—and
nothing
else
.
"
The
Right
Reverend
Father
in
God
had
been
a
fox-hunter
in
his
time
.
"
For
my
part
,
"
cried
a
Member
of
Parliament
,
"
I
move
that
we
repair
to
the
young
gentleman
's
assistance
.
"
"
And
I
beg
to
second
the
motion
,
"
said
another
Member
.
"
Ah
!
by
heaven
,
that
's
serious
!
"
ejaculated
Lord
Rossville
,
turning
abruptly
away
from
the
window
.
And
so
it
seemed
;
for
the
horse
suddenly
stopped
near
the
entrance
of
the
mansion
,
and
pitched
the
bridegroom
clean
over
its
head
into
a
clump
of
evergreens
.
All
the
ladies
who
beheld
this
catastrophe
screamed
aloud
.
But
at
the
very
next
moment
he
rose
from
his
ignominious
position
,
and
with
difficulty
removing
his
battered
hat
from
over
his
eyes
,
saluted
the
company
assembled
at
the
windows
of
the
drawing-room
.
"
It
's
noting
at
all
,
"
said
Baron
Torkemdef
:
"
he
only
tink
himself
hurted
—
you
only
tink
dat
a
horse
what
did
seem
to
run
way
wid
him
:
—
it
all
de
idea
—
all
de
fancy
.
"
Then
,
while
Lord
Rossville
and
others
hastened
to
meet
the
bridegroom
and
assure
themselves
that
he
was
not
hurt
,
Baron
Torkemdef
caught
hold
of
the
great
county
landowner
by
the
button-hole
,
and
began
to
expatiate
upon
the
folly
of
yielding
to
sensations
of
pain
and
other
afflictions
,
as
not
only
those
sensations
but
also
we
ourselves
were
only
so
many
unsubstantial
ideas
.
Meantime
,
poor
Maria
Villiers
had
remained
in
a
sort
of
listless
reverie
in
her
seat
;
and
it
was
only
when
Lady
Ravensworth
assured
her
that
the
bridegroom
had
sustained
no
injury
,
that
she
learnt
he
had
been
in
any
peril
at
all
.
In
ten
minutes
the
door
opened
,
and
Lord
Rossville
returned
to
the
room
,
ushering
in
the
bridegroom
,
who
had
been
cleansed
in
the
meantime
from
the
effects
of
his
fall
,
and
who
endeavoured
to
put
a
smiling
face
upon
the
matter
,
although
still
terribly
disconcerted
.
Then
Lady
Adeline
advanced
to
meet
him
,
and
said
in
a
most
gracious
tone
,
"
We
have
been
painfully
excited
on
your
account
,
Sir
Cherry
Bounce
.
"
CHAPTER
CCV
.
THE
BREAKFAST
.
Yes
—
it
was
to
this
individual
that
Maria
Villiers
was
to
be
sacrificed
:
—
it
was
to
him
that
the
cold
and
selfish
policy
of
Lord
Rossville
was
about
to
consign
a
beautiful
,
an
artless
,
and
an
amiable
girl
.
Sir
Cherry
's
mother
had
paid
the
debt
of
nature
about
a
year
previously
;
and
the
young
baronet
found
himself
the
possessor
of
an
immense
fortune
.
Lord
Rossville
only
looked
upon
his
orphan
niece
Maria
as
an
encumbrance
while
she
remained
single
,
or
as
a
means
of
increasing
the
wealth
(
and
in
his
idea
,
the
strength
)
of
the
family
when
she
married
.
Sir
Cherry
had
met
her
in
the
brilliant
sphere
of
the
West-End
society
:
he
had
courted
her
;
and
,
the
moment
Lord
and
Lady
Rossville
observed
his
attentions
,
they
commanded
her
to
receive
them
with
favour
.
She
—
poor
timid
,
friendless
girl
!
—
was
half
persuaded
into
the
idea
that
the
match
was
really
to
her
advantage
,
and
half
bullied
(
for
we
can
actually
use
no
other
term
)
into
an
acquiescence
in
the
views
of
her
guardian
.
Thus
she
had
not
dared
to
utter
a
negative
when
the
effeminate
and
insipid
baronet
had
solicited
her
hand
;
and
,
her
silence
being
taken
for
a
ready
consent
,
the
preliminaries
were
hurried
on
,
without
any
further
reference
to
the
inclinations
or
wishes
of
the
victim
!
"
We
have
been
painfully
excited
on
your
account
,
Sir
Cherry
Bounce
,
"
said
Lady
Ravensworth
,
advancing
to
receive
the
bridegroom
.
"
The
twuth
wath
that
my
fwiend
Thmilackth
inthithted
on
my
widing
the
new
horth
I
bought
yethterday
,
"
exclaimed
the
baronet
;
"
and
ath
he
do
n't
theem
to
be
veway
well
bwoken
in
,
the
wethult
wath
that
I
nearly
got
a
bwoken
head
.
"
"
I
never
saw
such
a
Guy
on
a
horse
before
—
strike
me
!
"
ejaculated
Major
Smilax
Dapper
,
who
had
followed
his
friend
into
the
room
.
"
He
would
keep
in
advance
of
me
the
whole
way
;
and
although
I
called
after
him
to
rein
in
—
strike
him
!
—
he
would
not
listen
to
me
.
"
"
It
wath
that
thouting
and
hoowaying
that
fwightened
my
horth
,
"
observed
Sir
Cherry
,
casting
a
sulky
look
towards
Smilax
.
"
At
all
events
you
are
not
hurt
—
and
that
is
the
essential
,
"
said
Lord
Rossville
.
"
Hurted
!
no
—
of
course
de
good
gentleman
's
not
hurted
,
"
exclaimed
Baron
Torkemdef
:
"
it
noting
at
all
but
de
idea
—
de
fancy
.
You
know
vare
well
,
sare
,
dat
you
not
really
exist
—
dat
you
only
tink
you
do
exist
—
—
"
Sir
Cherry
Bounce
,
to
whom
these
words
were
addressed
,
cast
so
ludicrous
a
look
of
surprise
mingled
with
dismay
upon
the
philosopher
,
that
Major
Smilax
Dapper
burst
into
an
immoderate
fit
of
laughter
;
so
that
Baron
Torkemdef
was
for
a
moment
disconcerted
.
Lord
Rossville
seized
this
opportunity
to
lead
Sir
Cherry
Bounce
towards
Miss
Villiers
,
who
received
her
intended
husband
with
a
manner
which
to
the
superficial
observer
might
appear
excessive
bashfulness
,
but
which
to
the
penetrating
eye
was
the
expression
of
blank
—
dumb
—
soul-crushing
despair
.
"
I
was
just
as
timid
with
my
first
as
Maria
is
,
"
whispered
Mrs.
Berrymenny
to
the
Countess
of
Brazenphace
:
"
with
my
second
I
was
a
leetle
more
gay
;
—
with
my
third
—
—
"
"
Dear
Mrs.
Berrymenny
,
"
interrupted
the
Countess
,
impatiently
;
"
pray
do
not
talk
of
your
seconds
and
thirds
,
when
here
are
my
two
youngest
daughters
who
have
n't
even
yet
got
their
firsts
.
"
Two
footmen
,
in
gorgeous
liveries
,
now
entered
the
room
and
threw
open
a
pair
of
folding-doors
,
thus
revealing
an
inner
apartment
where
the
nuptial
ceremony
was
to
take
place
by
special
license
.
Then
Sir
Cherry
Bounce
took
Maria
's
hand
,
and
led
her
slowly
into
the
next
room
,
the
Honourable
Misses
Wigmore
attending
her
in
the
capacity
of
bridemaids
.
The
remainder
of
the
company
followed
in
procession
.
And
now
the
Bishop
takes
his
place
near
the
table
,
and
opens
the
book
.
The
ceremony
begins
.
Pale
as
marble
,
and
almost
insensible
to
what
is
passing
around
her
,
Maria
Villiers
hears
a
sort
of
droning
mumbling
,
but
cannot
distinguish
the
words
.
And
yet
the
Bishop
read
the
prayers
in
a
clear
,
distinct
,
and
impressive
manner
.
