thestage
I
knew
you
—
that
is
,
I
felt
almost
convinced
that
it
was
you
.
But
how
happened
this
strange
event
in
your
life
?
"
"
My
benefactor
,
Richard
Markham
,
"
answered
Ellen
,
with
singular
and
mysterious
emphasis
upon
the
name
,
"
is
not
wealthy
—
you
best
know
why
;
my
father
is
irretrievably
ruined
—
you
also
know
how
:
—
and
,
with
all
my
faults
,
I
could
not
endure
the
idea
of
eating
the
bread
of
dependence
and
idleness
.
"
"
But
why
did
you
not
apply
to
me
?
"
demanded
Greenwood
.
"
I
would
have
placed
you
above
want
.
"
"
No
—
I
would
not
for
worlds
be
dependent
upon
you
,
"
replied
Ellen
warmly
.
"
I
appealed
to
you
to
support
my
child
—
our
child
;
and
you
did
so
.
There
was
only
one
way
in
which
you
could
have
manifested
a
real
generosity
towards
me
—
and
you
refused
.
The
service
I
asked
you
once
upon
my
knees
—
with
tears
and
prayers
—
you
rejected
:
—
I
implored
you
to
give
a
father
's
honourable
name
to
your
child
—
I
besought
you
to
save
the
reputation
of
her
whose
father
was
ruined
through
you
,
and
who
herself
became
your
victim
by
a
strange
combination
of
circumstances
.
You
refused
!
What
less
could
I
accept
at
your
hands
?
Do
you
think
that
I
have
not
my
little
sentiments
of
pride
as
well
as
you
?
I
could
not
live
idly
:
—
I
embraced
the
stage
;
and
my
exertions
have
been
crowned
with
success
.
"
"
And
your
father
—
and
Richard
—
do
they
know
of
your
present
avocation
?
"
demanded
Greenwood
,
somewhat
abashed
by
the
bitterness
of
the
under-current
of
reproach
which
had
characterised
the
last
speech
of
the
figurante
.
"
God
forbid
!
"
cried
Ellen
.
"
And
yet
,
"
she
added
,
after
a
moment
's
thought
,
"
I
need
not
be
ashamed
of
earning
my
bread
by
my
own
honourable
exertions
.
"
"
And
now
,
Ellen
—
one
more
question
,
"
said
Greenwood
.
"
The
child
—
is
he
well
!
Is
he
taken
care
of
?
"
"
He
is
well
—
and
he
is
duly
cared
for
,
"
was
Ellen
's
reply
;
and
as
she
delivered
it
,
she
felt
an
emotion
—
almost
of
tenderness
—
in
favour
of
the
man
who
thus
inquired
,
with
embarrassment
of
manner
,
after
the
welfare
of
their
child
.
Greenwood
's
quick
eye
noticed
the
feeling
that
animated
the
young
mother
's
bosom
.
He
took
her
hand
,
and
drew
her
towards
him
.
She
was
so
exquisitely
beautiful
—
so
inviting
in
the
light
gauze
garb
which
she
wore
,
that
Greenwood
's
passions
were
fired
,
and
he
longed
to
make
her
his
mistress
.
Her
hand
lingered
in
his
;
—
he
pressed
it
gently
.
She
did
not
seem
to
notice
the
circumstance
;
her
eyes
were
cast
down
—
she
was
absorbed
in
thought
.
Greenwood
imprinted
a
kiss
upon
her
spotless
forehead
.
She
started
,
hastily
withdrew
her
hand
,
and
cast
upon
him
a
look
of
mingled
curiosity
and
reproach
.
"
Are
you
astonished
that
I
should
bestow
a
mark
of
kind
feeling
upon
the
mother
of
my
child
?
"
asked
Greenwood
,
assuming
a
soft
and
tender
tone
of
voice
.
"
That
mother
,
"
answered
Ellen
,
"
whom
you
abandoned
to
shame
and
dishonour
!
"
"
Do
not
reproach
me
for
what
is
past
,
"
said
Greenwood
.
"
Would
you
not
act
in
the
same
manner
over
again
?
"
inquired
Ellen
,
darting
a
searching
glance
at
the
member
of
Parliament
.
"
Why
this
question
,
Ellen
?
"
exclaimed
Greenwood
.
"
Will
you
not
believe
me
if
I
tell
you
that
I
am
attached
to
you
?
Will
you
not
give
me
credit
for
sincerity
,
when
I
declare
that
I
would
gladly
exert
all
the
means
in
my
power
to
make
you
happy
?
Why
do
you
look
so
coldly
upon
me
?
Listen
for
a
moment
,
Ellen
,
to
what
I
am
about
to
say
.
A
few
miles
from
London
there
is
a
delicious
spot
—
a
perfect
Paradise
upon
earth
,
a
villa
surrounded
by
charming
grounds
,
and
commanding
views
of
the
most
lovely
scenery
.
That
property
is
for
sale
:
say
but
the
word
—
I
will
purchase
it
—
it
shall
be
yours
;
and
all
the
time
that
I
can
spare
from
my
numerous
avocations
shall
be
devoted
to
Ellen
and
to
love
.
"
"
The
way
to
that
charming
villa
,
so
far
as
you
and
I
are
concerned
,
"
said
Ellen
,
"
must
lead
through
the
church
.
Is
it
thus
that
you
understand
it
?
"
"
Why
destroy
the
dream
of
love
and
happiness
which
I
had
formed
,
by
allusion
to
the
formal
ceremonies
of
this
cold
world
?
"
exclaimed
Greenwood
.
"
That
is
the
language
of
every
libertine
,
sir
,
"
replied
Ellen
,
with
bitter
irony
.
"
Do
not
deceive
yourself
—
you
cannot
deceive
me
.
I
would
accept
the
title
of
your
wife
,
for
the
sake
of
our
child
;
—
but
to
be
your
mistress
—
no
,
never
—
never
.
"
With
these
words
Ellen
left
the
green-room
;
and
in
a
few
minutes
she
appeared
upon
the
stage
—
gay
,
animated
,
radiant
with
beauty
and
with
smiles
—
the
very
personification
of
the
voluptuous
dance
in
which
she
shone
with
such
unrivalled
splendour
.
Five
or
six
evenings
after
the
one
on
which
she
had
this
interview
with
Greenwood
,
Ellen
received
a
note
by
the
post
.
It
was
addressed
to
her
at
the
theatre
,
by
the
name
which
she
had
assumed
;
and
its
contents
ran
as
follows
:
—
"
A
certain
person
who
is
enamoured
of
you
,
and
who
is
not
accustomed
to
allow
trivial
obstacles
to
stand
in
the
way
of
his
designs
,
has
determined
upon
carrying
you
forcibly
off
to
a
secluded
spot
in
the
country
.
He
knows
where
you
reside
,
and
has
ascertained
that
you
return
every
evening
from
the
theatre
in
a
hackney
cab
to
within
a
short
distance
of
your
abode
.
His
plan
is
to
way-lay
you
during
your
walk
from
the
place
where
you
descend
from
the
vehicle
,
to
your
residence
.
If
your
suspicions
fall
upon
any
person
of
your
acquaintance
,
after
a
perusal
of
this
note
,
beware
how
you
tax
him
with
the
vile
intent
;
—
beware
how
you
communicate
this
warning
,
for
by
any
imprudence
on
your
part
,
you
may
deprive
the
writer
of
the
means
of
counteracting
in
future
the
infamous
designs
which
the
individual
above
alluded
to
may
form
against
yourself
or
others
.
"
This
note
was
written
in
a
neat
but
curious
hand
,
which
seemed
to
be
that
of
a
foreigner
.
The
reader
can
well
imagine
the
painful
surprise
which
its
contents
produced
upon
the
young
figurante
.
She
however
had
no
difficulty
in
fixing
upon
Greenwood
as
the
person
who
contemplated
the
atrocity
revealed
in
that
note
.
