thather
brother
,
the
only
one
,
her
own
—
respected
,
beloved
,
as
he
was
said
to
be
—
had
yet
committed
such
faults
,
as
would
hurl
him
from
his
present
position
to
the
lowest
depth
of
degradation
,
for
what
else
could
tempt
him
,
to
swear
not
to
survive
it
?
Was
it
marvel
,
that
poor
Ellen
was
only
conscious
that
she
must
save
him
?
—
Again
did
her
dying
mother
stand
before
her
—
again
did
her
well-remembered
voice
beseech
her
to
save
him
her
darling
,
beautiful
Edward
,
from
disgrace
and
punishment
—
reiterate
that
her
word
was
pledged
,
and
she
must
do
it
,
and
if
she
suffered
—
had
she
not
done
so
from
infancy
—
and
what
was
her
happiness
to
his
?
Define
why
it
should
be
of
less
moment
,
indeed
,
she
could
not
.
It
was
the
fatal
influences
of
her
childhood
working
alone
.
How
that
day
passed
,
Ellen
never
knew
.
She
had
been
too
long
accustomed
to
control
,
to
betray
her
internal
suffering
(
terror
for
Edward
seemed
to
endow
her
with
additional
self
command
)
,
except
by
a
deadly
paleness
,
which
even
her
aunt
at
length
remarked
.
It
was
quite
evening
,
and
the
party
were
all
scattered
,
when
Mrs.
Hamilton
discovered
Ellen
sitting
in
one
of
the
deep
recesses
of
the
windows
:
her
work
in
her
lap
,
her
hands
clasped
tightly
together
,
and
her
eyes
fixed
on
the
beautiful
scenery
of
the
park
,
but
not
seeing
a
single
object
.
"
My
dear
Ellen
,
I
am
going
to
scold
you
,
so
prepare
,
"
was
her
aunt
's
lively
address
,
as
she
approached
and
stood
by
her
.
"
You
need
not
start
so
guiltily
and
look
so
very
terrified
,
but
confess
that
you
are
thinking
about
Edward
,
and
worrying
yourself
that
he
is
not
quite
so
strong
as
he
was
,
and
magnifying
his
wound
,
till
you
fancy
it
something
very
dreadful
,
when
,
I
dare
say
,
if
the
truth
were
told
,
he
himself
is
quite
proud
of
it
;
come
confess
,
and
I
will
only
give
you
a
very
little
lecture
,
for
your
excessive
silliness
.
"
Ellen
looked
up
in
her
face
;
that
kind
voice
,
that
affectionate
smile
,
that
caressing
,
constantly-forgiving
love
,
would
they
again
all
be
forfeited
,
again
give
way
to
coldness
,
loss
of
confidence
,
heightened
displeasure
?
How
indeed
she
was
to
act
,
she
knew
not
;
she
only
knew
there
must
be
concealment
,
the
very
anticipation
of
which
,
seemed
too
terrible
to
bear
,
and
she
burst
into
an
agony
of
tears
.
"
Why
,
Ellen
—
my
dear
child
—
you
can
not
be
well
,
to
let
either
the
accounts
of
your
brother
,
or
my
threatened
scolding
,
so
affect
you
,
and
on
your
birthday
,
too
!
Why
,
all
the
old
women
would
say
it
was
such
a
bad
omen
,
that
you
would
be
unhappy
all
the
year
round
.
Come
,
this
will
never
do
,
I
must
lecture
,
in
earnest
,
if
you
do
not
try
to
conquer
this
unusual
weakness
.
We
have
much
more
to
be
thankful
for
,
in
Sir
Edward
's
account
of
our
dear
sailor
,
than
to
cry
about
;
he
might
have
been
seriously
wounded
or
maimed
,
and
what
would
you
have
felt
then
?
I
wonder
if
he
will
find
as
much
change
in
you
as
we
shall
in
him
.
If
you
are
not
quite
strong
and
quite
well
,
and
quite
happy
to
greet
him
when
he
comes
,
I
shall
consider
my
care
insulted
,
and
punish
you
accordingly
.
Still
no
smile
.
What
is
the
matter
,
dearest
?
Are
you
really
not
well
again
?
"
Ellen
made
a
desperate
effort
,
conquered
her
tears
,
and
tried
to
converse
cheerfully
.
It
was
absolute
agony
to
hear
Edward
's
name
,
but
she
nerved
herself
to
do
so
,
to
acknowledge
she
was
thinking
of
him
;
and
that
it
was
very
silly
to
worry
about
such
a
slight
wound
:
and
when
Mrs.
Hamilton
proposed
that
they
should
walk
over
to
Greville
Manor
,
and
tell
the
good
news
to
Mrs.
Greville
and
Mary
,
acquiesced
with
apparent
pleasure
.
"
Ah
,
do
,
mamma
:
you
have
not
asked
me
,
but
I
shall
go
notwithstanding
,
"
exclaimed
Emmeline
,
springing
through
the
open
window
,
with
her
usual
airy
step
.
"
Why
,
Emmeline
,
I
thought
you
were
going
to
the
village
with
your
sister
!
"
"
No
;
she
and
Miss
Harcourt
were
talking
much
too
soberly
to
suit
me
this
evening
.
Then
I
went
to
tease
papa
but
he
let
me
do
just
what
I
pleased
,
being
too
engrossed
with
some
disagreeable
farmers
,
to
notice
me
,
so
in
despair
I
came
here
.
Why
,
Ellen
,
you
look
as
if
this
were
any
day
but
what
it
is
;
unless
you
cry
because
you
are
getting
old
,
which
I
am
very
often
inclined
to
do
;
only
think
,
I
am
sixteen
next
December
—
how
dreadful
!
I
do
wish
my
birthday
were
in
June
.
"
"
And
what
difference
would
that
make
?
"
"
A
great
deal
,
mamma
;
only
look
how
lovely
every
thing
is
now
;
nature
is
quite
juvenile
,
and
has
dressed
herself
in
so
many
colors
,
and
seems
to
promise
so
many
more
beauties
,
that
,
whether
we
will
or
no
,
we
must
feel
gay
and
young
;
but
in
December
,
though
it
is
very
delightful
in
the
house
,
it
is
so
drear
and
withered
,
without
,
that
if
born
in
such
a
season
,
one
must
feel
withered
too
.
"
"
When
do
you
intend
to
speak
in
prose
,
Emmeline
?
"
"
Never
,
if
I
can
help
it
mamma
;
but
I
must
learn
the
lesson
before
I
go
to
London
,
I
suppose
;
that
horrid
London
!
that
is
one
reason
why
I
regret
the
years
going
so
fast
;
I
know
I
shall
leave
all
my
happiness
here
.
"
"
You
will
be
more
ungrateful
,
than
I
believe
you
,
if
you
do
,
"
replied
her
mother
.
"
So
pray
banish
such
foolish
fancies
as
fast
as
you
can
;
for
if
you
encourage
them
,
I
shall
certainly
suppose
that
it
is
only
Oakwood
you
love
;
and
that
neither
your
father
nor
myself
,
nor
any
member
of
your
family
,
has
any
part
in
your
affections
,
for
we
shall
be
with
you
,
wherever
you
are
.
"
"
Dear
mamma
,
I
spoke
at
random
,
forgive
me
,
"
replied
Emmeline
,
instantly
self-reproached
.
"
I
am
indeed
the
giddy
brain
papa
calls
me
;
but
you
can
not
tell
how
I
love
this
dear
old
home
.
"
"
Indeed
I
think
I
can
,
my
dear
child
,
loving
it
as
I
do
myself
;
but
come
,
we
shall
have
no
time
for
our
visit
,
if
we
do
not
go
at
once
.
