younow
?
"
she
asked
,
in
a
tone
tremulous
with
joy
.
"
You
are
—
you
are
,
"
exclaimed
Greenwood
,
speaking
nevertheless
in
a
manner
which
seemed
to
indicate
that
he
was
giving
way
to
a
feeling
of
weakness
which
he
could
not
conquer
,
but
of
which
he
was
ashamed
;
"
you
are
dear
to
me
—
for
my
heart
appears
as
if
it
required
something
to
love
,
and
some
one
to
love
me
.
"
"
And
do
I
not
love
you
?
"
cried
Ellen
,
pressing
her
lips
to
his
.
"
Oh
!
there
was
a
time
when
I
never
thought
I
could
love
you
—
when
I
only
sought
you
as
a
husband
because
you
were
the
father
of
my
child
:
—
but
since
we
have
been
united
in
holy
bonds
,
I
have
learnt
to
love
you
—
and
I
do
love
you
—
I
do
love
you
—
in
spite
of
all
that
has
passed
!
"
"
You
are
a
good
girl
,
Ellen
,
"
said
Greenwood
,
upon
whose
lash
a
tear
stood
:
but
he
hastily
dashed
it
away
,
exclaiming
,
"
This
is
unlike
me
!
What
can
be
the
cause
of
these
emotions
—
hitherto
unknown
?
Is
it
that
I
am
envious
of
his
happiness
?
Is
it
that
I
pine
for
that
sweet
domesticity
which
he
will
now
enjoy
?
Or
is
it
that
I
am
wearied
of
a
world
false
and
hollow-hearted
?
"
"
Alas
!
"
cried
Ellen
,
the
tears
streaming
from
her
eyes
:
"
is
the
world
really
false
and
hollow-hearted
?
or
have
you
sought
only
that
sphere
which
wears
the
appearance
that
you
deplore
?
Look
yonder
,
"
she
continued
,
pointing
towards
the
mansion
;
"
no
falsehood
—
no
hollow-heartedness
are
there
!
And
why
?
Because
he
who
rules
in
that
abode
has
encouraged
every
sweet
sympathy
that
renders
life
agreeable
—
every
amenity
which
inspires
confidence
and
mutual
reliance
between
a
number
of
persons
dwelling
together
.
The
sphere
that
he
has
chosen
is
purified
by
his
own
virtues
:
the
light
of
his
excellence
is
reflected
from
the
hearts
of
all
around
him
.
All
are
good
,
or
strive
to
be
good
in
his
circle
—
because
he
himself
is
good
.
Where
you
have
moved
—
ever
agitating
amidst
the
selfish
crowd
,
as
in
troubled
waters
—
none
are
good
,
because
no
one
sets
a
good
example
.
Every
thing
in
your
world
is
SELF
:
in
Richard
's
world
he
sacrifices
SELF
unto
others
.
Hence
his
prosperity
—
his
happiness
—
—
"
"
And
hence
my
adversity
—
my
dissatisfied
spirit
!
"
exclaimed
Greenwood
,
impatiently
.
"
But
talk
not
thus
,
Ellen
,
any
more
:
you
will
drive
me
mad
!
"
"
Oh
!
my
dear
husband
,
what
makes
you
thus
?
"
cried
Ellen
,
in
alarm
:
"
I
never
saw
you
so
before
.
You
who
were
ever
so
cool
—
nay
,
pardon
me
,
if
I
say
so
chilling
,
—
so
calculating
—
so
inaccessible
to
the
tenderest
emotions
,
—
you
are
now
an
altered
being
!
But
God
grant
that
your
heart
is
touched
at
last
,
and
that
you
will
abandon
those
paths
of
selfishness
which
,
as
you
have
by
this
time
learnt
,
are
not
those
of
permanent
prosperity
!
Do
not
be
offended
with
me
:
—
heaven
knows
I
would
not
wound
your
heart
;
for
I
love
you
ten
thousand
times
better
to-night
than
ever
I
did
before
—
and
solely
because
you
are
changed
,
or
appear
to
be
.
Oh
!
let
me
implore
you
to
cast
aside
your
assumed
name
—
to
throw
off
all
disguise
—
to
return
to
that
home
where
the
arms
of
sincerest
affection
will
be
extended
to
welcome
you
—
—
"
"
No
—
no
,
Ellen
!
"
cried
Greenwood
,
almost
furiously
:
"
my
pride
will
not
permit
me
to
do
that
!
Speak
no
more
in
this
way
—
or
I
will
quit
you
immediately
.
I
will
fulfil
my
destiny
—
whatever
it
may
be
.
Not
a
day
—
not
an
hour
before
the
appointed
time
must
he
and
I
meet
!
No
—
broken
though
my
fortunes
be
,
they
are
not
irreparable
.
Had
it
not
been
for
the
flight
of
that
villain
Tomlinson
,
I
should
have
retrieved
them
ere
now
.
I
must
not
,
however
,
despair
:
my
credit
is
still
good
in
certain
quarters
;
and
I
possess
talents
for
finance
and
speculation
of
no
mean
order
.
"
"
But
you
will
not
again
embark
in
any
such
desperate
venture
as
—
as
—
—
"
"
As
the
forged
bills
,
you
would
say
,
Ellen
,
"
added
Greenwood
,
hastily
.
"
No
:
—
be
not
alarmed
on
this
head
.
I
will
not
sully
that
name
which
he
has
rendered
great
.
"
"
Oh
!
do
you
not
remember
,
"
cried
Ellen
,
as
a
sudden
reminiscence
shot
through
her
brain
,
"
that
on
the
morning
when
our
hands
were
united
,
you
promised
that
the
name
which
you
then
gave
me
should
go
down
to
posterity
?
"
"
It
will
—
it
will
:
the
prediction
is
already
fulfilled
,
Ellen
,
"
said
Greenwood
,
hastily
;
—
"
but
not
by
me
!
"
he
added
mournfully
.
"
I
know
not
why
I
feel
so
low
spirited
to-night
;
and
yet
your
presence
consoles
me
!
Richard
now
clasps
his
lovely
bride
in
his
arms
—
and
we
are
forced
to
snatch
this
stolen
interview
,
as
if
we
had
no
right
to
each
other
's
society
!
"
"
And
whose
fault
is
that
?
"
asked
Ellen
,
somewhat
reproachfully
.
"
Is
it
not
in
your
power
to
put
an
end
to
all
this
mystery
?
"
"
I
cannot
—
I
will
not
,
"
returned
Greenwood
,
with
renewed
impetuosity
.
"
No
—
let
us
not
touch
upon
the
topic
again
.
My
resolves
are
immoveable
on
that
point
.
If
you
love
me
,
urge
me
not
to
inflict
so
deep
a
wound
upon
my
pride
.
This
lowness
of
spirits
will
soon
pass
away
:
I
am
afraid
that
envy
—
or
jealousy
,
rather
—
has
in
some
degree
depressed
me
.
And
yet
envy
is
not
the
term
—
nor
does
jealousy
express
the
true
nature
,
of
my
sentiments
.
For
,
in
spite
of
all
my
faults
,
I
have
loved
him
,
Ellen
—
as
you
well
know
.
But
it
is
that
I
feel
disappointed
—
almost
disgusted
:
—
I
have
as
yet
toiled
for
naught
!
I
contrast
my
position
with
his
—
and
that
makes
me
mournful
.
Still
I
am
proud
of
him
,
Ellen
:
—
I
cannot
be
otherwise
.
"
"
That
is
a
generous
feeling
,
"
said
Ellen
,
again
embracing
her
husband
:
"
it
does
me
good
to
hear
you
express
such
a
sentiment
.
"
"
I
scarcely
know
what
I
have
been
saying
,
"
continued
Greenwood
:
"
my
mind
is
chaotic
—
my
ideas
are
confused
.
Let
us
now
separate
;
we
will
meet
again
shortly
—
and
I
will
tell
you
of
my
progress
towards
the
fortune
which
I
am
resolved
to
acquire
.