One
of
the
bridemaids
whispered
in
Maria
's
ear
;
and
the
young
victim
mechanically
repeated
the
answer
thus
prompted
.
But
she
was
scarcely
aware
of
the
tenour
of
what
she
had
said
:
every
moment
the
scene
became
less
comprehensible
to
her
mind
—
and
she
was
on
the
point
of
uttering
a
wild
cry
,
so
alarming
was
the
confusion
of
her
thoughts
,
when
there
was
a
sudden
movement
amongst
the
assembly
—
warm
lips
touched
her
forehead
for
a
moment
and
were
instantly
withdrawn
—
and
then
her
ears
rang
with
the
congratulations
of
her
friends
!
The
chaos
of
her
ideas
was
immediately
dispelled
;
and
the
appalling
truth
broke
suddenly
on
her
.
The
ceremony
was
over
—
and
she
was
a
wife
:
—
upon
her
marble
brow
the
kiss
of
a
husband
had
been
imprinted
.
By
one
of
those
strange
efforts
of
which
the
soul
is
sometimes
capable
,
when
"
the
worst
"
has
arrived
and
"
the
bitterness
of
death
"
has
passed
,
Maria
recovered
her
presence
of
mind
,
and
even
smiled
faintly
in
acknowledgment
of
the
congratulations
which
she
received
.
"
Dat
young
lady
seem
vare
happy
now
,
"
whispered
the
German
philosopher
to
Mrs.
Berrymenny
;
"
but
it
all
noting
more
dan
de
idea
.
We
all
idea
—
dat
reverend
Bischop
—
dis
room
—
dat
book
what
he
was
read
in
—
every
ting
!
"
"
Do
you
mean
to
persuade
me
,
sir
,
"
asked
Mrs.
Berrymenny
,
with
an
indignant
glance
at
Baron
Torkemdef
,
"
that
it
is
all
mere
fancy
on
my
part
that
I
have
had
five
husbands
?
If
so
,
sir
,
all
I
can
say
is
that
I
should
like
to
have
a
sixth
opportunity
of
putting
your
theory
to
the
test
.
"
And
with
these
words
the
widow
of
five
experiments
of
the
marriage-state
joined
the
procession
which
was
now
on
its
way
to
the
breakfast-room
.
The
table
in
this
apartment
was
spread
with
all
the
delicacies
which
were
calculated
to
tempt
the
appetite
even
of
satiety
.
Sir
Cherry
thought
it
necessary
to
whisper
some
soft
nonsense
in
the
ears
of
his
bride
,
as
he
conducted
her
to
a
seat
;
and
Maria
turned
upon
him
a
vacant
glance
of
surprise
;
—
then
,
suddenly
recollecting
the
relation
in
which
she
stood
towards
him
,
her
head
drooped
upon
her
bosom
,
and
she
made
no
reply
.
"
Cherry
,
"
whispered
Major
Dapper
,
"
you
are
not
half
lively
enough
—
blow
you
!
You
look
like
a
fool
—
but
I
suppose
you
ca
n't
help
it
.
"
"
Hold
your
tongue
,
Thmilackth
,
"
returned
Sir
Cherry
,
colouring
to
such
an
extent
that
the
deep
red
was
visible
beneath
his
light
hair
.
"
You
tha
n't
tweat
me
like
a
child
any
more
.
"
And
now
began
the
bustle
of
the
breakfast-table
,
and
the
excitement
of
the
scene
appeared
to
produce
the
most
beneficial
effects
upon
Lord
Ravensworth
,
who
did
the
honours
of
the
table
,
conjointly
with
Adeline
,
in
a
manner
indicative
of
more
gaiety
and
spirit
than
he
had
exhibited
for
some
time
.
"
Lord
Ravensworth
is
certainly
improving
,
"
said
the
Countess
of
Brazenphace
apart
to
Mrs.
Berrymenny
.
"
My
second
used
to
deceive
me
in
the
same
manner
,
"
was
the
reply
,
also
delivered
in
an
under
tone
.
"
He
was
always
dying
—
and
always
getting
better
,
for
at
least
three
years
before
he
went
off
altogether
.
My
fourth
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
you
have
told
me
all
about
him
before
,
"
hastily
interrupted
the
Countess
,
who
was
alarmed
lest
the
widow
should
inflict
upon
her
a
narrative
of
oft-experienced
tediousness
.
"
Dat
vare
excellent
bird
—
how
you
call
him
?
Peasant
—
ah
!
"
observed
Baron
Torkemdef
to
the
young
clergyman
,
who
,
like
a
child
,
saw
,
heard
,
but
said
nothing
.
"
But
after
all
it
no
use
for
to
praise
one
ting
or
to
blame
anoder
—
'
cause
dem
each
de
idea
—
de
fancy
.
Dere
really
no
table
—
no
peasant
—
no
wine
—
no
peoples
:
it
all
de
imagination
.
"
And
while
the
philosopher
went
on
expatiating
in
this
manner
,
the
viands
disappeared
from
his
plate
and
the
wine
from
the
decanter
near
him
with
a
marvellous
rapidity
;
so
that
the
young
clergyman
could
not
help
muttering
to
himself
,
"
I
wonder
whether
the
Baron
's
appetite
is
an
idea
also
.
"
"
Seraphina
,
"
whispered
the
Countess
of
Brazenphace
to
one
of
her
daughters
,
"
if
you
look
so
much
at
Count
Swindeliski
,
I
shall
be
very
angry
.
He
has
got
no
money
,
and
is
not
a
match
for
you
.
There
is
the
Member
for
Buyemup-cum-Rhino
sitting
on
your
right
,
and
he
is
a
wealthy
bachelor
.
"
"
But
,
dear
mamma
,
"
returned
Miss
Seraphina
,
also
in
a
whisper
,
"
he
is
at
least
sixty
.
"
"
So
much
the
better
,
"
was
the
prompt
reply
:
"
he
is
the
easier
to
catch
.
Now
mind
your
p
's
and
q
's
,
Miss.
"
This
maternal
advice
was
duly
attended
to
;
and
,
by
the
time
he
had
tossed
off
his
third
glass
of
champagne
,
the
Member
for
Buyemup-cum-Rhino
had
grown
very
tenderly
maudlin
towards
the
red-haired
young
husband-hunter
.
"
Miss
Blewstocken
,
dear
,
"
cried
the
elder
Miss
Wigmore
,
"
have
you
composed
nothing
appropriate
for
the
present
occasion
?
—
no
sweet
little
poem
in
your
own
fascinating
style
?
"
"
Oh
!
dear
Miss
Wigmore
,
how
unkind
!
"
said
the
literary
young
lady
,
in
an
affected
and
languishing
manner
.
"
I
could
not
have
believed
it
of
you
—
to
appeal
to
me
before
so
many
!
If
I
have
told
you
in
confidence
,
or
if
it
be
indeed
generally
known
that
'
The
Poetic
Nosegay
'
was
written
by
me
—
and
if
it
had
a
very
large
circulation
—
I
do
not
think
it
is
fair
to
expect
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
Miss
Blewstocken
,
"
exclaimed
Miss
Wigmore
,
"
we
are
all
aware
that
your
pen
is
seldom
idle
.
"
"
It
is
really
quite
provoking
to
find
oneself
known
to
Fame
,
"
said
the
literary
lady
,
with
increasing
affectation
of
manner
,
and
in
a
drawling
,
insipid
tone
.
"
I
wish
I
had
never
written
at
all
:
—
not
that
I
have
ever
been
induced
to
acknowledge
the
authorship
of
that
novel
which
was
so
successful
last
year
—
'
The
Royal
Fiddlestick
,
'
I
mean
.
No
:
—
but
the
time
may
come
—
—
"
And
here
the
literary
lady
shook
her
head
in
so
mysterious
a
way
that
if
she
intended
to
be
incomprehensible
,
she
certainly
was
most
successful
in
the
endeavour
.
"
Who
is
that
lady
?
"
inquired
the
Bishop
of
Lord
Rossville
.
"
Miss
Blewstocken
,
the
celebrated
authoress
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Oh
!
