allplaster
and
green
paint
,
surrounded
with
roses
,
hollyhocks
,
and
the
flaring
trash
people
call
flowers
.
There
were
within
the
walls
,
three
noisy
dogs
,
four
ditto
children
,
a
roasting-jack
and
a
mangle
,
all
screeching
at
once
!
It
was
distracting
!
No
!
no
!
I
hate
money
myself
,
but
that
cured
me
of
ever
making
a
mere
bread-and-butter
match
.
"
"
Yet
I
could
live
on
the
bread
without
the
butter
,
for
any
one
I
really
liked
,
or
even
the
butter
without
the
bread
,
"
said
Mr.
Granville
,
smiling
.
"
Money
is
only
the
raw
material
of
enjoyment
,
which
must
be
raised
into
a
fabric
of
solid
strength
,
and
embellished
with
taste
,
to
suit
my
wishes
and
hopes
.
The
hook
and
eye
will
never
be
of
gold
that
attaches
me
,
and
nothing
has
ever
been
so
difficult
to
my
comprehension
as
that
any
one
can
possibly
form
the
nearest
ties
of
life
upon
a
mere
calculation
of
profit
and
loss
!
"
"
Well
,
"
exclaimed
Sir
Patrick
,
who
always
assumed
an
air
of
bravado
before
Mr.
Granville
,
to
conceal
his
real
feelings
,
"
I
am
above
all
the
follies
of
inferior
mortals
,
but
I
do
say
,
that
to
me
,
the
most
interesting
object
in
nature
is
a
young
lady
of
large
,
independent
fortune
,
ready
to
throw
herself
away
on
the
first
man
who
asks
her
!
"
At
this
moment
,
Miss
Smythe
's
sketch-book
fell
to
the
ground
,
while
,
with
a
sudden
exclamation
of
affright
,
she
started
up
,
but
instantly
endeavored
to
recover
herself
,
and
when
Sir
Patrick
had
gathered
up
her
pencils
,
she
received
them
back
with
blush
of
double-dyed
carnation
,
as
if
she
could
never
unblush
again
,
and
making
an
apology
for
having
been
startled
by
the
sudden
apparition
of
a
hare
,
she
silently
resumed
her
occupation
,
and
Sir
Patrick
continued
to
rattle
on
at
his
full
pitch
of
nonsense
,
as
if
nothing
had
occurred
.
"
I
wonder
Lady
Sarah
Marchmont
did
not
wait
another
season
for
me
!
I
was
hastening
rapidly
to
my
last
shilling
,
and
might
possibly
have
been
driven
,
by
stress
of
weather
,
to
propose
,
if
she
had
not
accepted
the
Duke
of
Middlesex
,
in
despair
;
yet
had
she
possessed
a
thousand
pounds
for
every
shilling
,
I
am
not
certain
that
the
most
golden
of
her
gold
could
have
gilded
her
.
—
—
"
"
My
dear
fellow
!
"
interrupted
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
in
his
most
sagacious
tone
,
"
L'amour
fait
beaucoup
,
mais
l'argent
fait
tout
;
it
is
easy
to
say
'
fortune
,
'
but
where
will
you
ever
find
one
weigh
in
the
scale
against
Lady
Sarah
?
"
"
Easily
,
any
day
!
As
the
Spaniards
say
,
'
a
man
of
straw
is
worth
a
woman
of
gold
.
'
Last
season
,
in
London
,
all
the
heiresses
were
dying
for
me
.
"
"
Except
three
who
never
saw
you
.
"
"
And
at
balls
,
when
a
chaperon
asked
any
young
lady
who
she
would
prefer
for
a
partner
,
the
invariable
answer
was
,
in
the
sweetest
voice
imaginable
,
'
Sir
Patrick
Dunbar
!
'
"
"
Or
the
Duke
of
Tunbridge
,
and
he
never
dances
!
"
"
Indeed
,
next
season
I
have
serious
thoughts
of
lending
;
myself
out
to
parties
,
at
so
much
an
hour
.
It
is
all
nonsense
about
fortune
being
blind
!
The
goddess
has
one
eye
left
,
which
has
been
fixed
upon
me
during
the
last
five
years
,
if
I
would
only
accept
her
favors
.
"
"
Well
,
Dunbar
!
We
all
know
that
you
are
like
the
elephant
in
an
Irish
menagerie
,
who
was
the
greatest
elephant
in
the
world
except
himself
.
But
be
warned
in
time
!
They
say
every
man
has
one
opportunity
given
him
of
succeeding
in
life
,
and
if
he
lose
that
,
he
never
has
a
second
!
Positively
,
old
fellow
,
now
is
your
time
!
Do
not
think
me
malicious
,
but
even
I
,
your
best
friend
,
must
allow
that
you
are
growing
fat
.
"
"
Yes
!
"
observed
Agnes
,
in
the
same
rallying
tone
.
"
Pat
is
scarcely
such
a
'
look-and-die
'
person
as
he
was
.
I
remember
him
younger
,
once
!
"
"
Very
true
!
I
am
getting
quite
uneasy
about
you
,
"
added
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
in
an
admonitory
voice
.
"
A
young
lady
's
reign
lasts
from
seventeen
till
twenty
,
and
our
best
days
are
over
at
forty
!
Dunbar
,
shall
I
give
you
a
line
of
recommendation
to
Miss
Howard
?
"
"
A
million
of
thanks
;
but
as
you
never
succeeded
in
recommending
yourself
,
De
Crespigny
,
I
shall
be
better
,
in
case
of
extremity
,
standing
on
my
own
merits
.
"
"
Then
you
will
stand
as
precariously
as
my
old
uncle
Doncaster
,
toiling
up
the
bank
there
,
whose
legs
look
so
thin
,
that
I
often
wonder
he
has
courage
to
venture
upon
them
at
all
.
He
is
most
unfit
to
come
up
hill
,
when
actually
going
down
the
hill
of
life
so
very
fast
,
that
he
might
as
well
be
setting
his
worldly
affairs
in
order
.
"
"
Worldly
affairs
!
He
has
no
other
affairs
,
I
suppose
,
"
replied
Agnes
,
with
a
supercilious
smile
on
her
haughty
lip
.
"
And
I
think
Lord
Doncaster
will
be
able
to
manage
his
own
affairs
for
many
years
to
come
!
He
intends
to
live
as
long
as
Great
Britain
is
an
island
.
Nobody
is
old
,
till
he
feels
old
!
"
Captain
De
Crespigny
looked
at
Agnes
with
a
penetrating
air
of
astonishment
,
which
gradually
changed
to
an
expression
of
satirical
indifference
,
while
he
added
,
"
This
is
an
odd
world
,
Miss
Dunbar
!
"
"
So
it
is
!
When
did
that
idea
first
occur
to
you
?
It
seems
so
very
new
!
"
replied
Agnes
,
in
a
tone
of
biting
satire
.
"
Patrick
has
often
told
me
that
the
De
Crespignys
are
reckoned
a
sagacious
family
;
and
perhaps
,
after
so
bright
a
remark
,
you
may
turn
out
by
no
means
the
sort
of
every-day
person
people
expected
.
"
"
Probably
not
!
I
shall
,
perhaps
,
be
like
Cimon
,
awakened
from
stupidity
by
the
charms
of
a
second
Iphigenia
,
"
said
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
with
an
air
as
if
he
had
surpassed
himself
;
but
the
smile
with
which
Agnes
listened
to
this
characteristic
reply
was
cold
and
transient
as
a
gleam
of
sunshine
on
a
frozen
lake
;
yet
while
her
features
remained
immoveable
as
those
of
a
beautiful
statue
,
a
strange
,
unnatural
fire
sparkled
in
her
splendid
eyes
,
and
with
a
look
of
withering
indignation
she
turned
haughtily
away
to
address
Lord
Doncaster
;
while
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
humming
the
last
opera
tune
,
and
switching
with
his
cane
the
heads
off
all
the
flowers
along
his
path
,
quickened
his
pace
,
and
resumed
his
not
very
welcome
assiduities
to
Marion
,
who
felt
insufferably
annoyed
at
being
obliged
always
to
hear
the
same
nonsense
talked
,
and
to
play
her
part
in
what
she
considered
a
mere
hack
flirtation
on
the
part
of
Captain
De
Crespigny
;
while
she
greatly
wondered
that
he
had
not
long
since
tired
of
always
,
in
her
company
,
drawing
up
an
empty
bucket
.