"
"
Yes
—
let
us
meet
again
soon
,
"
said
Ellen
;
"
but
not
here
,
"
she
added
,
glancing
towards
the
trees
.
"
It
makes
you
melancholy
.
"
"
Well
—
well
:
I
will
find
another
spot
for
our
interviews
.
Farewell
,
Ellen
—
dearest
Ellen
.
"
"
Farewell
,
my
dearest
husband
.
"
They
embraced
,
and
separated
—
Ellen
retracing
her
steps
towards
the
mansion
,
and
Greenwood
remaining
on
the
hill
.
On
the
following
morning
,
after
breakfast
,
Richard
conducted
his
lovely
bride
over
the
grounds
belonging
to
the
Place
;
and
when
they
had
inspected
the
gardens
,
he
said
,
"
I
will
now
lead
you
to
the
hill-top
,
beloved
Isabella
,
where
you
will
behold
those
memorials
of
affection
between
my
brother
and
myself
,
which
mark
the
spot
where
I
hope
again
to
meet
him
.
"
They
ascended
the
eminence
:
they
stood
between
the
two
trees
.
But
scarcely
had
Richard
cast
a
glance
towards
the
one
planted
by
the
hand
of
Eugene
,
when
he
started
,
and
dropped
Isabella
's
arm
.
She
threw
a
look
of
intense
alarm
on
his
countenance
;
but
her
fears
were
immediately
succeeded
by
delight
when
she
beheld
the
unfeigned
joy
that
was
depicted
on
his
features
.
"
Eugene
is
alive
!
He
has
been
hither
again
—
he
has
revisited
this
spot
!
"
exclaimed
Richard
.
"
See
,
Isabella
—
he
has
left
that
indication
of
his
presence
.
"
The
Princess
now
observed
the
inscriptions
upon
the
tree
.
They
stood
thus
:
—
Eugene
.
Dec.
25
,
1836.
Eugene
.
May
17th
,
1838.
Eugene
.
March
6
,
1841.
"
Eugene
was
here
yesterday
,
"
said
Richard
.
"
Oh
!
he
still
thinks
of
me
—
he
remembers
that
he
has
a
brother
.
Doubtless
he
has
heard
of
my
happiness
—
my
prosperity
:
perhaps
he
even
learnt
that
yesterday
blest
me
with
your
hand
,
dearest
Isabel
;
and
that
inscription
is
a
congratulation
—
a
token
of
his
kind
wish
alike
to
you
and
to
me
.
"
Isabella
partook
of
her
husband
's
joy
;
and
after
lingering
for
some
time
upon
the
spot
,
they
retraced
their
steps
to
the
mansion
.
The
carriage
was
already
at
the
door
:
they
entered
it
;
and
Richard
commanded
the
coachman
to
drive
to
Woolwich
.
On
their
arrival
at
the
wharf
where
Richard
had
landed
only
two
days
previously
,
they
found
a
barge
waiting
to
convey
them
on
board
the
Castelcicalan
steamer
.
The
Grand-Duke
and
Grand-Duchess
,
with
their
suite
,
received
them
upon
the
deck
of
the
vessel
.
The
hour
of
separation
had
come
:
Alberto
and
his
illustrious
spouse
were
about
to
return
to
their
native
land
to
ascend
a
throne
.
The
Grand-Duke
drew
Richard
aside
,
and
said
,
"
My
dear
son
,
you
remember
your
promise
to
repair
to
Montoni
so
soon
as
the
time
of
appointment
with
your
brother
shall
have
passed
.
"
"
I
shall
only
be
too
happy
to
return
,
with
my
beloved
Isabella
,
to
your
society
,
"
answered
Markham
.
"
My
brother
will
keep
his
appointment
;
for
yesterday
he
revisited
the
spot
where
that
meeting
is
to
take
place
,
and
inscribed
his
name
upon
the
tree
that
he
planted
.
"
"
That
is
another
source
of
happiness
for
you
,
Richard
,
"
said
the
Grand-Duke
;
"
and
well
do
you
deserve
all
the
felicity
which
this
world
can
give
.
"
"
Your
Serene
Highness
has
done
all
that
is
in
mortal
power
to
ensure
that
felicity
,
"
exclaimed
Markham
.
"
You
have
elevated
me
to
a
rank
only
one
degree
inferior
to
your
own
;
—
you
have
bestowed
upon
me
an
inestimable
treasure
in
the
person
of
your
daughter
;
—
and
you
yesterday
placed
in
my
hands
a
decree
appointing
me
an
annual
income
of
twenty
thousand
pounds
from
the
ducal
treasury
.
Your
Serene
Highness
has
been
too
liberal
:
—
a
fourth
part
will
be
more
than
sufficient
for
all
our
wants
.
Moreover
,
from
certain
hints
which
Signor
Viviani
dropped
when
I
was
an
inmate
of
his
house
at
Pinalla
—
and
subsequently
,
after
his
arrival
at
Montoni
to
take
the
post
of
Minister
of
Finance
which
I
conferred
upon
him
,
and
which
appointment
has
met
the
approval
of
your
Serene
Highness
—
I
am
justified
in
believing
that
in
July
,
1843
,
I
shall
inherit
a
considerable
fortune
from
our
lamented
friend
Thomas
Armstrong
.
"
"
The
larger
your
resources
,
Richard
,
the
wider
will
be
the
sphere
of
your
benevolence
,
"
said
the
Grand-Duke
;
then
,
by
way
of
cutting
short
our
hero
's
remonstrances
in
respect
to
the
annual
revenue
,
his
Serene
Highness
exclaimed
,
"
But
time
presses
:
we
must
now
say
farewell
.
"
We
shall
not
dwell
upon
the
parting
scene
.
Suffice
it
to
say
that
the
grief
of
the
daughter
in
separating
from
her
parents
was
attempered
by
the
conviction
that
she
remained
behind
with
an
affectionate
and
well-beloved
husband
;
and
the
parents
sorrowed
the
less
at
losing
their
daughter
,
because
they
knew
full
well
that
she
was
united
to
one
possessed
of
every
qualification
to
ensure
her
felicity
.
And
now
the
anchor
was
weighed
;
the
steam
hissed
through
the
waste-valves
as
if
impatient
of
delay
;
and
the
young
couple
descended
the
ship
's
side
into
the
barge
.
The
boat
was
pushed
off
—
and
the
huge
wheels
of
the
steamer
began
to
revolve
on
their
axis
,
ploughing
up
the
deep
water
.
The
cannon
of
the
arsenal
thundered
forth
a
parting
salute
in
honour
of
the
sovereign
and
his
illustrious
spouse
who
were
returning
to
their
native
land
from
a
long
exile
.
The
ship
returned
the
compliment
with
its
artillery
,
as
it
now
sped
rapidly
along
.
And
the
last
waving
of
the
Grand-Duchess
's
handkerchief
,
and
the
last
farewell
gesture
on
the
part
of
the
Grand-Duke
met
the
eyes
of
Isabella
and
Richard
during
an
interval
when
the
wind
had
swept
away
the
smoke
of
the
cannon
.
The
Prince
and
Princess
of
Montoni
landed
at
the
wharf
,
re-entered
their
carriage
,
and
were
soon
on
their
way
back
to
Markham
Place
.
CHAPTER
CCXXIV
.
MR.
BANKS
'S
HOUSE
IN
GLOBE
LANE
.
The
evening
appointed
by
Katherine
,
in
her
note
to
Mr.
Banks
,
for
the
purchase
of
the
papers
relating
to
her
birth
,
had
now
arrived
.
It
was
nearly
eight
o'clock
.
The
undertaker
was
at
work
in
his
shop
,
the
door
of
which
stood
open
;
and
several
idle
vagabonds
were
standing
near
the
entrance
,
watching
the
progress
that
was
made
in
bringing
a
new
coffin
to
completion
.
