wherethe
graceful
swell
of
the
leg
commenced
;
and
her
little
feet
were
protected
by
red
slippers
.
The
Brigand
who
had
recognised
her
,
and
now
watched
her
attentively
,
was
tall
,
slender
,
well
made
,
and
of
elegant
deportment
.
Ellen
soon
found
herself
in
the
midst
of
the
busy
scene
,
where
her
graceful
form
and
becoming
attire
immediately
attracted
attention
.
"
Fair
eastern
lady
,
"
said
an
Ancient
Knight
in
a
buff
jerkin
and
plumed
tocque
,
"
if
thou
hast
lost
the
swain
that
should
attend
upon
thee
,
accept
of
my
protection
until
thou
shalt
find
him
.
"
"
Thanks
for
thy
courtesy
,
Sir
Knight
,
"
answered
Ellen
,
gaily
:
"
I
am
come
to
confess
to
a
holy
father
whom
I
see
yonder
.
"
"
Wilt
thou
then
abjure
thine
own
creed
,
and
embrace
ours
?
"
asked
the
Knight
.
"
Such
is
indeed
my
intention
,
Sir
Knight
,
"
replied
Ellen
;
and
she
darted
away
towards
the
Carmelite
Friar
whom
she
had
espied
in
his
nook
.
The
Ancient
Knight
mingled
with
a
group
of
Generals
and
Heathen
Goddesses
,
and
did
not
offer
to
pester
Ellen
with
any
more
of
his
attentions
.
"
Sweet
girl
,
"
said
Reginald
Tracy
(
whom
the
reader
has
of
course
recognised
in
the
Carmelite
Friar
)
,
when
Ellen
joined
him
,
"
how
can
I
sufficiently
thank
you
for
this
condescension
on
your
part
?
"
"
I
am
fully
recompensed
by
the
attention
you
have
shown
to
the
little
caprice
which
prompted
me
to
choose
this
scene
for
the
interview
that
you
desired
,
"
answered
Ellen
.
Both
spoke
in
a
subdued
tone
—
but
not
so
low
as
to
prevent
the
Greek
Brigand
,
who
was
standing
near
,
from
overhearing
every
word
they
uttered
.
"
Mr.
Tracy
,
"
continued
Ellen
,
"
why
did
you
entrust
your
message
of
love
to
another
?
why
could
you
not
impart
with
your
own
lips
that
which
you
were
anxious
to
communicate
to
me
?
"
"
Dearest
Ellen
,
"
answered
the
rector
,
"
I
dared
not
open
my
heart
to
you
in
person
—
I
was
compelled
to
do
so
by
means
of
another
.
"
"
If
your
passion
be
an
honourable
one
,
"
said
Ellen
,
"
there
was
no
need
to
feel
shame
in
revealing
it
.
"
"
My
passion
is
most
sincere
,
Ellen
.
I
would
die
for
you
!
Oh
!
from
the
first
moment
that
I
beheld
you
by
your
father
's
sick-bed
,
I
felt
myself
drawn
towards
you
by
an
irresistible
influence
;
and
each
time
that
I
have
since
seen
you
has
only
tended
to
rivet
more
firmly
the
chain
which
makes
me
your
slave
.
Have
I
not
given
you
an
unquestionable
proof
of
my
sincerity
by
meeting
you
here
?
"
"
A
proof
of
your
desire
to
please
me
,
no
doubt
,
"
said
Ellen
.
"
But
what
proof
have
I
that
your
passion
is
an
honourable
one
?
You
speak
of
its
sincerity
—
you
avoid
all
allusion
to
the
terms
on
which
you
would
desire
me
to
return
it
.
"
"
What
terms
do
you
demand
?
"
asked
the
rector
.
"
Shall
I
lay
my
whole
fortune
at
your
feet
?
Shall
I
purchase
a
splendid
house
,
with
costly
appointments
,
for
you
?
In
a
word
,
what
proof
of
my
love
do
you
require
?
"
"
Are
you
speaking
as
a
man
who
would
make
a
settlement
upon
a
wife
,
or
as
one
who
is
endeavouring
to
arrange
terms
with
a
mistress
?
"
demanded
Ellen
.
"
My
sweet
girl
,
"
replied
Reginald
,
"
know
you
not
that
,
throughout
my
career
,
I
have
from
the
pulpit
denounced
the
practice
of
a
man
in
holy
orders
marrying
,
and
that
I
have
more
than
once
declared
—
solemnly
declared
—
my
intention
of
remaining
single
upon
principle
?
You
would
not
wish
me
to
commit
an
inconsistency
which
might
throw
a
suspicion
upon
my
whole
life
?
"
"
Then
,
sir
,
by
what
right
do
you
presume
that
I
will
compromise
my
fair
fame
for
your
sake
,
if
you
tremble
to
sacrifice
your
reputation
for
mine
?
"
asked
Ellen
.
"
Is
every
compromise
to
be
effected
by
poor
woman
,
and
shall
man
make
no
sacrifice
for
her
?
Are
you
vile
,
or
base
,
or
cowardly
enough
to
ask
me
to
desert
home
and
friends
to
gratify
your
selfish
passion
,
while
you
carefully
shroud
your
weakness
beneath
the
hypocritical
cloak
of
a
reputed
sanctity
?
Was
it
to
hear
such
language
as
this
that
I
agreed
to
meet
you
?
But
know
,
sir
,
that
you
have
greatly
—
oh
!
greatly
mistaken
me
!
By
the
most
unmanly
—
the
most
disgraceful
means
you
endeavoured
to
wring
from
me
,
a
few
days
ago
,
a
secret
which
certain
expressions
of
mine
,
incautiously
uttered
over
what
I
conceived
to
be
my
father
's
death-bed
,
had
perhaps
made
you
more
than
half
suspect
.
Those
words
,
which
escaped
me
in
a
moment
of
bitter
anguish
,
you
treasured
up
,
and
converted
them
into
the
text
for
a
sermon
which
you
preached
me
.
"
"
Ellen
,
"
murmured
the
rector
;
"
why
these
reproaches
?
"
"
Oh
!
why
these
reproaches
?
—
I
will
tell
you
,
"
continued
the
young
lady
,
whose
bosom
palpitated
violently
beneath
the
dualma
.
"
Do
you
think
that
you
did
well
to
press
me
to
reveal
the
secret
of
my
shame
?
Do
you
think
that
you
adopted
an
honourable
means
to
discover
it
?
When
you
addressed
me
in
that
saintly
manner
—
a
manner
which
I
now
know
to
have
been
that
of
a
vile
hypocrisy
—
I
actually
believed
you
to
be
sincere
;
for
the
time
I
fancied
that
a
man
of
God
was
offering
me
consolation
.
Nevertheless
,
think
you
that
my
feelings
were
not
wounded
?
But
an
accident
made
you
acquainted
with
that
truth
which
you
vainly
endeavoured
to
extort
from
me
!
And
now
you
perhaps
believe
that
I
cannot
read
your
heart
.
Oh
!
I
can
fathom
its
depths
but
too
well
.
You
cherish
the
idea
that
because
I
have
been
frail
once
,
I
am
fair
game
for
a
licentious
sportsman
like
you
.
You
are
wrong
,
sir
—
you
are
wrong
.
I
never
erred
but
once
—
but
once
,
mark
you
;
—
and
then
not
through
passion
—
nor
through
love
—
nor
in
a
moment
of
surprise
.
I
erred
deliberately
—
no
matter
why
.
The
result
was
the
child
whom
you
have
seen
.
But
never
,
never
will
I
err
more
—
no
,
not
even
though
tempted
,
as
I
have
been
,
by
the
father
of
my
child
!
You
sent
to
me
a
messenger
—
the
same
filthy
hag
who
pandered
to
my
first
,
my
only
disgrace
,
—
you
sent
her
as
your
herald
of
love
.
Ah
!
sir
,
you
must
have
already
plunged
into
ways
at
variance
with
the
sanctity
of
your
character
—
or
you
could
not
have
known
her
!