"
said
the
Bishop
,
in
a
dry
laconic
way
,
which
proved
that
,
however
celebrated
Miss
Blewstocken
might
be
,
the
trumpet
of
her
renown
had
never
sounded
in
his
ears
before
.
"
Talk
of
de
poetry
and
de
novel
,
"
exclaimed
the
German
Baron
,
"
what
are
all
dem
to
de
researches
of
de
philosoph
?
Was
your
lordship
ever
read
my
von
grand
vork
on
de
'
Ideality
of
de
Universe
?
'
"
"
I
cannot
say
that
I
have
ever
read
it
,
sir
,
"
answered
the
Bishop
,
with
a
frown
.
"
I
have
heard
of
it
,
sir
—
and
I
consider
its
doctrines
to
be
opposed
to
the
Bible
,
sir
.
I
believe
it
is
in
fourteen
large
volumes
,
sir
?
Well
,
sir
—
then
all
I
have
to
observe
upon
it
is
that
so
many
quartos
are
themselves
too
substantial
to
be
a
mere
idea
.
"
"
But
dey
are
von
idea
!
"
exclaimed
the
Baron
,
angrily
.
"
Dey
do
not
really
exist
,
milor
—
in
spite
of
what
your
lordship
shall
say
.
Every
ting
is
de
idea
—
we
be
ourselves
all
de
walking
,
moving
idea
:
dere
no
such
ting
as
joy
—
no
such
ting
as
pain
—
dey
mere
sensation
—
"
At
this
moment
the
learned
philosopher
started
from
his
seat
with
a
yell
of
agony
,
and
began
stamping
on
the
floor
in
a
furious
manner
.
The
fact
was
that
while
he
was
gesticulating
in
order
to
bestow
additional
emphasis
on
the
enunciation
of
his
principles
,
his
hand
,
raised
in
the
air
,
came
in
contact
with
a
cup
of
coffee
which
a
domestic
was
about
to
place
before
the
young
clergyman
;
and
the
scalding
fluid
was
poured
forth
on
the
bald
head
and
down
the
back
of
the
philosopher
.
"
Pray
do
not
mind
it
,
sir
,
"
said
the
Bishop
,
drily
:
"
it
is
merely
an
idea
.
"
"
Yes
—
it
de
idea
,
no
doubt
!
"
ejaculated
Baron
Torkemdef
,
as
he
wiped
his
head
with
his
pocket-handkerchief
,
while
the
domestic
murmured
an
apology
and
slunk
away
:
"
but
de
idea
was
come
in
de
unpleasant
shape
—
dat
noting
against
my
doctrine
—
tousand
devils
,
how
him
do
burn
!
"
And
,
particularly
disconcerted
,
the
learned
man
sank
back
into
his
seat
,
where
he
consoled
himself
with
a
renewed
application
to
the
decanter
near
him
.
Meantime
Count
Swindeliski
was
rendering
himself
very
amiable
to
the
Honourable
Miss
Helena
Sophia
Alexandrina
Wigmore
,
next
to
whom
he
sate
.
"
Poland
,
then
,
must
be
a
very
beautiful
country
?
"
said
the
young
lady
,
duly
impressed
by
a
most
graphic
description
which
the
Count
had
just
terminated
.
"
It
vare
fine
—
vare
fine
,
"
returned
the
fascinating
foreigner
.
"
De
ancestral
castle
of
the
Swindeliskis
vare
grand
—
touch
de
clouds
—
so
long
dat
when
you
do
stand
at
de
von
end
you
shall
not
see
de
oder
—
so
wide
dat
horses
shall
always
be
kept
saddled
for
to
cross
de
court
.
My
father
was
keep
tree
tousand
dependants
:
me
not
choose
for
to
spend
de
revenue
in
dat
vay
—
me
only
may
keep
von
tousand
.
"
"
And
can
you
prefer
England
to
your
own
beautiful
country
?
"
inquired
Miss
Helena
Wigmore
.
"
Me
shall
not
prefare
England
,
"
answered
the
Count
:
"
me
shall
choose
wife
of
de
English
ladies
—
dey
vare
beautiful
—
vare
fine
—
vare
clevare
.
Den
me
take
my
wife
to
Poland
,
where
she
shall
be
von
vare
great
lady
indeed
.
"
And
,
as
he
spoke
,
he
threw
a
tender
glance
at
his
fair
companion
.
But
Miss
Helena
Sophia
Alexandrina
Wigmore
knew
full
well
that
every
word
the
Count
uttered
concerning
his
fortune
and
castle
was
false
.
She
was
,
however
,
too
polite
not
to
seem
to
believe
him
;
and
she
was
,
moreover
,
pleased
at
engrossing
the
attentions
of
the
handsomest
man
in
the
room
.
She
therefore
permitted
herself
to
flirt
a
little
with
him
;
especially
as
her
mother
was
not
present
to
control
her
actions
;
but
,
like
all
young
ladies
in
fashionable
circles
,
she
was
too
astute
and
wary
to
entertain
the
least
idea
of
a
more
serious
connexion
.
The
breakfast
was
now
over
;
a
carriage
and
four
drove
up
to
the
front
of
the
mansion
;
and
the
hour
of
departure
had
arrived
for
the
"
happy
couple
.
"
Maria
withdrew
for
a
few
moments
in
company
with
Lady
Ravensworth
and
the
two
bridemaids
and
when
she
returned
she
was
dressed
for
travelling
.
"
Happy
fellow
!
"
whispered
Major
Dapper
to
his
friend
;
"
blow
you
!
"
"
Fooleth
Thmilackth
!
"
returned
Sir
Cherry
Bounce
.
"
But
I
am
weally
veway
happy
—
ekthepth
that
curthed
wide
on
the
fatht
twotting
horth
.
Good
bye
:
I
thall
wite
to
you
in
a
few
dayth
.
"
The
farewells
were
all
said
;
and
Maria
resigned
her
hand
to
him
who
was
about
to
bear
her
away
from
the
Hall
.
She
wept
not
—
she
sighed
not
:
but
despair
was
written
on
her
marble
visage
—
though
none
present
could
read
that
sombre
and
melancholy
language
.
"
I
have
directed
Flora
to
accompany
you
,
"
whispered
Lady
Ravensworth
;
"
and
you
can
keep
her
altogether
,
if
you
choose
.
Should
the
young
woman
whom
you
have
hired
,
make
her
appearance
,
I
will
retain
her
,
and
give
her
a
trial
.
But
what
is
her
name
?
I
had
forgotten
to
ask
you
.
"
Maria
gave
an
answer
;
but
there
was
such
a
bustle
in
the
room
at
the
moment
and
such
a
confused
din
of
many
voices
,
that
the
name
escaped
Adeline
's
ears
.
Sir
Cherry
at
the
same
instant
led
Maria
towards
the
stairs
;
and
in
a
few
minutes
the
carriage
,
containing
the
newly-married
pair
,
was
rolling
away
from
Ravensworth
Hall
on
its
journey
to
Cherry
Park
in
Essex
.
"
I
wish
I
was
bound
on
a
similar
trip
with
a
sixth
,
"
thought
Mrs.
Berrymenny
,
as
she
watched
from
the
window
the
departure
of
the
carriage
.
"
I
wish
I
could
get
off
my
eighth
and
ninth
as
easily
as
the
Rossvilles
have
done
with
Maria
,
"
thought
the
Countess
of
Brazenphace
.
"
But
I
am
afraid
that
the
member
for
Buyemup-cum-Rhino
will
not
bite
.
"
"
I
wish
I
had
not
eulogised
the
single
state
in
my
poems
,
"
thought
Miss
Blewstocken
,
with
a
profound
sigh
.
"
Me
wish
me
shall
soon
find
de
agreeable
lady
dat
will
make
me
de
von
happiest
of
men
,
"
said
Count
Swindeliski
to
Miss
Helena
Sophia
Alexandrina
Wigmore
.
"
After
all
,
"
said
Baron
Torkemdef
,
who
had
recovered
his
equanimity
,
by
dint
of
frequent
libations
,
"
de
marriage
only
de
idea
—
de
fancy
,
like
any
oder
ting
.