Somehow
or
another
,
people
always
do
stop
at
the
doors
of
undertakers
'
workshops
—
doubtless
actuated
by
feelings
of
the
same
morbid
nature
as
those
which
call
crowds
of
faces
to
the
windows
in
a
street
along
which
a
funeral
is
passing
.
Mr.
Banks
had
laid
aside
his
coat
,
and
appeared
in
his
dingy
shirt
sleeves
:
he
wore
a
paper
cap
upon
his
head
;
and
a
long
apron
was
tied
very
high
up
above
his
waist
—
reaching
,
indeed
,
almost
to
the
waistcoat
pockets
.
As
the
gas
was
not
laid
on
in
his
establishment
,
he
was
working
by
the
light
of
a
couple
of
tallow
candles
,
that
flickered
in
a
most
tantalising
manner
with
the
draught
from
the
open
door
—
leaving
Mr.
Banks
every
other
minute
in
a
state
of
exciting
suspense
as
to
whether
they
were
about
to
be
extinguished
or
to
revive
again
.
Still
he
did
not
choose
to
adopt
the
very
natural
precaution
of
closing
the
shop-door
,
because
he
considered
it
business-like
to
have
a
group
of
idlers
collected
at
the
entrance
.
And
there
was
an
air
of
business
about
Mr.
Banks
's
establishment
.
There
were
shining
white
coffin-plates
hanging
along
one
row
of
panes
in
the
window
;
and
black
japanned
ones
suspended
along
another
row
.
At
a
central
pane
hung
a
miniature
coffin-lid
,
covered
with
black
cloth
,
and
studded
with
nails
in
the
usual
manner
.
The
shop
itself
was
crowded
with
coffins
,
in
different
stages
towards
completion
:
the
floor
was
ankle
deep
in
shavings
and
sawdust
;
and
carpenters
'
tools
of
all
kinds
lay
scattered
about
.
But
,
pre-eminently
conspicuous
amongst
all
those
objects
,
was
a
glass-case
standing
upon
a
little
shelf
,
and
enclosing
that
very
miniature
model
of
the
patent
coffin
which
he
had
displayed
at
the
farm-house
near
Hounslow
.
Mr.
Banks
was
busily
employed
in
fitting
a
lid
to
a
coffin
which
stood
upon
trestles
in
the
middle
of
the
shop
;
and
his
two
eldest
boys
,
one
fifteen
and
the
other
thirteen
,
were
occupied
,
the
first
in
planing
a
board
,
and
the
second
in
sawing
a
plank
.
"
Well
,
"
mused
Mr.
Banks
to
himself
,
as
he
proceeded
with
his
work
,
"
I
hope
Miss
Kate
wo
n't
fail
to
keep
her
appintment
—
partickler
as
Tidkins
seems
so
sure
of
the
job
.
That
other
feller
which
came
yesterday
to
look
at
my
first
floor
front
as
is
to
let
,
never
returned
.
And
yet
he
appeared
to
like
the
blessed
place
well
enow
.
Goodness
knows
he
asked
questions
by
the
dozen
,
and
looked
in
every
cranny
about
the
house
.
What
did
he
want
to
bother
his-self
like
that
as
to
whether
there
was
a
good
yard
for
his
missus
to
hang
her
clothes
in
on
washing
days
?
He
should
have
sent
her
to
see
all
about
that
.
Then
he
would
see
where
the
yard-wall
looked
—
and
whether
there
was
a
yard
or
a
street
t
'
other
side
—
and
all
about
it
.
I
raly
thought
he
would
have
taken
the
rooms
.
But
p'rhaps
he
did
n't
like
the
coffins
:
p'rhaps
his
missus
do
n't
fancy
that
there
constant
hammering
.
Ah
!
it
's
a
sinful
world
!
"
And
,
as
if
deeply
impressed
by
this
conviction
,
the
undertaker
shook
his
head
solemnly
.
He
then
continued
his
employment
for
some
time
without
musing
upon
any
one
topic
in
particular
.
At
length
he
broke
silence
altogether
.
"
Now
,
Ned
,
"
said
he
to
his
eldest-born
(
he
had
five
or
six
smaller
specimens
of
the
Banks
'
breed
indoors
)
,
as
he
raised
his
head
from
his
work
,
and
looked
severely
round
towards
the
lad
;
"
that
's
quite
planing
enow
:
the
board
'll
be
veared
as
thin
as
a
egg-case
before
it
's
used
.
Make
it
on
economic
principles
,
boy
—
economic
principles
,
I
say
,
mind
!
"
added
Mr.
Banks
,
sternly
.
"
It
ai
n't
economic
principles
to
turn
out
coffins
as
rough
as
if
they
did
n't
know
what
planing
is
,
"
returned
the
youth
;
"
'
cause
the
friends
of
the
defuncks
'll
only
send
them
back
again
.
"
"
The
friends
of
the
defuncts
will
do
no
such
a
thing
to
a
'
spectable
furnisher
of
funerals
like
me
,
as
has
lived
,
man
and
boy
,
in
the
same
house
for
fifty
year
,
and
paid
his
way
reglar
,
"
responded
Mr.
Banks
.
"
If
we
adopts
economic
principles
,
we
ca
n't
waste
wood
or
time
either
.
"
"
And
do
you
mean
to
say
,
father
,
"
cried
the
boy
,
"
that
this
here
plank
is
planed
enow
?
Pass
your
hand
along
it
,
and
it
'll
get
kivered
with
splinters
—
stuck
all
over
like
a
porkipine
.
"
"
It
will
do
exceeding
well
for
the
blessed
carkiss
that
'll
rejice
in
such
a
lid
as
that
board
will
help
to
make
him
,
"
said
Banks
,
sweeping
his
horny
palm
over
the
plank
.
"
That
's
good
enow
—
that
's
economic
principles
.
"
"
Then
economic
principles
is
a
fool
and
a
humbug
,
"
returned
the
lad
,
sulkily
:
"
that
's
all
I
can
say
about
the
matter
.
"
"
Oh
!
that
's
it
—
is
it
?
"
cried
Banks
,
assuming
a
threatening
attitude
.
"
Yes
—
with
a
wengeance
,
"
added
his
son
.
"
No
—
that
's
the
wengeance
,
"
said
Mr.
Banks
,
coolly
,
as
he
dealt
his
heir
a
tremendous
box
on
the
ear
,
which
forced
the
young
man
nearly
over
the
plank
that
had
caused
the
dispute
;
but
as
the
lad
was
not
quite
floored
,
his
father
bestowed
on
him
a
kick
which
,
speedily
succeeding
the
slap
,
levelled
the
youthful
coffin-maker
altogether
.
"
Brayvo
!
"
shouted
the
idlers
at
the
door
.
The
discomfited
son
of
Mr.
Banks
got
up
,
retreated
to
the
farther
end
of
the
shop
,
and
was
about
to
discharge
a
volley
of
insolence
at
his
father
when
a
gentleman
and
lady
suddenly
appeared
on
the
threshold
of
the
shop
.
"
Ah
!
Miss
Wilmot
,
"
exclaimed
Mr.
Banks
:
"
punctual
to
the
time
!
Your
most
obedient
,
sir
,
"
he
added
,
turning
towards
Kate
's
companion
,
whom
he
did
not
know
personally
,
but
who
was
really
Richard
Markham
.
"
Walk
in
,
Miss
—
walk
in
,
sir
.
"
Then
,
without
farther
ceremony
,
the
undertaker
banged
the
door
violently
in
the
faces
of
the
loungers
at
the
shop-entrance
.
"
Please
to
come
this
way
,
"
he
said
,
again
turning
to
his
visitors
.
"
Take
care
of
that
lid
,
Miss
;
it
'll
soon
cover
a
blessed
defunct
as
a
widder
and
seven
small
childern
is
now
a-weeping
for
.
I
'm
doing
it
cheap
for
'
em
,
poor
things
—
eighteen-pence
under
the
reg'lar
charge
,
'
cause
they
had
to
sell
their
bed
to
pay
for
it
—
in
adwance
.
