tofind
their
license
for
it
in
the
practice
of
others
.
”
He
paused
,
for
Richard’s
peculiar
position
rendered
this
a
subject
scarce
fit
for
discussion
.
Richard
,
however
,
would
not
let
the
matter
drop
till
he
had
very
clearly
made
known
his
own
opinion
;
he
spoke
much
of
the
advantage
which
might
result
from
such
an
arrangement
,
in
procuring
for
the
children
of
the
deceased
wife
so
kind
and
natural
a
protectress
as
their
aunt
.
Mr.
Lambert
replied
,
that
,
were
the
matter
viewed
as
it
ought
to
be
,
there
could
be
no
more
reason
why
the
sister
of
the
mother
should
not
remain
to
take
care
of
the
children
than
the
sister
of
the
father
himself
.
Even
on
the
score
of
expediency
alone
,
he
could
show
the
incalculable
evil
of
such
connexions
,
bringing
distrust
and
misery
and
confusion
into
the
nearest
and
dearest
relations
of
life
;
but
it
was
on
a
far
higher
ground
that
he
would
denounce
them
,
that
of
being
altogether
repugnant
to
the
will
of
God
;
a
fact
which
might
be
proved
from
Scripture
,
and
which
had
been
set
forth
by
the
authority
of
the
Church
in
all
ages
.
It
was
,
in
fact
,
a
putting
asunder
of
those
whom
God
had
joined
in
the
holy
tie
,
whereby
he
declared
that
man
and
wife
were
to
be
one
flesh
:
if
there
were
any
meaning
in
those
words
at
all
,
the
relations
of
the
one
must
become
the
relations
of
the
other
also
,
and
the
sister‐in‐law
be
in
the
sight
of
heaven
counted
as
the
sister
in
blood
.
Richard
could
not
answer
this
argument
,
though
he
still
held
to
his
own
opinion
;
and
after
a
few
more
remarks
from
both
,
the
conversation
changed
.
But
Elizabeth
Clayton
had
heard
enough
,
and
too
much
.
Richard
little
knew
what
deadly
power
there
had
been
in
his
words
so
carelessly
spoken
.
He
did
not
see
,
as
his
voice
died
away
,
how
a
figure
rushed
from
that
darkened
room
with
hurried
steps
and
suffocated
breath
;
he
did
not
hear
how
the
bolt
was
drawn
across
the
door
of
the
apartment
above
,
by
a
hand
that
trembled
till
it
was
well
nigh
palsied
;
nor
the
dull
heavy
fall
upon
the
ground
,
of
a
form
convulsed
by
its
fierce
mental
agony
.
One
thought
alone
was
present
in
the
mind
of
Elizabeth
Clayton
—
a
thought
so
torturing
and
unsupportable
that
she
strove
to
escape
from
it
with
that
impotent
frenzy
which
in
its
full
development
drives
men
to
the
awful
crime
of
self‐destruction
.
She
had
a
RIVAL
in
her
SISTER
!
The
wife
whom
she
had
dreaded
would
supplant
her
after
her
death
,
would
be
her
,
who
for
two
years
past
had
called
her
husband
—
brother
!
It
was
an
idea
too
horrible
even
to
have
entered
into
her
mind
,
had
it
not
been
literally
forced
upon
her
by
the
words
of
Richard
himself
.
Elizabeth
had
not
the
strong
religious
principles
which
induced
Mr.
Lambert
to
view
it
with
such
warm
indignation
,
but
she
had
that
which
in
this
instance
supplied
their
place
—
the
instinctive
delicacy
of
feeling
with
which
a
pure
mind
must
revolt
from
a
transaction
so
opposed
to
all
that
is
just
and
holy
.
What
a
horrible
shade
was
now
cast
over
the
past
intercourse
of
her
husband
and
sister
,
and
the
happy
familiarity
she
had
herself
loved
to
promote
between
them
!
It
maddened
her
even
to
think
of
the
result
which
would
probably
follow
on
her
own
death
.
Instead
of
living
to
watch
over
her
children
and
remember
her
with
unchanged
affection
,
they
would
remain
together
in
a
union
condemned
of
God
,
and
reprobated
even
by
the
world
itself
.
Had
she
then
,
when
she
gave
her
orphan
sister
a
home
,
been
but
preparing
for
herself
a
rival
,
who
would
hereafter
blot
out
her
very
memory
from
the
heart
of
the
husband
she
loved
so
well
?
Oh
!
surely
she
had
in
truth
been
nourishing
a
viper
in
her
bosom
:
but
at
least
it
should
be
so
no
longer
;
she
would
not
sit
idly
by
and
see
another
preparing
,
under
such
false
pretences
,
to
rob
her
of
the
love
which
she
would
have
had
her
own
even
in
the
grave
.
She
started
up
—
Elizabeth
was
ever
violent
in
her
resolutions
as
well
as
in
her
feelings
—
she
went
to
the
door
,
scarce
knowing
what
she
did
,
strong
in
one
determination
only
—
that
Agnes
should
not
stay
another
day
in
the
house
,
to
rise
up
between
her
and
the
husband
whose
affection
was
her
lawful
right
.
Suddenly
,
as
she
was
about
to
draw
the
bolt
,
she
started
and
staggered
back
;
a
vision
passed
before
her
of
a
scene
never
forgotten
.
She
saw
the
pale
,
death‐stricken
face
;
the
uplifted
hands
of
the
expiring
mother
,
clasped
in
passionate
entreaty
to
her
the
daughter
!
She
heard
again
that
voice
,
coming
so
faint
and
thrilling
over
the
cold
lips
—
“
Elizabeth
,
Elizabeth
!
I
trust
to
you
alone
!
promise
—
swear
that
you
will
never
desert
my
child
;
swear
that
no
dearer
tie
shall
ever
induce
you
to
forsake
your
charge
!
”
And
she
heard
,
as
it
were
,
the
echo
of
her
own
voice
when
she
answered
,
child
as
she
was
,
with
such
a
solemn
firmness
—
“
Mother
,
fear
not
;
I
promise
—
I
swear
!
”
And
was
it
thus
she
was
about
to
redeem
that
pledge
given
to
the
dead
—
to
fulfil
that
oath
administered
on
a
death‐bed
?
—
by
driving
forth
Agnes
,
that
mother’s
youngest
darling
,
from
her
house
and
home
;
casting
her
out
into
that
dangerous
and
chilling
world
,
where
she
would
be
so
friendless
and
alone
!
There
was
a
sudden
revulsion
of
feeling
in
the
breast
of
Elizabeth
;
a
new
horror
rose
out
of
the
idea
of
this
unhallowed
marriage
.
Was
Agnes
,
the
gentle
Agnes
,
so
fair
and
joyous
,
thereby
to
become
a
being
unworthy
of
the
favour
of
heaven
,
and
an
outcast
even
from
society
?
Was
the
sister
for
whom
she
had
indulged
in
so
many
a
bright
ambitious
dream
,
reserved
for
such
a
fate
as
this
?
—
a
wife
disowned
both
by
the
laws
of
God
and
man
!
Elizabeth
flung
herself
down
once
more
with
a
sort
of
powerless
despair
.
Which
of
these
two
was
she
to
hate
the
most
,
whom
,
until
now
,
she
had
so
dearly
loved
—
the
husband
,
who
,
by
his
selfish
act
,
might
blight
and
blacken
the
whole
existence
of
her
only
sister
;
or
the
sister
,
who
,
under
that
sacred
name
,
had
stolen
into
the
husband’s
heart
,
to
dwell
happy
in
his
love
when
she
was
mouldering
forgotten
in
the
dust
?
Her
thoughts
became
confused
—
her
senses
seemed
abandoning
her
—
the
shock
had
been
so
sudden
.
She
had
never
before
contemplated
the
possibility
of
such
a
marriage
.