He
alone
(
save
the
manager
,
who
was
an
honourable
and
discreet
man
)
knew
where
she
lived
;
unless
,
indeed
,
some
other
amatory
swain
had
followed
her
homeward
.
This
idea
perplexed
her
—
it
was
possible
;
and
yet
she
could
not
help
thinking
that
Greenwood
was
the
person
against
whom
she
was
thus
warned
.
But
who
had
sent
her
that
friendly
notice
?
Who
was
the
mysterious
individual
that
had
thus
generously
placed
her
upon
her
guard
?
Conjecture
was
useless
.
She
must
think
only
of
how
she
ought
to
act
!
Her
mind
was
speedily
made
up
.
She
resolved
to
ride
in
the
vehicle
of
an
evening
up
to
the
very
door
of
Markham
's
house
,
and
trust
to
her
ingenuity
for
an
excuse
to
satisfy
her
father
relative
to
this
apparent
extravagance
on
her
part
.
Both
Richard
and
Mr.
Monroe
put
implicit
confidence
in
her
word
;
—
she
had
already
satisfactorily
accounted
for
the
late
hours
which
her
attendance
at
the
theatre
compelled
her
to
keep
,
by
stating
that
she
was
engaged
to
attend
private
concerts
and
musical
conversaziones
at
the
West
End
—
sometimes
,
even
,
at
Blackheath
,
Kensington
,
and
Clapham
—
where
she
presided
at
the
piano
,
in
which
she
was
a
proficient
.
Then
,
when
she
was
compelled
to
be
present
at
rehearsals
at
the
theatre
,
she
stated
that
she
had
morning
concerts
to
attend
;
and
as
she
was
not
absent
from
home
every
day
(
her
engagement
with
the
manager
being
merely
to
appear
three
nights
a-week
)
this
system
of
deception
on
her
part
readily
obtained
credit
with
both
Markham
and
her
father
,
neither
of
whom
could
seriously
object
to
what
they
were
induced
to
believe
was
the
legitimate
exercise
of
her
accomplishments
.
Accordingly
,
when
,
on
the
morning
after
the
receipt
of
the
mysterious
letter
,
she
casually
mentioned
that
she
should
no
longer
return
home
of
an
evening
by
the
omnibus
,
as
she
disliked
the
lonely
walk
from
the
main-road
,
where
it
set
her
down
,
to
the
Place
,
and
that
her
emoluments
would
now
permit
her
to
enjoy
the
comfort
and
safety
of
a
cab
,
both
Richard
and
her
father
earnestly
commended
her
resolution
.
And
why
did
she
not
tell
the
truth
at
once
?
wherefore
did
she
not
acknowledge
the
career
which
she
was
pursuing
,
and
reveal
the
triumph
which
she
had
achieved
?
Because
she
knew
that
both
her
father
and
Markham
would
oppose
themselves
to
the
idea
of
her
exercising
the
profession
of
a
dancer
;
—
because
she
had
commenced
a
system
of
duplicity
,
and
was
almost
necessitated
to
persevere
in
it
;
—
and
because
she
really
loved
—
ardently
loved
—
the
course
upon
which
she
had
entered
.
The
applause
of
crowded
audiences
—
the
smiles
of
the
manager
—
the
adulation
of
the
young
nobles
and
gentlemen
who
,
behind
the
scenes
,
complimented
her
upon
her
success
,
her
talents
,
and
her
beauty
,
—
these
were
delights
which
she
would
not
very
readily
abandon
.
CHAPTER
XC
.
MARKHAM
'S
OCCUPATIONS
.
SINCE
the
period
when
Markham
had
made
so
great
a
sacrifice
of
his
pecuniary
resources
,
in
order
to
effect
the
liberation
of
Count
Alteroni
from
a
debtor
's
prison
,
he
had
devoted
himself
to
literary
pursuits
.
He
aspired
to
the
honours
of
authorship
,
and
composed
a
tragedy
.
All
young
authors
,
while
yet
nibbling
the
grass
at
the
foot
of
Parnassus
(
and
how
many
never
reach
any
higher
!
)
attempt
either
poetry
or
the
drama
.
They
invariably
fix
upon
the
most
difficult
tasks
;
and
yet
they
did
not
begin
learning
Greek
with
Euripides
,
nor
enter
upon
their
initiation
into
the
mysteries
of
the
Latin
tongue
with
Juvenal
.
There
is
also
another
fault
into
which
they
invariably
fall
;
—
and
that
is
an
extraordinary
tendency
to
three
meretricious
ornaments
which
they
seem
to
mistake
for
fine
writing
.
Truth
and
nature
may
be
regarded
as
a
noble
flock
,
furnishing
the
richest
fleece
to
mankind
;
but
when
a
series
of
good
writers
have
exhausted
their
fleece
in
weaving
the
fabrics
of
genius
,
their
successors
are
tempted
to
have
recourse
to
swine
for
a
supply
of
materials
;
and
we
know
,
besides
,
that
in
this
attempt
,
as
in
the
rude
dramas
called
"
Moralities
"
in
the
middle
ages
,
there
is
great
cry
and
little
wool
.
It
is
also
liable
to
the
objection
that
no
skill
in
the
workmanship
,
or
adjustment
in
the
machinery
,
can
give
it
the
beauty
and
perfection
of
the
raw
material
which
nature
has
appropriated
to
the
purpose
of
clothing
her
favoured
offspring
.
Too
many
writers
of
the
present
day
,
instead
of
attempting
to
rival
their
predecessors
in
endeavouring
to
fabricate
the
genuine
fleece
derived
from
this
flock
of
truth
and
nature
,
into
new
and
exquisite
forms
,
are
engaged
in
shearing
the
swine
.
In
this
labour
they
can
obtain
,
at
best
,
nothing
more
than
erroneous
principles
of
science
,
worthless
paradoxes
,
unnatural
fictions
,
tinsel
poetry
and
prose
,
and
unnumbered
crudities
.
Richard
Markham
was
not
exempted
from
these
faults
.
He
wrote
a
tragedy
—
abounding
in
beauties
,
and
abounding
in
faults
.
The
most
delicious
sweets
,
used
in
undue
proportions
with
our
food
and
drink
,
soon
become
in
a
high
degree
offensive
and
disgusting
.
Markham
heaped
figure
upon
figure
—
crammed
his
speeches
with
metaphors
—
and
travelled
many
thousands
of
miles
out
of
his
way
in
search
of
a
similitude
,
when
he
had
a
much
better
and
more
simple
one
close
at
hand
.
Nevertheless
,
his
tragedy
contained
proofs
of
a
brilliant
talent
,
and
,
with
much
judicious
pruning
,
every
element
of
triumphant
success
.
Having
obtained
the
address
of
the
private
residence
of
the
manager
of
one
of
the
principal
metropolitan
theatres
,
Richard
sent
his
tragedy
to
the
great
man
.
He
,
however
,
withheld
his
real
name
,
for
he
had
determined
to
commence
his
literary
career
under
a
feigned
one
;
so
that
,
in
case
he
should
prove
unsuccessful
,
his
failure
might
not
become
known
to
his
friends
the
Monroes
,
or
reach
the
ears
of
his
well-beloved
Isabella
.
For
the
same
reason
he
did
not
give
his
proper
address
in
the
letter
which
accompanied
the
drama
;
but
requested
that
a
reply
might
be
sent
to
Edward
Preston
,
to
the
care
of
Mr.
Dyson
(
his
solicitor
)
.
He
did
not
mention
to
a
single
soul
—
not
even
to
Monroe
or
the
faithful
Whittingham
—
the
circumstance
of
his
authorship
.
He
reflected
that
if
he
succeeded
,
it
would
then
be
time
to
communicate
his
happiness
;
but
,
that
if
he
failed
,
it
would
be
useless
to
wound
others
by
imparting
to
them
his
disappointments
.
He
had
ceased
to
be
sanguine
about
any
thing
in
this
world
;
for
he
had
met
with
too
many
misfortunes
to
anticipate
much
success
in
life
;
and
his
only
ambition
was
to
obtain
an
honourable
livelihood
.