Dat
handsome
chariot
do
not
actually
exist
—
it
only
de
idea
;
and
dat
loving
pair
what
shall
sit
in
it
are
only
idea
as
well
.
All
is
idea
—
me
an
idea
—
and
dat
Lord
Bischop
wid
de
lawn-sleeves
only
an
idea
.
"
"
Where
is
Lord
Ravensworth
?
"
inquired
Adeline
of
a
domestic
.
"
His
lordship
felt
suddenly
unwell
a
few
moments
ago
,
my
lady
,
and
has
retired
to
his
cabinet
.
"
"
Ah
!
a
reaction
—
a
recurrence
to
the
meerschaum
!
"
murmured
Lady
Ravensworth
,
a
cloud
passing
over
her
brow
.
"
Please
your
ladyship
,
"
said
the
servant
,
"
a
young
woman
has
just
arrived
from
London
.
She
says
that
she
was
hired
by
Miss
Villiers
—
I
beg
pardon
Lady
Bounce
—
and
that
an
accident
to
the
vehicle
in
which
she
came
to
the
Hall
has
delayed
her
.
"
"
Oh
!
she
is
to
remain
with
me
,
"
returned
Adeline
.
"
Tell
her
that
I
will
take
her
into
my
service
on
the
same
terms
that
were
arranged
between
her
and
Lady
Bounce
.
She
is
to
replace
Flora
.
"
"
Very
good
,
my
lady
;
"
—
and
the
servant
was
about
to
retire
.
"
One
moment
,
William
,
"
said
Adeline
,
beckoning
him
back
.
"
Did
this
young
woman
mention
her
name
—
for
as
yet
I
am
really
ignorant
of
it
?
"
"
Yes
,
my
lady
,
"
answered
the
domestic
:
"
her
name
is
Lydia
Hutchinson
.
"
And
the
servant
withdrew
.
"
Lydia
Hutchinson
!
"
murmured
Lady
Ravensworth
,
turning
deadly
pale
,
and
tottering
to
a
seat
.
"
Are
you
unwell
,
Adeline
?
"
inquired
Lady
Rossville
,
approaching
her
daughter
.
"
No
—
a
sudden
indisposition
—
it
is
nothing
!
"
replied
Adeline
;
and
she
hastened
from
the
room
.
CHAPTER
CCVI
.
THE
PATRICIAN
LADY
AND
THE
UNFORTUNATE
WOMAN
.
Lady
Ravensworth
retired
to
her
boudoir
;
and
,
throwing
herself
upon
a
voluptuous
ottoman
,
she
burst
into
a
flood
of
tears
.
The
wife
of
one
of
England
's
wealthiest
nobles
,
—
mistress
of
a
splendid
mansion
and
numerous
household
,
—
young
,
beautiful
,
and
admired
,
—
with
a
coronet
upon
her
brow
,
and
all
the
luxuries
and
pleasures
of
the
world
at
her
command
,
—
this
haughty
and
high-born
lady
now
trembled
at
the
idea
—
now
shrunk
from
the
thought
—
of
meeting
an
obscure
young
woman
who
was
forced
to
accept
a
menial
place
in
order
to
earn
her
daily
bread
!
It
was
a
strange
coincidence
that
thus
brought
Lydia
Hutchinson
beneath
the
roof
of
Lady
Ravensworth
,
whom
the
young
woman
was
very
far
from
suspecting
to
be
that
same
Adeline
Enfield
who
had
been
her
companion
—
nay
,
her
tutoress
—
in
the
initiative
of
wantonness
and
dishonour
.
Mrs.
Chichester
had
manifested
a
sisterly
kindness
towards
the
unfortunate
Lydia
;
and
,
instead
of
shrinking
in
disgust
,
as
so
many
others
would
have
done
,
from
the
young
woman
who
had
been
urged
by
stern
necessity
to
ply
a
loathsome
trade
,
she
had
endeavoured
,
by
the
most
delicate
attentions
,
to
reclaim
the
mind
of
society
's
outcast
from
the
dark
ocean
of
despair
in
which
it
was
so
profoundly
plunged
.
The
reader
has
doubtless
seen
that
Lydia
Hutchinson
had
never
courted
vice
for
vice
's
sake
.
She
was
not
naturally
of
a
depraved
nor
lascivious
disposition
.
Circumstances
—
amongst
which
must
be
reckoned
the
treachery
exercised
by
Lord
Dunstable
to
accomplish
her
seduction
,
and
the
accident
which
threw
the
poor
creature
upon
the
tender
mercies
of
Mrs.
Harpy
,
—
had
conspired
,
—
fearfully
conspired
,
to
brand
her
with
infamy
,
and
to
drag
her
through
the
filth
and
mire
of
the
various
phases
which
characterise
the
downward
path
of
a
career
of
prostitution
.
Necessity
had
made
her
what
she
was
!
Mrs.
Chichester
comprehended
all
this
;
and
she
was
not
one
of
those
who
believe
that
there
is
no
sincere
penitence
—
no
reformation
for
the
lost
one
.
She
longed
to
afford
Lydia
an
opportunity
of
entering
on
a
course
of
virtue
and
propriety
.
She
would
have
willingly
afforded
the
poor
creature
a
permanent
asylum
,
as
a
matter
of
charity
,
and
even
to
insure
a
companion
to
cheer
her
own
species
of
semi-widowed
loneliness
;
but
she
was
well
aware
that
eleemosynary
aid
of
such
a
kind
,
by
retaining
its
object
in
a
condition
of
idleness
and
of
dependence
,
was
of
a
most
demoralising
nature
.
She
wished
to
give
Lydia
an
opportunity
of
retrieving
her
character
in
her
own
estimation
,
and
of
regaining
a
proper
confidence
in
herself
;
and
she
resolved
that
no
excess
of
indulgence
,
nor
extreme
of
charity
,
on
her
part
,
should
permit
the
young
woman
to
live
in
an
indolence
that
might
unfit
her
for
any
occupation
in
case
of
ultimate
necessity
,
and
that
would
thus
fling
her
back
upon
the
last
and
only
resource
—
a
recurrence
to
the
walks
of
ignominy
and
crime
.
To
reclaim
and
reinstate
,
as
it
were
the
unfortunate
Lydia
Hutchinson
,
was
Viola
Chichester
's
aim
;
and
the
object
of
this
humane
solicitude
was
deeply
anxious
to
second
,
by
her
own
conduct
,
the
intentions
of
her
generous
benefactress
.
As
time
wore
on
,
Lydia
improved
greatly
in
mental
condition
and
personal
appearance
:
her
thoughts
became
settled
and
composed
,
and
her
form
resumed
much
of
the
freshness
which
had
characterised
her
youth
.
She
speedily
began
to
express
a
desire
to
exert
herself
in
some
honest
employment
to
gain
her
livelihood
;
—
she
also
felt
that
indolence
and
dependence
,
even
in
the
presence
of
the
best
moral
examples
,
produce
a
vitiated
frame
of
mind
;
—
and
she
revolted
from
the
mere
idea
of
a
relapse
into
the
horrible
path
from
which
a
friendly
hand
had
redeemed
her
,
as
the
most
appalling
catastrophe
that
her
imagination
could
conceive
.
Mrs.
Chichester
felt
so
persuaded
of
Lydia
's
firmness
of
purpose
in
pursuing
a
career
of
rectitude
,
that
she
resolved
to
take
a
step
which
only
the
extreme
urgency
of
the
case
and
a
settled
conviction
of
the
young
woman
's
inclination
to
do
well
,
could
justify
.
This
was
to
obtain
her
a
situation
in
some
family
.
Lydia
was
overjoyed
at
the
proposal
.
An
advertisement
was
accordingly
inserted
in
a
newspaper
;
and
a
few
days
brought
many
written
answers
.
Miss
Villiers
—
now
Lady
Bounce
—
called
personally
,
and
was
so
pleased
with
Lydia
's
manner
that
she
put
no
special
questions
to
Mrs.
Chichester
.
Viola
,
however
,
addressed
Miss
Villiers
thus
:
—
"
The
young
woman
who
now
stands
before
you
has
been
unfortunate
—
very
unfortunate
;
and
hers
has
been
the
fate
of
the
unfortunate
.