Sir
Patrick
was
preparing
to
follow
,
when
he
observed
the
young
sketcher
hastily
adding
a
last
touch
to
her
beautiful
drawing
;
and
before
she
could
assemble
all
her
scattered
implements
and
materials
,
which
he
had
assisted
her
to
do
,
the
whole
joyous
party
had
nearly
vanished
out
of
sight
;
while
the
young
Baronet
's
eyes
flashed
with
amazement
,
on
giving
a
clandestine
glance
into
the
sketch-book
,
to
find
there
an
extremely
clever
caricature
of
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
as
he
stood
a
few
minutes
before
,
endeavoring
to
divide
his
attentions
among
the
whole
group
of
ladies
.
On
examining
another
leaf
,
he
found
,
to
his
yet
greater
surprise
,
a
beautiful
likeness
of
Clara
Granville
;
and
turning
instantly
to
his
young
companion
,
with
sudden
emotion
,
he
entreated
permission
to
have
it
copied
.
While
he
was
yet
speaking
,
the
young
lady
,
with
crimsoned
cheeks
,
though
a
lurking
smile
played
about
her
mouth
,
continued
hastily
to
follow
the
guide
,
tracing
his
footsteps
with
an
accuracy
worthy
of
a
Mohican
,
impatient
,
evidently
,
to
overtake
their
companions
,
as
she
hastily
threaded
her
way
through
the
forest
glades
,
and
beneath
the
arching
branches
of
many
a
lofty
tree
,
towards
a
dark
,
gloomy-looking
plantation
,
to
which
their
guide
seemed
now
impatiently
hurrying
them
.
He
was
dressed
in
a
smock
frock
,
and
had
become
singularly
silent
,
his
replies
being
all
so
short
and
so
grudgingly
given
,
that
Sir
Patrick
had
angrily
yielded
up
the
point
,
determined
to
give
the
man
nothing
,
and
not
to
ask
him
another
question
,
when
suddenly
his
arm
was
tremblingly
grasped
by
the
young
lady
beside
him
;
while
in
a
low
,
strange
,
unearthly
whisper
,
and
with
a
look
of
mortal
terror
,
she
said
,
"
I
do
not
like
this
!
What
can
it
mean
?
Has
he
escaped
from
confinement
?
Are
you
sure
that
man
is
our
guide
?
"
"
I
scarcely
looked
,
but
of
course
he
is
!
It
can
be
no
one
else
!
"
replied
Sir
Patrick
,
in
a
soothing
tone
;
for
he
thought
she
must
certainly
be
deranged
.
"
There
he
waits
for
us
!
We
shall
overtake
our
friends
immediately
.
"
"
Look
at
this
tree
!
—
pretend
to
be
admiring
the
landscape
!
"
continued
the
young
lady
,
in
a
deep
,
concentrated
voice
;
"
but
tell
me
,
—
can
we
make
our
escape
unobserved
by
that
man
?
My
life
,
probably
,
depends
upon
your
answer
!
"
Sir
Patrick
now
became
confirmed
in
his
opinion
respecting
the
insanity
of
his
young
companion
,
and
fixing
his
eyes
on
her
countenance
,
he
perceived
with
amazement
that
every
tinge
of
color
had
been
drained
from
her
cheek
—
that
her
lip
quivered
with
fright
,
and
that
terror
spoke
in
her
eyes
,
and
trembled
in
every
limb
;
while
her
words
poured
out
with
a
rushing
vehemence
of
tone
and
manner
which
startled
and
alarmed
him
.
"
I
caught
a
momentary
glance
of
his
countenance
!
Where
could
I
ever
see
these
eyes
and
be
mistaken
?
There
is
madness
yet
in
their
expression
.
He
has
sworn
to
destroy
me
.
The
whole
purpose
of
his
being
is
revenge
!
"
"
Revenge
on
you
—
impossible
!
Who
could
be
so
unmanly
—
so
—
—
"
"
You
forget
that
my
cousin
is
insane
—
that
he
thinks
I
drove
him
into
madness
—
that
he
pursued
me
day
and
night
till
we
shut
him
up
!
Can
nothing
be
done
?
"
"
Miss
Howard
!
I
might
have
guessed
this
!
Can
it
be
?
When
I
am
here
,
you
need
apprehend
nothing
!
He
dare
not
harm
you
.
"
"
Oh
!
how
little
you
know
him
!
In
his
present
state
,
he
has
the
strength
of
ten
men
,
"
replied
she
,
with
wild
and
hurried
glances
.
"
Once
I
saw
him
struggle
in
their
grasp
.
Why
must
I
forever
remember
that
scene
?
His
cries
,
his
imprecations
;
but
see
,
he
returns
!
Let
us
appear
still
to
advance
,
but
concert
some
plan
for
my
escape
,
or
believe
me
,
my
moments
are
numbered
.
"
The
tone
of
intense
agony
in
which
these
words
were
uttered
,
filled
Sir
Patrick
with
pity
,
while
knowing
the
fearful
and
mysterious
power
communicated
by
madness
,
even
to
the
feeblest
frame
,
he
felt
a
well-grounded
apprehension
for
the
terrified
girl
's
safety
,
on
observing
the
strong
,
muscular
figure
of
the
maniac
;
therefore
,
after
walking
on
some
steps
,
he
whispered
to
her
,
almost
inaudibly
:
"
The
guide
seldom
looks
back
.
Let
me
ask
him
a
question
,
and
immediately
afterwards
drop
down
the
side
of
this
hill
,
and
conceal
yourself
.
I
shall
continue
to
follow
him
,
that
the
sound
of
your
footsteps
may
not
be
missed
.
Whatever
the
danger
is
,
be
firm
,
and
you
will
certainly
escape
.
Guide
!
"
continued
he
,
elevating
his
voice
in
an
authoritative
tone
,
yet
,
even
at
this
crisis
,
unable
to
resist
a
joke
;
"
tell
me
the
exact
age
of
this
tree
,
and
how
many
stones
it
took
to
build
the
Abbey
?
"
The
man
threw
back
some
inaudible
reply
,
in
a
surly
,
dogged
voice
,
and
quickened
his
pace
towards
a
dark
group
of
fir
trees
,
while
again
the
almost
fainting
girl
gave
an
agitated
glance
at
Sir
Patrick
,
who
silently
pointed
towards
the
turf
edging
along
the
gravel-walk
,
making
her
a
sign
to
take
flight
upon
it
as
noiselessly
as
possible
,
while
he
proceeded
forward
himself
with
no
fairy
tread
,
making
the
sound
of
his
footsteps
as
loud
as
if
there
had
still
been
two
behind
.
After
the
terrified
girl
had
hastily
slid
down
a
steep
bank
and
disappeared
amidst
a
mass
of
evergreens
,
Sir
Patrick
was
beginning
to
contemplate
the
expediency
of
adopting
a
similar
plan
,
seeing
that
in
conflict
with
a
madman
he
could
gain
neither
honor
or
advantage
,
and
might
be
seriously
injured
,
when
the
maniac
suddenly
burst
into
a
thrilling
,
fearful
laugh
,
and
,
snatching
a
pistol
from
his
breast
,
turned
fiercely
round
,
when
Sir
Patrick
instantly
recognised
,
as
he
had
begun
to
expect
,
the
countenance
of
that
excited
stranger
,
whom
Captain
De
Crespigny
had
in
the
morning
named
to
him
as
Ernest
Anstruther
.