This
way
,
sir
:
mind
them
trestles
.
Ah
!
a
many
coffins
has
stood
on
'
em
—
all
made
on
the
newest
and
most
economic
principles
;
for
my
maxim
is
that
a
cheap
and
good
undertaker
is
a
real
blessin
'
to
society
—
a
perfect
god-send
in
this
world
of
wanity
and
wexation
.
What
would
the
poor
sinful
wessels
in
this
neighbourhood
do
without
me
?
—
what
indeed
?
"
Thus
talking
,
and
shaking
his
head
in
a
most
solemn
manner
,
Mr.
Banks
led
the
way
to
a
parlour
behind
the
shop
:
and
when
his
two
visitors
had
entered
it
,
he
closed
the
door
to
prevent
the
intrusion
of
his
sons
.
"
Pray
,
sit
down
,
Miss
—
sit
down
,
sir
,
"
said
the
undertaker
,
doing
the
honours
of
his
abode
with
all
the
politeness
of
which
he
was
master
.
"
I
am
truly
glad
to
behold
your
blessed
countenance
again
,
Miss
;
—
for
it
's
a
sinful
world
,
and
blessed
countenances
is
scarce
—
wery
scarce
.
And
this
gentleman
is
Mr.
—
Mr.
—
ahem
!
—
I
have
n't
the
pleasure
of
knowing
him
.
"
"
It
's
no
matter
who
I
am
,
"
said
Richard
.
"
The
agreement
between
Miss
Wilmot
and
yourself
was
that
she
should
visit
you
,
accompanied
by
a
friend
:
—
I
am
that
friend
.
Let
us
now
proceed
to
business
.
"
And
as
he
spoke
,
our
hero
coolly
produced
a
brace
of
pistols
,
which
he
laid
upon
the
table
.
"
Sir
—
Miss
Kate
—
I
—
I
hope
—
—
"
stammered
the
undertaker
,
turning
pale
,
and
recoiling
in
alarm
.
"
Fear
nothing
,
"
said
Markham
:
"
it
is
merely
a
necessary
precaution
.
This
young
lady
and
myself
are
in
a
strange
neighbourhood
:
—
I
have
about
me
a
considerable
sum
of
money
,
for
the
purpose
of
buying
certain
papers
which
you
profess
to
have
;
and
you
will
pardon
me
if
I
have
thought
fit
to
adopt
every
precaution
—
yes
,
every
precaution
,
"
he
added
emphatically
,
"
to
guard
against
treachery
.
"
"
But
surely
that
dear
creetur
,
Miss
Katherine
,
with
her
angelic
countenance
,
"
said
Banks
,
"
must
have
told
you
,
sir
,
that
I
'm
a
'
spectable
man
as
was
well
known
to
Mr.
Smithers
,
and
that
I
should
scorn
to
act
dishonourable
to
any
blessed
living
wessel
.
"
"
We
will
not
dispute
upon
the
point
,
sir
,
"
returned
our
hero
,
in
an
authoritative
tone
.
"
I
have
my
reasons
for
acting
with
caution
.
If
you
intend
us
no
harm
—
none
can
befall
you
.
Where
are
these
papers
?
"
"
The
papers
,
sir
?
Oh
!
the
papers
is
safe
enow
,
"
said
Banks
,
still
hesitating
;
"
but
them
pistols
—
—
"
"
Will
remain
there
until
the
bargain
is
concluded
,
"
added
Markham
.
"
Again
I
say
that
I
mean
fairly
if
you
do
.
"
Thus
speaking
,
he
drew
forth
a
pocket-book
,
and
,
opening
it
,
displayed
to
the
undertaker
's
eager
eyes
a
number
of
Bank
notes
.
"
Business
—
it
looks
like
business
,
"
murmured
Banks
;
"
in
spite
of
them
bles
—
—
cussed
pistols
.
You
see
,
dear
pretty
Miss
—
and
you
,
good
sir
,
—
that
a
man
moving
in
such
a
important
speer
as
myself
sees
so
much
of
the
pomps
and
wanities
—
—
"
"
A
truce
to
these
unnecessary
observations
,
Mr.
Banks
,
"
said
Markham
,
somewhat
sternly
;
"
or
you
will
compel
me
to
think
that
you
are
only
talking
to
gain
time
—
which
could
not
be
for
any
proper
motive
.
In
one
word
,
then
—
have
you
the
papers
which
relate
to
this
young
lady
's
parentage
?
"
"
I
have
,
sir
—
I
have
indeed
,
"
returned
the
undertaker
.
With
these
words
,
he
slowly
unlocked
an
old
walnut-wood
desk
,
which
stood
in
a
recess
;
and
thence
he
took
a
brown-paper
parcel
,
tied
round
with
coarse
string
and
sealed
in
several
places
.
"
This
is
just
as
I
received
the
blessed
dokiments
from
my
friend
,
"
he
said
,
leisurely
advancing
towards
the
table
:
then
,
taking
a
seat
,
he
handed
the
parcel
to
Markham
,
observing
,
"
You
may
break
it
open
,
and
satisfy
yourself
that
its
contents
is
geniwine
.
Two
minutes
will
be
enow
for
that
—
and
two
minutes
is
all
my
friend
told
me
to
give
for
the
purpose
.
I
have
n't
read
a
line
of
them
myself
;
and
I
know
nothink
of
what
they
say
;
—
but
my
friend
is
as
sharp
a
feller
as
here
and
there
one
;
and
he
assures
me
they
're
going
dirt
cheap
—
like
workus
coffins
.
"
While
Banks
was
thus
indulging
his
garrulity
,
Markham
had
opened
the
parcel
by
the
aid
of
a
pair
of
scissors
which
lay
upon
the
table
;
and
the
first
thing
which
struck
him
was
a
letter
addressed
to
"
Mr.
Markham
,
Markham
Place
.
"
Katherine
,
who
watched
him
attentively
,
without
,
however
,
looking
at
the
papers
herself
,
observed
him
start
as
if
with
sudden
surprise
:
then
he
tore
open
the
letter
with
almost
a
wild
precipitation
,
and
glanced
rapidly
over
the
contents
.
As
he
read
,
his
countenance
became
flushed
,
and
his
features
expressed
mingled
joy
and
astonishment
—
joy
the
most
fervent
,
astonishment
the
most
profound
.
"
My
God
!
"
he
exclaimed
,
throwing
down
the
letter
,
ere
he
had
fully
perused
it
:
"
how
wondrous
are
thy
ways
!
Katherine
,
dearest
girl
—
come
to
my
arms
—
for
you
are
my
sister
—
my
own
sister
!
"
"
Your
sister
,
Richard
!
"
murmured
the
young
maiden
,
as
she
sank
almost
fainting
upon
her
brother
's
breast
.
"
Yes
—
my
sister
,
Kate
—
my
own
sister
!
"
—
and
he
embraced
her
tenderly
.
"
Compose
yourself
,
dear
girl
—
compose
yourself
:
this
is
no
place
for
explanations
!
But
you
are
not
the
less
my
sister
—
and
I
thank
God
for
it
!
I
have
now
a
natural
right
to
be
your
protector
—
and
a
protector
as
well
as
an
affectionate
brother
will
you
ever
find
me
!
"
"
Oh
!
Richard
—
this
sudden
—
this
unexpected
happiness
is
too
much
!
"
exclaimed
Katherine
,
weeping
through
varied
but
ineffable
emotions
.
"
Is
it
possible
that
he
whom
I
have
known
as
a
benefactor
is
indeed
a
brother
!
"
"
I
cannot
doubt
it
—
I
do
not
wish
to
doubt
it
,
"
returned
Markham
.
"
No
—
I
am
happy
that
I
have
found
a
sister
in
her
whom
I
already
loved
as
one
!
"
And
again
he
embraced
her
tenderly
.
"
And
I
to
find
a
brother
in
the
noblest
and
best
of
men
!
"
murmured
Katherine
:
"
it
appears
to
be
a
dream
—
a
delicious
dream
!
