.Little
did
she
imagine
that
the
privacy
of
her
bath
had
been
invaded
—
violated
by
the
glance
of
that
man
who
now
seated
himself
next
to
her
,
and
whose
sanctity
was
deemed
to
be
above
all
question
.
Little
,
either
,
did
her
father
and
friend
suppose
that
there
was
one
present
who
had
vowed
that
she
should
be
his
,
and
who
,
in
connection
with
that
determination
,
had
entertained
no
thought
of
marriage
.
The
ramble
in
the
garden
had
so
far
cooled
the
rector
's
brain
,
that
nothing
in
his
behaviour
towards
Ellen
was
calculated
to
excite
observation
;
but
,
from
time
to
time
,
when
unperceived
,
he
cast
upon
her
a
glance
of
fervent
admiration
—
a
long
,
fixed
,
devouring
glance
,
which
denoted
profound
passion
.
At
length
the
hour
for
departure
arrived
;
and
his
carriage
drove
round
to
the
front
door
.
The
rain
of
the
preceding
evening
had
changed
to
frost
during
the
night
;
—
the
morning
was
fine
,
fresh
,
and
healthy
,
though
intensely
cold
;
there
was
hence
no
shadow
of
an
excuse
for
a
longer
stay
.
The
rector
expressed
his
thanks
for
the
hospitality
which
he
had
experienced
,
with
that
politeness
which
so
eminently
characterised
his
manners
;
and
when
he
shook
hands
with
Ellen
,
he
pressed
hers
gently
.
She
thought
that
he
intended
to
convey
a
sort
of
assurance
that
the
secret
which
he
had
detected
on
the
previous
day
,
was
sacred
with
him
;
and
she
cast
upon
him
a
rapid
glance
,
expressive
of
gratitude
.
Reginald
then
stepped
into
the
carriage
,
which
immediately
rolled
rapidly
away
towards
London
.
Upon
his
arrival
at
home
,
he
proceeded
straight
to
his
study
,
whither
he
was
immediately
followed
by
the
old
housekeeper
.
"
Leave
me
—
leave
me
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
,
"
said
the
rector
;
"
I
wish
to
be
alone
.
"
"
I
thought
something
had
happened
,
sir
,
"
observed
the
old
woman
,
fidgetting
about
the
room
,
for
with
senile
pertinacity
she
was
resolved
to
say
what
she
had
upon
her
mind
:
"
I
thought
so
,
"
she
continued
,
"
because
this
is
the
first
time
you
ever
stayed
out
all
night
without
sending
me
word
what
kept
you
.
"
"
I
am
not
aware
that
I
owe
you
an
account
of
my
actions
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
,
"
said
the
rector
,
who
,
like
all
guilty
persons
,
was
half
afraid
that
his
conduct
was
suspected
by
the
old
woman
.
"
Certainly
not
,
sir
;
and
I
never
asked
it
.
But
after
all
the
years
I
have
been
with
you
,
and
the
confidence
you
have
always
reposed
in
me
—
until
within
the
last
week
or
two
,
"
added
the
old
housekeeper
,
"
I
was
afraid
lest
I
had
done
something
to
offend
you
.
"
"
No
such
thing
,
"
said
the
rector
,
somewhat
softened
.
"
But
as
the
cares
of
my
ministry
multiply
upon
me
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
sir
,
they
must
have
multiplied
of
late
,
"
interrupted
the
old
woman
;
"
for
you
're
not
the
same
man
you
were
.
"
"
How
do
you
mean
?
"
demanded
Reginald
,
now
once
more
irritated
.
"
You
have
seemed
restless
,
unsettled
,
and
unhappy
,
for
some
two
or
three
weeks
past
,
sir
,
"
answered
the
housekeeper
,
wiping
away
a
tear
from
her
eye
.
"
And
then
you
are
not
so
regular
in
your
habits
as
you
were
:
you
go
out
and
come
in
oftener
;
—
sometimes
you
stay
out
till
very
late
;
at
others
you
come
home
,
send
me
up
to
bed
,
and
say
that
you
yourself
are
going
to
rest
;
—
nevertheless
,
I
hear
you
about
the
house
—
—
"
"
Nonsense
!
"
ejaculated
Reginald
,
struck
by
the
imprudence
of
which
he
had
been
guilty
in
admitting
Lady
Cecilia
into
his
abode
.