I
told
her
—
as
I
now
assure
you
—
that
I
do
not
affect
a
virtue
which
I
possess
not
;
—
but
if
I
henceforth
remain
pure
and
chaste
,
it
is
because
I
am
a
mother
—
because
I
love
my
child
—
because
I
will
keep
myself
worthy
of
the
respect
of
him
who
is
the
father
of
that
child
,
should
God
ever
move
his
heart
towards
me
.
Say
then
that
I
am
virtuous
upon
calculation
—
I
care
not
:
still
I
am
virtuous
!
"
The
individual
in
the
garb
of
the
Greek
Bandit
drew
a
pace
or
two
nearer
as
these
words
met
his
ears
.
Neither
the
rector
nor
Ellen
observed
that
he
was
paying
any
attention
to
them
:
on
the
contrary
,
he
appeared
to
be
entirely
occupied
in
contemplating
the
dancers
from
beneath
his
impervious
mask
.
"
Ellen
,
what
means
all
this
?
"
asked
Reginald
:
"
are
you
angry
with
me
?
You
alarm
me
!
"
"
Suffer
me
to
proceed
,
that
you
may
understand
me
fully
,
"
said
Ellen
.
"
You
mercilessly
sought
to
cover
me
with
humiliation
,
when
you
rudely
probed
that
wound
in
my
heart
,
the
existence
of
which
an
unguarded
expression
of
mine
had
revealed
to
you
.
Your
conduct
was
base
—
was
cowardly
;
and
,
as
a
woman
,
I
eagerly
embraced
the
opportunity
to
avenge
myself
.
"
"
To
avenge
yourself
!
"
faltered
Reginald
,
nearly
sinking
with
terror
as
these
words
fell
upon
his
ears
.
"
Yes
—
to
avenge
myself
,
"
repeated
Ellen
hastily
.
"
When
your
messenger
—
that
vile
agent
of
crime
—
proposed
to
me
that
I
should
grant
you
an
interview
,
I
bethought
myself
of
this
ball
which
I
had
seen
announced
in
the
newspapers
.
It
struck
me
that
if
I
could
induce
you
—
you
,
the
man
of
sanctity
—
to
clothe
yourself
in
the
mummery
of
a
mask
and
meet
me
at
a
scene
which
you
and
your
fellow-ecclesiastics
denounce
as
one
worthy
of
Satan
,
I
should
hurl
back
with
tenfold
effect
that
deep
,
deep
humiliation
which
you
visited
upon
me
.
It
was
for
this
that
I
made
the
appointment
here
to-night
—
for
this
that
I
retired
early
to
my
chamber
,
and
thence
stole
forth
unknown
to
my
father
and
my
benefactor
—
for
this
that
I
now
form
one
at
an
assembly
which
has
no
charms
for
me
!
My
intention
was
to
seize
an
opportunity
to
tear
your
disguise
from
you
,
and
allow
all
present
to
behold
amongst
them
the
immaculate
rector
of
Saint
David
's
.
But
I
will
be
more
merciful
to
you
than
you
were
to
me
:
I
will
not
inflict
upon
you
that
last
and
most
poignant
humiliation
!
"
"
My
God
!
Miss
Monroe
,
are
you
serious
?
"
said
the
rector
,
deeply
humbled
;
"
or
is
this
merely
a
portion
of
the
pastime
?
"
"
Does
it
seem
sport
to
you
?
"
asked
Ellen
:
"
if
so
,
I
will
continue
it
,
and
wind
it
up
with
the
scene
which
I
had
abandoned
.
"
"
For
heaven
's
sake
,
do
not
expose
me
,
Miss
Monroe
!
"
murmured
Reginald
,
now
writhing
in
agony
at
the
turn
which
the
matter
had
taken
.
"
Let
me
depart
—
and
forget
that
I
ever
dared
to
address
you
rudely
.
"
"
Yes
—
go
,
"
said
Ellen
:
"
you
are
punished
sufficiently
.
You
possess
the
secret
of
my
frailty
—
I
possess
the
secret
of
your
hypocrisy
:
beware
of
the
use
you
make
of
your
knowledge
of
me
,
lest
I
retaliate
by
exposing
you
.
"
There
was
something
very
terrible
in
the
lesson
which
that
young
woman
gave
the
libidinous
priest
on
this
occasion
;
and
he
felt
it
in
its
full
force
.
Cowering
within
himself
,
he
uttered
not
another
word
,
but
stole
away
,
completely
subdued
—
cruelly
humiliated
.
Ellen
lingered
for
a
few
moments
on
the
spot
where
she
had
so
effectually
chastised
the
insolent
hypocrite
;
and
then
hastily
retired
.
The
Greek
Brigand
made
a
movement
as
if
he
were
about
to
follow
her
;
but
,
yielding
to
a
second
thought
,
he
stopped
,
murmuring
,
"
By
heavens
!
she
is
a
noble
creature
!
"
CHAPTER
CL
.
MRS.
KENRICK
.
The
rector
of
Saint
David
's
returned
home
a
prey
to
the
most
unenviable
feelings
.
Rage
—
disappointment
—
humiliation
conspired
to
make
him
mad
.
The
old
hag
had
raised
his
hopes
to
the
highest
pitch
;
and
at
the
moment
when
the
cup
of
bliss
seemed
to
approach
his
lips
,
it
was
rudely
dashed
away
.
A
woman
had
triumphed
over
him
—
mocked
his
passion
—
spurned
his
offers
—
read
him
a
lesson
of
morality
—
taught
him
that
proud
man
must
not
always
domineer
over
feminine
weakness
.
Oh
!
it
was
too
much
for
that
haughty
—
that
vain
—
that
self-sufficient
ecclesiastic
to
endure
!
As
he
returned
home
in
a
hired
cab
,
he
threw
from
the
window
of
the
vehicle
the
Carmelite
gown
and
cowl
which
he
had
worn
;
and
bitterly
did
he
reproach
himself
for
his
folly
in
having
been
seduced
into
the
degradation
of
that
masqued
mummery
.
Arrived
at
his
own
house
,
he
rushed
past
the
housekeeper
who
opened
the
door
,
and
was
hurrying
up-stairs
to
the
solitude
of
his
chamber
,
when
the
voice
of
the
old
lady
compelled
him
to
pause
.
"
Mr.
Tracy
—
Mr.
Tracy
,
"
she
exclaimed
;
"
here
is
a
note
from
Lady
Harborough
.
"
"
Tell
Lady
Harborough
to
go
to
the
devil
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
!
"
cried
the
rector
,
goaded
almost
to
madness
by
this
new
proof
of
Cecilia
's
indiscretion
.
The
old
housekeeper
dropped
the
candle
and
the
note
,
as
if
she
were
thunderstruck
.
Was
it
possible
that
she
had
heard
aright
?
could
such
an
expression
have
emanated
from
the
lips
of
her
master
—
of
that
man
whom
the
world
idolized
?
"
What
is
the
matter
now
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
?
"
asked
the
rector
,
suddenly
recovering
his
presence
of
mind
,
and
perceiving
the
immense
error
into
which
his
excited
feelings
had
betrayed
him
.
"
Nothing
,
sir
—
nothing
,
"
answered
the
housekeeper
,
as
she
re-lighted
her
candle
by
means
of
a
lamp
which
was
standing
on
the
hall-table
;
"
only
I
thought
that
something
very
terrible
had
occurred
to
annoy
you
.
"
"
Yes
—
yes
—
I
have
indeed
been
grievously
annoyed
,
"
said
Reginald
;
"
and
you
must
forgive
my
hasty
conduct
.
I
was
wrong
—
very
wrong
.
Do
not
think
anything
more
of
it
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
.
But
did
you
not
observe
that
Lady
Harborough
had
sent
a
message
—
—
"
"
A
note
,
sir
.
Here
it
is
.
"
And
as
the
housekeeper
handed
her
master
the
perfumed
billet
,
she
cast
a
scrutinizing
glance
upon
his
countenance
.