"
"
It
is
a
reality
,
"
said
Richard
;
"
and
we
shall
now
all
be
happier
than
ever
.
Oh
!
what
a
surprise
for
those
at
home
!
"
"
Then
you
perceive
,
my
lord
,
that
the
dokiments
is
of
some
wally
,
"
observed
Mr.
Banks
,
wiping
his
eyes
with
the
limp
ends
of
his
cravat
,
as
if
deeply
affected
by
the
scene
.
"
I
knowed
they
was
;
and
I
now
begin
to
think
that
I
have
found
out
your
name
.
I
'm
sure
it
's
a
unspeakable
honour
that
a
great
lord
and
prince
like
you
has
done
my
poor
house
by
setting
foot
in
it
—
and
all
amongst
the
coffins
too
!
"
"
Let
us
now
conclude
this
business
,
sir
,
"
exclaimed
Richard
,
with
whom
the
undertaker
's
remarks
passed
unheeded
,
so
absorbed
were
his
thoughts
in
the
signal
discovery
which
he
had
just
made
.
"
These
papers
are
mine
;
and
this
pocket-book
is
yours
.
You
may
examine
its
contents
.
"
"
Oh
!
I
've
no
doubt
they
're
all
right
,
my
lord
,
"
said
Banks
,
grasping
the
treasure
now
handed
to
him
;
"
but
I
'll
just
look
over
'
em
—
merely
for
form
's
sake
.
It
's
more
business-like
.
And
nice
new
flimsies
they
are
,
too
,
"
continued
the
undertaker
,
as
he
scrutinised
the
notes
one
by
one
.
"
Ah
!
what
miserable
wessels
we
should
be
without
money
,
my
lord
—
in
this
wicked
world
;
—
and
what
would
become
of
us
if
our
friends
had
no
cash
to
buy
us
nice
coffins
when
we
are
blessed
defunct
carkisses
?
It
's
awful
to
think
of
!
Four
fifties
—
two
hundreds
—
and
ten
tens
:
that
's
five
hundred
—
sure
enow
.
"
And
Mr.
Banks
proceeded
to
lock
up
the
pocket-book
,
with
its
valuable
contents
,
in
his
desk
.
Richard
and
Katherine
rose
,
as
if
to
depart
.
"
May
be
,
your
lordship
and
this
pretty
young
lady
will
just
wash
your
mouths
out
,
"
said
Mr.
Banks
,
attempting
a
pleasant
smile
.
"
A
leetle
drop
of
wine
—
one
glass
;
and
I
'll
step
myself
to
the
public-house
to
fetch
it
.
"
"
Do
so
,
"
returned
Markham
,
throwing
a
sovereign
upon
the
table
.
Katherine
looked
at
her
brother
in
astonishment
;
but
he
affected
not
to
perceive
the
impression
which
his
strange
conduct
had
thus
created
.
Banks
seemed
overjoyed
at
the
affability
of
the
nobleman
;
and
gathering
up
the
piece
of
gold
,
the
change
out
of
which
he
already
considered
as
his
own
perquisite
,
he
hastened
to
execute
the
commission
;
—
but
not
without
trying
the
lid
of
the
desk
ere
he
left
the
room
,
to
convince
himself
that
it
was
securely
locked
.
He
passed
through
the
shop
,
which
was
empty
;
and
,
muttering
to
himself
something
about
"
his
unnat'ral
boys
who
had
gone
off
to
the
public
without
finishing
the
economic
coffins
,
"
opened
the
street
door
and
went
out
.
The
moment
he
was
gone
,
Richard
seized
his
pistols
,
and
saying
in
a
hurried
tone
to
Katharine
,
"
Remain
here
,
dear
sister
,
for
a
few
moments
,
"
hastened
from
the
room
by
a
door
leading
to
the
inner
part
of
the
dwelling
.
He
rushed
down
a
passage
,
and
entered
the
yard
—
as
if
well
acquainted
with
the
undertaker
's
premises
.
The
moment
he
set
foot
in
the
yard
,
he
whistled
in
a
peculiar
manner
.
"
Damnation
!
—
treachery
!
"
cried
a
man
,
darting
forward
from
the
corner
near
the
window
.
"
Stand
—
or
I
fire
!
"
exclaimed
Markham
,
advancing
towards
him
,
and
presenting
a
pistol
.
"
Fool
!
"
said
the
man
;
and
he
threw
himself
with
desperate
fury
upon
our
hero
.
But
Richard
,
maintaining
his
footing
gallantly
,
closed
with
his
assailant
,
and
threw
him
to
the
ground
,
his
pistol
going
off
with
the
shock
—
without
,
however
,
inflicting
any
injury
.
And
at
the
same
moment
three
police-officers
leapt
over
the
wall
,
in
time
to
put
an
end
to
the
struggle
between
Markham
and
his
opponent
,
the
latter
of
whom
they
made
their
prisoner
and
immediately
bound
with
strong
cords
.
"
Is
your
Highness
hurt
?
"
asked
one
of
the
officers
.
"
No
,
Benstead
,
"
was
the
reply
:
"
a
little
bruised
,
perhaps
—
but
it
is
nothing
.
Bring
the
prisoner
this
way
.
"
The
whole
transaction
,
—
from
the
moment
when
Richard
left
the
undertaker
's
parlour
to
that
when
he
re-entered
it
,
followed
by
the
policemen
with
the
captive
,
—
had
not
occupied
two
minutes
.
He
found
Katherine
reclining
back
in
her
chair
—
half
fainting
and
paralysed
by
terror
,
so
deeply
had
the
report
of
the
pistol
and
the
concomitant
scuffle
in
the
yard
alarmed
her
.
But
the
moment
she
heard
her
brother
's
voice
,
she
started
up
,
gazed
wildly
around
,
and
threw
herself
into
his
arms
.
"
You
are
not
hurt
,
Richard
?
Oh
!
tell
me
—
that
pistol
!
"
she
exclaimed
,
terror
still
depicted
on
her
countenance
.
"
No
,
dear
sister
—
I
am
not
hurt
,
"
exclaimed
Richard
.
"
Calm
yourself
.
Every
thing
has
resulted
according
to
my
expectations
.
Look
,
Kate
—
that
terrible
man
is
at
length
in
the
hands
of
the
officers
of
justice
.
"
Katherine
turned
a
rapid
glance
towards
the
group
on
the
other
side
of
the
room
,
and
beheld
the
sinister
and
ferocious
countenance
of
the
individual
whom
she
had
seen
in
the
company
of
the
old
hag
near
Bennet
's
farm
.
At
this
moment
the
door
communicating
with
the
shop
opened
,
and
Mr.
Banks
made
his
appearance
,
carrying
a
bottle
in
his
hand
.
He
started
back
in
astonishment
and
alarm
when
his
eyes
encountered
the
police-officers
,
with
his
friend
Anthony
Tidkins
securely
bound
in
the
midst
of
them
.
But
as
his
glances
wandered
from
one
to
another
,
he
suddenly
appeared
to
recollect
something
;
and
,
fixing
his
eyes
on
Benstead
,
he
exclaimed
,
"
Ah
!
now
I
twig
it
all
.
What
a
cussed
fool
I
was
not
to
know
a
trap
even
in
plain
clothes
!
But
I
was
blind
,
'
cause
I
thought
I
'd
got
a
'
spectable
man
coming
as
a
fust
floor
lodger
.
No
wonder
you
poked
your
nose
in
every
hole
and
corner
—
'
specially
the
yard
.
I
was
a
idiot
—
a
ass
—
a
addle-pated
old
wessel
!
But
p'rhaps
the
gen'lemen
will
take
a
glass
of
wine
,
since
they
're
here
?
"
added
Mr.
Banks
,
with
a
smirking
countenance
.
This
semi-pleasantry
on
his
part
was
only
assumed
;
for
his
own
life
had
not
been
so
immaculate
as
to
preclude
the
existence
of
certain
fears
when
he
found
himself
in
the
dangerous
vicinity
of
the
police
.