She
had
believed
it
forbidden
by
all
laws
,
Divine
or
human
;
and
now
,
not
only
was
it
brought
suddenly
before
her
as
a
matter
of
frequent
occurrence
,
but
there
had
been
an
energy
and
an
anxiety
in
Richard’s
manner
of
expressing
himself
,
which
proved
that
,
however
unconsciously
,
it
was
yet
for
his
own
sake
that
he
sought
so
earnestly
to
prove
the
truth
of
his
assertions
.
There
is
a
peculiar
faculty
in
the
human
mind
,
which
sometimes
causes
it
,
when
a
new
and
absorbing
idea
is
first
presented
to
it
,
at
once
to
grasp
it
in
its
full
extent
,
in
all
its
bearings
—
past
,
present
,
and
future
.
Elizabeth’s
vivid
imagination
would
not
allow
her
to
find
consolation
in
the
great
uncertainty
of
the
evil
she
dreaded
;
it
carried
her
on
at
once
to
antici‐
pate
the
marriage
of
her
husband
and
sister
as
the
infallible
result
of
her
own
death
,
—
now
,
as
she
believed
,
so
near
at
hand
.
With
her
face
buried
in
her
hands
,
she
lay
on
the
ground
,
wrestling
with
the
great
agony
of
all
the
contending
feelings
which
this
terrible
conviction
had
aroused
within
her
.
Meanwhile
Richard
and
Agnes
sat
together
in
the
drawing‐room
below
.
“
Where
is
Elizabeth
?
”
said
Agnes
,
at
last
;
“
I
have
not
seen
her
at
all
this
evening
.
”
“
I
really
do
not
know
,
”
said
Richard
,
indifferently
;
“
perhaps
she
has
gone
to
lie
down
.
She
fancies
herself
fatigued
now
,
whenever
she
has
made
the
slightest
exertion
.
Do
go
and
sing
to
me
,
Agnes
,
”
he
continued
,
flinging
aside
his
book
;
“
this
is
just
the
hour
when
I
can
best
enjoy
music
.
”
Agnes
complied
,
and
in
a
few
minutes
Elizabeth
could
distinguish
,
through
the
choking
sobs
that
were
bursting
from
her
own
lips
,
the
sweet
tones
of
her
sister’s
voice
,
as
she
sang
,
one
after
another
,
the
favourite
songs
which
her
husband
most
preferred
.
“
It
is
strange
that
Elizabeth
does
not
come
,
”
said
Agnes
,
after
a
time
;
“
she
never
goes
to
spend
the
evening
in
her
room
without
telling
us
at
least
.
I
must
go
and
see
where
she
is
.
”
“
Some
fancy
!
”
said
Richard
,
in
a
tone
of
irritation
.
“
You
had
better
leave
her
to
herself
.
I
wish
she
had
your
sweet
temper
,
Agnes
.
”
Agnes
made
no
answer
:
it
had
often
seemed
strange
to
her
that
Elizabeth
was
not
in
truth
more
uniformly
happy
,
with
so
many
blessings
round
her
.
She
left
the
room
in
search
of
her
sister
;
but
in
an
instant
she
returned
,
with
an
agitated
step
,
and
a
look
of
terror
on
her
face
,
usually
so
bright
and
sunny
.
“
Dear
Richard
,
come
quickly
!
”
she
exclaimed
;
“
I
quite
fear
that
Elizabeth
is
very
ill
:
her
door
is
locked
,
and
she
made
no
answer
when
I
called
,
but
I
can
hear
her
groaning
in
so
strange
a
manner
!
”
Richard
started
from
his
seat
,
and
bounded
up
stairs
;
Agnes
followed
.
They
knocked
at
the
door
,
and
called
in
vain
;
but
they
could
hear
moan
succeeding
moan
.
Alarmed
to
the
last
degree
,
Richard
exerted
all
his
strength
,
and
burst
open
the
door
.
The
violent
shock
,
and
the
stunning
noise
it
occasioned
,
put
the
finishing
stroke
to
the
agitation
of
Elizabeth’s
nerves
and
the
confusion
of
her
mind
.
Her
husband
rushed
in
:
all
that
he
saw
was
her
form
stretched
on
the
ground
,
trembling
and
convulsed
.
He
flung
himself
on
his
knees
beside
her
,
and
lifted
up
her
head
;
whilst
Agnes
,
kneeling
close
to
him
,
drew
back
the
long
tangled
hair
that
hung
over
her
sister’s
livid
face
.
Elizabeth
opened
her
eyes
:
they
were
full
of
the
most
wild
and
ghastly
expression
.
A
terrible
fear
shot
through
the
mind
of
Richard
that
she
had
suddenly
become
insane
.
There
was
,
in
truth
,
a
sort
of
chaos
in
her
thoughts
;
but
one
idea
remained
too
fearfully
distinct
.
Her
gaze
fell
upon
Agnes
,
and
her
heart
revolted
with
unnatural
horror
against
her
dear
and
only
sister
.
Half
frantic
,
she
started
up
:
with
the
strength
almost
of
a
maniac
,
she
seized
Agnes
by
the
arm
,
which
she
had
rested
on
the
shoulder
of
Richard
,
and
flung
her
back
with
such
force
,
that
she
fell
headlong
against
the
wall
.
Richard
uttered
a
cry
of
terror
;
he
really
thought
she
had
killed
her
.
He
flew
to
Agnes
,
and
raised
her
in
his
arms
.
She
was
only
stunned
,
not
hurt
.
She
looked
up
in
his
face
,
and
smiled
,
to
reassure
him
.
Elizabeth
gazed
upon
them
for
a
moment
,
as
though
her
quivering
frame
were
turning
into
stone
.
Then
,
stretching
out
her
hands
towards
her
husband
,
she
exclaimed
,
in
words
which
he
then
attributed
to
the
ravings
of
delirium
,
but
which
years
after
haunted
him
with
a
fearful
meaning
,
“
Oh
,
Richard
,
Richard
!
she
is
your
sister
—
your
sister
—
your
sister
!
”
There
was
something
so
horrible
in
the
tone
in
which
she
reiterated
these
words
,
that
Agnes
flew
towards
her
,
and
strove
to
pass
her
arms
round
her
,
calling
her
by
every
endearing
name
.
But
Elizabeth
disengaged
herself
from
her
embrace
,
and
,
sinking
on
the
sofa
,
she
began
to
utter
shriek
on
shriek
,
evidently
in
great
bodily
agony
.
In
another
hour
she
was
alarmingly
ill
,
and
before
morning
a
little
feeble
child
had
been
brought
prematurely
into
the
world
,
in
which
it
seemed
too
fragile
to
exist
;
and
the
life
of
the
mother
was
despaired
of
.
CHAPTER
IV
.
THESE
events
had
taken
place
so
rapidly
and
unexpectedly
,
that
Richard
and
Agnes
had
scarce
time
to
speculate
on
the
cause
of
Elizabeth’s
illness
,
before
they
became
altogether
absorbed
in
their
overpowering
anxiety
for
her
life
.
Her
state
became
appalling
in
the
extreme
;
it
seemed
as
though
she
could
neither
live
nor
die
;
for
she
lingered
many
days
after
the
physicians
thought
it
impossible
she
could
survive
.
Some
thought
for
this
world
,
some
earthly
passion
or
feeling
,
seemed
to
hold
her
back
when
already
in
the
grasp
of
death
;
and
whatever
that
thought
might
be
,
it
filled
her
immortal
soul
,
thus
standing
on
the
threshold
of
eternity
,
so
exclusively
,
that
it
swallowed
up
all
anxiety
or
fear
for
the
tremendous
judgment
close
at
hand
.
They
could
not
tell
what
was
the
one
idea
which
had
power
thus
to
absorb
a
spirit
already
summoned
into
the
awful
Presence
,
for
Elizabeth
was
reduced
to
a
state
of
weakness
which
deprived
her
altogether
of
speech
.
She
could
not
raise
herself
or
move
without
assistance
,
and
she
would
scarce
have
seemed
alive
at
all
but
for
the
wild
restless
gaze
of
her
sleepless
eyes
.