"
Days
passed
,
and
were
each
followed
by
such
sleepless
feverish
nights
,
that
Ellen
felt
it
almost
a
miracle
,
that
she
could
so
seem
,
so
act
,
as
to
excite
no
notice
.
The
image
of
her
dying
mother
never
left
her
,
night
or
day
,
mingled
with
the
horrid
scene
of
her
father
's
death
,
and
Edward
disgraced
,
expelled
,
and
seeking
death
by
his
own
hand
.
There
was
only
one
plan
that
seemed
in
the
least
feasible
,
and
that
was
to
send
to
him
,
or
sell
herself
the
watch
she
had
received
on
her
birthday
,
and
if
that
was
not
enough
,
some
few
trinkets
,
which
had
been
her
mother
's
,
and
which
the
last
six
months
her
aunt
had
given
into
her
own
care
.
She
ventured
casually
to
inquire
if
there
were
any
opportunity
of
sending
a
parcel
to
Edward
,
but
the
answer
was
in
the
negative
,
and
increased
her
difficulty
.
The
only
person
she
dared
even
to
think
of
so
far
intrusting
with
her
deep
distress
and
anxiety
for
money
,
but
not
its
cause
,
was
widow
Langford
,
the
mother
of
Robert
(
the
young
gentlemen
's
attendant
,
whom
we
have
had
occasion
more
than
once
to
mention
,
and
the
former
nurse
of
all
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
children
)
.
She
occupied
a
cottage
on
the
outskirts
of
the
park
,
and
was
not
only
a
favorite
with
all
the
young
party
,
Ellen
included
(
for
she
generally
came
to
nurse
her
in
her
many
illnesses
)
,
but
was
regarded
with
the
greatest
confidence
and
affection
by
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
themselves
.
They
had
endeavored
to
return
her
unwavering
fidelity
and
active
service
,
by
taking
her
only
child
Robert
into
their
family
,
when
only
seven
;
placing
him
under
the
immediate
charge
of
Morris
,
the
steward
,
and
of
course
living
in
the
same
house
,
of
his
mother
also
;
and
when
fifteen
,
making
him
personal
attendant
to
Percy
and
Herbert
,
who
were
then
about
ten
and
eleven
years
old
.
An
older
and
more
experienced
domestic
had
,
however
,
accompanied
the
young
men
to
college
,
and
Robert
remained
employed
in
many
little
confidential
services
for
his
master
at
Oakwood
.
To
widow
Langford
,
Ellen
tried
to
resolve
that
she
would
apply
,
but
her
fearful
state
of
mental
agony
had
not
marked
the
lapse
of
time
,
or
had
caused
her
to
forget
that
her
letter
must
be
ready
in
a
week
.
The
party
were
all
going
a
delightful
excursion
,
and
to
drink
tea
at
Greville
Manor
,
so
that
they
would
not
be
home
till
quite
late
;
but
in
the
morning
,
Ellen
,
though
she
had
dressed
for
going
out
,
appeared
to
have
every
symptom
of
such
a
violent
headache
,
that
her
aunt
advised
her
remaining
quietly
at
home
,
and
she
assented
with
eagerness
,
refusing
every
offer
of
companionship
,
saying
if
the
pain
went
off
,
she
could
quite
amuse
herself
,
and
if
it
continued
,
quietness
and
Ellis
's
nursing
were
the
best
things
for
her
.
"
But
give
me
your
letter
before
we
go
out
,
Ellen
,
I
am
only
waiting
for
it
,
to
close
mine
to
Sir
Edward
.
Why
,
my
dear
,
have
you
forgotten
I
told
you
it
must
be
ready
by
to-day
?
"
her
uncle
added
,
surprised
at
her
exclamation
that
she
had
not
finished
it
.
"
It
must
be
done
and
sent
to
T
—
,
before
four
to-day
,
so
I
do
hope
your
head
will
allow
you
to
write
,
for
Edward
will
be
woefully
disappointed
if
there
be
not
a
line
from
you
,
especially
as
,
from
his
ship
cruising
about
,
it
may
be
several
weeks
before
he
can
hear
again
.
I
must
leave
my
letter
with
you
,
to
inclose
Edward
's
and
seal
up
,
and
pray
see
that
it
goes
in
time
.
"
Ellen
tried
to
promise
that
it
should
,
but
her
tongue
actually
clove
to
the
roof
of
her
mouth
;
but
all
the
party
dispersing
at
the
moment
,
her
silence
was
unnoticed
.
Mr.
Hamilton
gave
her
his
letter
,
and
in
half
an
hour
afterward
she
was
alone
.
She
sat
for
nearly
an
hour
in
her
own
room
,
with
her
desk
before
her
,
her
face
buried
in
her
hands
,
and
her
whole
frame
shaking
as
with
an
ague
.
"
It
must
be
,
"
she
said
at
length
,
and
unlocking
a
drawer
,
took
thence
a
small
cross
,
and
one
or
two
other
trinkets
,
put
them
up
,
and
taking
off
her
watch
,
looked
at
it
with
such
an
expression
of
suffering
,
that
it
seemed
as
if
she
could
not
go
on
,
carefully
folded
it
up
with
the
other
trinkets
,
and
murmuring
,
"
If
nurse
Langford
will
but
take
these
,
and
lend
me
the
twenty
pounds
till
she
can
dispose
of
them
,
I
may
save
him
yet
—
and
if
she
betray
me
—
if
she
tell
my
aunt
afterward
,
at
least
only
I
shall
suffer
;
they
will
not
suspect
him
.
But
oh
—
to
lose
—
to
be
doubted
,
hated
,
which
I
must
be
at
last
.
Oh
,
mother
!
mother
!
Why
may
I
not
tell
my
aunt
?
she
would
not
disgrace
him
.
"
And
again
she
crouched
down
,
cowed
by
that
fearful
struggle
to
the
very
earth
.
After
a
few
minutes
,
it
passed
,
and
deliberately
putting
on
her
bonnet
and
shawl
,
she
took
up
her
trinkets
,
and
set
off
to
the
widow
's
cottage
,
her
limbs
so
trembling
,
that
she
knew
not
how
she
should
accomplish
even
that
short
walk
.
The
wind
was
unusually
high
,
although
the
day
was
otherwise
lovely
,
and
she
was
scarcely
able
to
stand
against
the
strong
breeze
,
especially
as
every
breath
seemed
to
increase
the
pain
in
her
temples
;
but
she
persisted
.
The
nearest
path
lay
through
a
thick
shrubbery
,
almost
a
wood
,
which
the
family
never
used
,
and
,
in
fact
,
the
younger
members
were
prohibited
from
taking
,
but
secrecy
and
haste
were
all
which
at
that
moment
entered
Ellen
's
mind
.
She
felt
so
exhausted
by
the
wind
blowing
the
branches
and
leaves
noisily
and
confusedly
around
,
that
on
reaching
a
sort
of
grassy
glade
,
more
open
than
her
previous
path
,
she
sat
down
a
minute
on
a
mossy
stone
.
The
wind
blew
some
withered
sticks
and
leaves
toward
her
,
and
,
among
them
,
two
or
three
soiled
pieces
of
thin
paper
,
stained
with
damp
,
one
of
which
she
raised
mechanically
,
and
started
up
with
a
wild
cry
,
and
seized
the
others
almost
unconsciously
.
She
pressed
her
hands
over
her
eyes
,
and
her
lips
moved
in
the
utterance
of
thanksgiving
.
"
Saved
!
—
Edward
and
myself
,
too
!
—
some
guardian
angel
must
have
sent
them
!
"
if
not
actually
spoken
,
were
so
distinctly
uttered
in
her
heart
,
that
she
thought
she
heard
them
;
and
she
retraced
her
steps
,
so
swiftly
—
so
gladly
,
the
very
pain
and
exhaustion
were
unfelt
.