He
was
,
however
,
speedily
reassured
on
this
head
.
"
Keep
your
wine
,
sir
,
"
exclaimed
Markham
,
"
for
those
who
can
enjoy
it
in
your
company
;
and
consider
yourself
fortunate
that
,
in
becoming
the
agent
of
that
man
,
"
—
pointing
with
deep
disgust
towards
Tidkins
,
—
"
you
have
not
committed
yourself
in
any
way
which
at
present
endangers
your
safety
.
I
see
that
you
glance
uneasily
at
your
desk
:
—
you
need
not
fear
that
I
shall
attempt
to
deprive
you
of
the
sum
which
you
have
extorted
as
the
purchase-money
for
the
papers
now
in
my
possession
.
No
:
—
although
I
do
not
envy
you
the
feelings
which
could
prompt
you
thus
to
lend
yourself
to
make
a
market
of
secrets
so
sacred
as
those
which
the
documents
contain
,
I
cannot
question
your
right
thus
to
act
,
seeing
that
the
papers
were
in
your
possession
.
And
were
I
compelled
to
pay
a
thousand
times
the
sum
given
to
obtain
them
,
I
should
consider
they
were
cheaply
bought
,
inasmuch
—
—
But
you
cannot
understand
such
feelings
!
"
he
added
,
addressing
these
words
to
the
undertaker
,
but
glancing
affectionately
towards
Katherine
.
"
I
hope
there
's
no
offence
,
my
lord
,
"
said
Banks
,
shaking
in
every
limb
with
vague
fears
and
suspicions
.
"
I
'm
a
poor
man
,
which
tries
to
live
honestly
by
undertaking
on
the
most
economic
principles
;
and
there
is
n't
a
carkiss
as
goes
through
my
hands
that
would
n't
sign
a
certifikit
in
my
favour
if
it
could
.
"
Richard
turned
his
back
contemptuously
upon
Mr.
Banks
,
and
,
addressing
himself
to
Benstead
,
asked
where
he
intended
to
lodge
the
prisoner
for
the
night
.
"
There
is
n't
a
station-house
in
London
that
would
be
safe
to
put
such
a
desperate
feller
in
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
He
'd
get
out
as
sure
as
my
name
is
Morris
Benstead
.
I
shall
take
him
direct
to
Coldbath
Fields
,
where
the
keeper
will
be
sure
to
give
him
accommodation
.
To-morrow
your
Highness
will
be
so
kind
as
to
appear
against
him
at
Lambeth
Street
.
"
Markham
promised
compliance
with
this
request
.
A
cab
was
sent
for
;
and
the
Resurrection
Man
,
who
had
maintained
a
moody
silence
,
although
he
never
ceased
from
looking
vindictively
upon
our
hero
,
from
the
moment
he
was
arrested
,
was
now
removed
in
safe
custody
.
The
Prince
then
conducted
Katherine
to
the
carriage
that
was
waiting
for
them
in
another
street
;
and
shortly
after
ten
o'clock
they
reached
Markham
Place
.
We
shall
pass
over
all
elaborate
details
of
the
surprise
and
joy
with
which
Isabella
,
Ellen
,
and
Mr.
Monroe
received
the
intelligence
that
Katherine
was
our
hero
's
sister
,
—
his
sister
without
what
the
world
calls
the
stigma
of
illegitimacy
!
Suffice
it
to
say
,
that
the
discovery
produced
the
most
unfeigned
pleasure
in
the
breasts
of
all
,
and
that
Kate
became
the
object
of
the
sincerest
congratulations
.
Richard
then
related
as
succinctly
as
possible
,
—
for
he
longed
to
peruse
the
precious
documents
in
his
possession
,
—
the
capture
of
the
Resurrection
Man
and
the
scheme
by
which
he
had
placed
that
villain
in
the
hands
of
the
officers
of
justice
.
"
I
felt
persuaded
,
"
he
said
,
"
that
Tidkins
did
not
put
implicit
confidence
in
Banks
,
and
that
he
intended
to
watch
the
negotiation
.
His
avarice
engendered
suspicions
and
got
the
better
of
his
prudence
.
I
communicated
my
views
yesterday
morning
to
a
faithful
officer
whom
I
know
;
and
Morris
Benstead
—
the
person
to
whom
I
allude
—
visited
the
undertaker
's
house
on
a
pretence
of
hiring
apartments
which
were
to
let
.
By
those
means
he
was
enabled
to
reconnoitre
the
premises
,
and
adopt
measures
accordingly
.
The
result
has
answered
my
anticipations
;
and
that
consummate
villain
,
who
twice
attempted
my
life
,
and
whose
atrocities
are
numerous
as
the
hairs
on
his
head
,
is
at
length
in
custody
.
"
"
Ah
!
dearest
Richard
,
"
said
Isabella
,
"
wherefore
should
you
have
thus
perilled
your
precious
life
?
"
"
Do
not
chide
me
,
Isabel
,
"
exclaimed
the
Prince
,
kissing
her
tenderly
.
"
I
only
performed
a
duty
that
I
owed
alike
to
society
and
to
myself
.
Let
us
now
examine
these
documents
which
have
already
made
so
strange
,
and
yet
so
welcome
a
revelation
.
"
The
members
of
that
happy
party
drew
round
the
table
;
and
Richard
began
by
reading
the
various
letters
that
accompanied
the
old
woman
's
narrative
.
But
as
those
epistles
merely
corroborated
the
main
points
of
her
tale
,
we
shall
not
quote
them
.
The
narrative
itself
will
explain
all
;
and
that
important
document
may
be
found
in
the
ensuing
chapter
.
CHAPTER
CCXXV
.
THE
OLD
HAG
'S
HISTORY
.
"
I
must
carry
my
recollection
back
between
seventeen
and
eighteen
years
.
Not
that
it
requires
any
effort
to
call
to
mind
the
leading
facts
in
this
sad
history
;
no
—
no
—
they
are
too
well
impressed
upon
my
memory
;
—
but
there
are
certain
details
connected
with
my
own
position
at
the
time
which
will
need
the
fullest
explanation
,
in
order
to
show
how
one
like
me
could
have
become
the
friend
of
Harriet
Wilmot
.
"
At
that
epoch
I
kept
a
boarding-house
—
a
fashionable
boarding-house
,
in
a
fashionable
street
at
the
West
End
.
I
was
not
then
ugly
and
withered
as
I
am
now
:
I
had
the
remains
of
great
beauty
—
for
I
was
very
beautiful
when
young
!
I
was
also
of
pleasant
and
agreeable
manners
,
and
knew
well
how
to
do
the
honours
of
a
table
.
You
will
not
therefore
be
surprised
when
I
tell
you
that
I
was
a
great
favourite
with
the
persons
who
lodged
at
my
establishment
,
and
with
the
still
more
numerous
visitors
.
It
is
true
that
this
establishment
was
a
boarding-house
;
and
it
was
conducted
to
all
outward
appearances
,
in
a
most
respectable
manner
.
But
it
had
its
interior
mysteries
as
well
as
many
other
dwellings
in
this
metropolis
.
The
fact
is
,
that
I
was
well
known
to
a
large
circle
of
nobles
and
gentlemen
who
employed
all
their
leisure
time
in
intrigues
and
amours
.
Having
been
gay
myself
from
fifteen
to
forty
,
I
was
deeply
versed
in
the
various
modes
of
entrapping
respectable
young
persons
,
and
even
ladies
,
in
the
meshes
artfully
spread
to
ensure
a
constant
supply
of
new
victims
to
the
lust
of
those
men
of
pleasure
.
Having
changed
my
name
and
thrown
a
veil
as
it
were
over
the
past
,
I
opened
the
boarding-house
by
means
of
the
funds
supplied
by
my
patrons
,
and
soon
experienced
great
success
.