Astonishment
and
unimaginable
fury
glittered
in
the
madman
's
wild
and
haggard
countenance
,
when
he
missed
the
object
of
his
pursuit
,
and
he
looked
for
the
moment
like
a
wild
beast
at
bay
,
till
,
springing
upon
Sir
Patrick
with
a
cry
of
hideous
rage
,
he
seized
hold
of
his
arm
with
a
delirious
grasp
,
and
clenched
his
fist
,
shouting
in
accents
of
frenzied
rage
,
while
the
white
foam
was
on
his
lips
:
"
Where
!
where
is
she
?
Tell
me
,
or
you
shall
die
!
Have
I
tracked
her
through
earth
and
air
,
through
sky
and
ocean
,
to
be
disappointed
now
?
With
sleepless
care
have
I
dodged
her
steps
!
Demons
drove
me
on
!
Fiends
and
serpents
have
beset
me
!
Coals
of
fire
are
on
my
brain
!
Cold
hands
are
on
my
heart
!
All
is
horror
!
Every
human
soul
shall
shudder
for
the
deeds
I
do
!
A
brand
of
shame
shall
be
on
my
head
!
The
dogs
shall
howl
when
I
pass
!
Even
now
,
the
sun
never
shines
on
me
!
Show
me
,
then
,
where
she
is
,
or
I
will
tear
you
limb
from
limb
.
"
Sir
Patrick
stood
firm
as
a
rock
before
this
whirlwind
of
passion
,
though
filled
with
horrible
amazement
,
as
he
beheld
the
burning
glare
of
the
madman
's
eye
,
and
heard
the
sharp
,
shrill
,
shrieking
voice
in
which
he
spoke
;
but
if
he
appeared
terrible
in
his
fierce
excitement
,
he
seemed
more
terrible
still
,
when
a
moment
afterwards
,
with
a
cold
,
livid
look
,
as
if
turned
into
stone
,
he
added
:
"
She
shall
be
mine
,
or
she
shall
never
be
given
to
another
.
I
would
not
spare
her
for
ten
thousand
lives
.
If
she
refuse
me
,
her
lips
shall
be
closed
forever
and
ever
.
I
shall
destroy
and
be
destroyed
.
My
love
or
my
vengeance
must
be
gratified
;
and
mark
my
words
.
You
are
the
friend
of
Louis
De
Crespigny
.
I
would
it
had
been
himself
,
and
one
of
us
should
never
have
left
this
spot
alive
.
There
is
a
dark
and
dreary
account
to
be
settled
between
him
and
me
.
My
first
warning
shall
be
my
last
,
"
added
he
,
in
a
hollow
whisper
,
while
a
look
of
dangerous
meaning
gleamed
in
his
eye
.
"
He
deserves
death
at
my
hands
.
He
wrenched
my
sister
from
her
home
,
trampled
on
her
affections
,
and
is
born
in
all
things
to
injure
and
supplant
me
!
He
must
die
!
"
added
the
maniac
,
with
a
strange
glare
in
his
eye-balls
.
"
It
is
,
perhaps
,
for
his
sake
that
I
am
rejected
!
Wild
voices
are
whispering
in
my
ear
!
Unnameable
horrors
beset
me
!
Fierce
phantoms
are
hissing
and
shouting
behind
me
!
"
The
unfortunate
being
uttered
these
words
with
preternatural
fury
,
while
his
countenance
wore
an
expression
of
deadly
malignity
.
He
then
paused
,
ground
his
teeth
,
and
with
the
frightful
levity
of
a
maniac
,
uttering
a
howling
,
fiendish
laugh
,
and
rushing
away
,
disappeared
into
the
thickest
part
of
the
forest
,
leaving
Sir
Patrick
horror-struck
at
the
awful
spectacle
of
a
shattered
intellect
,
the
fragments
of
which
were
of
so
deadly
a
nature
;
while
,
at
the
same
time
,
amidst
a
torrent
of
other
thoughts
and
feelings
,
chiefly
directed
to
secure
the
safety
of
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
he
could
not
but
smile
at
his
present
discovery
,
that
the
plainly
dressed
,
shy
,
reserved
,
but
rather
satirical
young
lady
,
whom
he
had
been
of
late
patronising
and
bringing
forward
,
was
no
other
than
the
superbly
endowed
heiress
,
Miss
Howard
Smytheson
,
respecting
whom
he
had
so
often
rallied
himself
.
CHAPTER
XXXVIII
.
Sir
Patrick
gave
instant
information
to
the
civil
authorities
at
Harrowgate
,
respecting
the
dangerous
madman
now
in
the
neighborhood
;
and
when
every
particular
of
his
adventure
had
reached
Agnes
,
she
felt
an
undefined
sensation
of
disappointment
that
the
end
had
not
been
of
a
more
exciting
nature
.
Never
happy
unless
her
mind
were
in
a
complete
foam
of
excitement
,
she
lived
for
sensation
,
and
would
have
bought
it
at
any
price
,
being
heard
often
to
complain
,
that
now
nothing
ever
happened
.
Every
day
she
considered
as
a
chapter
in
her
own
life
,
into
which
she
wished
as
many
incidents
crowded
as
possible
,
caring
little
whether
joy
or
sorrow
prevailed
among
those
around
,
if
the
weary
vacuum
in
her
thoughts
were
but
filled
up
.
A
few
elopements
or
murders
made
a
newspaper
extremely
acceptable
;
while
even
public
riots
she
would
have
allowed
to
a
certain
pitch
,
provided
she
could
pull
the
check-string
as
soon
as
they
became
at
all
inconvenient
or
alarming
to
herself
;
while
she
often
remarked
,
in
a
querulous
tone
,
that
a
revolution
had
been
a
thing
threatened
and
talked
of
all
her
life
,
without
ever
seeming
any
nearer
.
The
world
,
in
short
,
if
arranged
to
suit
her
taste
,
would
have
been
one
shifting
scene
of
accidents
and
offences
,
fires
,
overturns
,
explosions
,
narrow
escapes
,
marriages
,
births
,
deaths
,
mournful
catastrophes
,
and
astonishing
vicissitudes
.
On
the
evening
after
the
pic-nic
at
Studley
,
Sir
Arthur
having
gone
early
to
bed
,
at
his
lodgings
near
the
Granby
,
Marion
accompanied
her
sister
and
Mrs.
O'Donoghoe
,
to
fulfil
a
dinner
engagement
at
the
Crown
Hotel
;
and
on
their
way
home
,
the
lively
widow
rallied
Agnes
on
her
prospect
of
walking
at
the
next
coronation
,
saying
,
that
Lord
Doncaster
had
evidently
laid
down
twenty
years
of
his
life
,
lately
;
and
that
she
had
once
seen
the
Doncaster
diamonds
,
then
considered
the
finest
family
jewels
in
Britain
,
which
Queen
Charlotte
herself
was
supposed
to
have
coveted
,
and
the
box
containing
which
required
two
footmen
to
carry
it
.
"
The
tiara
would
shine
like
glow-worms
in
your
dark
hair
,
and
the
bandeau
round
your
waist
would
be
exquisite
!
I
have
heard
it
remarked
,
that
people
in
this
perverse
world
will
not
be
happy
;
that
those
who
have
every
wish
gratified
,
and
not
a
want
upon
earth
,
invent
a
grievance
for
themselves
,
and
live
upon
it
;
but
I
wonder
where
the
Marchioness
of
Doncaster
could
find
one
.
You
might
drive
away
care
in
that
beautiful
pony
carriage
,
kill
time
with
your
grand
pianoforte
,
and
read
your
own
happiness
in
the
envy
of
every
one
around
.
Even
your
sister
seems
scarcely
so
happy
at
your
good
fortune
as
might
have
been
expected
!
"
"
There
is
no
earthly
blessing
I
do
not
with
my
whole
heart
desire
for
Agnes
,
"
replied
Marion
warmly
,
when
thus
appealed
to
.
"
But
if
she
has
any
plans
such
as
you
speak
of
,
let
no
one
ask
me
what
I
think
,
as
it
is
quite
enough
that
she
should
herself
know
my
utter
abhorrence
of
them
.