Scarcely
a
week
had
elapsed
after
Markham
had
sent
his
drama
to
the
manager
,
when
he
received
a
letter
from
this
gentleman
.
The
contents
were
laconic
enough
,
but
explicit
.
The
manager
"
had
perused
the
tragedy
with
feelings
of
extreme
satisfaction
;
"
—
he
congratulated
the
writer
upon
"
the
skill
which
he
had
made
his
combinations
to
produce
stage
effect
;
"
—
he
suggested
"
a
few
alterations
and
considerable
abbreviations
;
"
and
concluded
by
stating
that
"
he
should
be
most
happy
to
introduce
so
promising
an
author
to
the
public
.
"
A
postscript
appointed
a
time
for
an
interview
at
the
manager
's
own
private
residence
.
At
eleven
o'clock
the
next
morning
Markham
was
ushered
into
the
presence
of
the
manager
.
The
great
man
was
seated
in
his
study
,
dressed
in
a
magnificent
Turkish
dressing-gown
,
with
a
French
skull-cap
upon
his
head
,
and
red
morocco
slippers
upon
his
feet
.
He
was
a
man
of
middle
age
—
gentlemanly
and
affable
in
manner
—
and
possessed
of
considerable
literary
abilities
.
"
Sit
down
,
sir
—
pray
,
sit
down
,
"
said
the
manager
,
when
Markham
was
introduced
.
"
I
have
perused
your
tragedy
with
great
attention
,
and
am
pleased
with
it
.
I
am
,
moreover
,
perfectly
willing
to
undertake
the
risk
of
bringing
it
out
,
although
tragedy
is
at
a
terrible
discount
now-a-days
.
But
,
first
and
foremost
,
we
most
make
arrangements
about
terms
.
What
price
do
you
put
upon
your
manuscript
?
"
"
I
have
formed
no
idea
upon
that
subject
,
"
replied
Markham
.
"
I
would
rather
leave
myself
entirely
in
your
hands
.
"
"
Nay
—
you
must
know
the
hope
you
have
entertained
in
this
respect
?
"
said
the
manager
.
"
To
tell
you
the
candid
truth
,
this
is
my
first
essay
,
"
returned
Markham
;
"
and
I
am
totally
unacquainted
with
the
ordinary
value
of
such
labour
.
"
"
If
this
be
your
first
essay
,
sir
,
"
said
the
manager
,
surveying
Markham
with
some
astonishment
,
"
I
can
only
assure
you
that
it
is
a
most
promising
one
.
But
once
again
—
name
your
price
.
"
"
The
manner
in
which
you
speak
to
me
shows
that
if
I
trust
to
your
generosity
,
I
shall
not
do
wrong
.
"
"
Well
,
Mr.
Preston
,
"
cried
the
manager
,
pleased
at
this
compliment
,
"
I
shall
use
you
in
an
equally
liberal
manner
.
You
must
be
informed
that
you
will
have
certain
pecuniary
privileges
,
in
respect
to
any
provincial
theatres
at
which
your
piece
may
be
performed
should
it
prove
successful
;
and
you
will
also
have
the
benefit
of
the
publication
of
the
work
in
a
volume
.
What
,
then
,
should
you
say
if
I
were
to
give
you
fifty
guineas
for
the
play
,
and
five
guineas
a-night
for
every
time
of
its
performance
,
after
the
first
fortnight
?
"
"
I
should
esteem
your
offer
a
very
liberal
one
,
"
answered
Richard
,
overjoyed
at
the
proposal
.
"
In
that
case
the
bargain
is
concluded
at
once
,
and
without
any
more
words
,
"
said
the
manager
;
then
,
taking
a
well-filled
canvass
bag
from
his
desk
,
he
counted
down
fifty
guineas
in
notes
,
gold
,
and
silver
.
Markham
gave
a
receipt
,
and
they
exchanged
undertakings
specifying
the
conditions
proposed
by
the
manager
.
"
When
do
you
propose
to
bring
out
the
piece
?
"
inquired
Richard
,
when
this
business
was
concluded
.
"
In
about
six
weeks
,
"
said
the
manager
.
"
Shall
you
have
any
objection
to
attend
the
rehearsals
,
and
see
that
the
gentlemen
and
ladies
of
the
company
fully
appreciate
the
spirit
of
the
parts
that
will
be
assigned
to
them
?
"
"
I
shall
not
have
the
least
objection
,
"
answered
Markham
;
"
but
I
am
afraid
that
my
experience
—
—
"
"
Well
,
well
,
"
said
the
manager
,
smiling
,
"
I
will
not
press
you
.
Leave
it
all
to
me
—
I
will
see
justice
done
to
your
design
,
which
I
think
I
understand
pretty
well
.
If
I
want
you
I
will
let
you
know
;
and
if
you
do
not
hear
from
me
,
you
will
see
by
the
advertisements
in
the
newspapers
for
what
night
the
first
representation
will
be
announced
.
"
Markham
expressed
his
gratitude
to
the
manager
for
the
kindness
with
which
he
had
received
him
,
and
then
took
his
leave
,
his
heart
elated
with
hope
,
and
his
mind
relieved
from
much
anxiety
respecting
the
future
.
When
he
left
the
manager
's
residence
he
repaired
to
an
adjacent
tavern
to
procure
some
refreshment
;
and
there
,
while
engaged
in
the
discussion
of
a
sandwich
and
a
glass
of
sherry
,
he
cast
his
eyes
over
The
Times
newspaper
.
A
particular
advertisement
arrested
his
attention
.
A
gentleman
—
a
widower
—
required
a
daily
tutor
for
his
two
young
sons
,
whom
he
was
desirous
of
having
instructed
in
Latin
,
history
,
drawing
,
arithmetic
,
etc.
The
boys
were
respectively
nine
and
eleven
years
old
.
The
advertiser
stated
that
any
individual
who
could
himself
teach
the
various
branches
of
education
specified
,
would
be
preferred
to
a
plurality
of
masters
,
each
proficient
only
in
one
particular
study
.
Personal
application
was
to
be
made
between
certain
hours
.
The
residence
of
the
advertiser
was
in
Kentish
Town
;
and
this
vicinity
to
Markham
's
own
abode
induced
him
to
think
seriously
of
offering
his
services
.
He
did
not
feel
disposed
to
pursue
his
literary
labours
until
after
the
representation
of
his
drama
,
as
he
was
as
yet
unaware
of
the
reception
it
might
experience
at
the
hands
of
the
public
;
—
and
he
was
also
by
no
means
inclined
to
remain
idle
.
The
occupation
of
daily
tutor
in
a
respectable
family
appeared
congenial
to
his
tastes
;
and
he
resolved
to
proceed
forthwith
to
the
residence
of
Mr.
Gregory
,
in
Kentish
Town
.
Arrived
at
the
house
,
he
was
admitted
into
the
presence
of
a
gentleman
of
about
fifty
,
with
a
serious
and
melancholy
countenance
,
prepossessing
manners
,
and
a
peculiar
suavity
of
voice
that
gave
encouragement
to
the
applicant
.
Markham
told
him
in
a
few
words
that
he
was
once
possessed
of
considerable
property
,
the
greater
portion
of
which
he
had
lost
through
the
unfortunate
speculations
of
his
guardian
,
and
that
he
was
now
anxious
to
turn
the
excellent
education
which
he
had
received
to
some
advantage
.
Mr.
Gregory
had
only
lately
arrived
in
London
with
his
family
,
from
a
very
distant
part
of
the
country
,
where
he
had
a
house
and
small
estate
;
but
the
recent
death
of
a
beloved
wife
had
rendered
the
scenes
of
their
wedded
happiness
disagreeable
to
him
;
—
and
this
was
the
cause
of
his
removal
and
his
settlement
in
London
.
He
lived
in
a
very
retired
manner
,
and
had
previously
known
nothing
of
Markham
—
not
even
his
name
.
He
was
therefore
totally
ignorant
of
Richard
's
trial
and
condemnation
for
forgery
.