She
wrote
for
half
an
hour
intently
—
eagerly
;
though
that
which
she
wrote
she
knew
not
herself
,
and
never
could
recall
.
She
took
from
the
secret
drawer
of
her
desk
(
that
secret
drawer
which
,
when
Percy
had
so
laughingly
showed
her
the
secret
of
its
spring
,
telling
her
nobody
but
himself
knew
it
,
she
little
thought
she
should
have
occasion
so
to
use
)
,
some
bank
notes
,
of
two
,
three
,
and
five
pounds
each
,
making
the
fifteen
she
had
so
carefully
hoarded
,
and
placed
with
them
the
two
she
had
found
.
As
she
did
so
,
she
discovered
that
two
had
clung
so
closely
together
that
the
sum
was
five
pounds
more
than
she
wanted
.
Still
,
as
acting
under
the
influence
of
some
spell
,
she
carelessly
put
one
aside
,
sealed
up
the
packet
to
Edward
,
inclosed
it
in
her
uncle
's
to
Sir
Edward
Manly
,
and
dispatched
it
full
four
hours
before
the
hour
Mr.
Hamilton
had
named
.
It
was
gone
;
and
she
sat
down
to
breathe
.
Some
impulse
,
never
experienced
before
,
urged
her
,
instead
of
destroying
Edward
's
desperate
letter
,
as
she
had
done
similar
appeals
,
to
retain
it
in
a
blank
envelop
in
that
same
secret
drawer
.
As
she
tried
to
rouse
herself
from
a
sort
of
stupor
which
was
strangely
creeping
over
her
,
her
eye
caught
the
five
pound
note
which
she
had
not
had
occasion
to
use
,
and
a
thought
of
such
overwhelming
wretchedness
rushed
upon
her
,
as
effectually
,
for
the
moment
,
to
disperse
that
stupor
,
and
prostrate
her
in
an
agony
of
supplication
before
her
God
.
"
What
have
I
done
?
"
—
if
her
almost
maddening
thoughts
could
have
found
words
,
such
they
would
have
been
—
"
How
dared
I
appropriate
that
money
,
without
one
question
—
one
thought
—
as
to
whom
it
could
belong
?
Sent
me
?
No
,
no
!
Who
could
have
sent
it
?
Great
God
of
Mercy
!
Oh
,
if
Thy
wrath
must
fall
on
a
guilty
one
,
pour
it
on
me
,
but
spare
,
spare
my
brother
!
I
have
sinned
,
but
I
meant
it
not
—
thought
not
of
it
—
knew
not
what
I
did
!
Thou
knowest
,
Thou
alone
canst
know
,
the
only
thought
of
that
moment
—
the
agony
of
this
.
No
suffering
,
no
wrath
,
can
be
too
great
for
me
;
but
,
oh
!
spare
him
!
"
How
long
that
withering
agony
lasted
,
Ellen
knew
not
,
nor
whether
her
tears
fell
,
or
lay
scorching
her
eyes
and
heart
.
The
note
lay
before
her
like
some
hideous
specter
,
from
which
she
vainly
tried
to
turn
.
What
could
she
do
with
it
?
Take
it
back
to
the
spot
where
the
others
had
been
blown
to
her
?
She
tried
to
rise
to
do
so
;
but
,
to
her
own
terror
,
she
found
she
was
so
powerless
,
that
she
actually
could
not
walk
.
With
desperate
calmness
she
placed
it
in
the
little
secret
drawer
,
put
up
the
remainder
of
her
papers
,
closed
and
locked
her
desk
,
and
laid
down
upon
her
bed
,
for
she
could
sit
up
no
longer
.
Ellis
came
to
her
with
an
inquiry
after
her
head
,
and
if
she
could
take
her
dinner
.
Ellen
asked
for
a
cup
of
coffee
,
and
to
be
left
quite
quiet
instead
,
as
writing
had
not
decreased
the
pain
;
and
the
housekeeper
,
accustomed
to
such
casual
attacks
,
did
as
she
was
requested
,
and
came
frequently
to
see
her
in
the
course
of
the
afternoon
and
evening
;
still
without
perceiving
any
thing
unusual
,
and
,
therefore
,
not
tormenting
her
with
any
expression
of
surprise
or
anxiety
.
Thought
after
thought
congregated
in
the
poor
girl
's
mind
,
as
she
thus
lay
;
so
fraught
with
agony
that
the
physical
suffering
,
which
was
far
more
than
usual
,
was
unfelt
,
save
in
its
paralyzing
effect
on
every
limb
.
Her
impulse
was
to
confess
exactly
what
she
had
done
to
her
aunt
,
the
moment
she
should
see
her
,
and
conjure
her
to
sentence
her
to
some
heavy
chastisement
,
that
must
deaden
her
present
agony
;
but
this
was
impossible
without
betraying
Edward
,
and
nullifying
for
him
the
relief
she
had
sent
.
How
could
she
confess
the
sin
,
without
the
full
confession
of
the
use
to
which
that
money
had
been
applied
?
Whose
were
the
notes
?
They
were
stained
with
damp
,
as
if
they
must
have
lain
among
those
withered
leaves
some
time
;
and
yet
she
had
heard
no
inquiry
made
about
them
,
as
the
loss
of
so
large
a
sum
would
surely
have
demanded
.
The
only
plan
she
could
think
of
,
as
bringing
the
least
hope
of
returning
peace
,
was
still
to
beseech
Mrs.
Langford
to
dispose
of
her
watch
and
trinkets
,
and
the
very
first
mention
she
heard
made
of
the
loss
to
return
the
full
sum
to
the
real
possessor
,
if
possible
,
so
secretly
as
for
it
not
to
be
traced
to
herself
.
She
thought
,
too
,
that
if
she
gave
her
trinkets
,
one
by
one
,
not
all
together
,
to
Mrs.
Langford
,
it
would
be
less
suspicious
,
and
,
perhaps
,
more
easily
prevail
on
her
to
grant
her
secrecy
and
assistance
;
and
if
she
positively
refused
,
unless
Ellen
revealed
the
reason
of
her
desiring
their
disposal
,
and
would
solemnly
promise
secrecy
,
she
would
tell
her
so
much
of
her
intense
misery
,
as
might
perhaps
induce
her
to
give
her
aid
.
If
she
did
not
demand
the
reason
and
betrayed
her
,
she
must
endure
the
doubt
and
serious
displeasure
such
a
course
of
acting
on
her
part
would
inevitably
produce
;
but
two
things
alone
stood
clear
before
her
:
she
must
replace
that
money
—
she
must
keep
Edward
's
secret
.
She
would
have
gone
that
very
day
to
Mrs.
Langford
,
but
she
could
not
move
,
and
Ellis
,
at
seven
o'clock
,
prevailed
on
her
to
undress
and
go
to
bed
.
"
Not
better
,
my
Ellen
?
I
hoped
to-day
's
perfect
quietness
would
have
removed
your
headache
,
and
am
quite
disappointed
,
"
was
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
affectionate
address
,
as
she
softly
entered
her
niece
's
room
,
on
the
return
of
the
happy
party
at
eleven
at
night
,
and
placing
the
lamp
so
that
the
bed
remained
in
shade
she
could
not
see
any
expression
in
Ellen
's
face
,
except
that
of
suffering
,
which
she
naturally
attributed
to
physical
pain
.
"
How
hot
your
hands
and
face
are
,
love
;
I
wish
you
had
not
left
Edward
's
letter
to
write
to-day
.
I
am
afraid
we
shall
be
obliged
to
see
Mr.
Maitland
's
face
again
to-morrow
;
if
he
were
not
as
kind
a
friend
as
he
is
a
skillful
doctor
,
I
am
sure
you
would
get
quite
tired
of
him
,
Ellen
.
Shall
I
stay
with
you
?
I
can
not
bear
leaving
you
in
pain
and
alone
!