"
Do
not
make
yourself
unhappy
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
:
nothing
ails
me
,
I
can
assure
you
.
But
—
tell
me
,
"
he
added
,
half
afraid
to
ask
the
question
;
"
have
you
heard
any
one
else
remark
—
I
mean
,
make
any
observation
—
that
is
,
speak
as
you
do
about
me
—
—
"
"
Well
,
sir
,
if
you
wish
for
the
truth
,
"
returned
the
housekeeper
,
"
I
must
say
that
the
clerk
questioned
me
yesterday
morning
about
you
.
"
"
The
clerk
!
"
ejaculated
Reginald
;
"
and
what
did
he
say
?
"
"
Oh
?
he
merely
thought
that
you
had
something
on
your
mind
—
some
annoyance
which
worried
you
—
—
"
"
He
is
an
impertinent
fellow
!
"
cried
the
rector
,
thrown
off
his
guard
by
the
alarming
announcement
that
a
change
in
his
behaviour
had
been
observed
.
"
He
only
speaks
out
of
kindness
,
sir
—
as
I
do
,
"
observed
the
housekeeper
,
with
a
deep
sigh
.
"
Well
,
well
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
,
"
said
the
rector
,
vexed
at
his
own
impatience
:
"
I
was
wrong
to
mistrust
the
excellence
of
his
motives
.
To
tell
the
truth
,
I
have
had
some
little
cause
of
vexation
—
the
loss
of
a
large
sum
—
through
the
perfidy
of
a
pretended
friend
—
and
—
—
"
The
rector
floundered
in
the
midst
of
his
falsehood
;
but
the
old
housekeeper
readily
believed
him
,
and
was
rejoiced
to
think
that
he
had
at
length
honoured
her
with
his
confidence
in
respect
to
the
cause
of
that
restlessness
which
she
had
mistaken
for
a
secret
grief
.
"
But
no
one
else
has
made
any
remark
,
my
dear
Mrs.
Kenrick
?
"
said
the
rector
,
in
a
tone
of
conciliation
"
I
mean
—
no
one
has
questioned
you
—
or
—
—
"
"
Only
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
sent
yesterday
afternoon
to
request
you
to
call
upon
her
,
sir
.
"
"
Ah
!
—
well
?
"
"
And
of
course
I
said
to
her
servant-maid
that
you
were
not
at
home
.
She
came
back
in
the
evening
,
and
seemed
much
disappointed
that
you
were
still
absent
.
Then
she
returned
again
,
saying
that
her
mistress
was
ill
and
wished
to
consult
you
upon
business
.
"
"
And
what
did
you
tell
her
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
?
"
"
That
you
had
not
returned
,
sir
,
"
answered
the
housekeeper
,
surprised
at
the
question
,
as
if
there
were
any
thing
else
to
tell
save
the
truth
.
"
The
servant-maid
seemed
more
and
more
disappointed
,
and
called
again
as
early
as
eight
o'clock
this
morning
.
"
"
This
morning
!
"
echoed
Reginald
,
seriously
annoyed
at
this
repetition
of
visits
from
Lady
Cecilia
's
confidential
servant
.
"
Yes
,
sir
;
and
when
I
said
that
you
had
not
been
home
all
night
,
she
appeared
quite
surprised
,
"
continued
the
housekeeper
.
"
And
you
told
her
that
I
had
not
been
home
all
night
?
"
mused
Reginald
.
"
What
must
Lady
Cecilia
think
?
"
"
Think
,
sir
?
"
cried
the
housekeeper
,
more
surprised
still
at
her
master
's
observations
.
"
You
can
owe
no
account
of
your
actions
,
sir
,
to
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
.
"
"
Oh
!
no
—
certainly
not
,
"
stammered
the
rector
,
cruelly
embarrassed
:
"
I
only
thought
that
evil
tongues
—
—
"
"
The
Reverend
Reginald
Tracy
is
above
calumny
,
"
said
the
housekeeper
,
who
was
as
proud
of
her
master
as
she
was
attached
to
him
.
"
True
—
true
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
,
"
exclaimed
the
rector
.
"
And
yet
—
but
,
after
all
no
matter
.