He
was
as
pale
as
death
—
his
lips
quivered
—
and
his
eyes
had
a
wild
expression
.
"
I
am
afraid
,
sir
,
that
something
very
dreadful
has
happened
to
you
,
"
she
observed
timidly
.
"
Shall
I
send
for
the
physician
?
"
"
No
—
no
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
:
I
shall
be
quite
well
in
the
morning
.
I
have
received
a
violent
shock
—
the
sudden
communication
of
ill
news
—
the
death
of
a
dear
friend
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
sir
,
I
was
convinced
that
all
was
not
right
,
"
observed
the
housekeeper
.
"
If
you
would
follow
my
advice
you
would
take
something
to
compose
you
—
to
make
you
sleep
well
—
—
"
"
An
excellent
thought
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
!
If
it
be
not
too
late
,
I
wish
you
would
send
and
procure
me
a
little
laudanum
:
I
will
take
a
few
drops
to
ensure
a
sound
slumber
.
"
"
I
will
do
so
,
sir
,
"
answered
the
housekeeper
.
She
then
repaired
to
the
kitchen
,
while
Reginald
hurried
up
to
his
own
chamber
to
read
Lady
Cecilia
's
letter
,
the
contents
of
which
ran
as
follow
:
—
"
Nearly
a
week
has
elapsed
,
dearest
Reginald
,
and
I
have
not
seen
you
!
neither
have
I
heard
from
you
.
What
is
the
meaning
of
this
?
Is
it
neglect
,
or
extreme
caution
?
At
all
events
the
interval
which
you
enjoined
for
the
cessation
of
my
visits
to
you
,
has
nearly
expired
;
and
my
impatience
will
brook
no
longer
delay
.
I
must
see
you
to-night
!
Precisely
as
the
clock
strikes
twelve
,
I
will
be
at
your
front-door
,
when
you
must
admit
me
as
on
previous
occasions
—
or
I
shall
imagine
that
you
are
already
wearied
of
your
"
CECILIA
.
"
"
After
all
,
"
said
the
rector
,
"
the
presence
of
Cecilia
will
in
some
degree
console
me
for
my
disappointment
of
this
evening
!
I
cannot
remain
alone
with
my
reflections
—
it
drives
me
mad
to
think
of
what
I
am
,
and
what
I
have
been
!
And
laudanum
is
a
miserable
resource
for
one
who
dreads
a
sleepless
night
:
it
peoples
slumber
with
hideous
phantoms
.
Yes
—
I
will
admit
Cecilia
at
the
appointed
hour
:
—
my
housekeeper
does
not
suspect
me
—
my
guilty
conscience
alone
makes
me
think
at
times
that
she
reads
the
secrets
of
my
soul
?
"
The
rector
seated
himself
before
the
cheerful
fire
which
burnt
in
the
grate
,
and
fell
into
a
long
train
of
voluptuous
meditation
.
He
had
become
in
so
short
a
time
a
confirmed
sensualist
;
and
now
that
his
long
pent-up
passions
had
broken
loose
,
they
never
left
him
a
moment
of
repose
.
His
reverie
was
interrupted
by
a
knock
at
the
door
;
and
Mrs.
Kenrick
entered
.
"
Kate
was
fortunate
enough
to
find
a
druggist
's
shop
open
,
sir
,
"
she
said
,
"
and
procured
some
laudanum
.
But
pray
be
cautious
how
you
use
it
.
"
"
Never
fear
,
"
returned
the
rector
:
"
I
may
not
avail
myself
of
it
at
all
—
for
I
feel
more
composed
now
.
"
The
housekeeper
wished
her
master
a
good
night
's
rest
,
and
withdrew
.
The
rector
then
took
a
decanter
of
wine
from
a
cupboard
,
and
tossed
off
two
glasses
full
,
one
immediately
after
the
other
.
The
idea
that
Cecilia
would
shortly
be
there
and
the
effects
of
the
wine
inflamed
his
blood
,
and
brought
back
the
colour
to
his
cheeks
.
Midnight
soon
sounded
:
the
rector
threw
off
his
shoes
,
took
a
candle
in
his
hand
,
and
hastened
down
stairs
.
He
opened
the
front-door
with
the
utmost
caution
;
and
a
female
,
muffled
in
an
ample
cloak
,
darted
into
the
hall
.
"
Cecilia
?
"
whispered
the
rector
.
"
Dearest
Reginald
,
"
answered
the
lady
,
in
the
same
under
tone
.
They
then
stole
noiselessly
up
stairs
,
and
reached
the
rector
's
chamber
without
having
scarcely
awakened
the
faintest
echo
in
the
house
.
The
remainder
of
the
night
was
passed
by
them
in
the
intoxicating
joys
of
illicit
love
.
Locked
in
Cecilia
's
arms
,
the
rector
forgot
the
humiliation
he
had
received
at
the
hands
of
Ellen
,
and
abandoned
himself
to
those
pleasures
for
which
he
risked
so
much
!
It
was
still
dark
—
though
at
a
later
hour
in
the
morning
than
Cecilia
had
been
previously
in
the
habit
of
quitting
the
rector
's
house
—
when
the
guilty
pair
stole
softly
down
stairs
,
without
a
light
.
"
Hasten
,
Cecilia
,
"
murmured
the
rector
:
"
it
is
later
than
you
imagine
.
"
"
My
God
!
"
whispered
the
lady
:
"
I
hear
a
step
ascending
!
"
The
rector
listened
for
a
moment
,
and
then
said
in
a
faint
tone
,
"
Yes
:
we
are
lost
!
"
A
light
flashed
on
the
wall
a
few
steps
beneath
those
on
which
they
were
standing
:
it
was
too
late
to
retreat
;
and
in
another
moment
Mrs.
Kenrick
made
her
appearance
on
the
stairs
.
"
What
!
Mr.
Tracy
?
"
ejaculated
the
housekeeper
,
her
eyes
glancing
from
the
rector
in
his
dressing-gown
to
the
lady
in
her
cloak
.
Then
the
good
woman
stood
motionless
and
silent
—
her
tongue
tied
,
and
her
feet
rooted
to
the
spot
,
with
astonishment
.
Lady
Cecilia
drew
her
veil
hastily
over
her
countenance
;
but
not
before
Mrs.
Kenrick
had
recognised
her
.
A
thousand
ideas
passed
rapidly
through
the
rector
's
brain
during
the
two
or
three
moments
that
succeeded
this
encounter
.
At
first
he
thought
of
inventing
some
excuse
for
his
awkward
situation
;
—
next
he
felt
inclined
to
spring
upon
his
old
housekeeper
and
strangle
her
;
—
then
he
conceived
the
desperate
idea
of
rushing
back
to
his
room
and
blowing
his
brains
out
.
"
Mrs.
Kenrick
,
"
at
length
he
exclaimed
,
"
I
hope
you
will
say
nothing
of
this
.
"
The
housekeeper
made
no
reply
to
her
master
;
but
,
turning
a
contemptuous
glance
upon
the
lady
,
said
,
"
Madam
,
allow
me
to
conduct
you
to
the
front
door
.
"
Cecilia
followed
her
mechanically
;
and
Reginald
rushed
up
the
stairs
to
his
room
,
a
prey
to
emotions
more
readily
conceived
than
described
.
The
housekeeper
preceded
Lady
Cecilia
in
silence
,
and
opened
the
front
door
.
"
My
dear
Mrs.
Kenrick
,
"
said
the
frail
patrician
,
who
had
now
nearly
recovered
her
presence
of
mind
,
"
I
hope
you
will
take
no
notice
of
this
unpleasant
discovery
.
"
"
I
shall
remain
silent
,
madam
,
"
answered
the
housekeeper
;
"
but
through
no
respect
for
you
.
I
however
value
the
reputation
of
a
master
whom
I
have
served
for
many
years
,
too
much
to
be
the
means
of
ruining
him
.