"
But
Ellen
would
not
hear
of
it
;
the
pain
was
not
more
than
she
was
often
accustomed
to
,
she
said
,
and
,
indeed
,
she
did
not
mind
being
alone
—
though
the
unusual
,
almost
passionate
,
warmth
with
which
she
returned
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
fond
kiss
betrayed
it
was
no
indifference
to
the
affectionate
offer
which
dictated
her
refusal
.
It
was
well
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
though
anxious
enough
to
feel
the
inclination
to
do
so
,
did
not
visit
her
niece
again
,
or
the
convulsive
agony
she
would
have
witnessed
,
the
choking
sobs
which
burst
forth
,
a
few
minutes
after
she
disappeared
from
Ellen
's
sight
,
would
have
bewildered
and
terrified
her
yet
more
.
CHAPTER
III
.
A
SUMMONS
AND
A
LOSS
.
Mr.
Maitland
declared
Ellen
to
be
ill
of
a
nervous
fever
which
for
three
days
confined
her
to
her
bed
,
and
left
her
very
weak
for
some
little
time
,
and
so
nervous
that
the
least
thing
seemed
to
startle
her
;
but
,
as
he
said
it
was
no
consequence
,
and
she
would
soon
recover
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
adopted
his
advice
,
took
no
notice
of
it
,
and
only
endeavored
to
make
her
niece
's
daily
routine
as
varied
in
employment
,
though
regular
in
hours
and
undisturbed
in
quiet
,
as
she
could
.
Perhaps
she
would
have
felt
more
anxious
,
and
discovered
something
not
quite
usual
in
Ellen
's
manner
,
if
her
thoughts
had
not
been
painfully
pre-occupied
.
About
a
week
after
their
excursion
she
entered
the
library
earlier
than
usual
,
and
found
her
husband
intently
engaged
with
some
dispatches
just
received
.
She
saw
he
was
more
than
ordinarily
disturbed
,
and
hesitated
a
moment
whether
to
address
him
;
but
he
was
seldom
so
engrossed
as
to
be
unconscious
of
the
presence
of
his
wife
.
"
I
am
really
glad
you
are
here
at
this
moment
,
Emmeline
,
for
I
actually
was
weak
enough
to
shrink
from
seeking
you
with
unpleasant
news
.
Letters
from
Feroe
have
at
length
arrived
,
and
my
personal
presence
is
so
imperatively
needed
,
that
I
am
self-reproached
at
not
going
before
;
the
long
silence
ought
to
have
convinced
me
that
all
was
not
as
it
should
be
.
"
"
But
what
has
occurred
,
Arthur
?
I
had
no
idea
you
contemplated
the
necessity
of
going
,
"
replied
his
wife
very
quietly
,
as
she
sat
down
close
by
him
;
but
the
fiat
of
separation
,
the
thoughts
of
a
perilous
voyage
,
a
visit
to
an
almost
desolate
island
,
and
the
impossibility
of
receiving
regular
letters
,
so
crowded
upon
her
all
at
once
,
that
it
was
a
strong
effort
to
speak
at
all
.
"
No
,
dearest
;
for
what
was
the
use
of
tormenting
you
with
disagreeable
anticipations
,
when
there
really
might
have
been
no
foundation
for
them
.
The
last
accounts
from
Samboe
,
were
,
as
you
know
,
received
nearly
two
years
ago
,
telling
me
that
Frederic
Wilson
was
dead
,
but
that
his
son
had
been
received
as
his
successor
in
the
ministry
,
and
as
civil
guardian
of
the
island
,
with
if
possible
,
a
still
greater
degree
of
popularity
than
his
predecessors
,
from
his
having
been
educated
in
Denmark
.
His
parents
had
lived
on
straitened
means
to
give
him
superior
advantages
,
which
,
as
it
proves
,
he
would
have
been
much
better
without
.
The
vices
he
has
acquired
have
far
outrun
the
advantages
.
His
example
,
and
that
of
a
band
of
idle
,
irregular
spirits
who
have
joined
him
,
has
not
only
scandalized
the
simple
people
but
disturbed
their
homesteads
,
brought
contention
and
misery
,
and
in
some
cases
,
bloodshed
;
so
that
in
point
of
social
and
domestic
position
,
I
fear
they
have
sunk
lower
than
when
my
grandfather
first
sought
the
island
.
The
mother
of
this
unhappy
young
man
has
,
naturally
,
perhaps
,
but
weakly
,
shrunk
from
informing
against
him
;
but
her
brother
,
the
clergyman
of
Osteroe
,
has
at
length
taken
upon
himself
to
do
so
,
clearly
stating
that
nothing
but
personal
interference
and
some
months
'
residence
among
them
will
effect
a
reformation
;
and
that
the
ruin
is
more
to
be
regretted
,
as
the
little
island
has
been
for
more
than
half
a
century
the
admiration
not
only
of
its
immediate
neighbors
,
but
of
all
who
have
chanced
to
harbor
off
its
coast
.
He
states
,
too
,
that
if
properly
directed
and
not
exposed
to
the
contagion
of
large
cities
,
as
his
brother
has
been
,
poor
Wilson
's
younger
son
,
now
a
boy
of
eleven
,
may
become
us
worthy
and
judicious
a
pastor
as
his
father
and
grandfather
,
and
so
keep
the
office
in
his
family
,
as
my
grandfather
was
so
desirous
of
doing
.
The
question
is
,
how
is
this
boy
to
be
educated
on
the
island
,
and
whom
can
I
find
to
take
the
ministry
meanwhile
.
"
"
And
must
your
own
residence
there
be
very
long
?
"
inquired
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
still
in
that
quiet
tone
,
but
her
lip
quivered
.
"
It
depends
entirely
on
whom
I
can
get
to
accompany
me
,
dearest
.
I
must
set
Mr.
Howard
and
Morton
to
work
to
find
me
some
simple-minded
,
single-hearted
individual
,
who
will
regard
this
undertaking
in
the
same
missionary
spirit
as
the
elder
Wilson
did
.
If
I
am
happy
enough
to
succeed
in
this
,
I
hope
a
year
,
or
somewhat
less
,
will
be
the
farthest
limit
of
our
separation
.
"
"
A
year
!
a
whole
long
year
—
dearest
Arthur
,
must
it
be
so
very
,
very
long
?
"
"
Who
tried
to
persuade
Ellen
,
a
fortnight
ago
,
that
a
year
,
even
two
years
,
would
pass
so
very
quickly
?
"
replied
Mr.
Hamilton
trying
to
smile
,
and
folding
his
arm
fondly
round
his
wife
,
he
kissed
the
cheek
which
had
become
pale
from
the
effort
to
restrain
her
feelings
.
"
It
is
indeed
an
unexpected
and
a
painful
trial
,
and
,
as
is
generally
the
case
with
our
rebellious
spirits
,
I
feel
as
if
it
would
have
been
better
borne
at
any
other
period
than
the
present
.
We
had
so
portioned
out
this
year
,
had
so
anticipated
gratifying
Caroline
by
introducing
her
to
the
so
long
and
so
eagerly
anticipated
pleasures
of
London
next
January
,
that
I
can
not
bear
to
think
of
her
disappointment
.
"
"
And
our
boys
,
too
,
they
say
it
is
so
strange
to
be
without
their
father
,
even
in
college
term
;
what
will
it
be
when
they
come
home
for
the
long
vacation
,
to
which
we
have
all
so
looked
forward
?
But
this
is
all
weakness
,
my
own
dear
husband
;
forgive
me
,
I
am
only
rendering
your
duty
more
difficult
,
"
she
added
,
raising
her
head
from
his
shoulder
,
and
smiling
cheerfully
,
even
while
the
tears
glistened
in
her
eyes
.