I
will
go
and
call
in
Tavistock
Square
at
once
;
and
then
I
can
explain
—
—
"
Up
to
this
moment
the
housekeeper
had
spoken
in
the
full
conviction
that
annoyance
alone
was
the
cause
of
her
master
's
recent
change
of
behaviour
and
present
singularity
of
manners
;
but
his
increasing
embarrassment
—
the
strangeness
of
his
observations
relative
to
Lady
Cecilia
—
his
anxiety
lest
she
should
entertain
an
evil
idea
concerning
his
absence
from
home
,
—
added
to
a
certain
vague
rumour
which
had
reached
her
ears
relative
to
the
lightness
of
that
lady
's
character
,
—
all
these
circumstances
,
united
with
the
fact
of
Cecilia
having
sent
so
often
to
request
Mr.
Tracy
to
call
upon
her
,
suddenly
engendered
a
suspicion
of
the
truth
in
the
housekeeper
's
mind
.
"
Before
you
go
out
again
,
sir
,
"
said
the
housekeeper
,
wishing
to
discard
that
suspicion
,
and
therefore
hastening
to
change
the
conversation
to
another
topic
,
"
I
should
mention
to
you
that
yesterday
afternoon
—
between
one
and
two
o'clock
—
Katherine
Wilmot
arrived
here
—
—
"
"
Indeed
!
What
,
so
soon
?
"
exclaimed
the
rector
.
"
And
as
she
assured
me
that
you
had
only
a
few
hours
before
offered
her
a
situation
in
your
household
,
"
continued
Mrs.
Kenrick
,
"
I
did
not
hesitate
to
take
her
in
.
Besides
,
she
is
a
good
girl
,
and
I
am
not
sorry
that
she
should
leave
her
uncle
's
roof
.
"
"
Then
you
approve
of
my
arrangement
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
?
"
said
Reginald
.
"
Certainly
,
sir
—
if
I
have
the
right
to
approve
or
disapprove
,
"
answered
the
old
lady
,
who
,
in
spite
of
the
natural
excellence
of
her
heart
,
was
somewhat
piqued
at
not
having
been
previously
consulted
upon
the
subject
:
then
,
ashamed
of
this
littleness
of
feeling
,
she
hastily
added
,
"
But
the
poor
girl
has
a
sad
story
to
tell
,
sir
,
about
the
way
in
which
she
left
her
uncle
;
and
,
with
your
permission
,
I
will
send
her
up
to
you
.
"
"
Do
so
,
"
said
the
rector
,
not
sorry
to
be
relieved
of
the
presence
of
his
housekeeper
,
in
whose
manner
his
guilty
conscience
made
him
see
a
peculiarity
which
filled
his
mind
with
apprehension
.
In
a
few
minutes
Katherine
Wilmot
entered
the
rector
's
study
.
Her
story
was
brief
but
painful
.
"
After
you
left
,
sir
,
I
sate
thinking
upon
your
very
great
kindness
and
that
of
Mr.
Markham
,
and
how
happy
I
should
be
to
have
an
opportunity
of
convincing
you
both
that
I
was
anxious
to
deserve
all
you
proposed
to
do
for
me
.
The
hours
slipped
away
;
and
for
the
first
time
I
forgot
to
prepare
my
uncle
's
dinner
punctually
to
the
minute
.
I
know
that
I
was
wrong
,
sir
—
but
I
had
so
much
to
think
about
,
both
past
and
future
!
Well
,
sir
,
one
o'clock
struck
;
and
nothing
was
ready
.
I
started
up
,
and
did
my
best
.
But
in
a
few
minutes
my
uncle
and
cousin
came
in
.
My
uncle
,
sir
,
was
rather
cross
—
indeed
,
if
I
must
speak
the
truth
,
very
cross
;
because
his
son
had
absolutely
refused
to
assist
him
in
his
morning
's
work
.
I
need
not
say
,
sir
,
"
continued
the
girl
,
with
a
shudder
,
"
what
that
work
was
.
The
first
thing
my
uncle
did
was
to
ask
if
his
dinner
was
ready
?
I
told
him
the
whole
truth
,
but
assured
him
that
not
many
minutes
would
elapse
before
it
would
be
ready
.
You
do
not
want
to
know
,
sir
,
all
he
said
to
me
;
it
is
quite
sufficient
to
say
that
he
turned
me
out
of
doors
.