The
young
man
felt
the
greatest
possible
inclination
to
reveal
the
entire
facts
to
Mr.
Gregory
,
whose
amiable
manners
gave
him
confidence
;
but
he
restrained
himself
—
for
it
struck
him
that
others
were
dependent
upon
him
—
that
he
ought
not
to
stand
in
his
own
light
—
and
that
his
innocence
of
the
crime
imputed
to
him
,
and
the
consciousness
of
those
upright
and
honourable
intentions
which
on
all
occasions
filled
his
breast
,
were
a
sufficient
extenuation
for
this
silence
.
Mr.
Gregory
,
who
was
himself
a
highly-educated
man
,
soon
saw
that
Markham
was
competent
to
teach
his
children
all
that
it
was
desirable
for
them
to
acquire
;
and
he
agreed
to
engage
the
applicant
as
his
sons
'
tutor
.
Richard
offered
to
give
him
a
reference
to
his
solicitor
;
but
Mr.
Gregory
declined
to
take
it
,
saying
,
"
Your
appearance
,
Mr.
Markham
,
is
sufficient
.
"
On
the
following
day
Richard
entered
upon
his
new
avocation
.
He
was
engaged
to
attend
at
Mr.
Gregory
's
house
from
ten
till
three
every
day
.
The
employment
was
a
pleasant
one
;
and
the
pecuniary
terms
were
liberal
in
the
extreme
.
Gustavus
and
Lionel
Gregory
were
two
intelligent
and
handsome
youths
;
and
they
soon
became
greatly
attached
to
their
tutor
.
From
the
mere
fact
of
having
never
been
accustomed
to
tuition
,
Richard
took
the
greater
pains
to
explain
all
difficult
subjects
to
them
;
and
so
well
did
he
adapt
his
plan
of
instruction
to
their
juvenile
capacities
,
that
in
the
short
space
of
a
month
,
Mr.
Gregory
was
himself
perfectly
astonished
at
the
advance
which
his
sons
had
made
in
their
studies
.
He
then
determined
that
the
advantages
of
the
tutor
's
abilities
should
be
extended
to
his
daughter
,
in
respect
to
drawing
;
and
Miss
Mary-Anne
Gregory
was
accordingly
added
to
the
number
of
Markham
's
pupils
.
Mary-Anne
was
,
at
the
time
of
which
we
are
writing
,
sixteen
years
of
age
.
Delicate
in
constitution
,
and
of
a
sweet
and
amiable
disposition
,
she
was
an
object
of
peculiar
interest
to
all
who
knew
her
.
Her
long
flaxen
hair
,
soft
blue
eyes
,
pale
countenance
,
and
vermilion
lips
,
gave
her
the
appearance
of
a
wax
figure
;
and
her
light
and
airy
form
,
flitting
ever
hither
and
thither
in
obedience
to
the
innocent
gaiety
and
vivacity
of
her
disposition
,
seemed
that
of
some
fairy
whose
destinies
belonged
not
to
the
common
lot
of
mortals
.
Although
she
was
sixteen
,
she
was
considered
but
a
mere
girl
;
and
she
romped
with
her
brothers
,
and
with
the
young
female
friends
who
occasionally
visited
her
,
with
all
the
joyousness
and
glee
of
a
child
of
ten
years
old
.
The
animation
of
her
countenance
was
on
those
occasions
radiant
and
brilliant
in
the
extreme
:
—
a
spectator
could
have
snatched
her
to
his
arms
and
embraced
her
fondly
,
—
not
with
a
single
gross
desire
—
not
with
the
shadow
of
an
unhallowed
motive
;
but
,
in
the
same
way
as
a
man
,
who
,
being
a
parent
himself
,
is
attached
to
children
,
suddenly
seizes
upon
a
lovely
little
boy
or
girl
of
two
or
three
years
old
,
and
covers
its
cheeks
with
kisses
.
Mary-Anne
was
by
no
means
beautiful
—
not
even
pretty
;
and
yet
there
was
something
altogether
unearthly
in
the
whole
character
and
expression
of
her
countenance
.
It
was
a
face
of
angelic
interest
—
indicative
of
a
mental
amiability
and
serenity
truly
divine
.
Without
possessing
the
ingredients
of
physical
beauty
—
without
regularity
of
feature
or
classical
formation
of
head
,
—
there
was
still
about
her
an
abstract
loveliness
,
apart
from
shape
and
features
,
which
was
of
itself
positive
and
distinct
,
and
seemed
an
emanation
of
mental
qualities
,
infantine
joyousness
,
and
winning
manners
.
It
produced
a
sort
of
atmosphere
of
light
around
her
—
enveloping
her
as
with
a
halo
of
innocence
.
Her
face
was
as
pale
—
as
colourless
as
the
finest
Parian
marble
,
but
also
,
like
the
surface
of
that
beautiful
material
,
spotless
and
devoid
of
blemish
.
Her
pure
forehead
was
streaked
with
small
azure
veins
:
her
lips
were
thin
,
and
of
the
brightest
vermilion
;
and
these
hues
placed
in
contrast
with
that
delicate
complexion
,
gave
a
sentiment
and
expression
to
her
countenance
altogether
peculiar
to
itself
.
Her
eyes
,
of
a
light
and
yet
too
positive
a
blue
to
be
mistaken
for
grey
,
were
fringed
with
long
dark
lashes
,
which
imparted
to
them
—
ever
gay
and
sparkling
as
they
were
—
a
magic
eloquence
as
powerful
as
that
of
the
most
faultless
beauty
.
And
,
again
,
in
strange
contrast
with
those
dark
lashes
was
her
flaxen
hair
,
the
whole
of
which
fell
in
ringlets
and
in
waves
over
her
shoulders
and
her
back
,
no
portion
of
it
being
collected
in
a
knot
behind
.
Then
her
form
—
it
was
so
slight
as
to
appear
almost
etherealised
,
and
yet
there
was
no
mistaking
the
symmetry
of
its
proportions
.
Thus
—
without
being
actually
beautiful
—
Mary-Anne
was
a
creature
of
light
and
joy
who
was
calculated
to
interest
,
fascinate
,
and
win
,
in
a
manner
which
produced
feelings
of
admiration
and
of
love
.
Her
appearance
therefore
produced
upon
the
mind
an
impression
that
she
was
beautiful
—
very
beautiful
;
and
yet
,
if
any
one
had
paused
to
analyse
her
features
,
she
would
have
been
found
to
possess
no
real
elements
of
physical
loveliness
.
She
was
charming
—
fascinating
—
bewitching
—
interesting
;
therefore
lovely
in
one
sense
,
and
loveable
in
all
respects
!
Mary-Anne
was
a
very
difficult
pupil
to
teach
.
In
the
midst
of
the
most
serious
study
,
that
charming
and
volatile
creature
would
start
from
her
chair
,
run
to
her
piano
,
and
commence
a
lively
air
,
which
she
would
leave
also
unfinished
,
and
then
narrate
some
sprightly
anecdote
,
or
utter
some
artless
sally
,
which
would
create
a
general
laugh
.
The
seriousness
of
the
tutor
would
be
disturbed
in
spite
of
himself
:
and
even
her
father
,
if
present
,
could
not
find
it
in
his
heart
to
scold
.
The
drawing
would
at
length
be
resumed
;
and
for
half
an
hour
,
the
application
of
Mary-Anne
would
be
intense
.
Then
away
would
be
flung
the
pencil
;
and
a
new
freak
must
be
accomplished
before
the
study
would
be
resumed
.
Richard
could
not
help
liking
this
volatile
,
but
artless
and
innocent
creature
,
—
as
a
man
likes
his
daughter
or
his
sister
;
and
she
,
on
her
part
,
appeared
to
become
greatly
attached
to
her
tutor
.
Although
Mr.
Gregory
followed
no
profession
,
being
a
man
of
considerable
independent
property
,
he
was
nevertheless
much
from
home
,
passing
his
time
either
at
the
library
of
the
British
Museum
or
at
his
Club
.