"
She
then
closed
the
door
unceremoniously
,
and
,
seating
herself
on
one
of
the
mahogany
benches
in
the
hall
,
burst
into
tears
.
That
good
woman
loved
her
master
with
a
maternal
affection
;
and
she
was
shocked
at
this
dread
confirmation
of
the
faint
suspicions
which
she
had
already
entertained
,
and
which
had
so
sorely
afflicted
her
.
"
It
is
then
true
!
"
she
thought
within
herself
.
"
He
has
fallen
!
He
is
a
living
,
breathing
falsehood
.
His
eloquence
is
a
mere
talent
,
and
not
the
spontaneous
outpouring
of
holy
conviction
!
The
world
adores
an
idle
delusion
—
worships
a
vain
phantom
.
Oh
!
what
a
discovery
is
this
!
How
can
I
ever
respect
him
more
?
how
can
I
ever
talk
with
others
of
his
virtues
again
?
And
yet
he
may
repent
—
oh
!
God
grant
that
he
may
!
Yes
—
he
must
repent
:
he
must
again
become
the
great
,
the
good
man
he
once
was
!
It
behoves
me
,
then
,
to
shield
his
guilt
:
—
at
the
same
time
all
temptation
should
be
removed
from
his
presence
.
Ah
!
now
I
bethink
me
that
he
has
cast
wistful
eyes
upon
that
poor
girl
whom
he
has
taken
into
the
establishment
.
I
must
remove
her
:
yes
—
I
will
remove
her
,
upon
my
own
authority
.
He
will
thank
me
hereafter
for
my
prudence
.
"
Thus
did
the
good
woman
reason
within
herself
.
When
she
had
somewhat
recovered
from
the
first
shock
which
the
unpleasant
discovery
of
her
master
's
criminality
had
produced
upon
her
,
she
repaired
to
her
domestic
avocations
.
Kate
was
already
in
the
kitchen
,
occupied
with
her
usual
duties
.
"
Katherine
,
my
dear
child
,
"
said
Mrs.
Kenrick
,
"
I
am
going
to
give
you
my
advice
—
or
rather
to
propose
to
you
a
plan
which
I
have
formed
—
relative
to
you
—
—
"
"
To
me
,
ma'am
?
"
exclaimed
the
young
maiden
,
desisting
from
her
employment
,
and
preparing
to
listen
with
attention
.
"
Yes
,
my
dear
girl
,
"
continued
the
housekeeper
;
"
and
when
I
tell
you
that
it
is
for
your
good
—
entirely
for
your
good
—
you
would
thank
me
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
I
do
,
ma'am
—
I
thank
you
in
advance
,
"
said
Kate
;
"
for
I
have
already
experienced
too
much
kindness
at
your
hands
not
to
feel
convinced
that
all
you
propose
is
for
my
good
.
"
"
Well
,
then
,
my
dear
—
without
giving
you
any
reasons
for
my
present
conduct
—
I
am
anxious
that
you
should
leave
this
house
—
—
"
"
Leave
,
ma'am
?
"
cried
Kate
,
astonished
at
this
unexpected
announcement
.
"
Yes
,
Katherine
:
you
must
leave
this
house
,
"
proceeded
Mrs.
Kenrick
.
"
But
think
not
that
you
will
be
unprovided
for
.
I
have
a
sister
who
resides
a
few
miles
from
London
;
and
to
her
care
I
shall
recommend
you
.
She
will
be
a
mother
to
you
.
"
"
But
why
would
you
remove
me
from
the
roof
of
my
benefactor
?
"
asked
Kate
:
"
why
would
you
send
me
away
from
London
,
where
my
only
relations
on
the
face
of
the
earth
reside
?
"
she
added
,
bursting
into
tears
;
for
she
thought
of
her
poor
persecuted
cousin
the
hump-back
.
"
Do
not
ask
me
,
my
good
child
,
"
returned
Mrs.
Kenrick
:
"
my
reasons
are
of
a
nature
which
cannot
be
communicated
to
you
.
And
yet
—
if
you
knew
them
,
and
could
rightly
understand
them
—
you
would
not
object
—
—
"
"
Alas
!
ma'am
,
I
am
afraid
that
I
understand
them
but
too
well
,
"
interrupted
the
girl
:
"
the
executioner
's
niece
brings
discredit
upon
the
house
of
her
benefactor
.
"
"
Oh
!
no
—
no
,
"
exclaimed
the
good-natured
housekeeper
;
"
do
not
entertain
such
an
idea
!
Not
for
worlds
would
I
have
you
labour
under
such
an
error
.
You
know
I
would
not
tell
a
falsehood
;
and
I
declare
most
solemnly
that
you
have
totally
misunderstood
me
and
my
motives
.
"
There
was
an
earnestness
in
the
way
in
which
Mrs.
Kenrick
spoke
that
immediately
removed
from
Katherine
's
mind
the
suspicion
she
had
entertained
.
"
Why
should
you
send
the
poor
girl
away
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
?
"
said
the
footman
,
now
suddenly
emerging
from
the
pantry
,
which
joined
the
kitchen
.
"
Have
you
overheard
our
conversation
,
then
,
Thomas
?
"
exclaimed
Mrs.
Kenrick
,
angrily
.
"
I
could
n't
very
well
avoid
it
,
"
answered
the
footman
,
"
since
I
was
in
there
all
the
time
.
"
"
It
would
have
been
more
discreet
on
your
part
to
have
let
us
know
that
you
were
there
,
when
you
heard
a
private
conversation
begin
,
"
remarked
the
housekeeper
.
"
How
should
I
know
the
conversation
was
private
?
"
exclaimed
Thomas
.
"
I
suppose
you
're
jealous
of
the
girl
,
and
want
to
get
rid
of
her
.
"
"
You
must
value
your
place
very
little
by
speaking
to
me
in
this
way
,
"
said
Mrs.
Kenrick
.
"
However
,
I
scorn
your
base
allusions
.
And
you
,
my
dear
,
"
she
continued
,
now
addressing
herself
to
Katherine
,
"
look
upon
me
as
your
friend
—
your
very
sincere
friend
.
What
I
am
doing
is
for
your
good
:
to-day
I
will
write
to
my
sister
—
and
to-morrow
you
shall
,
proceed
to
her
abode
.
"
The
housekeeper
then
resumed
her
avocations
with
the
complacency
of
one
conscious
of
having
performed
a
duty
.
"
Thomas
,
"
she
said
,
after
a
pause
,
"
go
up
and
inquire
if
your
master
will
have
breakfast
served
in
his
own
chamber
,
or
in
the
parlour
.
"
The
footman
hastened
to
obey
this
order
.
"
Master
says
he
is
very
unwell
,
and
desires
no
breakfast
at
all
,
"
was
the
information
which
the
man
gave
on
his
return
to
the
kitchen
.
The
housekeeper
made
no
reply
:
she
was
however
pleased
when
she
reflected
that
the
rector
felt
his
situation
—
a
state
of
mind
which
she
hoped
would
lead
to
complete
repentance
and
reform
.
The
morning
passed
:
the
afternoon
arrived
:
and
still
Reginald
Tracy
kept
his
room
.
The
housekeeper
sent
the
footman
up
to
ask
if
he
required
any
thing
.
Thomas
returned
with
a
negative
answer
,
adding
"
Master
spoke
to
me
without
opening
the
door
,
and
seemed
by
his
tone
of
voice
to
be
very
unwell
.
"
Again
the
housekeeper
remained
silent
,
more
convinced
than
before
that
contrition
was
working
its
good
effects
with
her
master
.
Hour
after
hour
passed
;
the
sun
went
down
;
and
darkness
once
more
drew
its
veil
over
the
mighty
city
.
Mrs.
Kenrick
again
sent
up
Thomas
with
the
same
inquiry
as
before
.
The
servant
returned
to
the
kitchen
with
a
letter
in
his
hand
.
"
This
time
master
opened
the
door
,
"
he
said
;
"
and
gave
me
this
letter
to
take
up
to
Mr.