I
cried
,
and
begged
very
hard
to
part
from
him
in
friendship
—
for
,
after
all
,
sir
,
he
is
my
nearest
relation
on
the
face
of
the
earth
—
and
,
then
,
he
brought
me
up
!
But
he
closed
the
door
,
and
would
not
listen
to
me
.
"
Katherine
ceased
,
and
wiped
her
eyes
.
The
poor
girl
had
said
nothing
of
the
terrific
beating
which
the
executioner
inflicted
upon
Gibbet
the
moment
they
returned
home
,
and
then
upon
Katherine
herself
before
he
thrust
her
out
of
the
house
.
"
Have
you
brought
away
your
mother
's
letter
with
you
,
Katherine
?
"
inquired
the
rector
,
who
during
the
maiden
's
simple
narrative
,
had
never
taken
his
eyes
off
her
.
"
My
uncle
sent
round
all
my
things
in
the
evening
,
by
my
unfortunate
cousin
,
"
replied
Katherine
;
"
and
amongst
the
rest
,
my
work-box
where
I
keep
the
letter
.
It
is
safe
in
my
possession
,
sir
.
"
"
Take
care
of
it
,
Kate
,
"
observed
the
rector
;
"
who
knows
but
that
it
may
some
day
be
of
service
?
"
"
Oh
!
sir
,
and
even
if
it
should
not
,
"
ejaculated
the
girl
,
"
it
is
at
all
events
the
only
memento
I
possess
of
my
poor
mother
.
"
"
True
—
you
told
me
so
,
"
said
Reginald
,
prolonging
the
conversation
only
because
the
presence
of
an
interesting
female
had
become
his
sole
enjoyment
.
"
And
now
,
my
dear
,
"
continued
the
rector
,
rising
from
his
seat
,
and
approaching
her
,
"
be
steady
—
conduct
yourself
well
—
and
you
will
find
me
a
good
master
.
"
"
I
will
not
be
ungrateful
,
sir
,
"
returned
Katherine
.
"
And
you
must
endeavour
to
relieve
Mrs.
Kenrick
of
all
onerous
duties
as
much
as
possible
,
"
said
the
rector
.
"
Thus
,
you
had
better
always
answer
my
bell
yourself
,
when
the
footman
is
not
in
the
way
.
"
"
I
will
make
a
point
of
doing
so
,
sir
,
"
was
the
artless
reply
.
The
rector
gave
some
more
trivial
directions
,
and
dismissed
his
new
domestic
to
her
duties
.
He
then
hastened
to
Tavistock
Square
,
to
appease
Lady
Harborough
,
whose
jealousy
,
he
suspected
,
had
been
aroused
by
his
absence
from
home
.
CHAPTER
CXLVII
.
THE
RECTOR
'S
NEW
PASSION
.
To
make
his
peace
with
Lady
Cecilia
was
by
no
means
a
difficult
matter
;
and
it
was
accomplished
rather
by
the
aid
of
the
rector
's
purse
than
his
caresses
.
He
remained
to
dinner
with
the
syren
who
had
first
seduced
him
from
the
paths
of
virtue
,
which
he
had
pursued
so
brilliantly
and
triumphantly
—
too
brilliantly
and
triumphantly
to
ensure
stability
!
In
the
evening
,
when
they
were
seated
together
upon
the
sofa
,
Reginald
implored
her
to
be
more
cautious
in
her
proceedings
in
future
.
"
Such
indiscretion
as
that
of
which
you
have
been
guilty
,
"
he
said
,
"
would
ruin
me
.
Why
send
so
often
to
request
my
presence
?
The
most
unsuspicious
would
be
excited
;
and
my
housekeeper
has
spoken
to
me
in
a
manner
that
has
seriously
alarmed
me
.
"
"
Forgive
me
,
Reginald
,
"
murmured
Cecilia
,
casting
her
arms
around
him
;
"
but
I
was
afraid
you
were
unfaithful
to
me
.
"
"
And
to
set
at
rest
your
own
selfish
jealousies
,
you
would
compromise
me
,
"
said
the
rector
.
"
Do
you
know
that
my
housekeeper
has
overheard
me
moving
about
at
night
when
I
have
admitted
you
,
or
descended
the
stairs
to
let
you
out
before
day-light
?
and
,
although
she
attributes
that
fact
to
restlessness
on
my
part
,
it
would
require
but
little
to
excite
her
suspicions
.