Richard
and
Mary-Anne
were
thus
much
together
,
—
too
much
for
the
peace
of
that
innocent
and
fascinating
girl
!
She
speedily
conceived
a
violent
passion
for
her
tutor
,
which
he
,
however
,
neither
perceived
nor
returned
.
She
was
herself
unaware
of
the
nature
of
her
own
feelings
towards
him
;
—
she
knew
as
much
of
love
and
its
sensations
as
a
beauteous
savage
girl
,
in
some
far-off
isle
,
knows
of
Christianity
;
—
and
hers
was
an
attachment
which
could
only
be
revealed
to
herself
by
some
accident
,
which
might
excite
her
jealousy
or
awaken
her
grief
.
One
morning
,
before
the
usual
lessons
of
the
day
commenced
,
Mr.
Gregory
entered
the
study
,
and
,
addressing
himself
to
Markham
,
said
,
"
We
must
now
give
the
young
people
a
holiday
for
a
short
time
.
Proper
relaxation
is
as
necessary
to
their
bodily
welfare
as
education
to
their
mental
well-being
.
We
will
suspend
their
studies
for
a
month
,
if
you
be
agreeable
,
Mr.
Markham
.
I
shall
,
however
,
be
always
pleased
to
see
you
as
often
as
you
choose
to
call
during
that
interval
;
and
every
Sunday
,
at
all
events
,
we
shall
expect
the
pleasure
of
your
company
to
dinner
as
usual
.
"
"
What
!
"
cried
Mary-Anne
;
"
is
Mr.
Markham
to
discontinue
his
daily
visits
for
a
whole
month
?
"
"
Certainly
,
my
dear
,
"
said
her
father
.
"
Mr.
Markham
requires
a
holiday
as
well
as
you
.
"
"
I
want
no
holiday
,
"
exclaimed
Mary-Anne
,
pouting
her
lips
in
a
manner
that
was
quite
charming
,
and
which
might
remind
the
reader
of
the
petite
moue
that
Esmeralda
was
accustomed
to
make
in
Victor
Hugo
's
admirable
novel
Notre
Dame
de
Paris
.
"
But
you
always
take
a
holiday
,
my
dear
,
"
returned
her
father
with
a
smile
;
"
and
therefore
you
fancy
that
others
do
not
require
a
temporary
relaxation
.
Gustavus
and
Lionel
want
a
holiday
;
and
Mr.
Markham
cannot
be
always
poring
over
books
and
drawings
.
"
"
Well
,
I
wish
Mr.
Markham
to
take
the
trouble
to
come
every
morning
and
give
me
my
drawing
lesson
,
"
said
the
young
lady
,
with
a
little
air
of
decision
and
firmness
,
which
was
quite
comic
in
its
way
;
"
and
if
he
will
not
,
"
she
added
,
"
then
I
will
never
learn
to
draw
any
more
—
and
that
is
decided
.
"
Mr.
Gregory
surveyed
his
daughter
with
an
air
of
astonishment
.
Probably
he
half
penetrated
the
secret
—
for
her
passion
could
not
be
called
her
secret
,
because
she
was
totally
unconscious
of
the
nature
of
her
feelings
,
and
sought
to
conceal
nothing
.
Had
she
been
aware
of
the
real
sentiment
which
she
experienced
,
she
would
have
at
once
revealed
it
;
for
she
was
guileless
and
unsuspicious
—
ignorant
of
all
deceit
—
devoid
of
all
hypocrisy
—
and
endowed
with
as
much
simplicity
and
artlessness
as
a
child
of
six
years
old
.
"
Mr.
Markham
must
have
a
holiday
,
my
dear
,
"
said
Mr.
Gregory
,
at
length
,
with
a
peculiar
emphasis
;
"
and
I
beg
that
no
further
objection
may
be
offered
.
"
Mary-Anne
instantly
burst
into
tears
,
exclaiming
,
in
a
voice
almost
choked
with
sobs
,
"
Mr.
Markham
may
have
his
holiday
,
if
he
likes
;
but
I
will
not
learn
any
thing
more
of
him
when
the
studies
begin
again
.
"
And
she
retired
in
a
pet
to
another
apartment
.
Markham
was
himself
astonished
at
this
singular
behaviour
on
the
part
of
his
interesting
pupil
.
He
was
,
however
,
far
from
suspecting
the
real
cause
,
and
took
his
leave
with
a
promise
to
return
to
dinner
on
the
following
Sunday
,
until
which
time
there
was
then
an
interval
of
five
days
.
Three
days
after
the
one
on
which
the
above
conversation
took
place
,
Markham
was
about
to
issue
from
his
dwelling
to
proceed
into
town
for
the
purpose
of
calling
upon
the
manager
,
as
he
had
that
morning
seen
his
drama
advertised
for
early
representation
,
—
when
Whittingham
informed
him
that
a
young
lady
desired
to
speak
to
him
In
the
drawing-room
.
The
idea
of
Isabella
instantly
flashed
through
the
mind
of
Richard
:
—
but
would
she
call
upon
him
,
alone
and
unattended
?
No
—
for
Isabella
,
was
modesty
and
prudence
personified
.
Then
,
who
could
it
be
?
Markham
asked
this
question
of
his
butler
.
"
A
remarkable
sweet
creatur
,
"
said
Whittingham
;
"
and
come
quite
spontaneous
like
.
Beautiful
flaxy
hair
—
blue
eyes
—
pale
complexion
—
"
"
Impossible
!
you
do
not
say
that
,
Whittingham
?
"
cried
Markham
,
on
whom
a
light
now
broke
.
"
Do
I
look
like
a
man
that
speaks
evasiously
,
Master
Richard
?
"
demanded
the
butler
,
shifting
his
inseparable
companion
—
the
white
napkin
—
from
beneath
one
arm
to
the
other
.
Markham
repaired
to
the
drawing-room
:
—
his
suspicions
were
verified
;
—
the
moment
he
entered
the
apartment
,
he
beheld
Miss
Gregory
seated
upon
the
sofa
.
"
Well
,
Mr.
Markham
,
"
she
said
,
extending
to
him
her
hand
,
and
smiling
so
sweetly
with
her
vermilion
lips
,
which
disclosed
a
set
of
teeth
not
quite
even
,
but
as
white
as
ivory
,
that
Richard
could
not
find
it
in
his
heart
to
be
angry
with
her
;
"
I
was
resolved
not
to
pass
the
day
without
seeing
you
;
and
as
you
would
not
come
to
me
,
I
was
compelled
to
come
to
you
.
"
"
But
,
Miss
Gregory
,
"
said
Markham
,
"
are
you
not
aware
that
you
have
taken
a
most
imprudent
step
,
and
that
the
world
would
highly
censure
your
conduct
?
"
"
Why
?
"
demanded
Mary-Anne
,
in
astonishment
.
"
Because
ladies
,
no
matter
whether
single
or
married
,
never
call
upon
single
gentlemen
;
and
society
has
laid
down
certain
rules
in
this
respect
,
which
—
"
"
My
dear
Mr.
Markham
,
you
are
not
giving
me
a
lesson
now
,
remember
,
in
my
father
's
study
,
"
interrupted
Mary-Anne
,
laughing
heartily
.
"
I
know
nothing
about
the
rules
of
society
in
this
respect
,
or
that
respect
,
or
any
other
respect
.
All
I
know
is
,
that
I
cried
all
night
long
after
you
left
us
the
other
day
;
and
I
have
been
very
miserable
until
this
morning
,
when
I
suddenly
recollected
that
I
knew
your
address
,
and
could
come
and
call
on
you
.
"
"
If
your
father
were
to
know
that
you
came
hither
,
"
said
Richard
,
"
he
would
never
forgive
you
,
nor
ever
see
me
again
.
"
"
Well
,
then
,
all
we
have
to
do
is
not
to
tell
my
father
any
thing
about
the
matter
,
"
said
Mary-Anne
,
with
considerable
ingenuousness
.