By
paying
all
my
tradesmen
with
the
utmost
punctuality
,
I
acquired
a
good
character
in
the
neighbourhood
;
for
your
tradesmen
can
always
make
or
mar
you
,
their
shops
being
the
scandal-marts
where
all
reports
,
favourable
or
unfavourable
,
are
put
into
circulation
;
and
as
they
consider
that
those
who
pay
well
must
necessarily
be
respectable
,
regularity
on
that
point
is
certain
to
ensure
their
advantageous
opinion
.
Having
thus
founded
the
respectability
of
my
establishment
,
the
rest
was
easy
enough
.
The
calculations
made
by
myself
and
patrons
were
these
:
—
Boarding-houses
are
usually
inhabited
by
ladies
possessing
incomes
which
,
though
derived
from
sources
that
are
sure
,
are
too
small
to
enable
them
to
set
up
in
housekeeping
for
themselves
.
Elderly
widows
with
their
daughters
,
—
young
widows
who
,
coming
from
the
country
or
from
abroad
,
are
strangers
in
London
,
but
who
wish
to
marry
again
,
and
therefore
seek
that
society
which
is
most
easily
entered
,
—
friendless
orphans
who
possess
small
annuities
,
—
aunts
and
their
nieces
,
—
grandmothers
with
their
grand-daughters
,
—
these
are
the
class
of
ladies
who
principally
support
boarding-houses
.
Thus
there
is
always
a
large
proportion
of
young
ladies
in
those
establishments
;
and
out
of
a
dozen
there
are
sure
to
be
three
or
four
very
good-looking
.
There
can
now
be
no
difficulty
in
understanding
the
motives
which
induced
my
patrons
to
place
me
at
the
head
of
a
boarding-house
.
"
I
must
now
record
the
plan
of
operations
.
In
all
boarding-houses
the
number
of
ladies
preponderates
greatly
over
that
of
gentlemen
.
My
average
was
usually
about
twenty
ladies
and
four
or
five
gentlemen
.
Three
times
every
week
we
had
music
and
dancing
in
the
evening
;
and
as
there
was
a
lack
of
beaux
,
I
of
course
supplied
the
deficiency
by
inviting
'
some
highly
respectable
gentlemen
with
whom
I
had
the
honour
to
be
acquainted
.
'
These
were
of
course
my
patrons
;
and
when
they
were
at
the
house
they
always
took
care
to
treat
me
with
a
proper
politeness
,
as
if
all
they
knew
of
me
was
highly
to
my
credit
and
honour
.
They
thus
became
constant
visitors
,
and
were
enabled
to
improve
their
acquaintance
with
any
of
the
young
ladies
whom
they
fancied
.
As
they
were
very
attentive
also
to
the
elderly
ladies
,
and
as
good
wine
and
negus
were
never
spared
upon
those
occasions
,
the
mammas
,
aunts
,
and
grandmammas
were
very
fond
of
our
evenings
'
entertainments
,
and
considered
the
gentlemen
whom
I
invited
to
be
'
the
most
delightful
creatures
in
the
world
.
'
Sometimes
rubbers
of
whist
would
vary
the
amusements
;
and
as
my
patrons
were
not
only
all
rich
,
but
had
their
own
private
purposes
to
serve
in
frequenting
my
house
,
they
allowed
the
old
ladies
to
cheat
them
without
manifesting
the
least
ill
will
;
or
else
they
actually
played
badly
to
enable
the
said
old
ladies
to
win
.
It
was
therefore
impossible
that
they
could
have
failed
to
become
especial
favourites
;
and
of
these
advantages
they
availed
themselves
in
their
designs
upon
the
young
ladies
.
"
The
lodgers
in
boarding-houses
are
always
mean
and
avaricious
.
The
smallness
of
their
incomes
does
not
permit
them
to
indulge
largely
in
their
natural
taste
for
dress
;
and
yet
nowhere
do
females
maintain
such
desperate
struggles
to
appear
fine
in
their
apparel
.
Thus
the
ladies
in
boarding-houses
can
easily
be
persuaded
to
accept
of
presents
;
and
of
these
my
patrons
were
by
no
means
sparing
.
A
gold
chain
was
a
certain
passport
to
a
young
lady
's
favour
;
and
a
velvet
or
silk
dress
would
secure
the
good
opinion
of
the
aunt
or
grandmamma
,
and
even
of
the
mamma
.
Moreover
,
when
one
of
my
patrons
appeared
particularly
attentive
to
any
young
lady
,
she
concluded
of
course
that
his
intentions
were
honourable
;
and
in
a
very
short
time
she
became
his
victim
.
In
a
word
,
my
boarding-house
,
though
ostensibly
so
respectable
,
was
nothing
more
nor
less
than
a
brothel
conducted
with
regard
to
outward
decencies
,
and
carefully
hushing
up
scandals
that
occurred
within
.
"
I
must
now
proceed
to
the
principal
topic
of
my
history
.
It
was
,
as
I
said
,
between
seventeen
and
eighteen
years
ago
,
that
the
Marquis
of
Holmesford
,
who
was
one
of
my
best
patrons
,
called
upon
me
and
said
that
he
had
seen
a
beautiful
young
woman
enter
a
humble
lodging-house
in
a
street
not
far
from
my
own
;
and
he
directed
me
to
institute
inquiries
concerning
her
.
I
did
so
;
and
in
due
course
ascertained
that
her
name
was
Harriet
Wilmot
—
that
she
lived
with
her
father
in
poor
lodgings
—
and
that
they
were
by
no
means
well
off
.
I
managed
to
get
acquainted
with
Harriet
,
and
called
upon
her
.
Her
father
was
very
ill
—
dying
,
indeed
,
of
a
broken
heart
,
through
losses
in
business
.
It
moreover
appeared
that
he
had
arrived
in
London
only
a
short
time
before
,
and
with
a
small
sum
of
ready
money
,
which
he
embarked
in
a
little
speculation
that
totally
failed
.
They
were
sorely
pressed
by
penury
when
I
thus
sought
them
out
;
and
as
I
then
knew
well
how
to
offer
assistance
in
a
delicate
manner
that
could
give
no
offence
,
I
was
looked
upon
by
the
poor
young
woman
as
an
angel
sent
to
minister
to
the
wants
of
her
dying
father
.
The
Marquis
supplied
me
liberally
with
the
means
of
thus
aiding
them
;
and
I
called
regularly
every
day
.
"
My
plan
was
to
instil
into
Harriet
's
mind
elevated
notions
of
the
position
which
she
ought
to
reach
through
the
medium
of
her
personal
attractions
.
I
told
her
of
great
lords
who
had
fallen
in
love
with
females
in
obscure
stations
,
and
who
had
married
them
;
and
as
I
also
supplied
Harriet
with
clothes
,
I
took
good
care
that
they
should
be
of
such
a
nature
as
was
calculated
to
engender
ideas
of
finery
.
But
all
my
arts
failed
to
corrupt
the
pure
mind
of
Miss
Wilmot
:
she
listened
to
me
with
respect
—
never
with
interest
;
—
she
wore
the
garments
that
I
gave
her
,
because
she
had
none
others
.
I
saw
that
it
was
no
use
to
think
of
introducing
the
Marquis
to
her
immediately
;
and
such
was
the
passion
he
had
conceived
for
her
,
that
he
did
not
become
lukewarm
with
delay
.
"
In
three
weeks
after
I
first
became
acquainted
with
the
Wilmots
,
the
old
man
died
.
The
purse
of
the
Marquis
supplied
,
through
my
agency
,
the
means
of
respectable
interment
;
and
when
the
first
week
of
mourning
was
over
,
I
touched
gently
upon
Harriet
's
situation
.
She
threw
herself
into
my
arms
,
called
me
her
benefactress
and
only
friend
,
and
thanked
me
for
my
kindness
towards
her
deceased
father
and
herself
,
in
such
sincere
—
such
ardent
—
and
yet
such
artless
terms
,
that
for
the
first
time
in
my
life
I
experienced
a
remorse
at
the
treacherous
part
I
was
playing
.