"
"
Again
I
say
forgive
me
,
Reginald
,
"
whispered
Cecilia
,
accompanying
her
words
with
voluptuous
kisses
,
so
that
in
a
short
time
the
rector
's
ill-humour
was
completely
subdued
.
"
Tell
me
,
"
she
added
,
"
may
I
not
visit
you
again
?
say
—
shall
I
come
to
you
to-night
?
"
"
No
,
Cecilia
,
"
answered
the
clergyman
;
"
we
must
exercise
some
caution
.
Let
a
week
or
a
fortnight
pass
,
so
that
my
housekeeper
may
cease
to
think
upon
the
subject
which
has
attracted
her
notice
and
alarmed
me
;
and
then
—
then
,
dearest
Cecilia
,
we
will
set
no
bounds
to
our
enjoyment
.
"
Reginald
Tracy
now
rose
,
embraced
his
mistress
,
and
took
his
leave
.
But
it
was
not
to
return
home
immediately
.
His
mind
was
filled
with
Ellen
's
image
;
and
,
even
while
in
the
society
of
Lady
Cecilia
,
he
had
been
pondering
upon
the
means
of
gratifying
his
new
passion
—
of
possessing
that
lovely
creature
of
whose
charms
he
had
caught
glimpses
that
had
inflamed
him
to
madness
.
Amongst
a
thousand
vague
plans
,
one
had
struck
him
.
He
remembered
the
horrible
old
woman
of
Golden
Lane
,
who
had
enticed
him
to
her
house
under
a
pretence
of
seeing
a
beautiful
statue
,
and
had
thereby
led
him
back
to
the
arms
of
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
.
To
her
he
was
determined
to
proceed
;
for
he
thought
that
he
might
be
aided
in
his
designs
by
that
ingenuity
of
which
he
had
received
so
signal
a
proof
.
Accordingly
,
wrapping
himself
up
in
his
cloak
,
he
repaired
directly
from
Lady
Cecilia
's
house
to
the
vile
court
in
Golden
Lane
.
It
was
past
seven
o'clock
in
the
evening
when
he
reached
the
old
hag
's
abode
.
She
was
dozing
over
a
comfortable
fire
;
and
her
huge
cat
slept
upon
her
lap
.
Even
in
the
midst
of
her
nap
,
the
harridan
mechanically
stretched
forth
her
bony
hand
from
time
to
time
,
and
stroked
the
animal
down
the
back
;
and
then
it
purred
in
acknowledgment
of
that
caress
which
to
a
human
being
would
have
been
hideous
.
Suddenly
a
knock
at
the
door
awoke
the
hag
.
"
Business
—
business
,
"
murmured
the
old
woman
,
as
she
rose
,
placed
the
cat
upon
the
rug
,
and
hastened
to
answer
the
door
:
"
no
idle
visitor
comes
to
me
at
this
time
.
"
The
moment
she
opened
the
door
the
rector
rushed
in
.
"
Gently
,
gently
,
"
said
the
old
hag
:
"
there
is
nothing
to
alarm
you
in
this
neighbourhood
.
Ah
!
"
she
cried
,
as
Reginald
Tracy
laid
aside
his
hat
and
cloak
;
"
is
it
you
,
sir
?
I
am
not
surprised
to
see
you
again
.
"
"
And
why
not
?
"
demanded
the
rector
,
as
he
threw
himself
into
a
chair
.
"
Because
all
those
who
wander
in
the
mazes
of
love
,
sooner
or
later
require
my
services
,
"
answered
the
hag
;
"
be
they
men
or
women
.
"
"
You
have
divined
my
object
in
seeking
you
,
"
said
the
rector
.
"
I
love
a
charming
creature
,
and
know
not
how
to
obtain
possession
of
her
.
"
"
You
could
not
have
come
to
a
better
place
for
aid
and
assistance
,
sir
,
"
observed
the
harridan
,
with
one
of
her
most
significant
and
,
therefore
,
most
wicked
leers
.
"
But
can
I
trust
you
?
will
you
be
faithful
?
what
guarantee
have
I
that
you
will
not
betray
me
to
Lady
Harborough
,
whose
jealousy
is
so
soon
excited
?
"
cried
Reginald
.