"
But
how
cross
you
look
;
and
I
—
I
thought
,
"
she
added
,
ready
to
cry
,
"
that
you
would
be
as
pleased
to
see
me
as
I
am
to
see
you
.
"
"
Yes
,
Miss
Gregory
—
I
am
pleased
to
see
you
—
I
am
always
pleased
to
see
you
,
"
answered
Markham
,
by
way
of
soothing
the
poor
girl
;
"
but
you
must
allow
me
to
assure
you
that
this
step
is
the
most
imprudent
—
the
most
thoughtless
in
the
world
.
I
really
tremble
for
the
consequences
—
should
your
father
happen
to
hear
of
it
.
"
"
I
tell
you
over
and
over
again
,
"
persisted
Miss
Gregory
,
"
that
my
papa
shall
never
know
any
thing
at
all
about
the
matter
.
Now
,
then
,
pray
do
n't
be
cross
;
but
tell
me
that
you
are
glad
to
see
me
.
Speak
,
Mr.
Markham
—
are
you
glad
to
see
me
?
"
"
How
shall
I
ever
be
able
to
convince
this
artless
young
creature
of
the
impropriety
of
her
conduct
?
"
murmured
Richard
within
himself
.
"
To
argue
with
her
too
long
and
too
forcibly
upon
the
subject
would
be
to
instruct
her
innocent
mind
in
the
evils
and
vices
of
society
,
and
to
imbue
her
with
ideas
which
are
as
yet
like
a
foreign
and
a
strange
tongue
to
her
!
Innocence
,
then
,
is
not
a
pearl
of
invaluable
price
to
its
possessor
,
in
this
world
,
—
since
it
can
so
readily
prepare
the
path
which
might
lead
to
ruin
!
"
"
You
do
not
answer
me
—
you
are
thoughtful
—
you
will
not
speak
to
me
,
"
said
Mary
Ann
,
rising
from
the
sofa
,
with
tears
in
her
eyes
,
and
preparing
—
or
rather
affecting
an
intention
to
depart
.
Markham
still
gave
her
no
reply
.
He
was
grieved
—
deeply
grieved
to
wound
her
feelings
;
but
he
thought
that
it
would
be
better
to
allow
her
to
return
home
at
once
,
with
sentiments
of
pique
and
wounded
pride
which
would
prevent
a
repetition
of
the
same
step
,
than
to
initiate
her
into
those
social
mysteries
which
would
only
give
an
impulse
to
her
lively
imagination
that
would
probably
prove
morally
injurious
to
her
.
But
Mary
Anne
was
incapable
of
harbouring
resentment
;
and
she
burst
into
an
agony
of
grief
.
"
Oh
!
how
unkind
you
are
,
Mr.
Markham
,
"
she
exclaimed
,
"
after
all
my
endeavours
to
please
you
!
I
thought
that
you
would
have
experienced
as
much
joy
to
see
me
,
as
I
felt
when
I
saw
you
enter
the
room
.
Since
the
day
that
I
lost
my
dear
mother
—
upwards
of
nine
years
ago
—
I
have
never
loved
any
one
so
much
as
I
love
you
—
no
,
not
even
my
father
;
for
I
feel
that
at
this
moment
I
could
dare
even
his
anger
,
if
you
were
to
shelter
me
!
I
have
long
thought
that
I
had
no
friend
but
God
,
to
whom
I
could
communicate
my
little
secrets
;
and
now
I
feel
as
if
I
could
bestow
all
my
confidence
upon
you
.
Since
the
death
of
my
mother
I
have
never
sought
my
couch
without
resigning
my
soul
into
the
hands
of
God
,
and
without
demanding
of
him
an
insight
into
truth
and
virtue
.
But
now
I
would
rather
entrust
my
safety
to
you
;
and
I
would
rather
learn
all
I
should
know
from
your
lips
than
from
those
of
another
!
You
ought
,
therefore
,
to
treat
me
with
more
kindness
and
consideration
than
you
have
done
up
to
this
moment
;
—
you
should
bestow
upon
me
an
additional
share
of
your
attention
and
notice
,
—
because
I
am
anxious
to
please
you
—
I
would
do
any
thing
to
save
you
pain
—
I
would
lay
down
my
life
to
ensure
a
prolongation
of
yours
!
"
Mary-Anne
had
never
spoken
so
seriously
,
nor
in
so
impassioned
a
manner
,
in
her
life
before
.
She
was
even
astonished
herself
at
the
very
ideas
which
she
was
now
expressing
for
the
first
time
,
and
which
seemed
to
flow
from
some
inward
fountain
whose
springs
she
could
not
check
.
Markham
was
astounded
.
He
suddenly
comprehended
the
true
situation
of
the
innocent
and
artless
girl
in
respect
to
himself
.
A
pang
shot
through
his
heart
when
he
considered
the
impossibility
of
her
happiness
ever
being
ensured
by
his
means
;
and
he
thought
within
himself
,
"
Alas
!
poor
child
,
she
does
not
rightly
comprehend
the
state
of
her
own
mind
!
"
But
how
could
this
love
of
hers
be
stifled
?
how
could
that
passion
be
suppressed
?
All
the
remedies
yet
essayed
to
quench
and
annihilate
love
,
have
changed
into
poisons
;
—
even
violent
and
unexpected
lessons
will
not
always
make
the
heart
reflect
.
The
more
the
slave
bends
,
the
heavier
becomes
the
yoke
:
the
more
a
man
employs
an
unjust
force
,
the
more
will
injustice
become
necessary
to
his
views
.
No
one
should
attempt
to
exercise
tyranny
upon
proud
souls
;
for
he
will
readily
learn
that
it
is
not
easy
to
triumph
over
and
trample
on
a
noble
love
.
Error
succeeds
error
—
outrage
follows
upon
outrage
—
and
bitterness
increases
like
a
torrent
whose
embankments
have
given
way
.
Who
can
define
the
termination
of
these
ravages
?
Will
not
the
tender
and
affectionate
woman
,
whose
love
man
may
endeavour
to
stifle
by
coldness
or
neglect
,
perish
in
the
ruin
?
She
will
succumb
to
tears
and
to
devouring
cares
—
even
while
the
love
which
she
cherishes
still
preserves
all
its
vigour
,
and
loses
nothing
of
its
ardour
through
intense
suffering
!
Markham
knew
not
how
to
reply
to
that
affectionate
girl
,
whose
spirit
he
dared
not
break
by
his
unkindness
,
—
whose
passion
he
could
not
return
,
because
his
heart
was
devoted
to
another
,
—
and
whose
mind
he
was
afraid
to
enlighten
with
regard
to
those
social
duties
which
originated
in
reasons
and
motives
totally
unknown
to
her
.
"
Mr.
Markham
,
"
said
Mary-Anne
,
wiping
away
her
tears
,
"
tell
me
that
you
are
not
angry
with
me
for
calling
:
and
,
as
you
say
it
is
not
right
,
I
will
never
come
again
.
"
"
Angry
with
you
,
Miss
Gregory
,
I
cannot
be
,
"
exclaimed
Markham
.
"
But
I
ought
to
tell
you
that
you
must
not
give
way
to
that
feeling
of
—
of
—
preference
towards
me
—
"
"
Oh
!
I
suppose
that
the
rules
of
society
also
prevent
a
single
lady
from
liking
a
single
gentleman
?
"
interrupted
Mary-Anne
pettishly
.
"
No
rules
can
control
volition
,
Miss
Gregory
,
"
said
Richard
,
cruelly
embarrassed
how
to
explain
himself
to
the
young
lady
;
"
but
if
you
tell
me
that
you
prefer
me
to
your
father
—
"
"
And
so
I
do
,
"
exclaimed
Mary-Anne
quickly
.
"
Then
you
are
wrong
,
"
returned
Markham
.
"
Wrong
,
indeed
!
and
yet
you
have
just
told
me
that
no
rules
can
control
volition
.
"
"
True
;
but
we
must
endeavour
to
conquer
those
feelings
.