"
I
must
try
and
practice
my
own
lesson
,
and
believe
the
term
of
separation
will
really
pass
quickly
,
interminable
as
it
now
seems
.
We
have
been
so
blessed
,
so
guarded
from
the
bitter
pang
of
even
partial
separation
for
twenty
years
,
that
how
dare
I
murmur
now
the
trial
has
come
?
It
is
God
's
pleasure
,
dearest
Arthur
,
though
it
seems
like
the
work
of
man
,
and
as
His
we
can
endure
it
.
"
"
Bless
you
,
my
beloved
!
you
have
indeed
put
a
new
spirit
in
me
by
those
words
,
"
replied
her
husband
,
with
a
fondness
,
the
more
intense
from
the
actual
veneration
that
so
largely
mingled
with
it
.
"
And
bitter
disappointment
as
it
is
to
me
to
be
from
home
when
our
sons
return
,
it
is
better
so
,
perhaps
,
for
their
company
will
wile
away
at
least
nearly
three
months
of
my
absence
.
"
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
remained
some
hours
together
that
morning
in
earnest
conversation
.
All
of
individual
regret
was
conquered
for
the
sake
of
the
other
:
its
expression
,
at
least
,
not
its
feeling
;
but
they
understood
each
other
too
well
,
too
fondly
,
to
need
words
or
complaints
to
prove
to
either
how
intensely
painful
was
the
very
thought
of
separation
.
To
elude
the
performance
of
a
duty
which
many
persons
,
unable
to
enter
into
the
hope
of
effecting
good
,
would
,
no
doubt
,
pronounce
Quixotic
—
for
what
could
the
poor
inhabitants
of
Samboe
be
to
him
?
—
never
entered
either
Mr.
or
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
mind
.
He
was
not
one
to
neglect
his
immediate
duties
for
distant
ones
;
but
believed
and
acted
on
the
belief
,
that
both
could
be
united
.
His
own
large
estate
,
its
various
farms
,
parishes
,
and
villages
,
were
so
admirably
ordered
,
that
he
could
leave
it
without
the
smallest
scruple
in
the
hands
of
his
wife
and
steward
.
Though
interested
in
,
and
actually
assisting
in
the
political
movements
of
his
country
,
he
was
still
,
as
from
his
youth
he
had
firmly
resolved
to
be
,
a
free
,
independent
Englishman
;
bound
to
no
party
,
but
respected
by
all
;
retaining
his
own
principles
unshaken
as
a
rock
,
though
often
and
often
his
integrity
had
been
tried
by
court
bribes
and
dazzling
offers
.
And
yet
,
rare
blending
with
such
individual
feelings
,
Arthur
Hamilton
looked
with
candor
and
kindness
on
the
conduct
and
principles
of
others
,
however
they
might
differ
from
his
own
,
and
found
excuses
for
them
,
which
none
others
could
.
That
he
should
give
up
all
the
comforts
,
the
luxuries
,
the
delights
of
his
peculiarly
happy
home
,
to
encounter
several
months
'
sojourn
in
a
bleak
,
half-civilized
island
,
only
in
the
hope
of
restoring
and
insuring
moral
and
religious
improvement
to
a
small
colony
of
human
beings
,
whose
sole
claim
upon
him
was
,
that
they
were
immortal
as
himself
,
and
that
they
had
done
a
kindness
to
his
grandfather
more
than
half
a
century
back
,
was
likely
to
,
and
no
doubt
did
,
excite
the
utmost
astonishment
in
very
many
circles
;
but
not
a
sneer
,
not
a
word
seeming
to
whisper
good
should
be
done
at
home
before
sought
abroad
,
could
find
a
moment
's
resting-place
near
Arthur
Hamilton
's
name
.
For
half
an
hour
after
Mrs.
Hamilton
quitted
her
husband
she
remained
alone
,
and
when
she
rejoined
her
family
,
though
she
might
have
been
a
shade
paler
than
her
wont
,
she
was
as
cheerful
in
conversation
and
earnest
in
manner
as
usual
.
That
evening
Mr.
Hamilton
informed
his
children
and
Miss
Harcourt
of
his
intended
departure
,
and
consequent
compelled
change
of
plan
.
Emmeline
's
burst
of
sorrow
was
violent
and
uncontrolled
.
Caroline
looked
for
a
minute
quite
bewildered
,
and
then
hastening
to
her
father
threw
one
arm
round
his
neck
,
exclaiming
,
in
a
voice
of
the
most
affectionate
sincerity
,
"
Dear
papa
,
what
shall
we
do
without
you
for
such
a
long
time
?
"
"
My
dear
child
!
I
thank
you
for
such
an
affectionate
thought
;
believe
me
,
the
idea
of
your
wishes
being
postponed
has
pained
me
as
much
as
any
thing
else
in
this
unpleasant
duty
.
"
"
My
wishes
postponed
,
papa
—
what
do
you
mean
?
"
"
Have
you
quite
forgotten
our
intended
plans
for
next
January
,
my
love
?
My
absence
must
alter
them
.
"
For
a
moment
an
expression
of
bitter
disappointment
clouded
Caroline
's
open
countenance
.
"
Indeed
,
papa
,
I
had
forgotten
it
;
I
only
thought
of
your
going
away
for
so
many
months
.
It
is
a
great
disappointment
,
I
own
,
and
I
dare
say
I
shall
feel
it
still
more
when
January
comes
;
but
I
am
sure
parting
from
you
must
be
a
still
greater
trial
to
mamma
,
than
any
such
disappointment
ought
to
be
to
me
;
and
,
indeed
,
I
will
try
and
bear
it
as
uncomplainingly
and
cheerfully
as
she
does
.
"
Her
father
almost
involuntarily
drew
her
to
his
heart
,
and
kissed
her
two
or
three
times
,
without
speaking
;
and
Caroline
was
very
glad
he
did
so
,
for
when
she
looked
up
again
,
the
tears
that
would
come
at
the
first
thought
of
her
disappointment
were
bravely
sent
back
again
;
and
she
tried
to
cheer
Emmeline
,
by
assuring
her
she
never
could
be
like
her
favorite
heroines
of
romance
,
if
she
behaved
so
very
much
like
a
child
;
taking
the
opportunity
when
they
retired
for
the
night
,
to
say
more
seriously
—
"
Dear
Emmeline
,
do
try
and
be
as
lively
as
you
always
are
.
I
am
sure
poor
mamma
is
suffering
very
much
at
the
idea
of
papa
's
leaving
us
,
though
she
will
not
let
us
see
that
she
does
,
and
if
you
give
way
so
,
it
will
make
her
more
uncomfortable
still
.
"
Emmeline
promised
to
try
;
but
her
disposition
,
quite
as
susceptible
to
sorrow
as
to
joy
,
and
not
nearly
as
firm
as
her
sister
's
,
rendered
the
promise
very
difficult
to
fulfill
.
It
was
her
first
sorrow
;
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
watched
her
with
some
anxiety
,
half
fearful
that
she
had
been
wrong
to
shield
her
so
carefully
from
any
thing
like
grief
,
if
,
when
it
came
,
she
should
prove
unequal
to
its
firm
and
uncomplaining
endurance
.
Ellen
had
been
out
of
the
room
when
Mr.
Hamilton
had
first
spoken
;
and
engaged
in
soothing
Emmeline
;
when
she
re-entered
and
the
news
was
communicated
to
her
,
he
did
not
observe
any
thing
particular
in
mode
of
receiving
it
.
But
Mrs.
Hamilton
was
so
struck
with
"
the
expression
of
her
countenance
,
which
,
as
she
tried
somewhat
incoherently
to
utter
regrets
,
took
the
place
of
its
usual
calm
,
that
she
looked
at
her
several
minutes
in
bewilderment
;
but
it
passed
again
,
so
completely
,
that
she
was
angry
with
herself
for
fancying
any
thing
uncommon
.