"
Tears
of
indignant
sorrow
sprang
into
Marion
's
eyes
,
and
she
gazed
earnestly
out
of
the
window
,
trying
to
conceal
and
to
conquer
her
emotion
,
while
Mrs.
O'Donoghoe
exclaimed
,
in
a
tone
of
satirical
burlesque
,
"
For
of
the
choice
,
what
heart
can
doubt
,
Of
tents
with
love
,
or
thrones
without
!
"
As
their
carriage
drove
on
,
the
night
being
clear
and
moon-lit
,
the
wind
sweeping
over
the
earth
with
a
rushing
sound
,
and
ten
thousand
stars
twinkling
in
the
blue
vault
above
,
Agnes
remarked
,
in
accents
of
surprise
,
that
crowds
of
people
were
running
eagerly
on
the
road
,
with
animated
looks
,
and
an
appearance
of
most
unusual
excitement
.
Soon
after
she
heard
a
rumbling
noise
behind
,
as
of
some
heavy
vehicle
hurtling
and
thundering
along
the
road
;
and
the
next
moment
a
fire-engine
passed
at
full
speed
,
amidst
the
cheers
and
vociferations
of
a
dense
multitude
,
who
assisted
and
followed
its
progress
,
with
looks
of
mingled
curiosity
,
delight
,
and
apprehension
.
Marion
hastily
thrust
her
head
far
out
of
the
carriage
,
and
perceived
that
a
lurid
glare
burned
on
the
sky
,
evidently
reflected
from
High
Harrowgate
,
while
bright
spiral
flames
shot
upwards
into
the
flaming
arch
above
,
and
burning
flakes
of
fire
descended
in
showers
of
terrifying
brilliancy
.
Every
now
and
then
a
fresh
burst
of
dazzling
light
blazed
to
the
very
heavens
,
while
Marion
watched
the
flickering
flames
with
intense
and
solemn
interest
;
but
Agnes
,
after
the
first
surprise
was
over
,
sank
lazily
back
into
the
carriage
,
saying
,
with
a
look
of
peevish
disappointment
,
"
It
is
only
a
fire
somewhere
!
Fires
are
so
common
now
,
that
they
excite
scarcely
any
sensation
!
One
might
fancy
,
Marion
,
that
you
had
a
valuable
uninsured
house
at
High
Harrowgate
!
"
"
It
looks
,
even
at
this
distance
,
very
awful
!
"
replied
Marion
.
"
The
hills
are
like
molten
fire
,
while
the
broad
red
reflection
on
those
massy
clouds
makes
the
very
heavens
seem
on
fire
!
What
gleams
of
fiery
light
!
What
sheets
of
flame
!
It
is
fearfully
grand
!
We
should
pray
,
Agnes
,
that
no
lives
may
be
lost
!
"
"
Fires
are
never
fatal
now
!
Years
ago
,
they
were
said
to
be
sometimes
really
frightful
;
but
now
any
one
I
ever
saw
might
be
extinguished
with
a
tea-cup
.
I
never
so
much
as
read
the
accounts
in
one
of
the
newspapers
.
We
shall
of
course
be
asked
to
subscribe
for
the
sufferers
,
"
added
Agnes
,
in
a
tone
of
contemptuous
pity
,
"
poor
creatures
!
"
"
What
a
strange
look
of
terrified
enjoyment
is
depicted
on
the
countenances
of
all
who
hurry
past
,
"
exclaimed
Marion
.
"
It
is
curious
,
that
probably
some
of
those
people
who
are
ready
to
risk
their
lives
in
extinguishing
the
flames
,
would
yet
feel
quite
disappointed
and
ill-treated
on
arriving
,
to
find
that
there
was
actually
no
conflagration
.
There
are
no
limits
to
the
love
of
excitement
.
When
people
have
made
up
their
great
minds
to
a
catastrophe
,
they
feel
really
cheated
if
it
does
not
occur
;
and
I
often
think
,
that
old
people
especially
wish
their
few
remaining
days
to
be
crowded
with
events
,
like
the
last
pages
in
a
novel
.
"
The
noise
and
the
mob
had
greatly
increased
:
loud
shouts
,
hoarse
yells
,
and
clamorous
cries
of
fire
resounded
on
every
side
,
with
the
heavy
trampling
of
a
hundred
feet
,
when
suddenly
Sir
Arthur
's
coachman
whipped
the
horses
violently
,
and
proceeded
forward
with
unprecedented
rapidity
,
till
Marion
fancied
the
horses
must
have
taken
fright
at
the
ignited
sparks
,
which
were
now
borne
along
in
the
air
,
and
that
maddened
with
terror
,
they
were
actually
running
off
.
Agnes
,
now
really
in
a
state
of
excitement
,
thrust
her
head
again
out
of
the
window
,
believing
that
the
coachman
must
be
drunk
,
and
that
a
catastrophe
,
though
not
exactly
what
she
would
have
selected
,
might
actually
occur
,
and
Marion
continued
anxiously
gazing
around
,
till
gradually
a
horrid
sensation
of
doubt
and
fear
gathered
upon
her
mind
,
as
she
looked
in
the
direction
from
which
the
light
came
.
The
curtain
of
night
was
withdrawn
—
the
surrounding
scene
seemed
one
mighty
furnace
—
and
the
roaring
noise
of
the
flames
was
now
distinctly
audible
.
At
a
turn
of
the
road
the
whole
became
distinctly
visible
;
and
Marion
,
suddenly
uttering
a
wild
cry
of
horror
and
amazement
,
covered
her
face
with
her
hands
,
and
sank
back
,
almost
fainting
,
in
the
carriage
;
for
she
had
at
once
become
aware
that
the
fire
must
be
among
the
houses
where
Sir
Arthur
lodged
.
The
garden
around
them
was
one
vivid
blaze
of
burning
light
—
the
stems
of
the
trees
were
visible
in
dark
relief
,
on
a
drapery
of
fire
—
while
a
brilliant
pillar
of
flame
,
like
a
gigantic
serpent
,
twirled
its
enormous
coils
upwards
into
the
very
sky
.
Forked
flames
appeared
bursting
from
every
window
,
and
sweeping
over
the
whole
house
,
which
was
one
great
reservoir
of
fire
,
while
a
black
volume
of
smoke
rolled
far
away
to
the
distant
horizon
.
"
Is
there
no
mistake
?
"
exclaimed
Marion
,
wringing
her
hands
with
terror
,
and
bending
her
head
almost
to
her
knees
in
unendurable
grief
.
"
Is
there
no
hope
?
Tell
John
to
drive
on
faster
—
faster
!
O
let
me
out
—
let
me
fly
to
the
house
!
This
is
dreadful
!
fearful
!
Shall
we
never
reach
the
spot
!
Listen
to
their
cries
!
Let
me
out
!
let
me
out
!
"
"
Dear
Marion
!
there
are
crowds
giving
assistance
!
He
must
have
escaped
,
"
said
Agnes
,
in
trembling
accents
.
"
I
feel
certain
he
has
escaped
.
He
has
surely
heard
the
noise
,
and
called
for
help
!
"
A
dense
mass
of
persons
round
the
crashing
house
,
wild
with
agitation
,
and
vehement
in
their
attitudes
and
gestures
,
prevented
the
carriage
from
advancing
farther
;
but
Marion
instantly
opened
the
door
,
sprang
out
,
and
with
an
impetuosity
which
nothing
could
resist
,
rushed
onwards
.
She
was
not
one
whose
faculties
could
be
prostrated
by
terror
or
danger
;
for
it
was
then
that
her
quick
judgment
and
generous
spirit
became
most
active
;
and
while
crowds
were
standing
around
,
in
vacant
,
helpless
wonder
,
she
reached
the
spot
where
a
tottering
ladder
had
been
placed
against
the
walls
,
and
where
the
engines
were
playing
upon
the
blazing
roofs
,
while
flames
spouted
forth
in
every
direction
,
and
a
confused
din
of
cries
and
vociferous
oaths
became
audible
on
every
side
.