You
say
that
you
like
me
?
—
suppose
that
we
were
never
to
meet
again
;
would
you
not
then
learn
to
forget
that
you
ever
knew
such
a
being
?
"
"
Impossible
!
never
—
never
!
"
cried
Mary-Anne
enthusiastically
.
"
I
am
always
thinking
of
you
!
"
"
But
the
time
must
come
,
some
day
or
another
—
whether
now
,
or
a
year
,
or
ten
years
hence
—
when
we
must
cease
to
meet
.
I
may
be
married
—
or
you
yourself
may
marry
—
"
"
Married
!
"
ejaculated
Mary-Anne
:
"
do
you
think
of
marrying
,
then
,
Mr.
Markham
?
"
"
I
am
certainly
attached
to
a
young
lady
,
"
replied
Richard
;
"
but
there
are
circumstances
which
—
"
"
You
are
attached
to
a
young
lady
?
Is
she
beautiful
—
very
beautiful
?
"
"
Very
beautiful
,
"
answered
Richard
.
Mary-Anne
remained
silent
for
some
moments
:
she
appeared
to
reflect
profoundly
.
A
sudden
glow
of
animation
flushed
her
cheek
:
—
was
it
a
light
that
dawned
in
upon
her
soul
?
Richard
sincerely
hoped
so
.
"
Mr.
Markham
,
"
said
Mary-Anne
,
rising
from
her
seat
,
and
speaking
in
a
tone
so
serious
that
Richard
could
scarcely
believe
he
was
now
listening
to
the
once
volatile
,
sprightly
,
thoughtless
,
and
playful
creature
he
had
known
,
—
"
Mr.
Markham
,
I
have
to
apologise
most
sincerely
for
the
trouble
I
have
given
you
,
and
the
intrusion
of
which
I
have
been
guilty
.
A
veil
has
suddenly
fallen
from
my
eyes
;
and
I
now
comprehend
the
impropriety
of
my
conduct
.
Ah
!
I
see
what
you
mean
by
the
laws
of
society
.
But
God
—
and
you
also
,
Mr.
Markham
,
well
know
the
innocence
of
my
motives
in
calling
this
morning
upon
you
;
and
if
my
friendship
for
you
has
betrayed
me
into
error
,
I
beseech
you
to
forget
that
such
a
scene
has
ever
taken
place
.
"
She
shook
hands
with
Richard
with
her
usual
cordiality
and
warmth
,
and
then
took
her
departure
—
no
longer
skipping
like
the
young
fawn
,
but
with
steady
and
measured
pace
.
And
still
that
young
girl
did
not
dream
that
love
had
influenced
her
conduct
;
—
she
continued
to
believe
that
the
sentiment
she
experienced
was
one
of
friendship
.
The
idea
of
Richard
's
marriage
with
another
had
only
enlightened
her
in
respect
to
those
laws
which
,
as
social
and
sympathetic
beings
,
we
have
conventionally
enacted
.
On
the
ensuing
Sunday
Markham
dined
,
according
to
engagement
,
with
Mr.
Gregory
.
Mary-Anne
was
present
;
and
striking
was
the
change
which
had
taken
place
in
her
!
Her
manners
were
no
longer
gay
,
joyous
,
confiding
,
and
full
of
animation
.
As
sickness
chases
from
the
cheek
the
flush
of
hoyden
health
,
so
had
a
new
sentiment
banished
that
sprightliness
of
disposition
and
that
liveliness
of
temperament
which
so
lately
had
characterised
this
child
of
nature
.
Love
,
then
,
is
omnipotent
,
if
he
can
effect
such
changes
as
these
!
Alas
!
Love
can
work
much
for
our
unhappiness
,
but
little
for
our
felicity
:
—
he
may
make
the
gladsome
companion
melancholy
and
serious
;
but
he
seldom
covers
the
countenance
of
the
morose
one
with
smiles
!
Mary-Anne
endeavoured
to
seem
as
reserved
as
possible
with
Richard
;
and
yet
,
from
time
to
time
,
when
she
thought
he
did
not
notice
her
,
she
fixed
her
eyes
upon
him
with
an
expression
of
such
heart-devoted
tenderness
,
that
it
seemed
as
if
she
were
pouring
forth
her
entire
soul
to
the
divinity
whom
she
worshipped
.
In
the
grotesque
and
colossal
sculptures
,
and
the
mountainous
architectural
piles
of
the
East
,
we
seem
to
behold
the
products
of
an
imagination
struggling
with
conceptions
too
vast
for
its
compass
,
and
hence
endeavouring
to
make
some
approximation
to
the
reality
by
heaping
up
the
irregular
and
huge
invisible
forms
;
—
and
thus
did
the
tortured
and
embarrassed
mind
of
this
poor
girl
,
unacquainted
with
the
precise
nature
of
the
sentiment
it
cherished
,
maintain
a
conflict
with
the
feelings
which
oppressed
it
,
and
offer
up
an
idolatry
of
its
own
invention
to
the
object
of
its
unbounded
veneration
.
Mr.
Gregory
could
not
but
perceive
this
change
in
his
daughter
's
behaviour
;
and
he
was
more
or
less
at
a
loss
to
conceive
the
cause
.
He
had
entertained
,
for
a
few
days
previously
,
a
faint
suspicion
that
Mary-Anne
had
peradventure
formed
an
attachment
,
which
would
thus
account
for
her
altered
demeanour
;
for
since
her
call
upon
Markham
,
had
her
manners
changed
.
But
the
good-hearted
father
was
still
loth
to
believe
that
his
daughter
's
young
heart
had
been
smitten
—
and
for
the
simple
reason
because
he
did
not
wish
it
to
be
so
.
Although
he
respected
Markham
,
he
was
like
all
parents
,
who
,
possessing
fortunes
themselves
,
are
anxious
that
the
suitors
for
their
daughters
'
hands
should
also
be
enabled
to
produce
a
modicum
of
this
world
's
lucre
.
He
was
therefore
unwilling
to
admit
in
his
own
mind
the
conviction
that
his
suspicion
was
well-founded
:
he
fancied
that
change
of
scene
or
amusement
would
probably
operate
favourably
upon
his
daughter
's
mind
,
and
bring
her
spirits
back
to
their
proper
tone
;
and
in
this
resolution
was
he
confirmed
,
when
in
the
course
of
that
Sunday
evening
,
he
saw
the
confirmation
of
his
suspicion
.
He
could
no
longer
doubt
:
—
a
thousand
little
incidents
proved
to
him
the
attachment
of
his
daughter
to
Richard
Markham
;
and
his
quick
glance
convinced
him
that
she
was
not
loved
by
her
tutor
in
return
.
That
night
Mr.
Gregory
lay
awake
,
pondering
upon
the
best
course
to
pursue
.
At
one
moment
he
thought
of
communicating
to
Markham
the
state
of
his
daughter
's
heart
(
for
he
could
not
suppose
that
Richard
was
aware
of
the
passion
of
which
he
was
the
object
)
,
and
permitting
the
young
couple
to
look
upon
each
other
as
destined
to
be
one
day
united
:
—
at
another
moment
,
he
imagined
that
it
would
be
better
to
allow
things
to
take
their
chance
for
a
short
time
,
and
thereby
ascertain
whether
the
attachment
gained
ground
on
the
part
of
his
daughter
,
and
whether
it
would
become
mutual
(
for
he
was
entirely
ignorant
of
Markham
's
love
for
another
)
;
and
at
length
he
resolved
upon
dispensing
with
the
services
of
Richard
,
and
trusting
to
time
to
eradicate
the
seeds
of
the
unfortunate
passion
from
the
heart
of
Mary-Anne
.
This
plan
Mr.
Gregory
put
into
execution
in
the
course
of
a
few
days
—
indeed
,
the
very
next
time
that
Richard
called
at
his
house
.
"
Mr.