"
If
you
pay
me
well
I
am
not
likely
to
lose
a
good
patron
by
my
misconduct
,
"
answered
the
old
woman
boldly
.
"
In
a
word
,
my
left
hand
knows
not
what
my
right
hand
does
.
"
"
Well
spoken
,
"
said
the
rector
;
and
,
taking
gold
from
his
purse
,
he
flung
it
upon
the
table
,
adding
,
"
Be
this
your
retaining
fee
;
but
it
is
as
nothing
compared
to
what
I
will
give
you
if
you
succeed
in
a
matter
on
which
I
have
set
my
heart
.
"
"
You
must
be
candid
with
me
,
and
tell
me
every
particular
,
sir
,
"
said
the
hag
,
as
she
gathered
up
the
gold
with
avidity
.
"
I
have
seen
the
young
lady
to
whom
I
allude
,
but
on
three
or
four
occasions
,
"
continued
the
rector
;
"
and
yet
I
have
discovered
much
concerning
her
.
She
has
been
weak
already
,
and
has
a
child
of
some
six
or
seven
months
old
.
That
child
was
not
born
in
wedlock
;
nor
,
indeed
,
has
its
mother
ever
borne
the
name
of
wife
.
"
"
Then
the
conquest
cannot
be
so
difficult
,
"
murmured
the
hag
.
"
I
am
not
sure
of
that
,
"
said
Reginald
Tracy
.
"
Without
knowing
any
thing
of
her
history
,
I
am
inclined
to
believe
that
some
deep
treachery
—
some
foul
wrong
must
have
entrapped
that
young
lady
into
error
.
She
lives
in
the
most
respectable
way
;
and
neither
by
her
manner
nor
her
looks
could
her
secret
be
divined
.
Accident
alone
revealed
it
to
me
.
"
"
It
may
serve
our
purpose
—
it
may
serve
our
purpose
,
"
cried
the
harridan
,
musing
.
"
She
dwells
with
her
father
,
at
the
house
of
a
friend
—
a
very
young
man
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
"
cried
the
hag
,
struck
by
this
information
.
"
What
is
her
name
?
"
"
Ellen
Monroe
,
"
replied
the
rector
.
"
I
thought
so
,
"
exclaimed
the
old
woman
.
"
You
know
her
,
then
?
"
cried
Reginald
Tracy
in
astonishment
.
"
Are
you
sure
she
is
the
same
whom
you
imagine
her
to
be
?
"
"
She
resides
at
the
house
of
Mr.
Markham
in
Holloway
—
does
she
not
?
"
"
She
does
.
But
how
came
you
to
be
acquainted
with
her
?
what
cause
of
intimacy
could
exist
between
you
and
her
?
"
demanded
the
rector
.
"
My
left
hand
never
knows
what
my
right
hand
does
,
"
said
the
hag
.
"
If
I
reveal
to
you
the
affairs
of
another
,
how
could
you
put
confidence
in
me
when
I
declare
that
your
own
secrets
shall
not
be
communicated
to
Lady
Harborough
or
any
one
else
who
might
question
me
?
"
"
True
!
"
said
the
rector
:
"
I
cannot
blame
your
discretion
.
"
But
tell
me
—
have
you
any
hope
that
I
may
succeed
?
"
"
The
business
is
a
difficult
one
,
"
answered
the
hag
.
"
And
yet
greater
obstacles
than
I
can
here
see
have
been
overcome
—
aye
,
and
by
me
,
too
.
Did
I
not
tell
Lady
Harborough
that
I
would
bring
you
back
to
her
arms
?
and
did
I
not
succeed
?
Am
I
then
to
be
foiled
now
.
Show
me
the
weakness
of
a
human
being
,
and
I
direct
all
my
energies
against
that
failing
.
Ellen
Monroe
has
two
vulnerable
points
—
—
"
"
Which
are
they
?
"
asked
the
rector
eagerly
.
"
Her
vanity
and
her
love
for
her
father
,
"
replied
the
harridan
.
"
Leave
her
to
me
:
when
I
am
ready
for
you
I
will
call
upon
you
.
"
"
And
you
will
lose
no
time
,
good
woman
?
"
said
the
rector
,
overjoyed
at
the
hopes
held
out
to
him
.
"
I
will
not
let
the
grass
grow
under
my
feet
,
"
returned
the
hag
.