There
was
in
them
a
terrible
expression
of
anxiety
and
misery
,
which
told
but
too
eloquently
of
the
fierce
human
anguish
with
which
that
silent
sufferer
was
wrestling
.
It
was
a
horrible
thing
to
see
one
about
to
enter
into
those
habitations
which
are
everlasting
,
whether
for
good
or
ill
,
thus
concentrating
all
her
expiring
faculties
,
not
on
earnest
repentance
,
but
on
the
perishing
remnant
of
the
mortal
life
that
now
might
be
reckoned
by
days
and
hours
.
She
seemed
ever
struggling
madly
to
express
some
one
last
wish
,
as
though
her
soul
could
not
go
forth
till
it
had
uttered
certain
words
;
but
they
could
comprehend
nothing
from
her
inarticulate
efforts
;
—
it
was
to
Agnes
that
she
strove
to
address
herself
principally
,
though
also
to
Richard
,
and
they
very
naturally
concluded
that
,
her
whole
anxiety
was
for
her
children
only
—
that
all
her
endeavours
were
to
make
her
sister
understand
that
she
committed
them
to
her
care
.
Impressed
with
this
idea
,
Agnes
tried
to
soothe
and
comfort
her
,
by
repeating
again
and
again
to
her
that
she
understood
her
wishes
,
and
that
she
would
never
leave
her
children
,
but
that
she
would
make
it
the
business
of
her
life
to
watch
over
them
and
devote
herself
entirely
to
them
.
Richard
also
,
in
the
same
belief
,
assured
her
repeatedly
that
she
might
be
at
peace
with
regard
to
the
poor
little
infants
whom
she
must
leave
behind
in
this
chill
world
.
He
would
never
allow
Agnes
to
leave
him
—
she
should
stay
with
him
to
tend
and
care
for
them
—
they
should
be
consigned
completely
to
her
charge
.
Those
promises
which
,
but
for
the
one
horrible
idea
that
now
possessed
the
mind
of
Elizabeth
,
would
have
been
to
her
so
inexpressibly
soothing
and
consolatory
,
served
only
to
madden
and
torture
her
as
she
lay
there
in
her
helpless
weakness
,
unable
to
tell
them
that
they
offered
for
her
comfort
the
very
assurance
she
most
dreaded
.
Though
not
without
hope
,
it
was
yet
a
death‐bed
most
unquiet
and
unblest
.
Could
the
dying
woman
have
been
altogether
disengaged
from
the
engrossing
thoughts
of
this
world
,
it
would
doubtless
have
been
a
season
of
inestimable
profit
to
her
departing
soul
,
for
Mr.
Lambert
attended
her
assiduously
,
labouring
with
unwearied
efforts
to
draw
the
poor
straying
sheep
in
safety
to
the
heavenly
fold
.
But
he
saw
almost
with
terror
that
she
let
the
redeemless
hours
pass
recklessly
away
,
with
scarce
a
feeling
but
for
the
inward
conflict
of
the
heart
,
whose
beating
was
so
soon
to
cease
for
ever
.
Her
father‐in‐law
,
Mr.
Clayton
,
had
been
so
painfully
affected
by
the
state
in
which
he
found
her
,
that
he
had
been
obliged
to
relinquish
the
task
of
ministering
to
her
in
her
last
hours
to
his
curate
;
and
Mr.
Lambert
,
well
accustomed
as
he
was
to
scenes
of
a
similar
nature
,
found
it
a
most
difficult
duty
.
There
was
something
in
her
mind
which
he
could
not
fathom
,
whether
anxiety
for
her
children
,
or
,
as
he
was
inclined
to
believe
,
some
deeper
and
more
envenomed
cause
.
But
he
saw
that
it
rendered
nearly
powerless
all
his
efforts
to
awaken
her
to
a
more
earnest
consideration
of
the
awful
realities
to
which
she
was
hurrying
so
swiftly
.
His
voice
,
even
when
hallowed
by
the
Name
in
which
alone
is
Life
Eternal
,
fell
unheeded
on
the
ears
that
were
ever
straining
to
catch
the
import
of
the
words
that
passed
between
Richard
and
Agnes
.
It
was
well
nigh
in
vain
that
he
held
up
the
Majesty
of
Justice
as
developed
in
the
Mercy
of
the
Cross
,
before
the
soul
that
vibrated
between
those
feelings
ever
contending
fearfully
—
the
bitter
jealousy
against
the
once
loved
sister
,
for
the
sake
of
the
yet
dearer
husband
;
or
,
when
some
kind
act
of
the
childhood’s
companion
recalled
the
old
affection
,
the
horror
akin
to
hate
of
the
husband
,
who
might
destroy
the
bright
prospects
of
that
tender
friend’s
young
life
.
But
the
first
feeling
predominated
;
and
often
when
Mr.
Lambert
would
have
joined
her
feeble
hands
in
the
attitude
of
supplication
,
she
strove
rather
to
use
their
failing
strength
in
driving
from
her
bed
of
death
the
sister
whom
she
had
caressed
so
often
;
or
,
when
he
endeavoured
to
pray
with
her
,
if
he
saw
that
she
was
really
moved
by
the
awful
truths
he
brought
before
her
,
a
spasm
of
horror
would
pass
over
her
face
at
sight
of
these
two
,
who
were
kneeling
there
side
by
side
.
Ultimately
Mr.
Lambert
thought
he
had
reason
to
hope
that
this
poor
sufferer
,
so
bitterly
tried
in
her
dying
hours
,
had
yet
been
mercifully
dealt
with
.
There
was
often
a
look
of
most
earnest
pleading
and
of
deepest
penitence
in
her
upraised
eyes
,
which
led
him
to
trust
that
this
tempest‐driven
soul
had
in
truth
flown
to
the
One
True
Refuge
,
although
its
earthly
anguish
and
anxiety
had
so
sadly
interfered
with
its
last
solemn
duties
.
It
was
a
lovely
June
morning
,
—
the
sky
was
bright
,
as
though
it
never
had
a
cloud
,
and
the
earth
radiant
,
as
though
it
knew
no
sin
.
It
was
just
such
a
day
,
when
it
would
have
been
a
glorious
thing
to
have
seen
a
ransomed
spirit
burst
the
bonds
of
its
clay
,
and
fly
from
this
land
of
perishing
beauty
and
fading
sunbeams
up
to
the
fields
of
light
above
,
where
the
Sun
of
Righteousness
for
ever
shines
.
All
those
who
had
any
claim
on
the
affection
of
Elizabeth
Clayton
were
gathered
round
her
,
for
her
last
hour
was
come
.
They
had
placed
her
little
children
in
her
arms
,
and
a
few
bitter
tears
,
the
first
she
had
shed
,
wet
her
cold
cheek
when
she
felt
the
little
caressing
hands
passed
round
her
neck
.
Yet
she
looked
on
them
with
a
strange
unnatural
longing
,
as
though
she
desired
to
convey
them
with
her
to
the
grave
.
Soon
the
one
thought
,
which
had
obscured
for
her
the
glory
of
eternity
,
deadened
the
mother’s
heart
within
her
.
She
signed
to
them
to
take
away
the
smiling
infants
,
for
they
intercepted
her
gaze
upon
those
two
standing
as
chief
mourners
side
by
side
,
whom
to
the
last
she
must
watch
in
her
impotent
jealousy
.
Her
eyes
were
glazing
fast
—
the
chill
of
death
was
creeping
through
her
stiffening
members
to
her
pallid
breast
;
but
she
only
felt
that
the
struggle
was
at
its
climax
—
that
in
a
few
minutes
more
she
would
be
powerless
to
say
the
words
with
which
she
sought
to
separate
them
,
to
interdict
their
unhallowed
union
,
that
now
came
choking
to
the
lips
too
palsied
to
articulate
.