Harriet
declared
that
she
could
not
possibly
think
of
being
a
burden
to
me
,
and
implored
me
to
follow
up
my
goodness
towards
her
by
procuring
her
a
menial
situation
—
as
she
was
determined
to
go
out
to
service
.
I
told
her
I
would
consider
what
I
could
do
for
her
;
and
I
went
away
more
than
half
resolved
to
gratify
her
wish
and
place
her
beyond
the
reach
of
the
Marquis
by
obtaining
for
her
a
situation
through
the
means
of
my
tradesmen
.
But
when
I
reached
my
own
house
,
I
found
the
Marquis
waiting
for
me
;
and
he
was
so
liberal
with
his
gold
,
and
so
useful
to
me
as
my
best
patron
,
that
I
did
not
dare
offend
him
.
I
accordingly
hushed
my
scruples
,
and
communicated
to
him
all
that
had
just
occurred
.
He
directed
me
to
get
Harriet
into
my
house
on
any
terms
,
and
leave
the
rest
to
him
.
I
was
over-persuaded
;
and
the
next
day
I
went
to
Harriet
,
and
said
to
her
'
My
dear
child
,
I
have
been
thinking
of
your
wish
to
earn
your
own
living
;
and
I
have
a
proposal
to
make
to
you
.
I
require
a
young
person
to
act
as
my
housekeeper
:
will
you
take
the
place
?
You
shall
have
your
own
room
to
yourself
;
and
I
will
make
you
as
comfortable
as
I
can
.
'
The
tears
of
gratitude
and
the
tokens
of
affection
towards
me
,
with
which
that
friendless
young
woman
met
my
offer
,
actually
wrung
my
heart
.
I
wept
myself
—
yes
,
I
wept
myself
!
And
I
weep
now
,
too
,
as
all
those
memories
return
to
me
with
overwhelming
force
.
"
Harriet
Wilmot
thus
entered
my
service
.
But
the
very
same
day
that
she
came
into
my
house
,
I
was
attacked
with
a
sudden
and
malignant
fever
,
which
threw
me
upon
a
sick
bed
.
For
ten
days
I
was
insensible
to
all
that
was
passing
around
me
;
and
when
I
awoke
from
that
mental
darkness
,
I
found
Harriet
by
my
bed-side
.
For
ten
days
and
ten
nights
had
she
watched
near
me
,
scarcely
snatching
a
few
moments
'
repose
in
the
arm-chair
.
She
was
pale
and
wan
with
long
vigils
;
but
how
her
beautiful
countenance
lighted
up
with
the
animation
of
joy
,
when
the
physician
declared
that
I
should
recover
.
And
this
same
physician
assured
me
that
I
owed
my
life
more
to
the
care
of
the
faithful
Harriet
than
to
his
skill
.
I
was
overwhelmed
by
this
demonstration
of
so
much
gratitude
on
her
part
;
and
I
determined
to
place
her
beyond
the
reach
of
danger
the
moment
I
was
convalescent
.
"
But
when
I
recovered
,
and
was
once
more
involved
in
the
bustle
and
intrigues
of
my
business
,
my
good
resolutions
rapidly
vanished
—
for
the
gold
and
the
patronage
of
the
Marquis
of
Holmesford
were
so
necessary
to
me
!
The
Marquis
now
became
a
more
constant
visitor
than
ever
at
the
house
;
and
he
found
opportunities
to
pay
his
attentions
to
Harriet
.
But
she
did
not
comprehend
his
hints
;
and
he
soon
spoke
more
boldly
.
Then
she
grew
alarmed
:
still
,
as
she
afterwards
told
me
,
she
did
not
choose
to
annoy
me
by
complaints
;
and
she
contented
herself
by
shunning
the
Marquis
as
much
as
possible
.
At
length
,
one
evening
,
when
inflamed
with
wine
,
he
forced
his
way
into
her
chamber
,
and
declared
his
views
in
such
unequivocal
terms
,
that
the
poor
creature
could
no
longer
support
his
importunities
.
She
indignantly
commanded
him
to
leave
her
:
he
grew
bolder
,
and
attempted
violence
.
She
escaped
from
him
,
and
quitted
the
house
.
From
a
lodging
which
she
immediately
took
,
she
wrote
me
a
letter
,
detailing
the
insults
she
had
endured
,
reiterating
all
her
former
expressions
of
gratitude
towards
me
,
acquitting
me
of
all
blame
in
the
transaction
,
but
declaring
that
,
as
she
supposed
I
could
not
prevent
the
Marquis
from
visiting
at
the
house
,
she
must
respectfully
but
firmly
decline
remaining
in
my
service
.
I
hastened
to
her
,
and
was
not
very
urgent
in
my
desire
that
she
should
return
;
for
I
remembered
her
goodness
to
me
when
I
was
ill
,
and
my
heart
was
softened
in
her
favour
.
By
means
of
one
of
my
tradesmen
she
almost
immediately
obtained
a
situation
as
nursery-maid
in
a
family
residing
at
Lower
Holloway
.
I
kept
this
circumstance
concealed
from
the
Marquis
of
Holmesford
,
to
whom
I
declared
that
I
knew
not
whither
she
was
gone
;
and
it
was
impossible
that
he
could
now
blame
me
,
as
he
himself
had
driven
her
by
his
rashness
from
my
house
.
"
I
must
observe
that
all
these
incidents
,
—
from
the
first
moment
of
my
acquaintance
with
Harriet
until
she
thus
quitted
my
house
,
—
occurred
within
a
period
of
three
months
.
"
Harriet
was
not
happy
in
her
new
place
.
She
found
that
her
mistress
was
an
ill-tempered
vixen
,
and
her
master
a
despotic
upstart
.
But
an
event
occurred
which
entirely
changed
her
gloomy
prospects
,
and
enabled
her
to
leave
her
situation
without
the
necessity
of
seeking
for
another
.
During
her
walks
with
the
children
whom
she
had
to
attend
upon
,
she
met
with
a
gentleman
of
middle
age
,
but
handsome
person
and
agreeable
manners
;
and
some
accident
,
which
I
have
forgotten
,
made
them
acquainted
.
From
that
time
they
met
every
day
:
the
gentleman
became
deeply
enamoured
of
her
,
but
never
once
did
he
make
a
dishonourable
proposal
.
She
told
him
that
she
was
a
poor
friendless
orphan
and
he
pitied
her
:
—
in
a
short
time
he
learnt
to
appreciate
the
purity
of
her
mind
—
and
he
loved
her
.
He
offered
her
his
hand
;
—
but
his
pride
imposed
a
condition
.
He
was
wealthy
—
he
was
a
widower
—
he
had
two
children
;
and
he
probably
disliked
the
idea
of
introducing
to
the
world
as
his
wife
one
who
had
been
a
servant
.
She
was
unhappy
in
her
place
—
without
friends
—
without
protectors
;
and
she
yielded
to
his
solicitations
for
a
private
union
.
They
were
married
—
married
at
Norwood
,
where
the
register
will
doubtless
attest
the
fact
!
"
This
gentleman
was
Mr.
Markham
,
of
Markham
Place
.
I
never
was
in
the
neighbourhood
of
that
mansion
until
about
a
year
ago
;
then
I
saw
it
for
the
first
time
,
and
I
sighed
as
I
thought
of
Harriet
Wilmot
!
For
she
ought
to
have
become
the
mistress
of
the
spacious
dwelling
;
—
and
so
she
doubtless
would
have
become
,
had
not
my
treachery
blighted
all
her
hopes
—
all
her
prospects
!
But
I
must
go
back
to
resume
the
thread
of
my
history
in
due
course
.
"
Mr.
Markham
took
a
comfortable
lodging
for
his
young
bride
in
a
street
somewhere
near
Brunswick
Square
.
Precisely
ten
months
after
their
union
Katherine
was
born
;
and
Mr.
Markham
now
seriously
thought
of
acknowledging
his
wife
and
child
.
She
had
hitherto
passed
by
the