Caroline
,
however
,
had
remarked
it
too
,
and
she
could
not
help
observing
to
Miss
Harcourt
,
the
first
time
they
were
alone
—
"
You
will
say
I
am
always
fancying
something
extraordinary
,
Miss
Harcourt
;
but
Ellen
certainly
did
look
pleased
last
night
,
when
mamma
told
her
of
papa
's
intended
departure
.
"
"
The
expression
must
have
been
something
extraordinary
for
you
to
remark
it
at
all
,
"
replied
Miss
Harcourt
;
"
nobody
but
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
whose
penetration
is
out
of
the
common
,
can
ever
read
any
thing
on
Ellen
's
face
.
"
"
And
it
was
for
that
very
reason
I
looked
again
;
and
mamma
noticed
it
too
,
and
was
surprised
,
though
she
did
not
say
any
thing
.
If
she
really
be
pleased
,
she
is
most
ungrateful
,
and
all
her
profession
of
feeling
mamma
and
papa
's
constant
kindness
sheer
deceit
.
I
never
shall
understand
Ellen
,
I
believe
;
but
I
do
hope
mamma
will
never
discover
that
she
is
not
exactly
that
which
her
affection
believes
her
.
"
"
Pray
do
not
talk
so
,
my
dear
Caroline
,
or
I
shall
be
tempted
to
confess
that
you
are
giving
words
to
my
own
feelings
.
Her
conduct
with
regard
to
the
disappearance
of
her
allowance
,
the
wholly
unsatisfactory
account
of
its
expenditure
,
even
every
month
,
for
she
seems
to
me
to
mention
many
things
she
has
never
had
,
banish
every
hopeful
feeling
,
and
I
dread
more
than
I
can
tell
you
,
the
very
thing
you
have
expressed
.
But
all
this
is
very
wrong
;
we
have
relieved
each
other
by
a
mutual
acknowledgment
,
and
now
let
us
never
revert
,
even
in
thought
,
if
possible
,
to
the
subject
.
"
Caroline
willingly
acquiesced
,
for
it
was
far
from
agreeable
.
Mr.
Hamilton
's
preparations
,
meanwhile
,
rapidly
progressed
.
He
imparted
his
wishes
for
a
companion
willing
to
remain
in
the
island
,
till
young
Wilson
should
be
prepared
for
the
ministry
,
both
to
Mr.
Howard
and
Mr.
Morton
(
the
latter
still
remained
in
his
desolate
parish
,
still
more
isolated
in
feeling
from
the
loss
of
both
his
parents
,
and
Percy
's
absence
)
,
and
both
,
especially
Morton
,
gave
him
every
hope
of
obtaining
the
character
he
wanted
.
His
next
inquiry
was
at
Dartmouth
for
a
strong
,
well-built
vessel
,
fitted
to
encounter
the
stormy
seas
between
Scotland
and
Feroe
,
determining
to
do
all
in
his
power
to
provide
some
means
of
regular
communication
between
himself
and
the
beloved
inmates
of
his
home
.
Wick
,
in
Caithness
,
was
the
farthest
post
town
to
which
letters
could
be
addressed
.
Every
ten
days
or
fortnight
communications
were
to
be
sent
there
,
and
the
Siren
,
after
conveying
him
to
Feroe
,
was
regularly
to
ply
between
Samboe
and
Wick
,
bringing
from
the
latter
place
to
Mr.
Hamilton
the
various
letters
that
had
accumulated
there
,
should
unfavorable
winds
have
lengthened
the
voyage
,
and
forwarding
his
through
that
post
to
his
home
.
By
this
means
,
he
hoped
to
hear
and
be
heard
of
regularly
;
an
intense
relief
,
if
it
really
could
be
so
accomplished
,
to
his
wife
.
As
soon
as
a
ship
,
a
competent
captain
,
mate
,
and
crew
were
obtained
,
Mr.
Hamilton
set
off
for
Oxford
and
London
,
wishing
in
the
latter
place
to
see
his
friend
Grahame
,
and
in
the
former
to
pass
a
few
days
with
his
sons
,
who
,
knowing
nothing
of
his
summons
,
received
him
with
unbounded
delight
.
Their
regret
,
when
they
heard
the
cause
of
his
visit
,
was
as
great
as
their
joy
had
been
.
Percy
,
in
a
desperate
fit
of
impatience
,
wished
the
little
island
and
all
its
concerns
at
the
bottom
of
the
sea
,
the
best
place
for
such
unruly
,
disagreeable
people
;
and
he
was
only
sobered
when
his
father
put
before
him
that
,
though
it
must
be
a
very
heightened
individual
disappointment
,
it
was
the
greatest
comfort
to
him
,
to
think
that
they
would
both
be
with
their
mother
and
sisters
the
first
few
months
of
his
absence
.
Percy
instantly
altered
his
tone
.
"
You
are
quite
right
,
my
dear
father
;
I
was
very
selfish
not
to
think
of
it
.
Trust
me
for
making
my
dearest
mother
as
cheerful
and
as
happy
as
I
can
.
You
do
n't
know
what
a
guardian
angel
the
thought
of
her
love
has
been
to
me
in
temptation
;
and
as
for
Bertie
,
if
ever
I
thought
he
was
studying
himself
ill
,
and
not
taking
the
care
of
himself
he
ought
,
or
wanted
him
to
take
exercise
and
recreation
,
when
he
thought
me
a
great
bore
,
the
word
mother
,
made
him
yield
at
once
.
"
And
Herbert
's
kindling
eye
and
cheek
bore
testimony
to
the
truth
of
his
brother
's
words
.
His
only
feeling
and
exclamation
had
been
,
if
he
might
but
accompany
his
father
,
and
save
him
all
the
trouble
he
could
;
allowing
,
however
,
its
impossibility
,
when
the
circumstances
of
his
still
delicate
health
and
the
necessity
for
uninterrupted
study
,
were
placed
before
him
.
That
visit
to
Oxford
was
a
proud
one
for
Mr.
Hamilton
.
His
sons
held
that
place
in
the
estimation
of
the
professors
,
superiors
,
and
their
fellow-collegians
,
which
their
early
influences
had
promised
,
and
which
,
as
the
sons
of
Arthur
Hamilton
,
seemed
naturally
their
own
.
Percy
could
so
combine
firmness
in
principle
,
unbending
rectitude
in
conduct
,
with
such
a
spirit
of
fun
and
enjoyment
,
as
rendered
him
the
prime
mover
of
all
sports
at
Oxford
,
as
he
had
been
at
Oakwood
;
and
Herbert
,
though
so
gentle
and
retiring
as
(
until
Percy
's
spirit
was
roused
to
shield
him
)
,
gained
him
many
nick-names
and
many
petty
annoyances
,
silently
and
insensibly
won
his
way
,
and
so
bore
with
the
thoughtless
,
the
mirthful
,
and
even
the
faulty
,
as
at
length
to
gain
him
the
privilege
of
being
allowed
to
do
just
as
he
liked
,
and
win
by
his
extraordinary
talents
the
admiration
and
love
of
all
the
professors
with
whom
he
was
thrown
.
Morton
had
promised
to
introduce
a
person
to
Mr.
Hamilton
on
his
return
from
Oxford
,
who
,
if
approved
of
,
would
be
his
willing
,
his
eager
assistant
,
and
gladly
remain
in
the
island
,
attending
to
all
that
was
required
in
its
superintendence
,
and
in
the
education
of
young
Wilson
,
till
he
was
old
enough
and
properly
fitted
to
take
his
father
's
place
.
Great
,
then
,
was
Mr.
Hamilton
's
disappointment
,
when
Morton
entered
his
library
according
to
appointment
,
but
quite
alone
.