She
struggled
fearfully
for
utterance
;
it
was
so
terrible
to
see
her
efforts
that
Agnes
sank
upon
her
knees
beside
her
,
and
clasping
her
cold
hands
,
exclaimed
—
“
Dear
,
dear
Elizabeth
,
I
know
what
you
would
say
,
it
is
for
your
children
;
fear
nothing
,
they
shall
be
safe
and
happy
in
my
keeping
;
I
will
be
as
a
mother
to
them
.
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
Richard
,
bending
over
her
;
“
my
poor
wife
,
be
at
rest
;
do
not
doubt
our
love
and
care
;
together
we
will
live
only
to
watch
over
those
dear
children
.
”
Some
dreadful
emotion
seemed
to
shake
the
whole
frame
of
Elizabeth
;
with
a
convulsive
effort
she
half
raised
herself
from
her
pillow
;
her
eyes
glanced
with
the
wildest
eagerness
from
the
one
to
the
other
;
her
pale
lips
moved
,
and
they
could
distinguish
the
faltering
words
,
“
Agnes
—
not
—
marry
;
”
it
was
all
they
could
hear
,
but
Richard
anxiously
exclaimed
,
imagining
he
had
understood
at
last
the
meaning
of
her
efforts
:
—
“
Agnes
,
she
fears
you
will
marry
and
leave
the
poor
children
,
but
you
will
not
—
you
will
stay
with
them
.
”
“
Yes
,
yes
!
”
exclaimed
Agnes
,
sobbing
;
“
I
will
,
indeed
;
I
will
never
leave
this
house
;
I
promise
it
to
you
,
my
dearest
sister
.
”
The
gleam
faded
from
the
despairing
eyes
of
the
dying
woman
—
an
expression
of
utter
hopelessness
settled
on
her
features
—
they
had
misunderstood
her
to
the
last
!
It
was
all
over
now
:
it
was
too
late
—
she
could
do
no
more
;
life
was
ebbing
;
all
things
had
grown
indistinct
around
her
;
she
must
resign
herself
to
the
grave
,
and
them
to
their
unblest
union
.
She
sank
back
;
the
thought
was
not
in
her
soul
,
that
He
would
remember
her
when
He
came
to
His
kingdom
;
or
,
that
He
would
be
merciful
to
her
a
sinner
;
but
only
the
horror
of
the
compact
which
it
seemed
to
her
they
had
sealed
at
her
very
bed
of
death
.
She
made
one
feeble
effort
to
turn
away
her
face
from
both
when
they
stooped
to
kiss
her
,
and
so
expired
.
CHAPTER
V.
AGNES
MAYNARD
was
within
a
few
months
of
her
majority
when
Mrs.
Clayton
died
;
and
the
funeral
was
scarcely
over
when
Mr.
Hardman
,
with
systematic
propriety
,
wrote
both
to
herself
and
Richard
for
the
purpose
of
arranging
her
future
residence
.
His
letters
were
first
answered
by
Mr.
Clayton
,
who
informed
him
that
it
was
his
own
express
desire
,
as
well
as
that
of
both
Agnes
and
her
brother‐in‐law
,
that
she
should
remain
to
take
charge
of
her
sister’s
infant
children
.
Mr.
Clayton’s
views
respecting
such
alliances
as
that
,
the
very
thought
of
which
had
terrified
Elizabeth
into
her
grave
,
were
so
strong
and
decisive
,
that
it
never
occurred
to
him
to
suppose
that
Agnes
could
ever
be
considered
in
any
other
light
than
as
the
sister
of
his
son
.
He
,
therefore
,
felt
it
to
be
most
desirable
,
both
for
the
children
and
Richard
,
that
she
should
be
placed
at
the
head
of
his
establishment
under
that
title
;
an
arrangement
which
would
,
in
truth
,
be
highly
advantageous
in
almost
all
similar
cases
,
had
no
idea
of
an
unlawful
union
between
persons
so
connected
ever
been
admitted
into
the
minds
of
men
.
None
of
the
parties
concerned
in
this
affair
had
,
however
,
in
appearance
at
least
,
the
most
distant
idea
of
any
such
alliance
;
and
,
consequently
,
no
obstacle
seemed
to
exist
against
a
plan
in
all
other
respects
so
very
suitable
.
Mr.
Hardman
was
quite
satisfied
that
an
arrangement
which
met
with
the
sanction
of
the
vicar
of
B
—
,
must
be
perfectly
right
,
and
he
imagined
that
he
had
gathered
from
Mr.
Clayton’s
letter
that
Agnes
and
his
son
were
to
reside
with
himself
.
In
this
Mr.
Hardman
was
altogether
mistaken
,
as
Richard
had
no
intention
of
quitting
The
Mount
.
But
this
erroneous
idea
satisfied
the
demands
of
Mrs.
Hardman’s
implacable
propriety
,
and
she
thankfully
consented
that
Agnes
should
remain
at
a
comfortable
distance
from
her
own
less
attractive
daughter
.
Richard
Clayton
was
,
during
some
time
,
completely
absorbed
in
grief
for
the
loss
of
his
wife
.
There
are
few
who
can
bear
unmoved
,
that
the
heart
which
has
loved
them
best
on
earth
is
cold
for
ever
,
however
little
they
may
have
valued
the
affection
while
it
lasted
.
And
his
sorrow
was
by
no
means
unmingled
with
remorse
.
He
could
not
endure
the
society
of
any
one
excepting
Agnes
,
with
whom
he
could
talk
of
his
Elizabeth
,
and
who
in
voice
and
manner
so
often
reminded
him
of
her
.
Agnes
,
deeply
moved
at
his
distress
,
and
feeling
that
there
was
a
bond
between
them
in
the
love
they
had
borne
to
the
departed
,
devoted
herself
to
the
task
of
soothing
and
consoling
him
.
Her
efforts
were
not
without
success
;
she
soon
removed
the
first
bitterness
of
his
regrets
,
and
,
after
a
time
,
Richard
could
not
but
feel
that
his
home
was
still
a
most
happy
one
.
He
found
himself
carefully
surrounded
with
all
the
comforts
and
elegance
which
a
woman
alone
can
give
to
the
details
of
domestic
life
.
His
children
were
cared
for
,
his
household
well
arranged
;
and
when
he
returned
in
the
evening
,
wearied
with
his
day’s
sport
,
he
never
failed
to
be
received
with
a
bright
smile
of
welcome
,
and
to
find
many
little
preparations
for
his
coming
:
—
the
chair
drawn
towards
the
fire
,
the
new
book
placed
beside
it
,
and
other
marks
of
attention
to
his
wishes
,
which
,
trifling
in
themselves
,
yet
tend
wonderfully
to
promote
the
happiness
of
each
day
as
it
passes
.
Agnes
herself
,
though
she
never
ceased
to
regret
her
sister
,
gradually
recovered
her
natural
cheerfulness
and
gaiety
of
heart
.
Occupation
is
the
sovereign
remedy
for
despondency
,
and
she
had
but
little
time
now
to
brood
over
the
past
.
Full
of
the
sad
enthusiasm
with
which
we
seek
to
fulfil
our
duties
to
the
dead
,
she
gave
herself
up
almost
entirely
to
the
care
of
her
sister’s
children
,
both
of
whom
required
much
of
her
time
and
attention
.
The
little
Mary
was
a
sweet
engaging
child
,
timid
and
sensitive
,
and
displaying
,
even
at
that
early
age
,
all
her
mother’s
acuteness
of
feeling
;
she
and
her
brother
were
the
only
relations
Agnes
now
had
in
the
world
,
and
she
loved
her
little
niece
with
the
most
passionate
affection
.
Mary
continued
to
regret
her
mother
with
a
tenacity
of
recollection
very
uncommon
in
so
young
a
child
,
so
that
Agnes
spent
many
hours
of
the
day
in
endeavouring
to
amuse
her
.
The
infant
,
for
whom
this
world’s
miseries
had
commenced
almost
with
his
first
breath
,
was
a
still
greater
anxiety
to
his
young
aunt
.