She
is
most
anxious
to
eat
the
bread
of
industry
and
honesty
.
I
am
persuaded
that
a
kind
hand
stretched
out
to
aid
her
in
this
desire
,
will
raise
her
to
happiness
,
and
ensure
her
lasting
gratitude
.
"
Miss
Villiers
was
a
young
lady
of
an
excellent
heart
:
she
did
not
completely
understand
all
that
Mrs.
Chichester
meant
;
but
she
comprehended
enough
to
render
her
willing
to
assist
a
fellow-creature
who
sought
to
earn
her
livelihood
honourably
,
and
who
seemed
to
possess
the
necessary
qualifications
for
the
employment
desired
.
Thus
the
bargain
was
hastily
concluded
;
and
when
Miss
Villiers
desired
Lydia
to
join
her
on
a
certain
day
at
Ravensworth
Hall
,
the
young
woman
entertained
not
the
least
idea
that
her
school
friend
Adeline
Enfield
was
Lady
Ravensworth
,
the
mistress
of
that
lordly
habitation
.
We
will
now
return
to
Adeline
,
whom
we
left
weeping
in
her
boudoir
.
The
presence
of
Lydia
in
that
house
was
indeed
enough
to
alarm
and
embarrass
her
.
Not
that
she
precisely
feared
exposure
at
Lydia
's
hands
in
respect
to
the
past
—
especially
as
it
would
be
so
easy
to
deny
any
derogatory
statement
of
the
kind
.
But
Adeline
felt
that
she
should
now
possess
a
dependant
before
whom
her
dignity
and
self-confidence
would
ever
be
overwhelmed
by
the
weight
of
that
dread
secret
of
which
Lydia
's
bosom
was
the
depository
.
Such
a
prospect
was
most
galling
—
most
humiliating
—
most
degrading
to
the
mind
of
the
haughty
peeress
.
"
But
of
what
avail
are
tears
?
"
said
Adeline
,
suddenly
.
"
The
danger
is
here
—
the
evil
is
before
me
.
We
must
meet
:
—
it
were
better
that
I
should
see
her
at
once
!
Doubtless
she
is
unaware
in
whose
abode
she
is
now
a
menial
!
"
Adeline
wiped
her
eyes
,
rang
the
bell
,
and
reseating
herself
,
assumed
as
composed
a
manner
as
possible
under
the
circumstances
.
In
a
few
moments
she
heard
footsteps
approaching
.
"
This
is
my
lady
's
apartment
,
"
said
the
housekeeper
in
the
passage
.
"
Thank
you
,
"
replied
another
voice
.
Oh
!
how
Adeline
's
heart
beat
,
—
the
well-remembered
tones
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
had
just
met
her
ears
.
Then
she
heard
the
retreating
sounds
of
the
housekeeper
's
footsteps
;
and
there
was
a
gentle
knock
at
the
door
of
their
boudoir
.
"
Come
in
,
"
said
Adeline
,
in
a
half-stifling
voice
.
The
door
opened
,
and
Lydia
Hutchinson
entered
the
room
.
Lady
Ravensworth
's
countenance
was
averted
towards
the
fire
;
and
it
was
not
until
she
heard
the
door
close
that
she
turned
towards
Lydia
,
who
was
in
a
state
of
trembling
anxiety
,
mingled
with
curiosity
,
as
to
what
might
be
the
disposition
of
her
mistress
.
But
no
pen
can
describe
the
astonishment
of
the
young
woman
,
when
by
that
pale
but
beautiful
countenance
,
which
was
now
suddenly
turned
towards
her
,
she
recognised
her
whom
she
had
so
much
reason
never
to
forget
.
Staggering
towards
the
mantel
for
support
,
and
with
her
eyes
fixed
almost
wildly
upon
her
mistress
,
she
exclaimed
,
"
Miss
Enfield
!
Is
it
indeed
you
?
"
"
I
am
Lady
Ravensworth
,
"
was
the
somewhat
haughty
answer
.
"
Oh
!
now
I
understand
it
all
!
"
cried
Lydia
,
an
expression
of
sincere
gratitude
animating
her
countenance
,
while
she
clasped
her
hands
fervently
together
:
"
you
have
taken
compassion
on
me
at
length
,
—
you
discovered
where
I
was
residing
,
—
you
sent
some
friend
to
engage
me
as
if
for
herself
,
—
and
you
were
determined
to
surprise
me
by
this
proof
of
your
goodness
—
this
token
of
your
kind
remembrance
of
me
!
"
"
No
,
"
returned
Adeline
:
"
accident
alone
has
brought
you
into
my
service
:
and
you
must
well
understand
that
I
am
not
over
well
pleased
with
the
coincidence
.
In
a
word
,
name
the
sum
that
will
satisfy
you
for
the
loss
of
a
good
place
—
and
take
your
departure
.
You
can
leave
to
me
the
invention
of
some
proper
excuse
—
—
"
"
Is
it
possible
?
"
ejaculated
Lydia
;
"
this
cold
—
heartless
—
ungrateful
reception
—
—
"
"
Do
you
recollect
to
whom
you
are
speaking
?
"
demanded
Adeline
,
the
colour
mounting
to
her
cheeks
.
"
Oh
!
yes
,
—
I
know
that
full
well
—
too
well
,
"
said
Lydia
,
again
clasping
her
hands
,
and
casting
her
eyes
upwards
,
as
if
in
appeal
to
heaven
against
the
ingratitude
of
the
world
.
"
I
stand
in
the
presence
of
one
to
save
whose
good
fame
I
sacrificed
my
own
—
to
shield
whom
from
the
finger
of
scorn
and
reproach
,
I
allowed
myself
to
be
made
a
victim
!
Yes
,
proud
lady
of
Ravensworth
—
so
many
years
have
not
elapsed
since
,
in
my
cold
and
cheerless
garret
,
in
the
depth
of
a
winter
night
,
you
gave
birth
—
—
"
"
Silence
,
Lydia
!
"
ejaculated
Adeline
,
her
lips
quivering
,
and
the
colour
coming
and
going
on
her
cheeks
with
rapid
alternations
.
"
Let
us
not
refer
to
the
past
.
The
present
—
—
"
"
No
,
"
interrupted
Lydia
,
in
a
solemn
tone
:
"
you
can
not
—
you
shall
not
deter
me
from
talking
of
the
past
.
For
you
,
lady
,
are
so
highly
exalted
above
myself
,
that
it
is
almost
impossible
for
you
to
shape
the
least
—
the
faintest
—
the
most
remote
idea
of
the
depth
of
misery
into
which
I
have
been
plunged
.
And
yet
I
pant
—
I
long
—
I
feel
a
burning
desire
to
make
you
comprehend
all
I
have
suffered
;
—
because
to
my
acquaintance
with
you
—
to
my
fatal
connexion
with
you
at
the
seminary
—
may
be
traced
all
the
sorrows
—
the
profound
,
ineffable
woes
—
the
degradations
—
the
terrible
afflictions
that
have
since
marked
my
career
!
"
"
I
will
not
hear
more
;
—
I
cannot
permit
you
thus
to
insult
—
to
upbraid
me
,
"
faltered
Lady
Ravensworth
,
her
bosom
agitated
with
the
most
cruel
emotions
.
"
Oh
!
I
have
longed
for
this
opportunity
to
meet
you
face
to
face
,
and
tell
you
all
I
have
suffered
,
and
all
I
now
feel
!
"
exclaimed
Lydia
;
"
and
it
is
not
likely
that
I
will
abandon
so
favourable
an
occasion
.
No
—
you
have
triumphed
over
me
long
enough
:
you
have
used
me
as
a
tool
when
it
suited
your
convenience
—
and
you
spurned
me
when
I
had
ceased
to
be
useful
.
Though
maintaining
your
own
outward
respectability
,
honour
,
and
good
name
upon
the
wreck
of
mine
,
you
dare
to
treat
me
with
the
blackest
ingratitude
!
Lady
Ravensworth
,
I
said
that
all
I
have
endured
was
traceable
to
you
!