Markham
,
"
said
the
father
,
"
I
deeply
regret
that
certain
circumstances
,
which
it
is
not
necessary
for
me
to
explain
to
you
,
compel
me
to
dispense
with
your
farther
attendance
upon
my
children
.
"
"
I
hope
,
"
said
Markham
,
"
that
I
have
given
you
no
cause
—
—
"
"
Not
at
all
—
not
in
the
least
,
"
interrupted
Mr.
Gregory
,
shaking
Richard
cordially
by
the
hand
:
then
,
in
a
serious
tone
,
he
added
,
"
my
daughter
's
health
requires
rest
—
repose
—
and
quiet
.
I
shall
see
no
visitors
for
some
time
.
"
Markham
was
satisfied
.
Mr.
Gregory
had
heard
nothing
prejudicial
to
his
character
;
but
he
had
evidently
penetrated
into
the
state
of
Mary-Anne
's
feelings
.
Richard
was
delighted
to
be
thus
dismissed
from
a
house
where
his
presence
was
only
calculated
to
destroy
the
more
profoundly
the
peace
of
one
of
its
inmates
:
—
indeed
,
he
himself
had
already
entertained
serious
ideas
of
severing
his
connexion
with
that
family
.
"
If
I
can
at
any
time
be
of
service
to
you
,
Mr.
Markham
,
in
any
way
,
you
may
command
me
,
"
said
Mr.
Gregory
,
when
the
former
rose
to
depart
;
"
and
do
not
think
that
I
am
merely
uttering
a
cold
ceremonial
phrase
,
when
I
desire
you
to
make
use
of
me
as
a
friend
,
should
you
ever
require
one
.
"
Richard
thanked
Mr.
Gregory
for
his
kindness
,
and
took
leave
of
him
.
He
also
bade
adieu
to
Gustavus
and
Lionel
,
both
of
whom
were
deeply
affected
at
the
idea
of
losing
the
visits
of
their
tutor
:
—
but
Mary-Anne
had
been
purposely
sent
to
pass
a
few
days
with
some
friends
in
the
country
.
CHAPTER
XCI
.
THE
TRAGEDY
.
AT
length
the
evening
,
upon
which
the
tragedy
was
to
be
represented
for
the
first
time
,
arrived
.
Markham
in
the
mean
time
had
seen
little
of
the
manager
,
and
had
not
attended
a
single
rehearsal
,
his
presence
for
that
purpose
not
having
been
required
.
Moreover
,
true
to
his
original
intentions
,
he
had
not
acquainted
a
soul
with
his
secret
relative
to
the
drama
.
The
manager
still
knew
him
only
as
Edward
Preston
;
and
the
advertisements
in
the
newspapers
had
announced
the
"
forth-coming
tragedy
"
as
one
that
had
"
emanated
from
the
pen
of
a
young
author
of
considerable
promise
,
but
who
had
determined
to
maintain
a
strict
incognito
until
the
public
verdict
should
have
been
pronounced
upon
his
piece
.
"
A
short
time
before
the
doors
opened
,
Richard
proceeded
to
the
theatre
,
and
called
upon
the
manager
,
who
received
him
in
his
own
private
apartment
.
"
Well
,
Mr.
Preston
,
"
said
the
theatrical
monarch
,
"
this
evening
will
decide
the
fate
of
the
tragedy
.
A
few
hours
,
and
we
shall
know
more
.
"
"
I
hope
you
still
think
well
of
it
,
"
returned
Markham
.
"
My
candid
opinion
is
that
the
success
will
be
triumphant
,
"
said
the
manager
.
"
I
have
spared
no
expense
to
get
up
the
piece
well
;
and
I
am
very
sanguine
.
Besides
,
I
have
another
element
of
success
.
"
"
What
is
that
?
"
inquired
Richard
.
"
My
principal
ballet-dancer
,
who
is
a
beautiful
creature
and
a
general
favourite
—
Miss
Selina
Fitzherbert
—
"
"
I
have
heard
of
her
fame
,
"
said
Markham
,
"
but
have
never
seen
her
.
Strange
as
it
may
appear
,
I
never
visit
theatres
—
I
have
not
done
so
for
years
.
"
"
You
will
visit
them
often
enough
if
your
productions
succeed
,
"
observed
the
manager
with
a
smile
.
"
But
,
as
I
was
saying
,
Miss
Fitzherbert
has
lately
manifested
a
passionate
desire
to
shine
in
tragedy
;
and
she
will
make
her
debut
in
that
sphere
to-night
,
in
your
piece
.
She
will
play
the
Baron
's
Daughter
.
"
"
Which
character
does
not
appear
until
the
commencement
of
the
third
act
,
"
said
Markham
.
"
Precisely
,
"
observed
the
manager
.
"
But
time
is
now
drawing
on
.
Where
will
you
remain
during
the
performance
?
"
"
I
shall
proceed
into
the
body
of
the
house
,
"
returned
Markham
,
"
and
take
my
seat
in
one
of
the
central
boxes
—
I
mean
those
precisely
fronting
the
stage
.
I
shall
be
able
to
judge
of
the
effect
better
in
that
part
of
the
house
than
elsewhere
.
"
"
As
you
please
,
"
said
the
manager
.
"
But
mind
and
let
me
see
you
after
the
performance
.
"
Richard
promised
compliance
with
this
request
,
and
then
proceeded
into
the
house
,
where
he
took
a
seat
in
the
centre
of
the
amphitheatre
.
The
doors
had
been
opened
a
few
minutes
previously
,
and
the
house
was
filling
fast
.
By
half-past
six
it
was
crowded
from
pit
to
roof
.
The
boxes
were
filled
with
elegantly-dressed
ladies
and
fashionable
gentlemen
:
there
was
not
room
to
thrust
another
spectator
into
any
one
point
at
the
moment
when
the
curtain
drew
up
.
The
overture
commenced
.
How
long
it
appeared
to
Markham
,
passionately
fond
of
music
though
he
was
!
At
length
it
ceased
;
and
the
First
Act
commenced
.
For
some
time
a
profound
silence
pervaded
the
audience
:
—
not
a
voice
,
not
a
murmur
,
not
a
sigh
,
gave
the
slightest
demonstration
of
either
approbation
or
dislike
.
But
,
at
length
,
at
the
conclusion
of
a
most
impressive
soliloquy
,
which
was
delivered
by
the
hero
of
the
piece
,
one
universal
burst
of
applause
broke
forth
;
and
the
theatre
rang
with
the
sounds
of
human
tongues
and
the
clapping
of
hands
.
When
the
First
Act
ended
,
the
opinion
of
the
audience
was
decisive
in
favour
of
the
piece
;
and
the
manager
felt
persuaded
that
"
it
was
a
hit
.
"
This
was
one
of
the
happiest
moments
of
Markham
's
existence
—
that
existence
which
had
latterly
presented
so
few
green
spots
to
please
the
mental
eye
of
the
wanderer
in
the
world
's
desert
.
His
veins
seemed
to
run
with
liquid
fire
!
—
a
delirium
of
joy
seized
upon
him
—
he
was
inebriated
with
excess
of
bliss
.
Around
him
the
spectators
were
expressing
their
opinions
of
the
first
act
,
little
suspecting
that
the
author
of
the
piece
was
so
near
.
All
those
sentiments
were
unequivocally
in
favour
of
the
tragedy
.
The
Second
Act
began
—
progressed
—
terminated
.
No
pen
can
describe
the
enthusiasm
with
which
the
audience
received
the
development
of
the
drama
,
nor
the
interest
which
it
seemed
to
excite
.
Inspired
by
the
applause
that
greeted
them
,
the
performers
exerted
all
their
efforts
;
and
the
excellence
of
the
tragedy
,
united
with
the
talent
of
the
actors
and
the
beauty
of
the
scenery
,
achieved
a
triumph
not
often
witnessed
within
the
walls
of
that
or
any
other
theatre
.
The
Third
Act
commenced
.
Selina
Fitzherbert
appeared
upon
the
stage
;
and
her
presence
was
welcomed
with
rapturous
applause
.
She
came