Markham
at
Holloway
.
But
I
shall
take
the
omnibus
there
and
back
.
"
Thomas
then
departed
to
execute
his
commission
.
Shortly
after
he
was
gone
,
the
bell
of
the
rector
's
room
rang
.
Mrs.
Kenrick
hastened
to
answer
it
.
She
found
Mr.
Tracy
sitting
in
a
musing
attitude
before
the
fire
in
his
bed-room
.
"
My
dear
Mrs.
Kenrick
,
"
he
said
,
"
I
wish
to
have
some
conversation
with
you
—
I
need
scarcely
now
explain
upon
what
subject
.
I
have
sent
Thomas
out
of
the
way
with
an
excuse
:
do
you
get
rid
of
Katherine
for
an
hour
;
I
am
faint
—
and
require
refreshment
;
and
I
will
take
my
tea
with
you
in
the
kitchen
.
"
"
In
the
kitchen
,
sir
!
"
exclaimed
the
housekeeper
,
in
surprise
.
"
Yes
—
if
you
will
permit
me
,
"
answered
the
rector
:
"
I
can
then
converse
with
you
at
the
same
time
.
"
Mrs.
Kenrick
left
the
room
to
execute
her
master
's
wishes
;
and
,
as
she
descended
the
stairs
,
she
thought
within
herself
,
"
I
am
right
!
he
has
repented
:
he
will
become
the
virtuous
and
upright
man
he
once
was
!
"
And
the
good
woman
experienced
a
pleasure
as
sincere
as
if
any
one
had
announced
to
her
that
she
was
entitled
to
a
princely
fortune
.
To
send
Katherine
out
of
the
way
for
an
hour
was
no
difficult
matter
.
The
old
housekeeper
gave
her
leave
to
repair
to
Saint
Giles
's
to
visit
her
relatives
;
and
the
young
girl
,
thinking
that
her
uncle
might
repent
of
his
recent
harshness
towards
her
,
now
that
she
was
no
longer
dependant
upon
him
,
gladly
availed
herself
of
this
permission
.
Katherine
accordingly
proceeded
to
Saint
Giles
's
;
and
the
moment
she
had
left
the
house
Mrs.
Kenrick
spread
the
kitchen
table
with
the
tea-things
.
CHAPTER
CLI
.
A
MYSTERIOUS
DEED
.
Katherine
tripped
lightly
along
towards
Saint
Giles
's
;
but
as
she
drew
near
her
uncle
's
door
,
she
relaxed
her
speed
,
and
her
heart
grew
somewhat
heavy
.
She
was
afraid
of
experiencing
an
unkind
reception
.
It
was
,
therefore
,
with
a
pleasure
the
more
lively
as
it
was
unexpected
,
that
the
poor
girl
found
herself
welcomed
by
a
smile
on
the
part
of
her
dreaded
relative
.
"
Come
in
,
Kate
,
"
said
he
,
when
he
perceived
his
niece
;
"
I
felt
myself
dull
and
lonely
,
and
was
just
thinking
of
you
as
you
knocked
at
the
door
.
I
'm
almost
sorry
that
I
ever
parted
with
you
;
but
as
you
're
now
in
a
place
that
may
do
you
good
I
shall
not
interfere
with
you
.
"
"
I
am
very
much
obliged
to
you
for
thinking
so
kindly
of
me
,
uncle
,
"
said
Kate
,
wiping
away
a
tear
,
as
she
followed
Smithers
into
the
little
parlour
,
which
,
somehow
or
another
,
did
not
look
so
neat
as
it
had
been
wont
to
do
in
her
time
.
"
I
ca
n't
help
thinking
of
you
now
and
then
,
Kate
,
"
continued
Smithers
.
"
But
,
I
say
,
"
he
added
abruptly
,
"
I
hope
you
've
forgotten
all
about
the
manner
in
which
we
parted
t'other
day
?
"
"
Oh
!
indeed
I
have
,
uncle
,
"
answered
the
girl
,
more
and
more
astonished
at
this
unusual
urbanity
of
manner
.
"
I
am
not
happy
—
I
'm
not
comfortable
in
my
mind
,
somehow
,
"
said
Smithers
,
after
a
short
pause
.
"
Since
the
night
before
last
I
have
n't
been
myself
.
"
"
What
ails
you
?
"
asked
Kate
,
kindly
.
"
I
think
my
last
hour
's
drawing
nigh
,
Kate
,
"
returned
the
public
executioner
,
sinking
his
voice
to
a
low
and
mysterious
whisper
;
but
,
at
the
same
time
,
his
countenance
grew
deadly
pale
,
and
he
cast
a
shuddering
look
around
him
.
"
You
are
low-spirited
,
uncle
—
that
's
all
,
"
said
Kate
,
surveying
him
attentively
—
for
his
peculiarity
of
manner
alarmed
her
.
"
No
—
that
's
not
it
,
Kate
,
"
continued
the
executioner
;
then
,
drawing
his
chair
closer
towards
that
on
which
his
niece
was
seated
,
he
added
,
"
I
have
had
my
warning
.
"
"
Your
warning
,
uncle
!
What
mean
you
?
"
"
I
mean
what
I
say
,
Kate
,
"
proceeded
Smithers
,
in
a
tone
of
deep
dejection
:
"
I
have
had
my
warning
;
and
I
s'pose
it
will
come
three
times
.
"
"
Uncle
—
dear
uncle
,
I
cannot
understand
you
.
You
must
be
unwell
.
Will
you
have
medical
advice
?
Say
—
shall
I
fetch
a
physician
?
"
"
Do
n't
be
silly
,
Kate
:
there
's
nothink
the
matter
with
my
body
;
—
it
's
the
mind
.
But
I
'll
tell
you
what
it
is
,
"
continued
Smithers
,
after
a
few
moments
of
profound
reflection
.
"
It
was
the
night
before
last
.
I
had
been
practising
—
you
know
how
—
—
"
"
Yes
—
yes
,
uncle
,
"
said
Katherine
,
hastily
.
"
And
it
was
close
upon
midnight
,
when
I
thought
I
would
go
to
bed
.
Well
—
I
undressed
myself
,
and
as
there
was
only
a
little
bit
of
candle
left
,
I
did
n't
blow
the
light
out
,
but
put
the
candlestick
into
the
fire-place
.
I
then
got
into
bed
.
In
a
very
few
minutes
I
fell
into
a
sort
of
doze
—
more
asleep
than
awake
though
,
because
I
dreamt
of
the
man
that
I
hanged
yesterday
week
.
I
did
n't
,
however
,
sleep
very
long
;
for
I
woke
with
a
start
just
as
Saint
Giles
's
was
a
striking
twelve
.
The
light
was
flickering
in
the
candlestick
,
for
it
was
just
dying
away
.
You
know
how
a
candle
burnt
down
to
the
socket
flares
at
one
moment
,
and
then
seems
quite
dead
the
next
,
but
revives
again
immediately
afterwards
?
"
"
Yes
,
uncle
,
"
answered
Katherine
;
"
and
I
have
often
thought
that
in
the
silent
and
solemn
midnight
it
is
an
awful
thing
to
see
.
"
"
So
it
struck
me
at
that
moment
,
"
continued
the
executioner
.
"
I
felt
a
strange
sensation
creeping
all
over
me
;
the
candle
flared
and
flickered
;
and
I
thought
it
had
gone
out
.
Then
it
revived
once
more
,
and
threw
a
strong
but
only
a
momentary
light
around
the
room
.
At
that
instant
my
eyes
were
fixed
in
the
direction
of
the
puppet
;
and
,
as
sure
as
you
are
sitting
there
,
Kate
,
another
face
looked
at
me
over
its
shoulder
!
"
"
Oh
!
my
dear
uncle
,
it
was
the
imagination
,
"
said
the
young
girl
,
casting
an
involuntary
glance
of
timidity
around
.
"
Is
a
man
like
me
one
of
the
sort
to
be
deluded
by
the
imagination
?