When
I
first
met
you
at
the
Kensington
seminary
,
I
was
pure
,
artless
,
innocent
:
—
you
were
already
initiated
in
the
secrets
of
intrigue
—
you
were
even
then
,
at
that
tender
age
,
a
wanton
in
your
heart
.
"
"
Lydia
—
Miss
Hutchinson
!
Oh
!
my
God
!
"
exclaimed
Adeline
,
covering
her
face
with
her
hands
.
"
Yes
—
you
were
already
trembling
on
the
verge
of
dishonour
—
you
were
courting
seduction
and
all
its
consequences
!
"
continued
the
unfortunate
woman
,
upbraiding
that
proud
peeress
with
a
remorselessness
,
a
bitterness
,
and
a
feeling
of
delighted
vengeance
that
made
her
language
the
more
terrible
and
its
effect
more
overwhelming
.
"
I
even
remember
still
—
oh
!
how
well
I
remember
—
that
you
were
the
first
who
opened
my
eyes
to
the
existence
of
female
frailty
.
Yes
—
I
,
who
went
to
that
school
as
a
teacher
,
was
taught
by
a
pupil
!
And
merciful
heavens
!
what
did
you
teach
me
?
You
led
me
on
step
by
step
in
the
path
of
duplicity
and
dishonour
:
you
made
me
the
companion
of
your
own
amours
;
and
we
became
victims
to
our
seducers
on
the
same
day
!
"
"
Oh
!
spare
me
—
spare
me
!
"
moaned
Adeline
.
"
My
God
!
if
we
were
overheard
!
I
should
be
lost
—
ruined
—
undone
!
"
"
Rest
tranquil
on
that
head
:
—
it
does
not
suit
my
present
purposes
to
betray
you
—
and
I
will
explain
my
reason
shortly
.
In
the
meantime
,
"
continued
Lydia
Hutchinson
,
"
I
must
recall
to
your
recollection
all
those
circumstances
which
led
me
to
sacrifice
myself
to
save
you
.
"
"
No
—
no
:
I
remember
everything
.
Say
no
more
,
Lydia
,
"
cried
Lady
Ravensworth
.
"
Tell
me
what
you
require
—
what
I
can
do
for
you
!
Will
you
have
money
?
or
—
—
"
"
Peace
!
—
silence
!
"
said
Lydia
,
eyeing
the
patrician
lady
with
a
glance
of
ineffable
scorn
.
"
Oh
!
"
she
added
,
almost
wildly
,
"
I
have
sold
myself
for
gold
;
—
but
never
—
never
may
that
occur
again
;
either
bodily
or
morally
!
Your
ladyship
declares
you
remember
all
that
has
ever
passed
between
us
?
Then
does
your
ingratitude
become
infinitely
the
more
vile
and
contemptible
.
For
when
you
lay
writhing
in
the
agonies
of
maternity
,
I
was
there
,
—
there
in
that
cold
and
cheerless
garret
,
—
to
minister
unto
you
!
And
when
the
lifeless
form
of
your
babe
was
discovered
concealed
amongst
my
clothes
—
in
my
room
—
and
in
my
box
,
—
I
did
not
turn
to
the
school-mistress
and
say
,
'
It
is
not
mine
:
it
is
Miss
Adeline
Enfield
's
!
'
—
When
,
too
,
I
saw
that
you
were
so
weak
,
so
feeble
,
and
so
suffering
that
the
cold
night
air
would
kill
you
,
I
took
your
child
,
and
,
like
a
thief
,
I
stole
away
from
the
house
to
sink
the
corpse
in
a
distant
pool
.
For
you
had
said
to
me
,
'
Keep
my
secret
,
dearest
Lydia
:
the
honour
of
a
noble
family
depends
upon
your
prudence
!
'
—
My
prudence
!
Oh
!
no
:
—
the
honour
of
your
family
depended
on
the
sacrifice
of
mine
!
And
I
did
sacrifice
my
family
to
save
you
;
—
for
to
all
that
I
did
for
you
may
be
traced
the
broken
heart
of
my
poor
father
and
the
assassination
of
my
brother
by
the
hand
of
the
duellist
!
"
"
Oh
!
spare
me
—
spare
me
!
"
again
exclaimed
Lady
Ravensworth
.
"
I
have
been
very
ungrateful
—
very
unkind
;
but
now
,
Lydia
,
I
will
endeavour
to
compensate
you
for
all
that
has
passed
.
"
"
One
being
alone
can
so
compensate
me
,
lady
,
"
said
Miss
Hutchinson
in
a
solemn
tone
;
"
and
that
being
is
God
!
No
human
power
can
give
me
back
my
poor
father
or
my
much-loved
brother
:
no
human
agency
can
obliterate
from
my
mind
those
infamies
and
degradations
to
which
I
have
been
subject
.
What
amount
of
gold
can
reward
me
for
days
of
starvation
and
nights
of
painful
wanderings
amidst
the
creatures
of
crime
,
without
a
place
to
repose
my
aching
,
shivering
limbs
?
And
sometimes
,
amidst
the
overwhelming
crowd
of
sorrows
that
so
often
drove
me
to
the
river
's
bank
,
or
made
me
pause
on
the
threshold
of
the
chemist's-shop
where
poison
was
to
be
procured
,
—
I
saw
,
from
time
to
time
,
your
name
mentioned
in
the
newspapers
.
Oh
!
what
memories
did
those
occasions
recall
!
On
the
very
day
that
you
were
presented
at
Court
,
I
had
not
a
crust
to
eat
!
And
twice
on
that
day
did
I
seek
the
river
's
brink
,
whence
I
turned
away
again
—
afraid
of
changing
even
the
horrible
certainties
of
this
life
's
sufferings
for
the
more
appalling
uncertainties
of
another
world
.
"
"
Lydia
—
Lydia
,
you
are
killing
me
!
"
exclaimed
Lady
Ravensworth
.
"
Pity
me
—
if
not
for
myself
,
for
the
sake
of
the
innocent
child
which
I
bear
in
my
bosom
.
Tell
me
what
I
can
do
for
you
—
what
you
require
—
—
"
"
My
views
are
soon
explained
,
"
interrupted
Lydia
.
"
I
demand
permission
to
remain
in
the
service
of
your
ladyship
.
"
"
Oh
!
no
—
no
:
impossible
!
"
said
Adeline
,
in
an
imploring
tone
.
"
It
must
be
as
I
say
,
"
observed
Lydia
,
coolly
.
"
Insolent
menial
!
"
ejaculated
Lady
Ravensworth
,
losing
all
command
over
herself
.
"
Leave
me
—
quit
this
house
—
go
—
—
"
"
Do
you
dare
me
?
"
said
Miss
Hutchinson
.
"
I
assured
your
ladyship
ere
now
that
it
did
not
suit
my
present
plans
to
expose
you
;
because
I
seek
to
remain
in
your
service
.
But
,
if
you
essay
again
to
triumph
over
me
—
to
spurn
me
from
your
presence
—
I
will
,
remorselessly
and
fearlessly
,
proclaim
the
past
.
"
"
And
who
will
believe
you
?
"
cried
Adeline
,
trembling
with
mingled
alarm
and
rage
:
"
who
will
believe
you
?
The
whole
world
will
denounce
you
as
an
impostress
.
Nay
—
more
:
I
will
punish
you
—
yes
,
I
will
punish
you
for
your
insolence
!
I
will
declare
that
you
have
attempted
to
extort
money
from
me
by
means
of
the
most
diabolical
threats
—
—
"
"
Think
not
that
I
am
to
be
intimidated
by
your
ladyship
's
miserable
subterfuges
,
"
interrupted
Lydia
,
who
grew
if
possible
more
cold
and
contemptuous
in
her
manner
in
proportion
as
the
proud
patrician
became
excited
and
indignant
.
"
Are
there
no
witnesses
to
speak
to
collateral
faces
?
Could
Cholmondeley
and
Dunstable
prove
nothing
against
you
?
"
"
They
would
not
raise
their
voices
against
a
noble
lady
's
fame
,
"
said
Adeline
,
impatiently
.
"
They
would
speak
the
truth
when
placed
on
their
oaths
in
a
court
of
justice
,
"
exclaimed
Lydia
,
confidently
;
"
for
it
is
to
a
court
of
justice
that
your
ladyship
threatens
to
drag
me
.