Timid
and
easily
frightened
on
slight
occasion
,
all
emotion
now
appeared
to
be
dead
within
the
breast
of
Marion
,
who
paused
,
while
,
with
bloodless
cheek
,
and
a
face
as
rigid
as
death
,
she
seemed
turned
into
stone
;
yet
every
word
whispered
around
fell
with
frightful
distinctness
on
her
ear
.
"
The
last
house
that
caught
fire
is
uninhabited
,
I
believe
?
"
asked
a
stranger
,
calmly
.
"
I
am
informed
that
the
whole
conflagration
was
raised
by
a
madman
—
a
perfect
Guy
Fawkes
,
who
afterwards
escaped
.
There
are
crowds
of
servants
belonging
to
the
heiress
Miss
Howard
,
and
he
had
some
scheme
of
carrying
her
off
;
but
most
mercifully
she
and
her
attendants
were
all
saved
.
"
"
Very
fortunate
indeed
,
as
the
stair-case
is
now
falling
in
,
"
added
another
,
while
crash
followed
crash
in
frightful
succession
.
"
Some
one
talked
of
a
blind
gentleman
being
there
,
but
that
is
probably
a
picturesque
addition
,
to
give
the
story
interest
,
for
that
tall
house
seems
really
empty
.
"
At
this
moment
,
a
low
murmur
of
grief
and
horror
arose
among
the
crowd
,
followed
by
a
death-like
silence
.
In
a
part
of
the
building
high
above
what
had
yet
been
consumed
by
the
flames
,
though
already
undermined
,
the
shutters
of
a
window
were
slowly
opened
,
the
sash
hastily
thrown
open
,
and
the
venerable
figure
of
Sir
Arthur
appeared
there
,
his
grey
hair
streaming
in
the
wind
,
and
his
head
stretched
forward
in
the
act
of
listening
.
He
raised
his
hand
to
his
forehead
,
as
if
bewildered
,
and
seemed
evidently
calling
for
help
;
but
his
feeble
voice
was
lost
amid
the
war
of
elements
,
the
crackling
and
blazing
of
all
around
,
and
the
loud
crash
of
falling
timber
.
No
one
had
a
hope
of
his
being
rescued
,
and
the
most
selfishly
indifferent
looked
on
with
breathless
dismay
,
while
Agnes
threw
herself
on
the
grass
in
an
agony
of
horror
and
despair
;
but
Marion
rapidly
grasped
her
hand
with
convulsive
energy
,
saying
,
in
a
low
deep
whisper
,
"
I
shall
save
him
,
or
die
with
him
.
"
Using
the
speed
of
thought
she
flew
forward
,
while
every
voice
was
raised
in
loud
shouts
to
stop
her
;
and
several
persons
,
as
soon
as
they
became
aware
of
Marion
's
rash
intentions
,
followed
vehemently
in
pursuit
,
determined
to
force
her
back
;
but
eluding
their
grasp
,
she
wrapped
her
large
cloak
around
her
,
and
ascended
the
crackling
beams
of
the
staircase
,
beneath
a
shower
of
glowing
sparks
,
while
blazing
flames
were
running
round
the
cornices
and
ceiling
,
with
a
sound
like
incessant
thunder
.
The
smoke
nearly
blinded
her
—
the
smell
of
burning
wood
became
suffocating
—
and
the
heat
was
nearly
unbearable
.
Long
wreaths
of
fire
and
smoke
soon
shut
Marion
out
from
the
view
of
those
who
followed
,
and
none
could
pursue
with
their
eyes
the
fearful
progress
of
her
enterprise
,
while
she
hurried
onwards
,
having
one
only
thought
in
her
heart
,
that
Sir
Arthur
,
blind
and
alone
,
was
calling
for
help
,
and
might
yet
perhaps
be
saved
.
A
wooden
gallery
,
leading
from
the
stair
to
Sir
Arthur
's
room
,
though
fringed
with
an
intense
and
devouring
flame
,
which
had
almost
entirely
burned
it
away
,
showed
yet
a
plank
remaining
close
to
the
wall
,
charred
and
blackened
,
while
shrivelling
and
crackling
in
the
devouring
element
.
Over
this
Marion
quickly
but
cautiously
glided
;
and
opening
the
Admiral
's
door
,
she
tried
to
compose
her
voice
,
saying
in
a
clear
,
distinct
tone
—
"
I
am
here
,
uncle
Arthur
!
come
away
quickly
!
give
me
your
hand
!
"
"
What
is
the
matter
,
Marion
?
What
is
all
this
?
"
replied
he
,
turning
round
with
a
quivering
lip
,
and
in
a
tone
of
piercing
agitation
.
"
The
blessings
of
your
blind
and
helpless
uncle
be
upon
you
!
I
am
so
agitated
and
confused
!
Where
is
the
fire
?
Every
body
had
forgotten
me
but
you
!
"
"
Uncle
Arthur
!
"
answered
Marion
,
hurrying
with
him
towards
the
door
,
where
they
were
almost
suffocated
by
a
dense
cloud
of
dust
and
smoke
;
"
you
were
always
brave
and
determined
.
All
our
courage
is
necessary
now
.
Be
firm
and
we
may
escape
.
You
are
now
at
the
door
.
This
wooden
gallery
is
nearly
burned
away
.
It
could
not
sustain
us
both
,
and
no
earthly
power
shall
persuade
me
to
go
first
.
You
can
only
impede
me
by
speaking
of
it
.
Lose
not
a
moment
,
then
,
for
that
will
but
increase
our
danger
.
Cling
close
to
the
wall
;
feel
it
all
the
way
.
I
shall
call
out
when
you
are
safely
over
.
Then
remember
the
fifty
steps
we
always
counted
to
the
first
landing-place
.
After
that
,
turn
to
the
right
,
and
you
are
safe
.
May
the
Almighty
protect
and
guide
you
!
"
"
But
Marion
!
my
dear
child
!
you
are
coming
this
way
too
?
"
"
Yes
!
or
perhaps
some
other
!
"
said
she
,
assuming
a
tone
of
indifference
,
while
she
despondingly
gazed
at
the
rapidly
consuming
beam
,
and
the
thick
smoke
,
which
arose
like
mist
before
her
sight
.
"
Go
on
,
dear
uncle
,
and
pray
for
yourself
and
me
.
"
Marion
led
Sir
Arthur
to
the
very
brink
of
the
yawning
gulf
,
and
cautiously
placed
him
on
the
tottering
gallery
,
deaf
to
his
entreaties
that
she
would
seek
her
own
safely
first
,
and
imploring
him
not
to
render
her
enterprise
unavailing
by
delay
.
Flames
were
leaping
upwards
in
the
dark
abyss
beneath
,
dust
and
mortar
fell
in
clouds
on
every
side
,
while
the
heat
and
noise
of
the
flashing
light
became
more
and
more
terrific
;
but
still
she
spoke
calmly
to
him
,
in
tones
of
confidence
and
encouragement
,
giving
directions
while
he
remained
in
sight
,
and
anxiously
watching
,
as
he
slowly
and
cautiously
groped
his
way
.
All
Sir
Arthur
's
firmness
of
look
and
voice
had
now
returned
,
as
he
questioned
or
thanked
her
,
when
suddenly
a
deafening
crash
took
place
over
head
,
an
impending
fragment
of
the
roof
was
precipitated
with
a
roaring
convulsion
upon
the
spot
where
a
moment
before
the
Admiral
had
stood
,
and
nothing
now
remained
beneath
the
eye
of
Marion
but
a
hideous
gulf
of
smoke
and
ruins
,
one
bewildering
medley
of
crackling
beams
and
falling
floors
,
a
mighty
mass
of
horror
,
which
it
made
her
giddy
to
behold
.
Marion
ceased
now
to
speak
,
fearful
that
her
voice
might
induce
Sir
Arthur
,
if
yet
alive
,
to
return
;
and
nearly
hopeless
of
his
having
escaped
,
she
now
felt
that
no
duty
was
so
imperative
,
as
,
if
possible
,
to
seek
her
own
safely
.
Yet
what
resource
remained
?