During
his
mother’s
illness
he
had
been
little
attended
to
,
and
now
he
was
struggling
for
the
life
that
seemed
to
have
so
slight
a
hold
on
his
little
feeble
frame
.
Richard’s
physician
told
him
very
plainly
that
the
most
constant
watchfulness
and
attention
alone
could
preserve
an
existence
so
precarious
;
and
he
implored
of
Agnes
,
almost
with
tears
,
to
devote
herself
to
this
arduous
task
;
for
he
had
long
desired
most
earnestly
to
have
a
son
,
and
he
could
not
bear
to
think
that
the
gift
had
only
been
given
to
be
resumed
.
Thus
she
had
much
to
occupy
her
thoughts
;
and
Mr.
Clayton
not
unfrequently
employed
her
in
attending
on
the
poor
of
his
parish
.
He
was
anxious
,
by
making
her
acquainted
with
the
sober
realities
of
life
,
to
induce
her
to
take
a
more
serious
and
practical
view
of
our
condition
in
this
world
,
and
of
the
duties
incumbent
on
us
all
.
There
was
a
certain
taint
of
false
poetical
sentiment
and
overstrained
romance
in
the
character
of
Agnes
Maynard
,
which
she
owed
no
doubt
to
the
influence
of
her
Parisian
teachers
,
and
which
Mr.
Clayton
felt
to
be
sadly
at
variance
with
the
rigid
self‐denial
and
invincible
holiness
that
ought
to
control
the
actions
of
a
Christian
in
all
the
circumstances
of
life
.
She
seemed
to
think
that
the
unbounded
indulgence
of
her
feelings
at
all
times
was
almost
a
matter
of
duty
;
and
her
best
actions
were
performed
,
not
because
they
were
right
,
but
because
they
were
generally
agreeable
to
her
naturally
sweet
disposition
.
She
visited
the
poor
,
not
from
that
blessed
motive
once
given
for
the
performance
of
this
duty
,
which
makes
it
the
highest
privilege
on
earth
,
but
simply
because
it
really
gave
her
pleasure
to
relieve
their
sufferings
;
and
even
her
attention
to
the
little
children
was
the
mere
natural
result
of
her
fond
regrets
for
their
dead
mother
,
and
was
never
viewed
by
her
as
a
means
given
to
her
whereby
she
might
serve
her
Master
.
The
manner
in
which
she
devoted
herself
to
them
however
,
won
for
her
the
esteem
and
admiration
of
her
acquaintances
in
the
neighbourhood
of
B
—
;
and
it
became
the
fashion
to
seek
her
friendship
.
This
was
extremely
agreeable
both
to
Richard
and
herself
,
for
they
were
alike
fond
of
society
and
amusement
,
having
but
few
resources
in
themselves
.
They
failed
not
to
place
the
highest
value
on
the
favour
and
consideration
of
those
whom
wealth
or
rank
seemed
to
render
desirable
friends
;
and
Richard
especially
,
who
fervently
loved
this
world
,
was
most
ambitious
of
its
honours
.
Their
happiness
was
,
therefore
,
increased
in
no
small
degree
by
the
position
they
had
now
attained
in
society
,
and
for
considerably
more
than
a
year
they
lived
in
the
enjoyment
of
the
greatest
ease
and
comfort
.
This
state
might
have
continued
long
,
and
their
contentment
would
doubtless
but
have
increased
as
they
saw
the
children
improving
in
health
,
and
Richard
acquiring
great
influence
in
the
county
;
but
they
were
doomed
to
suffer
by
that
fatal
laxity
of
principle
,
which
has
caused
it
to
be
considered
as
a
possibility
in
Christian
England
that
a
man
should
become
the
husband
of
one
who
is
virtually
his
sister
!
No
one
had
ever
dreamt
of
questioning
the
propriety
of
Agnes’s
residence
with
her
brother‐in‐law
.
Mr.
Clayton
would
as
soon
have
thought
of
objecting
to
the
presence
of
his
own
daughter
in
the
house
of
his
son
.
But
there
are
to
be
found
in
every
neighbourhood
persons
whose
business
it
seems
to
be
to
attend
to
the
affairs
of
their
neighbours
—
who
occupy
themselves
in
arranging
the
plans
of
others
,
and
prosecute
their
unjustifiable
interference
with
the
ostensible
motive
of
offering
well
meant
advice
and
judicious
kindness
.
B
—
was
infested
by
a
lady
of
this
description
.
Mrs.
Sharp
was
the
wife
of
a
lawyer
,
who
resided
in
the
village
because
it
placed
him
at
a
convenient
distance
from
an
estate
which
he
managed
in
the
absence
of
the
proprietor
.
She
was
a
person
of
a
busy
,
active
disposition
,
and
a
perfectly
vacant
mind
.
She
took
a
singularly
microscopic
view
of
those
things
which
are
alone
of
any
importance
in
this
world
,
whilst
it
was
her
delight
to
magnify
trifles
,
especially
if
they
were
sources
of
annoyance
,
into
matters
of
weight
and
consequence
.
She
loved
to
dig
out
all
those
little
evils
of
life
which
men
wisely
seek
to
bury
in
oblivion
,
and
make
their
sting
be
thoroughly
felt
and
understood
;
and
she
had
a
sort
of
spasmodic
irritability
of
temper
,
which
made
it
impossible
for
her
to
endure
quietly
the
resignation
or
cheerfulness
of
her
friends
.
Being
excessively
ambitious
and
very
vain
,
she
soon
found
that
her
standing
in
society
was
not
by
any
means
what
she
could
have
wished
,
and
she
therefore
betook
herself
to
that
peculiar
species
of
self‐aggrandizement
,
which
consisted
in
the
depreciation
and
abuse
of
others
,
so
as
to
produce
a
comparison
favourable
to
herself
;
clearly
believing
,
that
while
enlarging
on
the
faults
and
follies
of
her
friends
,
her
own
virtues
grew
brighter
in
proportion
.
Mr.
Sharp
systematically
encouraged
her
to
take
an
active
and
engrossing
interest
in
the
affairs
of
her
neighbours
,
as
he
thereby
diverted
her
energy
of
mind
and
warmth
of
eloquence
from
himself
and
his
proceedings
.
Thus
Mrs.
Sharp
,
with
her
inquisitive
eyes
,
her
busy
tongue
,
and
her
spiteful
disposition
,
was
an
object
of
terror
to
the
whole
neighbourhood
—
from
the
vicar
,
who
generally
saw
her
enter
the
cottages
of
his
parishioners
as
soon
as
he
quitted
them
,
in
order
to
learn
what
he
had
been
saying
,
and
counteract
its
effects
,
down
to
the
little
village
girl
,
who
as
required
to
enter
into
minute
details
respecting
the
quality
of
her
Sunday
dinner
,
and
other
such
interesting
particulars
.
This
lady
Agnes
Maynard
had
the
misfortune
to
offend
.
Mrs.
Sharp
had
been
extremely
anxious
to
cultivate
her
acquaintance
when
she
found
how
intimate
she
had
be‐
come
with
the
leading
families
of
the
country
;
and
Agnes
,
who
was
at
all
times
accustomed
to
think
far
more
of
her
own
pleasure
than
of
the
courtesies
of
life
,
had
not
scrupled
,
as
she
thought
her
a
particularly
disagreeable
person
,
to
repel
her
advances
in
a
very
marked
and
humiliating
manner
.
This
slight
was
never
forgiven
or
forgotten
by
Mrs.
Sharp
;
she
cherished
a
sense
of
injury
with
all
the
tenacity
of
a
little
mind
;
and
from
that
day
it
became
one
of
the
chief
objects
of
her
existence
to
find
some
means
of
indulging
her
deep‐rooted
and
bitter
dislike
of
Agnes
.
It
was
so
,
perhaps
,
unconsciously
to
herself
;
for
Mrs.