And
now
,
proud
peeress
,
I
dare
you
to
the
public
investigation
!
Throw
open
the
door
—
summon
your
domestics
—
send
me
to
a
gaol
!
—
but
the
day
of
fair
and
searching
scrutiny
must
come
—
and
I
should
await
in
confidence
the
reply
that
a
British
judge
and
a
British
jury
would
give
to
the
vile
calumny
of
even
a
lady
so
highly
exalted
as
yourself
!
"
"
Enough
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
now
almost
purple
with
rage
,
and
every
vein
on
her
forehead
swollen
almost
to
bursting
.
"
I
accept
your
challenge
—
for
I
well
know
that
I
can
rely
upon
the
honour
of
Lord
Dunstable
and
Colonel
Cholmondeley
.
Yes
—
yes
:
they
would
sooner
perjure
themselves
than
attaint
the
honour
of
a
peeress
!
"
"
There
is
one
other
consideration
,
then
,
"
said
Lydia
,
still
completely
unruffled
:
"
and
perhaps
the
ingenuity
of
your
ladyship
will
devise
a
means
of
frustrating
that
test
also
.
"
"
To
what
do
you
allude
?
"
demanded
Adeline
.
"
I
mean
that
when
you
summon
your
domestics
to
drag
me
to
a
gaol
on
a
charge
of
extortion
,
"
replied
Lydia
,
contemptuously
,
"
that
moment
do
I
proclaim
the
history
of
the
past
!
Then
will
medical
experience
speedily
prove
whether
Lady
Ravensworth
now
bears
her
first
child
in
her
bosom
!
"
Adeline
uttered
a
faint
shriek
,
and
fell
back
upon
the
sofa
,
overwhelmed
by
this
dread
menace
.
That
shriek
was
accompanied
by
a
low
moan
that
seemed
to
come
from
the
passage
outside
.
Lydia
hastened
towards
the
door
;
but
ere
she
had
half
crossed
the
room
,
it
was
thrown
violently
open
,
and
Lord
Ravensworth
entered
the
boudoir
.
"
My
husband
!
"
screamed
Adeline
,
in
a
frantic
tone
:
then
,
flinging
herself
on
her
knees
before
him
,
she
cried
,
"
Mercy
!
mercy
!
"
CHAPTER
CCVII
.
THE
HUSBAND
,
THE
WIFE
,
AND
THE
UNFORTUNATE
WOMAN
.
"
Mercy
!
mercy
!
"
were
the
words
that
burst
from
the
lips
of
the
affrighted
lady
,
ere
she
paused
to
reflect
whether
the
preceding
conversation
had
been
overheard
or
not
.
"
Rise
,
"
said
Lord
Ravensworth
,
his
quivering
lip
,
flashing
eye
,
hectic
cheek
,
heaving
chest
,
and
clenched
hand
denoting
a
more
powerful
excitement
than
he
had
experienced
for
a
long
,
long
time
.
"
Rise
,
madam
:
this
is
a
subject
which
cannot
be
disposed
of
in
passionate
ejaculations
;
—
it
requires
a
calmer
deliberation
—
for
the
honour
of
two
noble
families
is
now
at
stake
!
"
"
Then
you
know
all
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
in
an
agonising
tone
,
as
she
embraced
her
husband
's
knees
.
"
Yes
—
I
overheard
enough
to
enable
me
to
comprehend
the
whole
truth
,
"
returned
the
nobleman
,
who
for
the
time
being
seemed
to
have
altogether
thrown
off
the
apathetic
lethargy
which
had
characterised
him
lately
with
such
few
intermissions
.
Then
,
as
he
was
yet
speaking
,
he
forcibly
raised
his
wife
from
her
suppliant
position
,
and
placed
her
upon
the
ottoman
.
Taking
a
chair
near
her
,
he
pointed
to
another
,
and
,
glancing
towards
Lydia
,
said
in
a
tone
rather
mournful
than
angry
,
"
Young
woman
,
be
seated
.
"
Lydia
obeyed
mechanically
;
for
she
herself
was
alarmed
at
the
serious
turn
which
the
affair
had
taken
.
"
Adeline
,
"
said
the
nobleman
,
after
a
short
pause
,
during
which
he
evidently
endeavoured
to
compose
his
feelings
as
much
as
possible
,
"
before
we
enter
upon
this
sad
topic
,
I
must
in
justice
to
myself
observe
that
I
did
not
seek
your
chamber
to
play
the
eaves-dropper
.
I
felt
unwell
in
the
drawing-room
ere
now
,
and
I
retired
to
my
own
cabinet
to
solace
myself
in
the
usual
manner
with
the
meerschaum
.
But
it
struck
me
that
I
had
been
better
during
all
the
early
part
of
the
morning
than
for
some
weeks
past
;
and
,
after
a
long
struggle
with
myself
,
I
resolved
to
renounce
the
pipe
.
On
my
return
to
the
drawing-room
,
I
heard
that
you
were
suddenly
indisposed
;
and
I
came
hither
to
inquire
after
you
.
But
at
the
moment
I
reached
your
door
,
I
overheard
words
which
struck
me
as
with
a
thunderbolt
.
Then
I
listened
—
and
overheard
much
—
too
much
!
"
"
And
now
you
hate
—
you
despise
me
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
wildly
:
"
you
will
thrust
me
forth
from
your
dwelling
—
you
will
cover
me
with
shame
!
No
—
no
,
"
she
added
hysterically
,
"
death
—
death
before
such
a
fate
!
"
"
Calm
yourself
,
Adeline
,
"
said
Lord
Ravensworth
,
who
evidently
suppressed
his
own
feelings
with
great
difficulty
:
"
I
before
observed
that
there
is
the
honour
of
two
families
to
preserve
—
that
of
Rossville
and
of
Ravensworth
.
Give
me
your
Bible
.
"
"
My
Bible
!
"
exclaimed
Adeline
,
in
astonishment
mingled
with
alarm
.
"
Yes
—
your
Bible
.
Where
is
it
?
"
"
There
—
there
!
"
said
Adeline
in
a
faint
tone
—
for
she
was
at
a
loss
to
divine
the
meaning
or
intention
of
her
husband
;
and
that
mysterious
uncertainty
filled
her
with
vague
fears
.
Lydia
rose
,
and
taking
the
Bible
from
a
small
book-case
to
which
Lady
Ravensworth
pointed
,
handed
it
to
the
nobleman
.
"
Will
you
swear
,
Adeline
,
"
he
said
,
in
a
solemn
and
impressive
tone
,
—
"
will
you
swear
upon
this
volume
which
contains
the
Word
of
God
,
that
the
child
you
now
bear
in
your
bosom
is
mine
,
and
that
since
your
marriage
you
have
never
forgotten
the
fidelity
due
to
a
husband
?
Will
you
swear
this
,
Adeline
?
"
"
I
will
—
I
will
!
"
she
exclaimed
,
in
almost
a
joyful
tone
,
as
if
she
were
satisfied
that
her
conjugal
faith
should
be
put
to
such
a
test
.
"
Swear
,
then
,
"
said
Lord
Ravensworth
;
"
and
invoke
God
to
cast
you
dead
—
dead
this
minute
at
my
feet
—
if
you
swear
falsely
.
"
"
I
do
—
I
do
!
"
cried
Lady
Ravensworth
:
then
,
taking
the
holy
volume
in
her
hand
,
she
said
in
a
calmer
and
more
measured
tone
,
"
I
swear
,
as
I
hope
for
future
salvation
,
that
I
have
never
been
unfaithful
,
even
in
thought
,
to
my
marriage
vow
,
and
that
the
child
I
bear
in
my
bosom
is
my
husband
's
.
This
I
swear
by
every
thing
sacred
and
holy
;
and
if
I
have
sworn
falsely
,
may
the
great
God
cast
me
dead
at
your
feet
.
"
She
then
kissed
the
book
.