"
asked
Smithers
,
somewhat
contemptuously
.
"
Have
n't
I
been
too
long
in
a
certain
way
to
have
any
foolish
fears
of
that
sort
?
"
"
But
when
we
are
unwell
,
uncle
,
the
bravest
of
us
may
perceive
strange
visions
,
which
are
nothing
more
than
the
sport
of
the
imagination
,
"
urged
Kate
.
"
I
tell
you
this
had
nothing
to
do
with
the
imagination
,
"
persisted
the
executioner
.
"
I
saw
another
face
as
plain
as
I
see
yours
now
;
and
—
more
than
that
—
its
glassy
eyes
were
fixed
upon
me
in
a
manner
which
I
shall
never
forget
.
It
was
a
warning
—
I
know
it
was
.
"
Kate
made
no
reply
:
she
saw
the
inutility
of
arguing
with
her
uncle
upon
the
subject
;
and
she
was
afraid
of
provoking
his
irritable
temper
by
contending
against
his
obstinacy
.
"
But
we
wo
n't
talk
any
more
about
it
,
Kate
,
"
said
the
executioner
,
after
a
pause
.
"
I
know
how
to
take
it
;
and
it
does
n't
frighten
me
;
it
only
makes
me
dull
.
It
has
n't
prevented
me
from
sleeping
in
my
old
quarters
;
nor
will
it
,
if
I
can
help
it
.
But
you
want
to
be
off
—
I
see
you
are
getting
fidgetty
.
"
"
I
only
received
permission
to
remain
out
one
hour
,
"
answered
Kate
.
"
Is
my
cousin
at
home
?
"
"
The
young
vagabond
!
"
ejaculated
the
executioner
,
whose
irritability
this
question
had
aroused
in
spite
of
the
depression
of
spirits
under
which
he
laboured
;
for
he
could
not
forget
the
unwearied
repugnance
which
Gibbet
manifested
towards
the
paternal
avocations
:
—
"
the
young
vagabond
!
he
is
never
at
home
now
of
an
evening
.
"
"
Never
at
home
of
an
evening
!
"
exclaimed
Kate
,
surprised
at
this
information
.
"
No
,
"
continued
the
executioner
;
"
and
at
first
I
thought
he
went
to
see
you
.
"
"
He
can
only
visit
me
on
Sunday
evenings
,
"
observed
the
young
maiden
.
"
So
he
told
me
yesterday
.
Howsumever
,
he
goes
out
regular
at
dusk
,
and
never
comes
back
till
between
nine
and
ten
—
sometimes
later
.
"
"
Then
I
am
not
likely
to
see
him
this
evening
?
"
exclaimed
Kate
,
in
a
tone
of
disappointment
.
"
That
you
are
not
,
"
replied
the
executioner
.
"
But
I
must
put
a
stop
to
these
rovings
on
his
part
.
"
"
Oh
!
pray
be
kind
to
him
,
uncle
,
"
said
Katherine
,
rising
to
depart
.
"
Kind
indeed
!
"
grumbled
the
man
,
some
of
his
old
surliness
returning
.
Katherine
then
took
leave
of
her
uncle
,
and
hurried
towards
Mr.
Tracy
's
residence
.
She
reached
her
destination
as
the
clock
struck
nine
,
and
entered
the
house
as
usual
,
by
the
back
way
.
She
proceeded
to
the
kitchen
,
where
,
to
her
surprise
,
she
observed
Mrs.
Kenrick
sitting
in
her
arm-chair
,
but
apparently
fast
asleep
.
The
old
housekeeper
's
arms
reposed
upon
the
table
,
and
formed
a
support
for
her
head
which
had
fallen
forwards
.
"
Strange
!
"
thought
Katherine
;
"
this
is
the
first
time
I
have
known
her
sleep
thus
.
"
The
young
maiden
moved
lightly
about
the
kitchen
,
while
she
threw
off
her
bonnet
and
cloak
,
for
fear
of
awaking
the
housekeeper
.
Then
she
sate
down
near
the
fire
,
and
fell
into
a
profound
reverie
concerning
the
strange
tale
which
her
uncle
had
told
her
.
Presently
it
struck
her
that
she
did
not
hear
the
housekeeper
breathe
;
and
an
awful
suspicion
rushed
like
a
torrent
into
her
mind
.
For
some
moments
she
sate
,
motionless
and
almost
breathless
,
in
her
chair
,
with
her
eyes
fixed
upon
the
inclined
form
of
the
housekeeper
.
"
My
God
!
"
at
length
Kate
exclaimed
;
"
she
does
not
breathe
—
she
does
not
move
;
—
and
her
hands
—
oh
!
how
pale
they
are
!
"
Then
,
overcoming
her
terror
,
the
young
maiden
bent
down
her
head
so
as
to
obtain
a
glimpse
of
Mrs.
Kenrick
's
countenance
.
"
Oh
!
heavens
—
she
is
dead
—
she
is
dead
!
"
cried
the
horror-struck
girl
,
as
her
eyes
encountered
a
livid
and
ghastly
face
instead
of
the
healthy
and
good-humoured
one
which
was
familiar
to
her
.
And
Katherine
sank
back
in
her
seat
,
overcome
with
grief
and
terror
.
Suddenly
the
thought
struck
her
that
,
after
all
,
the
housekeeper
might
only
be
in
a
fit
.
Blaming
herself
for
the
delay
which
her
fears
had
occasioned
ere
she
administered
succour
,
Kate
hastened
to
raise
the
old
lady
's
head
.
But
she
let
it
fall
again
when
she
had
obtained
another
glance
of
that
ghastly
countenance
;
—
for
the
eyes
were
fixed
and
glazed
—
the
under
jaw
had
fallen
—
and
the
swollen
tongue
was
lolling
,
dark
and
livid
,
out
of
the
mouth
.
Then
Kate
rushed
into
the
yard
,
screaming
for
help
.
The
rector
's
groom
(
who
also
acted
as
coachman
)
was
in
the
stable
adjoining
;
and
he
immediately
hastened
to
the
spot
.
"
What
is
the
matter
?
"
he
demanded
,
alarmed
by
the
wildness
of
Katherine
's
manner
and
the
piercing
agony
of
her
cries
.
"
Mrs.
Kenrick
is
dead
!
"
replied
Katherine
,
sobbing
bitterly
.
"
Dead
!
"
ejaculated
the
man
;
and
he
instantly
rushed
into
the
kitchen
.
In
a
few
moments
afterwards
the
rector
made
his
appearance
,
and
inquired
the
cause
of
the
screams
which
had
alarmed
him
.
"
Mrs.
Kenrick
is
dead
,
sir
,
"
said
the
groom
.
Katherine
had
flung
herself
into
a
chair
,
and
was
giving
full
vent
to
her
grief
for
the
loss
of
her
benefactress
.
"
Dead
!
"
cried
the
rector
.
"
No
—
let
us
hope
not
.
Run
for
the
nearest
surgeon
—
it
may
only
be
a
fit
!
"
"
I
'm
afraid
it
's
too
late
,
sir
,
"
said
the
groom
,
who
had
now
raised
the
housekeeper
from
her
procumbent
posture
,
and
laid
her
back
in
the
chair
.
"
Who
knows
?
Run
—
run
,
"
exclaimed
the
rector
impatiently
.
The
groom
instantly
departed
;
and
during
his
short
absence
the
rector
was
most
assiduous
in
bathing
the
housekeeper
's
forehead
with
vinegar
and
water
,
and
chafing
her
hands
between
his
own
.
In
a
few
minutes
the
groom
returned
,
accompanied
by
a
surgeon
;
and
the
rector
was
found
in
the
midst
of
his
vain
attentions
.
The
surgeon
's
examination
was
brief
;
but
his
words
were
decisive
,
as
he
said
,
"
All
human
aid
is
vain
,
sir
;
and
those
appearances
are
most
suspicious
.
"
"
What
do
you
mean
?
"
demanded
Reginald
.