Sharp
,
like
most
people
,
was
well
grounded
in
the
art
of
self‐deceit
;
and
she
persuaded
herself
that
it
was
a
laudable
zeal
for
the
well‐being
of
society
,
which
induced
her
to
spread
many
evil
reports
respecting
the
residence
of
Agnes
Maynard
with
her
brother‐in‐law
,
instead
of
a
mean
and
ungenerous
desire
of
revenge
.
It
so
chanced
,
that
in
the
course
of
the
second
year
after
the
death
of
Elizabeth
Clayton
,
Mrs.
Sharp
went
for
a
few
days
to
London
.
One
of
her
first
proceedings
on
arriving
there
was
to
call
on
Mrs.
Hardman
,
as
she
had
long
looked
forward
with
a
keen
relish
to
some
favourable
opportunity
of
stirring
up
that
respectable
lady
to
a
virtuous
indignation
against
her
ward
,
for
whose
conduct
Mr.
Hardman
was
to
a
certain
degree
responsible
.
Mrs.
Sharp
had
been
acquainted
with
the
family
during
their
six
months’
residence
at
the
Mount
;
and
the
first
polite
speeches
were
scarcely
over
,
when
she
proceeded
gradually
to
insinuate
what
was
in
fact
the
real
object
of
her
visit
.
She
began
by
looking
fixedly
and
with
an
air
of
profound
compassion
on
Mrs.
Hardman
,
and
having
given
vent
to
several
heavy
sighs
,
remarked
that
she
was
thankful
to
see
her
in
tolerable
spirits
.
“
I
believe
my
spirits
are
generally
very
good
,
”
said
Mrs.
Hardman
,
who
sat
stiff
and
impassible
as
usual
.
“
No
one
can
accuse
me
of
being
variable
:
my
temper
is
even
and
equable
,
as
it
ought
to
be
.
”
“
Ah
,
well
!
you
are
a
very
strong‐minded
person
,
I
know
,
”
said
Mrs.
Sharp
;
“
still
I
must
say
I
expected
to
see
you
a
little
moved
by
such
a
trial
.
”
“
Mrs.
Sharp
,
may
I
ask
to
what
you
allude
?
”
inquired
Mrs.
Hardman
.
“
Trials
I
have
,
no
doubt
,
such
as
I
believe
no
one
but
a
person
of
my
strength
of
character
could
have
undergone
;
but
I
am
not
aware
that
you
are
acquainted
with
them
:
they
are
buried
in
my
own
bosom
.
”
“
My
dear
Mrs.
Hardman
,
I
can
assure
you
this
one
is
not
buried
anywhere
,
”
exclaimed
Mrs.
Sharp
;
“
no
one
talks
of
anything
else
at
B
—
.
It
was
only
the
other
day
that
I
met
Lady
C
—
on
the
road
,
and
she
stopped
her
carriage
,
and
put
her
head
out
of
the
window
,
(
you
know
I
am
very
intimate
with
Lady
C
—
)
and
she
held
up
her
hands
just
in
this
way
,
and
said
,
—
“
Well
,
Mrs.
Sharp
,
this
is
a
sad
affair
,
only
to
think
that
Mrs.
Hardman
should
have
sanctioned
—
I
won’t
annoy
you
by
repeating
the
rest
;
but
it
is
the
opinion
of
every
one
.
Why
,
there
was
Mr.
L
—
;
he
said
to
my
husband
,
that
his
opinion
of
Mr.
Hardman’s
good
sense
and
respectability
were
unavoidably
shaken
,
—
these
were
his
words
,
‘unavoidably
shaken.’
”
“
Mrs.
Sharp
,
I
beg
you
will
explain
yourself
,
”
exclaimed
Mrs.
Hardman
,
becoming
crimson
with
anger
and
impatience
;
“
I
cannot
guess
what
you
are
talking
of
.
”
“
Can
you
not
,
indeed
?
Well
,
then
,
it
must
be
because
you
do
not
see
it
in
the
light
that
I
do
,
and
that
every
one
else
does
.
Perhaps
it
is
not
the
kind
of
misfortune
that
affects
you
—
people
are
so
different
!
To
be
sure
,
it
is
not
like
a
loss
of
money
;
but
,
for
my
part
,
I
am
so
sensitive
,
there
is
no
misfortune
I
would
not
bear
sooner
than
disgrace
.
It
would
be
to
me
worse
than
any
affliction
.
I
declare
to
you
I
would
rather
see
Mr.
Sharp
expire
before
my
eyes
than
be
disgraced
as
you
have
been
.
”
“
Disgrace
is
not
a
word
that
ever
applied
to
me
or
any
of
my
family
,
”
exclaimed
Mrs.
Hardman
;
“
I
am
sure
of
that
,
at
all
events
!
”
“
Of
course
you
are
;
and
that
is
just
what
makes
this
,
in
my
opinion
,
so
heavy
a
trial
to
you
.
If
it
had
been
one
of
your
own
family
,
(
and
I
am
sure
I
hope
none
of
them
ever
will
follow
her
example
,
)
you
would
have
endured
it
as
a
domestic
affliction
;
but
to
be
so
lowered
in
the
eyes
of
the
world
by
a
person
who
is
not
even
a
relation
!
”
“
How
often
am
I
to
tell
you
that
I
don’t
know
what
you
mean
?
”
screamed
Mrs.
Hardman
,
fairly
driven
out
of
her
usual
dignity
by
her
frantic
curiosity
;
“
if
you
have
anything
to
say
at
all
,
why
don’t
you
speak
out
?
”
At
these
words
Mrs.
Sharp
turned
slowly
round
,
and
fixed
her
staring
eyes
on
the
excited
lady
with
a
look
of
well‐acted
astonishment
:
—
“
Do
you
really
mean
to
say
,
”
she
replied
,
as
the
words
dropped
from
her
lips
with
exasperating
coolness
,
“
that
you
have
not
heard
—
”
“
I
have
heard
nothing
,
”
shouted
Mrs.
Hardman
,
“
I
have
been
telling
you
so
for
the
last
hour
!
”
With
that
Mrs.
Sharp
elevated
her
eyes
,
shook
her
head
,
clasped
her
hands
,
and
nodded
mysteriously
several
times
.
During
these
evolutions
,
Mrs.
Hardman
looked
at
her
as
if
she
could
have
devoured
her
.
Finally
,
losing
all
patience
,
she
actually
shook
her
by
the
arm
and
desired
her
to
speak
.
Mrs.
Sharp
,
seeing
that
she
had
worked
up
her
friend
to
a
suitable
state
of
excitement
,
at
once
complied
,
and
hastened
to
enlarge
on
the
residence
of
Agnes
Maynard
in
the
house
of
Richard
Clayton
,
in
terms
which
could
have
been
imagined
only
by
a
mind
not
merely
devoid
of
the
slightest
refinement
or
delicacy
,
but
of
principle
also
.
We
say
devoid
of
principle
,
because
,
had
she
judged
Agnes
and
Richard
by
the
high
and
holy
standard
set
before
us
all
,
she
could
not
have
considered
them
otherwise
than
as
brother
and
sister
.
Mrs.
Hardman
and
her
husband
,
who
had
now
come
in
,
shocked
and
dismayed
at
the
manner
in
which
she
spoke
,
hurriedly
demanded
if
Agnes
had
not
been
residing
with
the
elder
Mr.
Clayton
.
They
had
received
but
few
communications
from
the
Mount
since
the
death
of
Elizabeth
,
and
were
,
consequently
,
ignorant
of
many
details
.
A
triumphant
negative
was
given
to
their
question
by
Mrs.
Sharp
,
who
further
proceeded
to
mix
up
with
her
statement
the
leaven
of
falsity
and
exaggeration
which
is
always
to
be
found
in
the
discourse
of
such
persons
.
She
assured
them
that
the
conduct
of
Agnes
was
strongly
reprobated
by
the
society
in
the
neighbourhood
of
B
—
,
and
that
it
was
a
matter
of
universal
astonishment
that
Mr.
Hardman
should
permit
her
to
remain
in
so
equivocal
a
situation
.