There
was
a
solemn
pause
:
—
Lady
Ravensworth
was
now
perhaps
the
most
composed
of
the
three
,
for
she
saw
that
her
husband
was
satisfied
in
all
that
concerned
his
own
honour
since
the
day
he
had
led
her
to
the
altar
.
As
for
Lydia
—
she
was
overawed
and
even
alarmed
at
that
imposing
ceremony
of
a
husband
administering
an
oath
to
his
wife
;
and
Lord
Ravensworth
remained
for
some
moments
absorbed
in
deep
thought
.
"
Yes
,
"
he
suddenly
exclaimed
,
as
if
continuing
aloud
the
thread
of
his
silent
thoughts
,
—
"
the
honour
of
two
families
must
be
preserved
!
And
,
after
all
,
—
perhaps
I
am
rightly
served
!
A
man
of
my
years
should
have
sought
a
partner
of
a
fitting
age
;
but
it
is
the
fault
—
the
error
—
the
curse
of
elderly
men
to
believe
that
their
rank
and
wealth
warrant
them
in
seeking
some
young
girl
who
may
thus
become
as
it
were
a
victim
.
Then
mothers
take
advantage
of
that
longing
to
obtain
a
wife
of
comparatively
tender
years
;
and
those
worldly-minded
parents
—
—
"
"
My
lord
—
my
lord
,
spare
my
feelings
!
"
ejaculated
Adeline
,
now
painfully
excited
.
"
My
mother
knew
not
of
her
daughter
's
frailty
—
—
"
"
Well
—
enough
on
that
head
!
"
said
Lord
Ravensworth
,
somewhat
impatiently
.
"
The
past
cannot
be
recalled
:
let
us
secure
the
honour
of
the
future
.
You
have
erred
in
your
girlhood
,
Adeline
!
and
there
,
"
he
added
,
indicating
Lydia
,
"
is
one
who
knows
that
sad
secret
.
You
have
been
ungrateful
to
her
—
by
her
accusations
and
your
acknowledgment
;
and
she
holds
you
in
her
power
.
Not
you
alone
:
—
but
she
holds
your
family
and
mine
—
for
an
exposure
would
create
a
scandal
that
must
redound
upon
us
all
!
"
"
I
have
no
wish
to
avail
myself
of
the
possession
of
that
secret
for
such
an
object
,
"
said
Lydia
.
"
I
have
two
motives
for
desiring
to
remain
at
least
a
year
in
her
ladyship
's
service
.
"
"
Never
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
emphatically
.
"
It
is
you
who
have
made
all
this
mischief
!
"
"
Silence
,
Adeline
,
"
said
Lord
Ravensworth
,
sternly
;
then
,
turning
towards
Lydia
,
he
added
,
"
Young
woman
,
proceed
—
and
speak
frankly
.
"
"
I
stated
that
I
had
two
objects
to
serve
in
being
anxious
to
remain
in
her
ladyship
's
service
for
one
year
,
"
continued
Lydia
.
"
In
the
first
place
,
I
have
been
so
unfortunate
—
so
very
,
very
miserable
,
that
I
wish
to
earn
my
livelihood
by
servitude
;
and
it
is
my
hope
to
remain
here
until
her
ladyship
can
conscientiously
give
me
such
a
character
as
will
ensure
me
a
good
situation
elsewhere
.
"
"
That
is
naturally
understood
,
"
observed
Lord
Ravensworth
.
"
What
is
your
second
motive
?
"
"
My
second
motive
!
"
repeated
Lydia
,
with
the
least
accent
of
bitterness
:
"
oh
!
that
I
will
explain
to
her
ladyship
in
private
—
and
she
will
be
satisfied
!
"
"
Now
listen
to
me
,
"
said
the
nobleman
.
"
Lady
Ravensworth
dislikes
the
idea
that
you
should
remain
here
.
I
will
give
you
the
means
of
settling
yourself
comfortably
for
life
,
if
you
will
leave
forthwith
,
and
promise
solemnly
to
preserve
that
fatal
secret
which
you
possess
.
"
"
My
lord
,
"
answered
Lydia
,
respectfully
but
firmly
,
"
I
return
you
my
most
sincere
thanks
for
that
bounteous
offer
which
I
am
compelled
to
decline
.
Were
I
to
accept
your
lordship
's
conditions
,
my
aims
would
not
be
answered
.
In
respect
to
my
first
object
,
I
have
determined
to
earn
a
character
that
may
to
some
extent
retrieve
the
past
;
—
for
,
as
your
lordship
must
have
gathered
from
the
conversation
which
you
overheard
,
I
have
been
unfortunate
—
very
unfortunate
!
"
"
Merciful
heavens
!
"
exclaimed
Adeline
;
"
how
can
I
retain
you
in
my
service
?
You
have
belonged
to
a
class
—
oh
!
no
—
it
is
impossible
—
impossible
!
"
"
I
do
not
wish
to
insult
your
feelings
,
young
woman
,
"
said
Lord
Ravensworth
;
"
especially
since
you
manifest
so
praiseworthy
a
desire
to
retrieve
your
character
.
But
you
must
perceive
the
impossibility
,
as
her
ladyship
observes
,
of
retaining
you
in
our
service
.
You
might
be
known
—
recognised
—
—
"
"
I
understand
your
lordship
,
"
interrupted
Lydia
,
bitterly
;
"
I
might
be
recognised
as
an
unhappy
creature
who
had
once
earned
a
livelihood
by
parading
the
public
streets
.
That
is
scarcely
probable
:
—
I
am
much
changed
since
then
.
The
kindness
of
an
excellent
lady
has
enabled
me
to
recruit
my
strength
and
to
recover
a
healthy
appearance
.
Yes
—
I
must
be
altered
;
for
your
lordship
does
not
perceive
in
me
the
poor
miserable
starving
wretch
who
some
few
months
since
accosted
her
ladyship
in
Saint
James
's
Street
.
"
"
Ah
!
I
recollect
,
"
exclaimed
the
nobleman
,
as
the
incident
flashed
to
his
mind
.
"
I
only
observed
you
for
a
moment
on
that
occasion
;
but
still
—
so
miserable
was
your
appearance
—
it
made
an
impression
on
my
mind
.
Yes
—
you
are
indeed
changed
!
Nevertheless
,
those
who
saw
you
in
an
unhappy
career
,
before
you
became
so
reduced
as
you
were
on
the
occasion
which
you
have
mentioned
,
might
recognise
you
.
And
—
pardon
my
frankness
,
young
woman
;
but
the
subject
admits
not
of
the
measurement
of
words
—
what
would
be
thought
of
me
—
of
my
wife
—
of
all
the
other
members
of
my
household
—
—
"
"
If
I
were
seen
in
your
establishment
,
your
lordship
would
add
,
"
exclaimed
Lydia
.
"
I
admit
the
truth
of
all
your
lordship
states
:
still
my
wish
to
remain
a
member
of
that
establishment
is
unchanged
.
For
—
as
your
lordship
may
have
ere
now
gathered
from
our
conversation
—
it
was
her
ladyship
who
first
placed
me
in
those
paths
which
led
to
my
ruin
;
and
it
must
be
her
ladyship
who
shall
aid
me
in
earning
an
honourable
character
once
more
.
"
"
But
this
punishment
is
too
severe
!
"
exclaimed
Adeline
,
almost
wringing
her
hands
;
for
she
perceived
how
completely
the
honour
of
two
families
was
in
Lydia
's
power
.
"
Consider
,
I
implore
you
,
the
position
of
my
wife
,
"
said
the
nobleman
:
"
in
a
few
weeks
she
will
become
a
mother
!
"
"
My
lord
,
her
ladyship
never
had
any
consideration
for
me
,
from
the
first
moment
that
I
ceased
to
be
useful
to
her
,
"
returned
Lydia
,
with
inexorable
firmness
;
"
and
I
cannot
consent
to
sacrifice
what
I
consider
to
be
my
own
interests
to
her
ladyship
's
wishes
now
.
"
Then
Lydia
Hutchinson
rose
,
as
if
to
intimate
that
her
determination
was
unchangeable
;
and
that
obscure
girl
was
enabled
to
dictate
her
own
terms
to
the
noble
peer
and
the
proud
peeress
.
"
It
must
be
so
,
then
—
