kitchen
and
obtain
a
light
.
Do
not
move
from
this
spot
:
I
will
not
be
a
moment
.
"
She
then
glided
away
;
and
the
officer
remained
at
his
post
as
motionless
and
as
silent
as
a
statue
,
for
fear
of
alarming
the
inmates
of
the
house
.
His
thoughts
were
not
,
however
,
of
the
most
pleasureable
kind
;
and
during
the
two
minutes
that
Lady
Cecilia
was
absent
,
his
mind
rapidly
pictured
all
the
probable
consequences
of
detection
—
exposure
,
ridicule
,
law-suit
,
damages
,
the
Queen
's
Bench
prison
,
the
divorce
of
the
lady
,
and
the
necessity
under
which
he
should
labour
of
making
her
his
own
wife
.
This
gloomy
perspective
was
suddenly
enlivened
by
the
gleam
of
a
candle
at
the
further
end
of
the
hall
,
and
which
was
immediately
followed
by
the
appearance
of
Lady
Cecilia
,
with
the
light
.
Still
the
corner
in
which
Sir
Rupert
and
his
paramour
were
concealed
was
veiled
in
obscurity
;
while
the
baronet
obtained
a
full
view
of
the
tall
Guardsman
,
dressed
in
plain
clothes
,
standing
within
a
couple
of
yards
of
his
hiding-place
,
and
also
of
Lady
Cecilia
,
attired
in
a
loose
dressing-gown
,
as
she
advanced
rapidly
towards
the
place
where
her
lover
awaited
her
.
But
when
Cecilia
reached
the
immediate
vicinity
of
the
front
door
,
the
gleam
of
the
candle
fell
upon
that
nook
which
had
hitherto
remained
buried
in
obscurity
.
A
scream
escaped
the
lady
's
lips
,
and
the
candle
fell
from
her
hands
.
Fortunately
it
was
not
extinguished
:
Sir
Rupert
rushed
forward
and
caught
it
up
in
time
to
preserve
the
light
.
Then
,
at
a
single
glance
,
those
four
persons
became
aware
of
each
other
's
position
.
A
loud
laugh
escaped
the
lips
of
the
baronet
.
"
Sir
,
"
said
the
officer
,
advancing
towards
him
,
"
for
all
our
sakes
avoid
exposure
;
but
if
you
require
any
satisfaction
at
my
hands
,
you
know
who
I
am
and
where
I
reside
.
"
"
Satisfaction
!
"
exclaimed
Lady
Cecilia
,
ironically
;
for
she
had
recovered
her
presence
of
mind
the
moment
she
had
perceived
the
equivocal
position
in
which
her
husband
himself
was
placed
in
respect
to
the
female
who
stood
quivering
and
quaking
behind
him
:
"
what
satisfaction
can
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
require
,
when
he
admits
such
a
creature
as
that
into
his
house
?
"
And
she
pointed
with
a
disdain
and
a
disgust
by
no
means
affected
,
towards
her
husband
's
paramour
.
"
Creature
indeed
!
"
cried
the
young
woman
,
now
irritated
and
excited
in
her
turn
:
"
I
think
I
am
as
honest
as
you
,
my
lady
,
at
all
events
.
"
"
Wretch
!
"
murmured
Cecilia
between
her
teeth
,
as
if
the
sight
of
the
creature
filled
her
with
abhorrence
and
loathing
.
Ah
!
haughty
lady
!
thou
couldst
thyself
sin
through
lust
:
but
thou
couldst
not
brook
the
sight
of
one
who
sinned
for
bread
!
The
young
woman
,
over-awed
by
the
air
of
insuperable
disgust
which
marked
the
proud
patrician
at
that
moment
,
recoiled
from
her
presence
and
burst
into
tears
.
"
Come
,
enough
of
this
folly
,
"
said
Sir
Rupert
,
impatiently
:
"
we
shall
have
the
servants
here
in
a
moment
.
Perhaps
you
and
this
gentleman
,
"
he
continued
,
"
will
step
into
that
room
for
a
moment
,
while
I
open
the
door
for
my
little
companion
here
.