The
furious
indignation
of
the
Hardmans
at
this
account
may
be
imagined
;
that
their
sense
of
propriety
should
be
called
in
question
by
the
world
of
their
idolatry
,
was
an
affront
not
to
be
endured
,
and
it
might
prove
very
injurious
to
Mr.
Hardman
were
it
known
that
he
had
left
his
ward
in
a
doubtful
position
.
They
declared
to
Mrs.
Sharp
,
that
they
were
under
a
deep
sense
of
obligation
to
her
,
that
they
had
been
grossly
deceived
,
but
that
they
would
rectify
their
unconscious
error
that
very
day
.
To
which
she
responded
with
an
air
of
virtuous
modesty
,
that
she
had
only
done
her
duty
—
that
she
applauded
their
resolution
of
speedily
interfering
in
this
unpleasant
affair
;
and
then
took
her
leave
,
fortified
by
their
praises
for
some
yet
more
determined
assault
on
the
domestic
happiness
of
a
few
more
of
her
friends
.
By
that
night’s
post
a
letter
was
despatched
to
Agnes
,
the
joint
composition
of
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hardman
,
in
which
her
present
position
,
as
it
appeared
in
the
eyes
of
the
world
,
was
qualified
in
terms
that
must
wound
her
beyond
endurance
;
and
which
terminated
with
a
peremptory
order
to
her
to
place
herself
without
delay
under
the
escort
of
the
person
they
would
send
to
conduct
her
to
London
,
where
she
was
henceforward
to
reside
in
their
house
as
her
sister
had
done
.
CHAPTER
VI
.
IT
was
winter
now
.
Christmas‐tide
was
scarcely
past
,
and
the
holly
and
mistletoe
still
decorated
the
walls
of
the
beautiful
church
where
Richard
and
Agnes
had
knelt
that
morning
,
happy
with
a
strange
restless
happiness
in
one
another’s
society
,
which
they
would
scarce
have
ventured
to
analyze
.
They
agreed
that
they
had
never
spent
a
Christmas
of
such
unalloyed
gladness
.
Mr.
Clayton
always
made
it
his
especial
care
that
this
season
should
be
one
of
true
rejoicing
to
every
individual
in
his
parish
,
and
they
had
readily
and
generously
assisted
him
in
this
endeavour
.
Agnes
had
carried
her
gifts
and
good
wishes
to
every
house
in
the
village
,
and
there
was
warmth
and
light
on
the
humblest
hearth
amongst
them
,
when
the
chimes
rung
out
on
the
clear
midnight
air
,
bearing
forth
the
glad
tidings
of
great
joy
which
the
angels
brought
from
heaven
at
the
selfsame
hour
.
In
their
own
house
Agnes
had
taken
care
that
all
should
be
cheerfulness
and
gaiety
,
and
Richard
thought
with
delight
of
the
bright
scene
that
waited
him
as
he
rode
home
through
the
darkness
that
evening
.
He
had
been
called
to
some
distance
on
business
;
he
was
chilled
and
wearied
,
and
he
pictured
to
himself
the
well
lighted
room
,
with
the
huge
fire
blazing
on
the
hearth
,
and
the
little
Mary
springing
from
the
arms
of
her
young
aunt
to
meet
him
.
The
scene
which
did
in
fact
await
him
at
the
Mount
,
was
a
melancholy
contrast
to
this
pleasing
vision
.
He
went
first
to
the
drawing‐room
,
already
surprised
that
no
one
met
him
at
the
door
.
There
was
no
light
there
,
and
the
room
was
in
disorder
;
but
most
of
all
,
he
missed
the
sweet
face
of
Agnes
brightening
so
gaily
at
his
approach
.
It
was
the
first
time
she
had
ever
failed
to
welcome
him
,
and
a
sudden
foreboding
of
evil
assailed
him
.
He
went
hurriedly
from
room
to
room
in
search
of
her
.
He
called
her
anxiously
,
but
no
answer
was
returned
.
At
last
a
sound
of
stifled
sobbing
met
his
ear
.
It
came
from
the
sleeping
room
of
his
children
,
and
he
opened
the
door
at
once
and
went
in
.
Agnes
was
kneeling
beside
the
cradle
of
the
little
Mary
,
who
had
fallen
asleep
,
her
cheeks
yet
wet
with
the
tears
she
had
shed
in
her
innocent
sympathy
for
the
sorrow
of
her
aunt
,
though
she
had
been
unable
to
comprehend
the
cause
of
it
.
Agnes
had
buried
her
face
in
the
pillow
,
and
was
weeping
as
though
her
very
heart
would
break
.
She
started
at
the
sound
of
Richard’s
voice
,
as
he
took
her
hands
in
his
and
besought
her
to
tell
him
what
had
grieved
her
.
Her
distress
was
so
violent
that
she
could
not
speak
for
a
few
minutes
;
then
she
could
only
utter
a
few
incoherent
words
.
She
pointed
to
the
child
,
so
beautiful
and
smiling
in
its
quiet
slumber
.
“
How
can
I
ever
bear
to
leave
her
!
”
she
exclaimed
;
“
and
still
more
,
how
could
I
leave
you
,
dear
Richard
,
and
this
happy
home
—
all
,
all
I
love
in
the
world
!
How
can
I
go
?
I
cannot
,
I
cannot
!
I
should
die
!
I
know
that
I
should
!
”
She
spoke
with
that
frantic
impatience
of
suffering
which
we
should
all
be
disposed
to
feel
,
had
we
no
pure
and
holy
motive
given
us
for
a
calm
endurance
.
Richard
was
bewildered
with
astonishment
.
“
What
can
you
mean
,
Agnes
?
”
he
said
;
“
Where
would
you
go
?
Who
is
it
that
would
dare
to
take
you
from
me
?
”
She
was
sobbing
so
much
that
she
could
not
answer
,
but
she
pointed
to
the
letter
which
lay
on
the
ground
beside
her
.
He
took
it
up
and
read
it
through
.
Agnes
looked
up
at
him
when
he
had
finished
it
,
and
she
was
perfectly
appalled
by
the
storm
of
passion
which
convulsed
his
features
.
He
actually
shook
with
anger
;
he
crushed
the
letter
in
his
hand
till
not
a
word
was
legible
;
then
,
trampling
it
under
foot
,
he
burst
into
the
most
tremendous
invectives
against
those
who
had
written
it
.
Agnes
trembled
with
terror
at
his
violence
.
She
almost
forgot
her
grief
in
her
anxiety
.
She
rose
up
,
and
clinging
to
his
arm
,
implored
of
him
to
be
more
composed
.
“
Dear
Richard
,
”
she
said
,
“
it
can
do
no
good
to
use
these
terrible
words
against
them
;
let
us
think
rather
what
we
are
to
do
.
I
cannot
go
,
I
feel
that
I
cannot
;
it
would
kill
me
!
”
“
You
shall
not
,
”
said
Richard
,
turning
to
her
almost
fiercely
.
“
I
tell
you
,
you
shall
not
leave
me
;
no
power
on
earth
will
induce
me
to
part
from
you
.
”
“
But
how
?
how
?
”
said
Agnes
.
“
I
cannot
stay
when
such
terms
have
been
used
towards
me
.
”
She
covered
her
face
with
her
hands
as
she
spoke
:
her
movement
seemed
to
increase
the
fury
of
Richard’s
indignation
,
but
a
stern
resolution
made
him
now
more
calm
;
he
drew
away
her
hands
,
and
bid
her
look
up
boldly
.
“
Agnes
,
”
he
said
,
“
I
must
take
this
night
to
consider
how
the
matter
had
best
be
managed
,
but
I
charge
you
in
the
mean
time
to
remain
convinced
of
this
—
you
shall
not
leave
me
;
we
shall
not
be
separated
,
come
what
may
;
I
will
never
consent
to
part
with
you
.