Her
heart
beat
hurriedly
,
stopped
and
beat
again
,
while
a
choking
sensation
arose
in
her
throat
,
when
for
the
first
time
she
fully
contemplated
her
own
instant
danger
.
The
noise
was
like
that
of
a
mighty
wind
,
while
the
flames
swept
the
very
heavens
,
with
a
sound
more
appalling
than
the
loudest
thunder
,
and
she
hurried
almost
breathlessly
back
to
Sir
Arthur
's
apartment
,
which
had
not
yet
been
attacked
by
the
devouring
element
.
The
heat
was
even
there
so
intense
,
that
she
hastened
to
a
window
for
air
,
and
a
shuddering
groan
burst
from
the
surrounding
multitude
when
they
beheld
her
;
but
no
succor
was
near
,
while
the
door
became
instantly
blockaded
by
shivered
beams
and
smouldering
ruins
,
which
had
fallen
at
the
entrance
,
setting
it
on
fire
,
and
she
saw
around
long
aisles
of
flame
,
and
deep
caverns
filled
with
surges
of
fire
and
smoke
.
Marion
felt
now
that
death
impended
in
its
most
terrifying
form
.
It
was
no
new
thing
with
her
to
prepare
for
the
certain
approach
of
dissolution
;
yet
often
as
she
had
tried
to
realize
the
idea
of
that
mighty
change
,
never
did
it
appear
before
with
the
appalling
distinctness
,
which
now
filled
her
spirit
with
unutterable
awe
,
while
standing
as
it
were
between
earth
and
heaven
,
all
beneath
full
of
boundless
terror
,
but
all
above
promising
peace
,
and
full
of
hope
.
No
effort
of
her
own
could
avail
.
Marion
looked
at
the
long
line
of
tall
houses
on
her
left
,
untouched
by
the
flames
.
She
glanced
at
the
crowd
below
,
all
anxiously
gazing
upwards
,
in
death-like
stillness
,
and
at
the
garden
,
which
seemed
paved
with
faces
;
but
while
the
consuming
flames
pursued
their
desolating
track
,
not
a
hope
of
rescue
appeared
.
A
storm
of
burning
ashes
fell
on
every
side
,
and
all
around
was
a
whirlwind
of
fire
and
smoke
.
Marion
's
figure
became
conspicuously
seen
at
the
window
,
every
pane
of
which
was
already
so
heated
by
the
blazing
conflagration
behind
,
that
she
leaned
against
the
shutters
,
and
gazed
towards
heaven
,
as
if
already
lost
to
all
connection
with
the
world
around
.
"
Martyrs
have
willingly
died
in
a
scene
like
this
,
"
thought
she
.
"
Let
me
also
testify
the
faith
in
which
I
die
.
"
Marion
clasped
her
hands
,
while
now
her
spirit
rose
superior
to
danger
,
and
,
seeing
the
hundreds
gazing
at
her
in
silent
,
horror-struck
sympathy
,
she
calmly
pointed
upwards
,
that
all
might
remember
the
comfort
derived
from
a
hope
full
of
immortality
.
The
heat
had
become
so
intense
,
that
Marion
,
choked
almost
to
suffocation
,
leaned
farther
than
ever
out
of
the
window
,
trying
to
catch
one
breath
of
air
,
when
to
her
astonishment
she
now
perceived
the
figure
of
a
man
descending
from
the
window
of
a
house
far
to
the
left
,
and
having
planted
his
foot
on
a
narrow
ledge
of
stone
,
which
ran
along
all
the
buildings
as
an
architectural
ornament
,
he
pressed
his
hands
firmly
against
the
wall
,
to
preserve
his
balance
,
and
,
with
a
degree
of
skill
and
intrepidity
scarcely
to
be
credited
,
rapidly
traversed
that
shelf
towards
the
place
where
she
stood
,
carrying
one
end
of
a
rope
in
his
hand
,
the
other
extremity
of
which
had
been
already
fixed
to
the
window
from
which
he
came
out
.
"
Marion
!
dear
Marion
!
"
cried
the
voice
of
Richard
Granville
,
which
even
at
this
awful
moment
thrilled
to
her
heart
with
deep
emotion
,
"
we
must
live
or
die
together
.
Trust
yourself
to
me
!
Here
is
a
firm
footing
.
Try
it
!
At
the
worst
you
cannot
be
in
greater
danger
than
now
.
"
While
yet
speaking
,
he
had
securely
fixed
the
rope
to
the
window-frame
,
thus
forming
a
temporary
balustrade
,
and
after
carefully
assisting
her
out
,
he
slowly
led
Marion
with
one
hand
on
the
rope
,
and
her
face
to
the
wall
,
safely
towards
a
house
as
yet
untouched
by
the
fire
.
A
low
,
whispering
murmur
of
intense
interest
arose
among
the
spectators
,
when
they
saw
hopes
of
her
being
preserved
,
but
not
a
voice
was
raised
till
they
perceived
her
safe
,
when
a
deafening
cheer
burst
from
the
spectators
,
which
rang
through
every
ear
like
a
trumpet
.
Again
and
again
it
resounded
,
louder
and
louder
still
,
but
Marion
heard
it
not
,
for
no
sooner
was
she
out
of
danger
,
than
,
with
a
cry
of
thankfulness
,
she
rushed
into
the
expanded
arms
of
Sir
Arthur
,
and
fainted
.
When
Marion
recovered
to
consciousness
,
her
first
evidence
of
returning
life
,
was
the
deep
blush
with
which
she
extended
her
hand
to
Mr.
Granville
.
Tears
now
streamed
from
the
blinded
eyes
of
Sir
Arthur
,
while
he
spoke
to
her
with
every
term
of
affectionate
endearment
,
saying
,
in
a
voice
that
yet
quivered
with
emotion
—
"
My
child
!
my
dear
Marion
!
I
thank
God
that
your
life
,
young
and
full
of
hope
,
has
not
been
sacrificed
to
keep
my
grey
hairs
a
few
hours
longer
from
the
grave
.
Would
that
I
were
able
to
thank
you
as
you
deserve
.
"
"
Never
thank
me
for
anything
,
dear
uncle
Arthur
.
I
owe
you
more
than
my
existence
,
for
I
owe
you
,
under
Providence
,
all
the
happy
days
I
have
ever
known
in
it
,
and
long
,
long
,
may
I
be
able
to
show
you
my
grateful
affection
.
"
"
My
very
dear
girl
,
aged
as
I
am
,
and
shattered
now
by
this
night
's
alarms
,
I
have
little
more
hold
of
life
than
of
the
gale
that
blows
along
the
ocean
,
but
existence
would
yet
be
precious
to
me
,
if
I
could
only
live
to
see
my
Marion
as
happy
as
she
merits
.
"
"
Already
I
am
!
"
replied
Marion
,
affectionately
embracing
her
uncle
,
while
a
torrent
of
joyous
,
agitated
tears
rushed
into
her
eyes
.
"
I
am
too
happy
,
dear
uncle
Arthur
!
You
are
saved
,
we
are
restored
to
all
we
love
,
and
my
life
is
doubly
precious
to
me
,
preserved
by
the
generous
courage
of
—
of
—
—
"
"
Of
one
whose
first
earthly
wish
is
to
render
it
happy
,
"
said
Mr.
Granville
,
warmly
.
"
I
trust
that
for
many
long
years
we
shall
testify
together
our
gratitude
to
God
for
the
mercies
of
this
night
.
"
A
smile
and
a
tear
struggled
hard
for
the
mastery
in
Marion
's
downcast
countenance
,
while
Richard
continued
to
speak
with
confidence
and
hope
of
the
happy
future
,
trusting
that
their
engagement
,
though
unavoidably
postponed
,
could
not
be
long
delayed
,
and
that
if
Clara
recovered
in
a
more
favorable
climate
,
to
which
she
must
set
out
the
next
evening
,
he
might
speedily
return
,
to
resume
his
duties
and
occupations
,
with
new
motives
of
hope
,
while
Sir
Arthur
expressed
,
in
brief
and
powerful
language
,
his
fervent
wish
that
nothing
might
interfere
with
a
prospect
which
secured
the
happiness
of
his
beloved
Marion
.