"
Lady
Cecilia
tossed
her
head
disdainfully
,
darted
a
look
of
sovereign
contempt
upon
the
abashed
Caroline
,
and
beckoned
Captain
Fitzhardinge
to
follow
her
into
the
adjacent
parlour
.
Sir
Rupert
retained
the
light
.
He
opened
the
door
,
the
chain
of
which
had
only
become
entangled
round
the
key
,
and
dismissed
his
paramour
,
who
was
delighted
to
escape
from
that
house
where
the
terrible
looks
of
the
lady
had
so
disconcerted
her
.
The
baronet
then
repaired
to
the
parlour
,
and
,
having
locked
the
door
to
prevent
the
intrusion
of
the
servants
,
threw
himself
upon
the
sofa
.
"
Well
,
on
my
honour
!
"
he
exclaimed
,
bursting
into
a
loud
fit
of
laughter
,
"
this
is
one
of
the
most
pleasant
adventures
that
ever
I
heard
or
read
of
—
'
pon
my
honour
!
"
"
Have
you
requested
me
to
wait
here
in
order
to
contribute
to
your
hilarity
,
sir
?
"
demanded
Captain
Fitzhardinge
,
indignantly
.
"
My
dear
fellow
,
"
returned
the
baronet
,
"
let
us
laugh
in
concert
!
Oh
!
I
can
assure
you
that
you
need
fear
no
law-suits
nor
pistols
from
me
!
"
"
Fear
,
sir
!
"
ejaculated
the
Guardsman
:
"
I
do
not
understand
the
word
.
"
"
Well
—
expect
,
then
,
if
that
will
suit
you
better
,
my
dear
captain
,
"
continued
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
.
"
You
see
that
my
wife
and
myself
act
as
we
please
,
independently
of
each
other
.
"
"
Sir
Rupert
!
"
exclaimed
Cecilia
,
who
was
by
no
means
anxious
that
her
lover
should
be
made
acquainted
with
the
terms
of
the
agreement
into
which
she
and
her
husband
had
entered
a
short
time
previously
,
and
the
nature
of
which
the
reader
will
remember
.
"
My
dear
Cecilia
,
"
observed
the
baronet
,
"
is
it
not
much
better
that
your
friend
should
be
made
acquainted
with
the
grounds
on
which
you
have
admitted
him
as
your
sworn
knight
and
only
love
?
"
"
Cease
this
bantering
,
sir
,
"
cried
Captain
Fitzhardinge
.
"
Have
I
not
already
said
that
I
am
willing
to
give
you
any
satisfaction
which
you
may
require
?
"
"
And
must
I
again
tell
you
,
my
dear
fellow
,
"
returned
the
baronet
,
with
an
affectation
of
familiarity
,
which
only
made
his
words
the
more
bitter
,
—
"
must
I
again
tell
you
that
I
require
no
satisfaction
—
that
I
have
none
to
ask
,
and
you
none
to
give
?
But
I
cannot
allow
you
to
consider
me
a
grovelling
coward
:
—
I
must
explain
to
you
the
grounds
on
which
my
forbearance
is
based
.
"
"
Proceed
,
sir
,
"
said
Captain
Fitzhardinge
,
coolly
.
"
You
will
then
allow
me
to
retire
to
my
own
room
?
"
exclaimed
Lady
Cecilia
,
rising
from
the
chair
in
which
she
had
thrown
herself
.
"
No
,
my
dear
,
"
said
the
baronet
,
gently
forcing
her
back
into
her
seat
:
"
you
must
remain
to
corroborate
the
truth
of
what
I
am
about
to
state
to
this
gentleman
.
"
Lady
Cecilia
resumed
the
chair
from
which
she
had
risen
,
and
made
no
reply
.
"
In
one
word
,
Captain
Fitzhardinge
,
"
continued
the
baronet
,
"
there
is
a
mutual
understanding
between
my
wife
and
myself
,
that
we
shall
follow
our
own
inclinations
,
whims
,
and
caprices
,
without
reference
to
the
ties
which
bind
us
,
or
the
vows
which
we
pledged
at
church