”
His
tone
of
decision
,
and
his
look
of
settled
determination
,
gave
Agnes
an
involuntary
faith
in
his
words
,
though
she
could
not
at
all
perceive
how
they
were
to
be
verified
;
but
her
womanly
feeling
of
helplessness
compelled
her
to
rely
with
unquestioning
trust
on
his
promise
,
that
he
would
save
her
from
the
trial
she
could
not
and
would
not
bear
.
“
I
will
leave
it
all
to
you
,
then
,
”
she
said
,
“
for
I
am
bewildered
,
—
I
cannot
tell
what
is
to
be
done
.
I
only
know
I
cannot
leave
you
and
those
dear
children
:
—
Who
would
care
for
them
as
I
have
done
?
”
“
Who
indeed
?
and
for
their
sakes
,
Agnes
,
we
must
not
scruple
at
any
measure
which
shall
ensure
to
them
your
tender
love
and
watchfulness
.
Fear
nothing
,
then
;
go
and
sleep
in
peace
;
to‐morrow
we
will
make
some
arrangement
by
which
we
can
defy
the
world
to
separate
us
.
”
And
Agnes
did
rest
calmly
that
night
with
Mary
nestling
in
her
arms
.
She
felt
as
though
she
must
keep
guard
over
this
precious
child
,
even
through
the
darkness
,
lest
they
stole
her
away
;
but
she
trusted
with
the
most
perfect
security
to
Richard’s
assurances
,
nothing
doubting
that
he
could
perform
what
he
had
promised
.
For
Richard
Clayton
,
however
,
there
was
no
rest
that
night
;
hour
after
hour
he
paced
to
and
fro
in
anxious
reflection
as
to
his
future
conduct
.
He
was
a
shrewd
and
a
clever
man
,
and
from
the
first
moment
when
he
read
the
Hardmans’
letter
,
his
acute
mind
had
grasped
the
details
of
the
case
in
their
full
extent
,
and
he
had
perceived
that
there
remained
but
one
alternative
for
himself
and
his
sister‐in‐law
.
It
was
perfectly
impossible
that
Agnes
Maynard
should
continue
to
reside
in
his
house
in
a
position
which
had
called
forth
such
remarks
;
he
would
have
been
the
first
to
despise
her
had
she
done
so
;
and
yet
with
the
same
impatience
of
sorrow
which
she
had
manifested
,
and
which
is
the
characteristic
of
all
undisciplined
minds
,
he
felt
that
he
could
not
,
he
would
not
,
lose
her
.
Even
for
his
children’s
sake
she
must
remain
.
How
could
he
endure
to
see
them
dying
for
want
of
the
assiduous
care
which
she
alone
could
give
them
?
Mary
,
who
seemed
to
have
no
power
to
live
,
save
in
an
atmosphere
of
love
;
and
the
fragile
infant
,
his
son
,
the
pride
of
his
heart
,
on
whom
so
many
hopes
were
built
,
only
now
beginning
to
exhibit
symptoms
of
increasing
strength
and
health
,
which
all
would
vanish
,
as
he
knew
full
well
,
if
a
cold
heart
and
careless
hand
alone
were
to
be
concerned
in
his
welfare
.
Moreover
Richard
Clayton
,
although
of
a
generous
temper
,
was
essentially
selfish
—
peculiarities
of
disposition
which
are
by
no
means
incompatible
.
He
could
not
bear
to
think
of
his
house
in
disorder
,
cheerless
,
and
lonely
,
with
all
the
petty
cares
of
the
“
menage
,
”
which
are
so
essentially
a
woman’s
province
,
devolving
on
himself
.
No
;
Agnes
must
remain
with
him
;
but
there
was
one
only
position
in
which
it
was
possible
for
her
to
do
so
—
she
must
become
his
wife
!
He
would
never
have
desired
to
look
upon
Agnes
in
any
other
light
than
as
his
sister
,
had
the
unlawfulness
of
a
union
,
such
as
that
which
he
now
projected
,
been
sufficiently
felt
and
understood
in
this
country
to
have
enabled
her
to
remain
with
impunity
in
charge
of
his
establishment
.
This
,
however
,
is
not
the
case
,
—
to
the
destruction
of
much
domestic
happiness
,
and
of
many
of
the
holiest
and
best
feelings
of
our
nature
.
It
is
certain
that
the
unjustifiable
license
which
has
been
given
to
these
marriages
by
the
diversity
of
opinion
on
this
point
(
so
long
decided
by
primitive
and
holy
authority
)
,
has
driven
many
to
form
the
connexion
from
which
their
better
feelings
would
otherwise
have
revolted
.
Richard
Clayton
was
determined
to
retain
the
society
of
his
sister‐in‐law
,
and
by
this
arrangement
alone
could
he
do
so
.
Therefore
,
following
the
inflexible
law
of
his
own
inclination
,
he
resolved
to
accomplish
it
.
He
had
no
pure
and
lofty
principle
in
his
own
soul
to
restrain
him
,
and
for
external
obstacles
he
cared
little
,
for
he
knew
that
such
marriages
had
taken
place
.
But
he
was
not
aware
of
the
fact
,
that
they
are
very
generally
reprobated
by
society
.
Had
Richard
known
that
the
world
he
loved
so
truly
,
severe
in
the
enforcement
of
its
own
code
of
conventional
laws
,
has
affixed
a
stigma
to
the
name
of
him
who
takes
for
his
wife
the
woman
who
has
been
called
his
sister
,
he
would
perhaps
have
been
prevented
by
his
worship
of
public
opinion
from
taking
that
step
which
his
professed
Christianity
in
vain
prohibited
.
He
was
ignorant
,
however
,
of
the
general
feeling
which
is
fortunately
so
strong
on
this
point
,
and
he
anticipated
no
opposition
excepting
from
his
father
.
Mr.
Clayton
,
he
was
certain
,
would
view
such
a
deed
with
the
sternest
disapprobation
.
But
Richard
had
long
ceased
attempting
even
to
follow
in
the
straight
and
narrow
path
which
his
father
,
uncompromising
in
his
high
standard
of
right
and
wrong
,
had
traced
out
before
him
.
He
could
not
have
taken
one
step
in
such
a
course
,
unassisted
by
that
self‐denial
,
without
which
it
is
worse
than
mockery
to
profess
the
Holy
Christian
Faith
,
but
which
was
a
blessing
yet
unknown
to
him
.
He
,
therefore
,
constantly
declared
that
it
was
quite
impossible
for
him
to
please
his
father
,
and
made
this
conviction
a
license
to
himself
,
recklessly
to
brave
his
displeasure
at
all
times
.
One
measure
only
must
be
taken
with
regard
to
Mr.
Clayton
,
—
the
marriage
must
be
carefully
concealed
from
him
until
it
was
too
late
to
prohibit
it
.
From
Agnes
herself
Richard
expected
no
opposition
;
the
idea
would
be
startling
to
her
at
first
,
for
he
felt
certain
she
bad
never
entertained
a
thought
as
to
the
possibility
of
such
an
arrangement
;
but
he
knew
that
he
possessed
great
influence
over
her
—
the
influence
which
a
man
of
strong
will
must
at
all
times
possess
over
a
weak
and
timid
woman
,
unless
there
be
in
her
that
strength
which
is
best
shown
forth
in
weakness
.
But
most
of
all
he
relied
on
the
all‐powerful
argument
of
his
children’s
welfare
,
and
her
own
bitter
grief
at
the
mere
thought
of
leaving
her
happy
home
.
Richard
Clayton
had
plausibly
reasoned
himself
into
the
full
belief
that
he
was
acting
for
the
best
when
he
went
next
morning
to
offer
Agnes
Maynard
the
position
of
wife
in
the
house
where
she
had
dwelt
as
sister
;
and
yet
there
was
a
feeling
of
conscious
guilt
at
his
heart
when
she
came
to
meet
him
with
her
frank
warm
greeting
,
and
addressed
him
by
the
name
of
brother
,
which
,
for
the
first
time
,
grated
so
unpleasantly
on
his
ears
.
The
sight
of
his
children
,
however
,
reassured
him
—