Still
greater
was
his
astonishment
,
when
he
found
it
was
Morton
himself
,
thus
eagerly
desirous
to
become
his
companion
,
urging
his
wishes
,
his
motives
,
Mr.
Howard
's
sanction
,
with
such
earnestness
,
such
single-mindedness
of
purpose
,
that
every
objection
which
,
for
Morton
's
own
sake
,
Mr.
Hamilton
so
strenuously
brought
forward
,
was
overruled
;
and
after
a
lengthened
interview
,
matters
were
arranged
to
the
entire
satisfaction
of
both
parties
.
The
idea
of
the
companionship
and
aid
of
such
a
friend
as
Morton
bringing
as
great
a
relief
to
both
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
as
their
acquiescence
filled
the
whole
heart
of
the
young
missionary
with
the
most
unbounded
gratitude
and
joy
.
He
suggested
many
little
things
,
which
,
in
the
agitation
of
his
hasty
summons
,
had
escaped
his
friends
,
and
his
whole
being
seemed
transformed
from
despondency
and
listlessness
to
energy
and
hope
.
Engrossed
as
he
was
,
Mr.
Hamilton
's
usual
thought
for
others
had
not
deserted
him
,
and
he
remarked
that
one
of
his
household
,
Robert
Langford
,
so
often
mentioned
,
appeared
to
linger
in
the
library
after
morning
and
evening
service
,
as
if
anxious
to
speak
to
him
,
but
failing
in
courage
so
to
do
.
He
thought
,
too
,
that
the
young
man
seemed
quite
altered
,
dispirited
,
gloomy
,
almost
wretched
at
times
,
instead
of
the
mirthful
,
happy
being
he
had
been
before
.
Determining
to
give
him
an
opportunity
of
speaking
before
his
departure
,
if
he
wished
it
,
Mr.
Hamilton
summoned
him
to
arrange
,
write
a
list
,
and
pack
some
books
,
which
Morton
had
selected
to
take
with
him
.
For
some
time
Robert
pursued
his
work
in
persevering
silence
,
but
at
length
fixed
his
eyes
on
his
master
with
such
beseeching
earnestness
,
that
Mr.
Hamilton
inquired
the
matter
at
once
.
It
was
some
time
before
the
young
man
could
sufficiently
compose
himself
to
speak
with
any
coherency
,
but
at
last
Mr.
Hamilton
gathered
the
following
details
.
About
five
weeks
previous
(
the
first
day
of
June
)
he
had
been
introduced
,
as
he
had
very
often
before
been
,
by
his
master
,
with
certain
papers
and
law
articles
to
convey
to
Plymouth
,
and
with
a
pocket
book
containing
thirty
pounds
,
in
two
ten
and
two
five
pound
notes
,
which
he
had
orders
to
leave
at
some
poor
though
respectable
families
,
whom
Mr.
Hamilton
was
in
the
habit
of
occasionally
assisting
,
though
they
were
out
of
his
own
domains
.
The
morning
he
was
to
have
started
on
this
expedition
a
cousin
,
whom
he
had
always
regarded
as
a
brother
,
came
unexpectedly
to
see
him
.
He
had
just
arrived
at
Plymouth
from
a
four
years
'
residence
with
his
regiment
in
Ireland
:
and
Robert
's
glee
was
so
great
as
to
require
reiterated
commands
from
the
steward
to
take
care
of
the
papers
,
and
not
stay
at
his
mother
's
cottage
,
where
he
was
to
take
his
cousin
,
later
than
the
afternoon
.
He
lingered
so
long
before
he
set
off
from
Oakwood
,
that
he
gathered
up
all
the
papers
as
quickly
as
he
could
,
forgot
his
principal
charge
,
so
far
at
least
as
not
to
look
to
the
secure
fastening
of
the
pocket-book
,
and
hastened
with
his
cousin
through
the
brushwood
and
glade
we
have
before
mentioned
,
to
his
mother
's
cottage
.
It
was
very
hot
,
and
the
young
men
,
heated
and
in
eager
conversation
,
took
off
their
coats
,
threw
them
loosely
over
their
arms
,
and
proceeded
on
their
walk
without
them
,
much
too
engrossed
with
each
other
to
be
aware
that
,
as
they
carried
their
coats
,
it
was
the
easiest
and
most
natural
thing
possible
for
all
the
smaller
contents
of
their
pockets
to
fall
out
,
and
if
not
missed
directly
,
from
the
winding
and
rugged
wood
path
,
not
likely
to
be
found
again
.
A
draught
of
cider
and
half
an
hour
's
rest
at
Mrs.
Langford
's
cottage
sufficiently
revived
Robert
to
resume
his
coat
;
he
satisfied
himself
that
his
packet
of
papers
was
secure
,
and
,
as
he
imagined
from
the
feel
of
another
pocket
,
the
pocket-book
also
.
What
,
then
,
was
his
consternation
,
when
he
approached
the
first
house
at
which
he
was
to
leave
ten
pounds
of
the
money
,
about
twenty
miles
from
Oakwood
to
discover
that
the
pocket
book
was
gone
!
and
that
which
,
by
its
feel
,
he
believed
to
have
been
it
,
an
old
card-case
,
that
his
young
master
Percy
had
laughingly
thrown
at
him
one
day
after
failing
in
his
endeavor
to
emblazon
it
,
the
sticky
materials
he
had
used
causing
it
to
adhere
to
whatever
it
touched
,
and
so
preserving
it
in
Robert
's
pocket
,
when
almost
all
the
other
things
had
fallen
out
.
He
racked
his
memory
in
vain
as
to
what
could
have
become
of
it
,
convinced
that
he
had
not
left
it
at
Oakwood
,
as
he
first
sincerely
wished
that
he
had
.
Two
or
three
other
things
had
also
disappeared
,
and
it
suddenly
flashed
upon
him
,
that
when
carrying
his
coat
over
his
arm
they
must
have
fallen
out
.
He
cursed
his
thoughtlessness
again
and
again
,
and
would
have
retraced
his
steps
immediately
,
but
the
papers
with
which
he
was
intrusted
had
to
be
delivered
at
Plymouth
by
a
certain
hour
,
and
he
could
not
do
it
.
The
intense
heat
of
the
day
gave
place
in
the
evening
to
a
tremendous
storm
of
thunder
and
lightning
,
wind
and
very
heavy
rain
,
which
last
continued
unabated
through
the
night
.
He
returned
home
,
or
rather
to
his
mother
's
cottage
,
the
next
day
,
in
a
state
of
mind
little
removed
from
distraction
;
searching
the
path
he
had
traversed
with
his
cousin
in
every
direction
,
but
only
succeeded
in
finding
some
worthless
trifles
,
and
the
pocket-book
itself
but
open
and
empty
;
but
at
a
little
distance
from
it
one
five
pound
note
.
In
an
instant
he
remembered
that
in
his
hurry
he
had
failed
to
see
to
its
proper
fastening
:
if
he
had
,
all
would
have
been
right
,
for
the
wind
and
rain
would
hardly
have
had
power
to
open
it
,
and
disperse
its
contents
.
Hour
after
hour
he
passed
in
the
vain
search
for
the
remainder
;
the
storm
had
rendered
the
path
more
intricate
;
the
ground
was
slimy
,
and
quantities
of
dried
sticks
and
broken
branches
and
leaves
almost
covered
it
.
He
told
his
tale
to
his
mother
in
the
deepest
distress
;
what
was
he
to
do
?
She
advised
him
to
tell
the
steward
the
whole
story
,
and
to
request
him
to
keep
back
the
sum
she
was
in
the
habit
of
receiving
quarterly
,
till
the
whole
amount
could
be
repaid
.
Robert
obeyed
her
,
but
with
most
painful
reluctance
,
though
even
then
he
did
not
imagine
all
the
misery
his
carelessness
would
entail
upon
him
.