"
That
your
servant
is
poisoned
,
"
replied
the
surgeon
.
"
Poisoned
!
"
exclaimed
the
rector
.
"
Oh
!
no
—
you
must
mistake
.
She
would
not
take
poison
herself
,
and
I
do
not
believe
she
has
an
enemy
on
the
face
of
the
earth
.
"
"
Nevertheless
,
Mr.
Tracy
,
"
said
the
surgeon
positively
,
"
she
is
poisoned
.
"
At
these
words
Kate
's
sobs
became
more
convulsive
.
"
But
is
it
too
late
?
"
cried
the
rector
:
"
can
nothing
be
done
?
Is
she
past
recovery
?
"
"
Past
all
human
succour
,
I
repeat
.
"
"
My
poor
servant
—
my
faithful
friend
,
"
exclaimed
Reginald
Tracy
,
burying
his
face
in
his
hands
:
"
Oh
!
what
could
have
induced
her
to
commit
suicide
?
"
"
Suicide
!
"
echoed
Katherine
,
starting
from
her
seat
,
and
coming
forward
:
"
Oh
!
no
,
sir
—
do
not
wrong
her
memory
thus
!
She
was
too
good
—
too
pious
—
too
much
bent
upon
the
mercy
of
her
Redeemer
,
to
commit
such
a
crime
.
"
"
Alas
!
suicide
it
must
have
been
,
my
poor
girl
,
"
said
the
rector
;
"
for
who
could
have
administered
poison
to
so
harmless
,
so
charitable
,
so
humane
a
creature
?
Some
secret
grief
,
perhaps
—
—
"
At
this
moment
Thomas
returned
from
his
mission
to
Markham
Place
.
The
poor
fellow
was
deeply
affected
when
the
dreadful
spectacle
in
the
kitchen
met
his
eyes
,
and
when
the
few
particulars
yet
known
concerning
the
death
of
the
housekeeper
,
or
rather
the
first
discovery
of
her
death
—
were
communicated
to
him
.
"
I
never
shall
forgive
myself
as
long
as
I
live
,
"
exclaimed
Thomas
,
"
for
having
spoken
cross
to
her
,
poor
lady
,
this
morning
.
"
"
Spoken
cross
to
her
!
"
cried
the
rector
.
"
Yes
,
sir
,
"
answered
the
man
;
"
I
said
something
to
her
—
but
I
forget
exactly
what
—
because
she
told
Katherine
that
she
should
send
her
away
from
London
.
"
"
Send
Katherine
away
!
"
said
Reginald
,
in
unfeigned
surprise
.
"
Yes
,
sir
;
and
because
I
saw
the
girl
did
n't
like
it
,
I
took
her
part
against
Mrs.
Kenrick
;
and
I
'm
now
heartily
sorry
for
it
,
"
rejoined
Thomas
,
wiping
away
an
honest
tear
.
"
Young
woman
,
"
said
the
surgeon
,
who
had
been
attentively
examining
Katherine
for
some
moments
,
"
did
you
not
visit
my
shop
last
evening
?
"
"
I
,
sir
!
"
exclaimed
the
young
girl
,
who
was
too
deeply
absorbed
in
grief
at
the
death
of
her
benefactress
to
have
her
ideas
very
clearly
distributed
in
the
proper
cells
of
her
brain
.
"
Yes
,
"
continued
the
surgeon
:
"
the
more
I
look
at
you
,
the
more
I
am
convinced
you
came
last
night
to
my
establishment
and
purchased
a
small
phial
of
laudanum
.
"
"
Oh
!
yes
—
I
remember
,
sir
,
"
said
Katherine
:
"
Mrs.
Kenrick
sent
me
for
it
,
and
told
me
that
it
was
for
my
master
.
"
The
surgeon
threw
an
inquiring
glance
towards
Reginald
.
"
For
me
!
"
ejaculated
the
rector
.
"
So
Mrs.
Kenrick
said
,
sir
,
"
returned
Katherine
:
"
and
the
moment
I
brought
it
in
,
she
went
up
stairs
with
it
.
"
"
You
can
in
one
moment
set
at
rest
that
point
,
sir
,
"
said
the
surgeon
,
with
another
glance
of
inquiry
towards
the
rector
.
"
The
laudanum
was
not
for
me
,
"
answered
Mr.
Tracy
,
calmly
:
"
nor
did
I
order
my
poor
housekeeper
to
obtain
any
.
"
"
O
Katherine
!
"
ejaculated
Thomas
;
"
surely
—
surely
,
you
have
not
done
this
dreadful
deed
!
"
"
I
—
—
a
murderess
!
"
almost
shrieked
the
poor
girl
:
"
Oh
!
no
—
no.
God
forbid
!
"
And
she
clasped
her
hands
together
.
The
surgeon
shook
his
head
mysteriously
.
"
Merciful
heavens
!
"
exclaimed
the
rector
,
who
was
evidently
excited
to
a
painful
degree
,
"
you
do
not
suspect
—
you
cannot
suppose
—
you
do
not
—
cannot
imagine
that
—
this
young
person
—
—
"
"
I
regret
to
state
that
the
matter
is
to
my
mind
most
suspicious
,
"
observed
the
surgeon
,
with
true
professional
calmness
.
"
This
morning
the
housekeeper
informs
that
young
person
she
must
leave
your
establishment
—
—
"
"
But
,
according
to
your
own
admission
,
the
laudanum
was
purchased
last
night
,
"
interrupted
the
rector
.
"
Your
humanity
in
pleading
on
behalf
of
that
young
woman
does
honour
to
your
heart
,
Mr.
Tracy
,
"
said
the
surgeon
;
"
but
was
it
not
likely
that
she
knew
yesterday
of
some
circumstance
which
would
induce
the
housekeeper
to
give
her
warning
to-day
?
and
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
my
God
!
"
cried
the
rector
,
striking
his
forehead
forcibly
with
the
open
palm
of
his
right
hand
.
"
To
a
virtuous
mind
like
yours
I
know
that
such
a
suspicion
must
be
abhorrent
,
"
said
the
surgeon
.
He
then
whispered
a
few
words
to
the
groom
.
The
groom
immediately
went
out
.
"
Mr.
Tracy
—
sir
—
you
cannot
surely
entertain
a
suspicion
against
me
!
"
cried
Katherine
,
in
a
tone
of
the
most
piercing
anguish
.
"
Oh
!
that
poor
creature
was
my
benefactress
;
and
I
would
sooner
have
died
myself
than
have
done
her
wrong
!
"
"
I
believe
you
,
"
exclaimed
the
rector
,
—
"
believe
you
from
the
bottom
of
my
heart
!
"
"
Thank
you
,
Mr.
Tracy
,
"
cried
the
poor
girl
,
falling
upon
her
knees
before
him
,
and
grasping
his
hands
convulsively
in
her
own
.
"
You
are
too
good
—
too
generous
,
"
muttered
the
surgeon
.
"
Be
not
deluded
by
that
tragic
acting
.
At
all
events
I
must
do
my
duty
.
"
"
What
do
you
mean
?
"
cried
the
rector
.
"
You
cannot
say
that
suspicion
attaches
itself
to
this
young
girl
.
I
would
stake
my
existence
upon
her
innocence
!
"
he
added
emphatically
.
"
You
know
not
human
nature
as
I
know
it
,
"
returned
the
surgeon
coolly
.
At
this
moment
the
groom
returned
,
followed
by
a
police-officer
.
"
A
person
has
met
with
her
death
in
a
most
mysterious
manner
,
"
said
the
surgeon
;
"
and
strong
suspicions
point
towards
that
young
female
.
"
Then
followed
one
of
those
heart-rending
scenes
which
defy
the
powers
of
the
most
graphic
pen
to
delineate
.
Amidst
the
wildest
screams
—
and
with
cries
of
despair
which
pierced
even
to
the
stoic
heart
of
the
surgeon
,
who
had
acted
in
a
manner
which
he
had
deemed
merely
consistent
with
his
duty
,
the
unhappy
girl
was
led
away
in
the
custody
of
the
officer
.