"
Yet
,
"
observed
Sir
Arthur
,
next
morning
,
when
Mr.
Granville
called
to
take
leave
,
"
I
dislike
long
engagements
,
and
never
would
recommend
one
.
If
you
both
remain
constant
,
it
is
unnecessary
,
and
if
either
of
you
change
,
it
would
be
little
worth
to
obtain
from
a
sense
of
honor
what
should
only
spring
from
affection
.
"
"
There
is
nothing
to
fear
on
that
score
,
"
replied
Mr.
Granville
,
exchanging
a
smile
with
Marion
.
"
We
are
most
apt
in
general
to
doubt
where
we
have
most
at
stake
,
but
I
have
lately
become
almost
presumptuously
confident
.
I
would
not
wish
,
Sir
Arthur
,
that
Marion
should
feel
engaged
one
hour
after
she
ceased
to
love
me
more
than
she
could
love
any
other
,
or
if
there
were
any
man
on
earth
who
could
value
her
more
,
and
make
her
happier
.
One
thing
I
ask
of
you
,
dear
Marion
,
and
only
one
,
"
added
he
,
his
eyes
flashing
with
animation
—
"
That
till
we
meet
again
,
nothing
shall
make
you
doubt
my
unalterable
affection
;
and
in
asking
this
,
I
ask
only
what
I
intend
in
return
towards
you
,
that
our
mutual
confidence
may
be
for
ever
unbroken
,
from
the
first
hour
we
met
.
"
"
To
trust
you
once
is
to
trust
you
for
ever
,
"
answered
she
,
in
a
low
,
scarcely
audible
voice
.
"
All
my
happiness
in
life
depends
on
one
,
who
,
I
am
certain
,
never
will
change
.
"
"
Then
,
as
surely
as
day
follows
night
,
I
hope
our
present
parting
shall
be
followed
by
a
happy
re-union
;
and
months
will
seem
like
hours
,
till
I
return
to
claim
you
as
my
own
,
till
I
once
more
hear
your
voice
,
and
till
this
hand
is
again
clasped
in
mine
.
"
Marion
listened
with
a
quivering
smile
on
her
lip
,
while
a
tear
trembled
in
her
eye
.
For
a
moment
,
the
blood
forsook
her
cheek
,
and
returned
again
in
rushing
torrents
over
her
whole
countenance
,
while
the
eloquence
of
the
heart
was
in
her
eyes
,
though
she
attempted
not
to
reply
;
and
Mr.
Granville
continued
,
in
accents
of
the
deepest
tenderness
,
—
"
It
grieves
me
more
and
more
every
day
to
think
of
leaving
you
,
but
my
duty
to
Clara
must
not
be
postponed
any
longer
.
Her
strength
is
gradually
diminishing
,
and
though
she
does
not
idly
or
selfishly
indulge
her
feelings
,
yet
here
,
above
all
places
,
she
seems
least
likely
to
forget
a
sorrow
,
which
is
,
I
trust
,
not
incurable
.
We
,
who
are
Christians
,
know
that
there
is
some
good
purpose
in
her
affliction
,
and
that
the
lightest
straw
which
casts
its
balance
into
our
lot
,
is
ordained
by
the
infinite
power
,
and
the
infinite
goodness
of
One
who
cannot
err
.
"
"
Yes
,
"
replied
Marion
.
"
In
going
through
life
,
I
feel
myself
reading
a
book
by
the
best
of
all
authors
.
Many
of
the
incidents
,
as
we
advance
,
surprise
and
disappoint
us
;
but
,
knowing
that
the
whole
is
on
a
plan
which
could
not
be
improved
,
we
feel
certain
that
all
shall
turn
out
right
and
best
in
the
end
.
"
"
It
is
a
conviction
such
as
you
describe
,
Marion
,
which
allays
the
torturing
and
almost
feverish
anxiety
I
should
otherwise
suffer
respecting
those
around
whom
my
warmest
affections
are
kindled
,
"
observed
Mr.
Granville
.
"
Religion
is
indeed
the
best
of
all
anodynes
for
pain
of
every
kind
;
otherwise
,
who
can
tell
how
greatly
I
should
have
suffered
in
our
sorrowful
uncertainty
respecting
Clara
's
recovery
,
and
in
leaving
you
,
my
Marion
,
to
whom
I
am
now
bound
by
every
tie
that
can
unite
heart
to
heart
.
I
will
not
,
—
I
cannot
say
,
farewell
;
but
let
us
live
in
hope
of
better
days
to
come
.
"
Mr.
Granville
at
length
took
leave
;
and
,
as
he
hurried
for
the
last
time
across
the
common
,
Marion
leaned
against
the
window
,
and
followed
him
with
her
eyes
till
he
vanished
out
of
sight
;
while
Sir
Arthur
's
countenance
shewed
that
his
kind
heart
was
full
of
anxiety
and
sorrow
;
for
he
had
seen
many
vicissitudes
in
human
life
and
human
attachment
,
therefore
he
trembled
for
the
possibility
of
sorrow
hereafter
,
to
one
whom
he
loved
with
all
the
unbounded
warmth
of
his
nature
.
Marion
closed
her
eyes
that
night
with
the
pleasing
conviction
,
that
the
world
contained
not
a
happier
being
than
herself
.
She
felt
conscious
how
much
Mr.
Granville
had
elevated
her
mind
by
his
conversation
,
what
a
treasure
of
interesting
thoughts
and
pleasing
hopes
he
had
left
her
;
and
,
while
following
him
in
imagination
through
every
mile
of
his
journey
,
and
sadly
counting
the
many
days
that
must
intervene
till
they
could
meet
again
,
she
resolutely
turned
her
mind
towards
all
the
pursuits
and
occupations
calculated
to
render
her
worthy
of
Richard
Granville
,
when
he
returned
to
claim
her
as
the
partner
and
companion
of
his
future
existence
.
"
Discerning
mortal
!
do
thou
serve
the
will
Of
time
's
Eternal
Master
,
and
that
peace
Which
the
world
wants
,
shall
be
to
thee
confirm
'd
.
"
CHAPTER
XXXIX
.
Captain
De
Crespigny
had
heard
,
with
frantic
alarm
,
of
the
fearful
danger
from
which
Marion
was
so
wonderfully
delivered
;
and
then
,
for
the
first
time
,
he
discovered
the
whole
depth
and
reality
of
his
love
.
The
gracefulness
of
every
thought
which
she
expressed
,
and
the
bright
beauty
of
that
look
with
which
it
was
accompanied
,
had
made
an
indelible
impression
on
his
heart
,
so
that
now
,
when
he
saw
her
so
unexpectedly
snatched
from
the
jaws
of
death
,
no
words
could
do
justice
to
his
emotion
.
He
hurried
that
very
evening
to
ascertain
the
reality
of
her
escape
,
and
to
say
what
he
could
on
the
occasion
;
while
the
tremulousness
of
his
voice
,
and
the
quivering
of
his
lip
,
gave
a
degree
of
depth
and
reality
to
his
few
incoherent
sentences
,
which
all
his
well-turned
speeches
in
former
times
had
failed
to
convey
.
Marion
thanked
him
warmly
for
his
friendly
sympathy
,
and
spoke
to
him
with
all
the
intimacy
of
relationship
and
old
acquaintance
;
but
when
she
turned
to
Mr.
Granville
,
Captain
De
Crespigny
then
observed
the
flutter
of
her
voice
,
the
deep
tone
of
tenderness
,
and
the
look
full
of
confidence
and
full
of
interest
,
with
which
she
spoke
to
him
,
and
to
him
only
;
while
there
was
a
degree
of
tact
and
delicacy
in
her
manner
of
testifying
the
wide
disparity
of
her
feelings
,
which
left
him
nothing
of
which
to
complain
.