Morris
,
as
was
natural
,
was
exceedingly
displeased
,
and
not
only
reproved
him
very
severely
,
but
let
fall
suspicions
as
to
the
truth
of
his
story
:
he
knew
nothing
of
his
cousin
,
he
said
,
and
could
not
say
what
company
he
might
have
been
led
into
.
If
the
notes
had
fallen
out
of
his
pocket
during
his
walk
,
they
must
be
found
;
it
was
all
nonsense
that
the
wind
and
rain
could
so
have
scattered
and
annihilated
them
,
as
to
remove
all
trace
of
them
.
He
would
not
say
any
thing
to
his
master
,
because
it
would
only
annoy
him
,
and
the
charities
he
would
give
himself
,
not
from
Mrs.
Langford
's
allowance
,
but
from
Robert
's
own
wages
,
which
he
should
certainly
stop
till
the
whole
sum
was
paid
;
he
should
take
care
how
he
intrusted
such
a
responsible
office
to
him
again
.
Robert
was
at
first
indignant
,
and
violent
in
his
protestations
of
the
truth
of
his
story
;
but
as
it
got
wind
in
the
servants
'
hall
as
he
found
himself
suspected
and
shunned
by
almost
all
,
as
days
merged
into
weeks
,
and
there
was
no
trace
of
the
notes
,
and
Morris
and
Ellis
both
united
in
declaring
that
,
as
no
strangers
passed
through
that
part
of
the
park
,
if
found
they
must
have
been
heard
of
,
the
young
man
sunk
into
a
state
of
the
most
gloomy
despondency
,
longing
to
tell
his
kind
master
the
whole
tale
,
and
yet
,
naturally
enough
,
shrinking
from
the
dread
of
his
suspicion
of
his
honesty
,
as
more
terrible
than
all
the
rest
.
But
Mr.
Hamilton
did
not
suspect
him
,
and
so
assured
him
of
his
firm
belief
in
his
truth
and
innocence
,
that
it
was
with
great
difficulty
poor
Robert
refrained
from
throwing
himself
at
his
feet
to
pour
forth
his
gratitude
.
He
was
so
severely
punished
from
his
heedlessness
,
that
his
master
would
not
say
much
about
it
,
and
soon
after
dismissing
him
,
summoned
Morris
,
and
talked
with
him
some
time
on
the
subject
,
declaring
he
would
as
soon
suspect
his
own
son
of
dishonesty
as
the
boy
who
had
grown
up
under
his
own
eye
from
infancy
,
and
the
son
of
such
a
mother
.
It
was
very
distressing
for
Mrs.
Langford
certainly
,
the
old
steward
allowed
,
and
she
looked
sad
enough
;
but
it
was
no
use
,
he
had
tried
hard
enough
to
prevent
his
suspicions
,
but
they
would
come
.
None
but
the
servants
and
the
woodmen
and
gardeners
went
that
path
,
and
if
the
notes
had
been
dropped
there
,
they
must
have
been
found
;
and
it
was
a
very
hard
thing
for
the
other
servants
,
as
none
knew
who
might
be
suspected
of
appropriating
them
.
His
master
was
much
too
kind
in
his
opinions
,
but
he
must
forgive
him
if
he
continued
to
keep
a
sharp
look
out
after
the
young
man
.
Morris
was
very
old
,
and
somewhat
opinionated
;
so
all
that
his
master
could
succeed
in
,
was
to
insist
that
he
should
only
keep
back
half
of
Robert
's
wages
,
till
the
sum
was
paid
.
"
Take
away
the
whole
,
and
if
he
have
been
unfortunately
led
into
temptation
,
which
I
do
not
believe
he
has
,
you
expose
him
to
it
again
,
"
was
his
judicious
command
.
"
It
is
all
right
he
should
return
it
,
even
though
lost
only
by
carelessness
;
but
I
will
not
have
him
put
to
such
straits
for
want
of
a
little
money
,
as
must
be
the
case
if
you
deprive
him
of
all
his
wages
;
and
now
,
my
good
Morris
,
if
you
can
not
in
conscience
repeat
my
firm
opinion
of
this
lad
's
innocence
to
the
servants
,
I
must
do
it
myself
.
"
And
that
very
evening
after
prayers
,
when
the
whole
household
were
assembled
in
the
library
,
Mr.
Hamilton
addressed
them
simply
and
briefly
,
mentioning
that
Robert
Langford
had
himself
told
his
tale
to
him
,
and
that
it
was
his
own
opinion
,
and
that
of
their
mistress
,
that
he
did
not
deserve
the
suspicions
attached
to
him
,
and
that
his
fellow-servants
would
all
be
acting
more
charitably
and
religiously
if
they
believed
his
story
,
until
they
had
had
some
strong
proof
to
the
contrary
;
he
could
not
of
course
,
interfere
with
private
opinion
;
he
could
only
tell
them
his
own
and
their
lady
's
.
He
acknowledged
it
was
a
very
unpleasant
occurrence
,
but
he
begged
them
all
to
dismiss
the
idea
that
suspicion
could
be
attached
to
either
of
them
;
he
felt
too
convinced
that
had
any
one
of
his
household
chanced
to
find
the
missing
notes
,
they
would
at
once
have
mentioned
it
to
the
steward
or
housekeeper
,
more
especially
,
since
Robert
's
loss
had
been
known
among
them
only
a
few
days
after
it
had
occurred
.
Appropriation
,
he
need
not
tell
them
,
in
such
a
case
was
theft
,
and
of
that
sin
,
he
was
perfectly
certain
,
not
one
present
would
be
guilty
.
He
allowed
that
it
would
be
much
more
satisfactory
to
have
the
tangible
proof
of
Robert
's
innocence
by
discovering
some
trace
of
them
but
it
was
not
unlikely
the
heavy
wind
and
rain
had
destroyed
the
thin
material
of
the
notes
or
borne
them
into
the
brambly
brushwood
,
where
it
was
scarcely
possible
they
could
be
found
.
If
the
attention
of
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
her
daughters
,
and
Miss
Harcourt
had
not
been
naturally
riveted
on
Mr.
Hamilton
's
address
,
and
its
effect
on
the
servants
,
especially
Robert
,
whose
emotion
was
almost
overpowering
,
they
must
have
remarked
that
Ellen
had
shrunk
into
the
shade
of
the
heavy
curtains
falling
by
one
of
the
windows
,
and
had
unconsciously
grasped
the
oaken
back
of
one
of
the
massive
chairs
;
lips
,
cheek
,
and
brow
,
white
and
rigid
as
sculptured
marble
.
An
almost
supernatural
effort
alone
enabled
her
to
master
the
crushing
agony
,
sending
the
blood
up
to
her
cheeks
with
such
returning
violence
,
that
when
she
wished
her
aunt
and
uncle
good
night
,
she
might
have
been
thought
more
flushed
than
pale
;
but
it
passed
unnoticed
Mrs.
Hamilton
too
much
annoyed
on
Mrs.
Langford
's
account
,
to
think
at
that
moment
of
any
thing
but
how
she
could
best
set
the
poor
mother
's
heart
at
rest
.
It
was
very
evident
that
though
some
of
the
domestics
after
their
master
's
address
came
up
to
Robert
,
shook
hands
with
him
and
begged
his
pardon
,
the
greater
number
still
sided
with
Morris
,
and
retained
their
own
less
favorable
opinion
,
and
she
could
well
imagine
what
Mrs.
Langford
's
sufferings
must
be
.
It
only
wanted
five
days
to
that
fixed
for
Mr.
Hamilton
's
departure
,
wind
permitting
;
and
there
were
so
many
things
to
think
of
and
do
for
him
,
that
his
family
could
have
little
thought
of
any
thing
else
;
but
Mrs.
Hamilton