"
My
God
!
who
would
have
thought
that
it
would
have
come
to
this
?
"
exclaimed
Reginald
Tracy
,
as
he
precipitated
himself
from
the
kitchen
.
"
The
surgeon
is
right
,
"
observed
Thomas
to
the
groom
;
"
master
is
too
good
a
man
to
believe
in
guilt
of
so
black
a
nature
.
"
CHAPTER
CLII
.
THE
DEATH
BED
.
Early
on
the
morning
which
succeeded
the
arrest
of
Katharine
Wilmot
,
Mr.
Gregory
paid
a
visit
to
Markham
Place
.
The
moment
he
entered
the
room
where
Richard
received
him
,
our
hero
observed
that
some
deep
affliction
weighed
upon
the
mind
of
his
friend
.
"
Mr.
Markham
,
"
said
the
latter
,
in
a
tone
of
profound
anguish
,
"
I
am
come
to
ask
you
a
favour
—
and
you
will
not
refuse
the
last
request
of
a
dying
girl
.
"
"
My
dear
sir
—
what
do
you
mean
?
"
exclaimed
Richard
.
"
Surely
your
daughter
—
—
"
"
Mary-Anne
will
not
long
remain
in
this
world
of
trouble
,
"
interrupted
Mr.
Gregory
,
solemnly
.
"
Hers
will
soon
be
the
common
lot
of
mortals
—
perhaps
to-day
,
perhaps
to-morrow
!
She
must
die
soon
—
God
will
change
her
countenance
and
take
her
unto
himself
.
Oh
!
where
shall
I
find
consolation
?
"
"
Consolation
is
to
be
found
in
the
conviction
that
the
earth
is
no
abiding
place
,
"
answered
Markham
;
"
and
that
there
is
a
world
beyond
.
"
"
Yes
,
truly
,
"
said
the
afflicted
father
.
"
We
stand
upon
the
border
of
an
ocean
which
has
but
one
shore
,
and
whose
heavings
beyond
are
infinite
and
eternal
.
"
There
was
a
pause
,
during
which
Mr.
Gregory
was
wrapped
up
in
painful
reflections
.
"
Come
,
"
said
he
,
at
length
breaking
that
solemn
silence
,
and
taking
Richard
's
hand
;
"
you
will
not
refuse
to
go
with
me
to
the
death-chamber
of
my
daughter
?
You
will
not
offend
against
the
delicacy
of
that
devotion
which
you
owe
to
another
;
for
she
herself
is
also
there
.
"
Richard
gazed
at
Mr.
Gregory
in
astonishment
as
he
uttered
these
words
.
"
Yes
,
my
young
friend
,
"
continued
the
wretched
father
;
"
within
the
last
four
and
twenty
hours
,
Mary-Anne
and
I
have
had
many
explanations
.
By
a
strange
coincidence
,
it
was
at
the
abode
of
Count
Alteroni
that
Mary-Anne
passed
a
few
days
at
the
commencement
of
last
month
,
and
to
which
visit
I
alluded
the
last
time
I
saw
you
,
but
without
particularising
names
.
I
did
not
then
know
that
you
were
even
acquainted
with
the
Alteroni
family
—
much
less
could
I
suspect
that
your
affections
were
fixed
upon
the
Lady
Isabella
.
"
"
And
your
daughter
and
Isabella
are
acquainted
?
"
ejaculated
Markham
,
more
and
more
surprised
at
what
he
heard
.
"
They
are
friends
—
and
at
this
moment
the
Lady
Isabella
is
by
the
bed-side
of
Mary-Anne
.
It
seems
that
the
young
maidens
made
confidants
of
each
other
,
during
my
daughter
's
visit
to
the
Count
's
mansion
;
and
they
then
discovered
that
they
both
loved
the
same
individual
.
"
"
How
strange
that
they
should
have
thus
met
!
"
cried
Markham
.
"
Then
was
it
,
"
continued
Mr.
Gregory
,
"
that
my
daughter
learnt
how
hopeless
was
her
own
passion
!
Oh
!
I
need
not
wonder
if
she
returned
home
heart-broken
and
dying
!
But
your
Isabella
,
Richard
,
is
an
angel
of
goodness
,
virtue
,
and
beauty
!
"
"
She
is
worthy
of
the
loftiest
destinies
!
"
said
Markham
enthusiastically
.
"
She
was
present
when
my
daughter
poured
forth
her
soul
into
my
bosom
,
"
resumed
Mr.
Gregory
;
"
and
Mary-Anne
was
guilty
of
no
breach
of
confidence
in
revealing
to
me
the
love
which
existed
between
the
Signora
and
yourself
.
And
Isabella
,
with
the
most
becoming
modesty
,
confirmed
the
truth
of
Mary-Anne
's
recital
.
But
your
secret
,
Mr.
Markham
,
remains
locked
up
in
my
breast
.
You
are
too
honourable
and
the
Lady
Isabella
is
too
pure-minded
to
act
in
opposition
to
the
will
of
her
father
:
but
God
grant
that
events
may
prove
favourable
to
you
,
and
that
you
may
be
happily
united
!
"
Richard
pressed
the
hand
of
his
respected
friend
in
token
of
gratitude
for
this
kind
wish
.
"
And
now
you
cannot
hesitate
to
take
a
last
farewell
of
my
daughter
,
"
said
Mr.
Gregory
;
"
for
all
danger
of
contagion
from
her
malady
has
passed
.
"
Markham
instantly
prepared
himself
to
accompany
the
unhappy
parent
.
Few
were
the
words
that
passed
between
them
as
they
proceeded
to
the
dwelling
which
was
the
abode
of
sorrow
.
On
their
arrival
Markham
was
shown
into
the
drawing-room
for
a
short
time
;
and
then
the
nurse
came
to
introduce
him
into
the
sick-chamber
.
The
room
was
nearly
dark
;
the
curtains
of
the
bed
were
close
drawn
;
and
thus
the
dying
girl
was
completely
concealed
from
our
hero
.
But
near
the
foot
of
the
bed
was
standing
a
beauteous
form
,
whose
symmetrical
shape
Markham
could
not
fail
to
recognise
.
Isabella
extended
her
hand
towards
him
:
he
pressed
it
in
silence
to
his
lips
.
Mary-Anne
had
heard
his
footsteps
;
and
she
also
gave
him
her
hand
between
the
folds
of
the
curtains
.
"
Sit
down
by
the
bed-side
,
Richard
,
"
whispered
Isabella
:
"
our
poor
friend
is
anxious
to
speak
to
you
.
"
And
Isabella
wept
—
and
Richard
also
wept
;
for
those
noble-minded
beings
could
not
know
,
without
the
liveliest
emotion
,
that
one
so
sweet
,
so
innocent
,
and
so
youthful
,
was
stretched
upon
the
bed
from
which
she
was
destined
never
to
rise
again
.
Markham
seated
himself
by
the
side
of
the
bed
;
and
Isabella
was
about
to
withdraw
.
"
Stay
with
us
,
my
dear
friend
,
"
said
Mary-Anne
,
in
a
plaintive
but
silver
tone
of
voice
,
which
touched
a
chord
of
sympathy
that
vibrated
to
their
very
souls
.
Alas
!
that
dulcet
voice
could
not
move
the
tuneless
ear
of
Death
!
Isabella
obeyed
her
friend
's
wish
in
silence
.
"
This
is
kind
of
you
—
very
kind
,
"
continued
Mary-Anne
,
after
a
brief
pause
,
and
now
evidently
addressing
herself
to
Richard
.
"
I
longed
to
speak
to
you
once
again
before
I
left
this
earthly
scene
for
ever
;
and
that
angel
who
loves
you
,
and
whom
you
love
,
earnestly
implored
my
father
to
procure
for
me
that
last
consolation
.
And
now
that
you
are
both
here
together
—
you
and
that
angel
,
by