Careless
of
the
dry
and
sarcastic
air
with
which
Agnes
watched
his
mortification
,
Captain
De
Crespigny
did
not
even
take
the
trouble
to
conceal
it
;
but
soon
after
strode
out
of
the
room
,
and
walked
with
hurried
and
agitated
steps
up
and
down
in
the
garden
,
whistling
,
but
not
from
want
of
thought
.
When
thus
alone
and
unobserved
,
a
thousand
angry
and
indignant
feelings
made
him
writhe
with
mental
suffering
,
to
think
that
he
,
who
had
been
so
deeply
,
so
fatally
loved
by
others
,
who
had
never
sued
in
vain
,
and
never
truly
had
loved
before
,
should
endure
now
the
agonies
of
unrequited
affection
,
should
be
slighted
,
avoided
,
and
forgotten
,
for
a
man
he
hated
,
as
he
had
always
hated
Richard
Granville
.
"
He
cannot
love
her
as
I
do
!
"
thought
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
vehemently
clenching
his
hands
,
and
throwing
himself
on
a
seat
.
"
What
does
he
know
of
that
magical
feeling
!
a
passionless
being
from
boyhood
,
master
of
all
his
own
feelings
and
impulses
,
incapable
of
the
wild
,
ungovernable
ardor
,
which
carries
me
forward
,
in
the
face
of
all
obstacles
,
to
win
her
!
He
has
indeed
acted
manfully
on
this
occasion
,
but
shall
the
accident
of
his
success
destroy
my
hopes
of
happiness
!
No
!
it
must
not
,
—
shall
not
be
!
Dunbar
will
never
consent
to
their
marriage
,
and
he
must
prevent
his
sister
from
thus
throwing
herself
away
.
She
shall
yet
be
mine
!
The
only
girl
who
was
ever
insensible
to
my
preference
!
I
cannot
live
without
her
,
and
if
there
be
means
in
the
wide
world
to
thwart
Richard
Granville
,
I
must
find
them
!
"
Sir
Patrick
received
next
day
,
with
gratified
surprise
,
the
explicit
declaration
of
his
friend
's
unbounded
,
and
,
at
length
,
undisguised
,
attachment
for
Marion
,
which
he
had
already
,
in
some
degree
,
suspected
,
though
so
much
accustomed
to
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
being
in
jest
,
that
he
could
scarcely
believe
now
that
he
was
in
earnest
,
while
listening
to
the
vehement
expressions
of
his
attachment
,
and
promising
,
nevertheless
,
to
enlist
himself
in
the
cause
,
with
all
the
zeal
and
all
the
interest
he
could
command
.
"
As
her
guardian
,
I
have
a
perfect
right
to
postpone
this
most
absurd
engagement
,
and
Sir
Arthur
deserves
to
be
spiflicated
,
for
ever
having
encouraged
such
a
mere
penny-wedding
affair
for
that
girl
,
who
does
not
know
her
own
value
.
Agnes
tells
me
my
uncle
has
allowed
them
to
correspond
;
but
this
he
had
no
right
to
do
without
my
consent
,
and
therefore
I
shall
take
most
effectual
means
to
intercept
every
letter
,
either
to
or
from
her
,
till
she
is
of
age
,
after
which
my
reign
ends
,
though
,
I
hope
,
long
before
that
,
yours
shall
have
begun
.
"
Sir
Patrick
took
an
early
opportunity
of
expressing
to
Marion
,
in
no
measured
terms
,
his
utter
abhorrence
of
poor
marriages
in
general
,
of
poor
curates
especially
,
and
of
Richard
Granville
in
particular
;
while
she
,
with
downcast
eyes
,
blushed
,
and
re-blushed
,
deeper
,
and
deeper
still
;
though
,
unwilling
to
irritate
him
more
than
could
be
helped
,
she
listened
in
silence
,
till
at
length
,
encouraged
by
meeting
with
no
reply
,
he
added
,
in
a
tone
of
high
exhilaration
—
"
But
we
need
not
talk
of
that
now
!
The
thing
does
not
bear
speaking
of
!
You
shall
hear
news
to-day
that
must
positively
drive
all
this
nonsense
out
of
your
head
.
The
best
'
catch
'
in
Britain
has
actually
lost
his
heart
to
a
tolerably
pretty
,
and
not
very
disagreeable
young
lady
,
by
name
Marion
Dunbar
!
A
better
fellow
does
not
exist
on
earth
than
De
Crespigny
;
and
he
will
render
you
the
happiest
of
women
.
I
never
saw
any
man
so
anxious
to
make
himself
liked
by
any
girl
as
he
is
!
"
Marion
felt
now
that
she
must
no
longer
be
silent
,
and
blushing
her
brightest
red
she
replied
,
in
a
low
,
deep
,
earnest
voice
,
"
Hear
me
,
dear
Patrick
,
and
I
shall
not
annoy
you
by
saying
one
word
in
favor
of
my
indissoluble
engagement
,
that
being
a
subject
on
which
,
I
fear
,
we
shall
never
agree
;
but
without
reference
to
a
previous
attachment
,
had
it
not
even
existed
,
my
feelings
towards
Captain
De
Crespigny
would
have
been
the
same
.
I
never
could
confide
my
affection
and
happiness
to
one
who
has
found
his
amusement
hitherto
in
betraying
all
who
trusted
him
,
and
who
feeds
his
vanity
by
causing
misery
to
those
who
are
as
deserving
as
myself
.
It
would
have
been
more
merciful
to
destroy
life
,
than
to
destroy
the
happiness
of
life
,
as
he
has
done
,
for
many
,
and
for
our
own
sister
,
I
fear
,
among
the
number
.
"
"
Pshaw
,
Marion
!
Do
not
stand
in
your
own
light
like
a
thief
in
the
candle
!
"
exclaimed
Sir
Patrick
,
impatiently
.
"
De
Crespigny
is
worth
a
hundred
thousand
Richard
Granvilles
!
"
"
One
is
all
I
care
for
!
"
replied
Marion
,
timidly
.
"
But
,
Patrick
,
as
you
have
begun
the
comparison
,
let
me
say
,
that
to
have
once
known
Mr.
Granville
is
a
talisman
against
every
other
attachment
.
There
is
no
pleasure
in
life
worth
a
thought
,
without
mutual
confidence
,
such
as
,
I
trust
,
we
have
established
between
us
for
ever
,
and
such
as
I
never
could
have
felt
with
Captain
De
Crespigny
.
My
taste
has
been
tuned
to
a
higher
pitch
than
to
be
satisfied
with
such
a
transient
and
capricious
attachment
as
he
could
ever
offer
to
any
one
—
mere
tinsel
and
filigree
,
compared
to
the
strong
and
lasting
sentiment
on
which
I
may
now
rely
.
"
"
Marion
!
there
is
not
a
man
living
who
deserves
a
more
grateful
return
for
his
preference
than
De
Crespigny
;
and
I
still
hope
the
time
may
come
when
you
shall
see
his
value
,
and
more
than
return
his
attachment
,
or
it
will
inflict
a
very
great
disappointment
,
which
I
should
be
annoyed
beyond
measure
to
occasion
him
!
"
"
Patrick
!
how
could
your
friend
,
with
his
heart
splintered
into
atoms
,
ever
presume
to
expect
a
whole
one
in
return
?
He
often
reminds
me
of
that
German
lady
,
whose
picture
is
drawn
encouraging
three
lovers
at
once
.
She
is
giving
her
hand
to
the
first
,
stealing
a
glance
at
the
second
,
and
treading
on
the
toe
of
the
third
,
while
each
believes
himself
the
favorite
.
Captain
De
Crespigny
will
take
the
disappointment
,
if
it
be
one
,
to
the
next
ball
,
and
dance
it
off
in
a
single
quadrille
.
His
love
is
like
wax
,
ready
for
all
impressions
,
and
he
has
weathered
so
many
flirtations
already
,
that
you
need
never
be
uneasy
about
him
now
.
I
venture
to
say
what
I
think
,
Patrick
,
to
convince
you
how
vain
all
future
importunity
on
the
subject