"
But
you
must
have
patience
;
for
the
girl
is
stubborn
—
sadly
stubborn
.
Art
,
and
not
entreaties
,
will
prevail
with
her
.
"
"
In
any
case
,
manage
your
matters
in
such
a
way
that
I
cannot
be
compromised
,
"
said
the
rector
;
"
and
your
reward
shall
be
most
liberal
.
"
"
Trust
to
me
,
"
murmured
the
hag
.
Reginald
Tracy
once
more
enveloped
himself
in
his
cloak
,
and
took
his
departure
.
"
And
so
I
have
made
a
discovery
this
evening
!
"
mused
the
hag
,
when
she
was
once
more
alone
.
"
Miss
Ellen
is
a
mother
—
she
has
a
child
of
six
or
seven
months
old
!
She
never
told
me
that
when
she
came
to
seek
my
aid
,
and
I
gave
her
the
card
of
the
Mesmerist
;
—
she
never
told
me
that
when
she
sought
me
after
that
,
and
I
sent
her
to
the
Manager
;
—
she
never
told
me
that
when
I
met
her
at
Greenwood
's
house
in
the
country
,
and
from
which
she
escaped
by
the
window
.
The
cunning
puss
!
She
does
not
even
think
that
I
know
where
she
lives
;
—
but
Lafleur
told
me
that
—
Lafleur
told
me
that
!
He
is
the
prince
of
French
valets
—
worth
a
thousand
such
moody
,
reserved
Italians
as
Filippo
!
So
now
the
rector
must
possess
Miss
Ellen
?
Well
—
and
he
shall
,
too
,
if
I
have
any
skill
left
—
if
I
have
any
ingenuity
to
aid
him
!
"
Then
the
hag
concealed
the
five
pieces
of
glittering
gold
which
the
rector
had
given
her
,
in
her
Dutch
clock
;
and
having
thus
secured
the
wages
of
her
iniquity
,
she
proceeded
to
mix
herself
a
steaming
glass
of
gin-and-water
to
assist
her
meditations
concerning
the
business
entrusted
to
her
.
"
Yes
,
"
she
said
,
continuing
her
musings
aloud
,
"
I
must
not
fail
in
this
instance
.
The
rector
is
a
patron
who
will
not
spare
his
gold
;
and
Ellen
may
not
be
the
only
one
he
may
covet
.
I
warrant
he
will
not
keep
me
unemployed
!
These
parsons
are
terrible
fellows
when
once
they
give
way
;
and
I
should
think
the
rector
has
not
been
long
at
this
game
,
or
he
could
scarcely
have
contrived
to
maintain
his
reputation
as
he
has
.
How
the
world
would
be
astonished
did
it
know
all
!
But
I
am
astonished
at
nothing
—
not
I
!
No
—
no
—
I
have
seen
too
much
in
my
time
.
And
if
I
repent
of
any
thing
—
but
no
I
do
not
repent
:
—
still
,
if
I
did
sometimes
think
of
one
more
than
another
,
'
tis
of
that
poor
Harriet
Wilmot
!
I
should
like
to
know
what
became
of
her
.
It
must
be
sixteen
or
seventeen
years
since
that
occurred
;
—
but
the
mention
of
the
name
of
Markham
just
now
,
brought
it
all
fresh
back
again
to
my
mind
.
Well
—
it
cannot
be
helped
:
it
was
in
the
way
of
business
like
any
thing
else
!
"
Let
us
leave
the
horrible
old
hag
at
her
musings
,
and
relate
a
little
incident
which
occurred
elsewhere
,
and
which
,
however
trivial
the
reader
may
deem
it
now
,
is
not
without
importance
in
respect
to
a
future
portion
of
our
narrative
.
The
rector
had
reached
the
door
of
his
own
house
,
after
his
interview
with
the
old
hag
,
and
was
about
to
knock
when
he
perceived
,
by
the
light
of
the
gas
lamp
,
a
strange-looking
being
standing
on
the
step
.
"
What
do
you
want
,
my
good
lad
?
"
asked
Reginald
.
"
Please
,
sir
,
I
want
to
speak
to
Kate
Wilmot
,
my
cousin
,
"
answered
Gibbet
—
for
it
was
he
.
"
Indeed
!
I
suppose
,
then
,
that
you
are
the
son
of
—
of
—
—
"
and
Reginald
stopped
;
for
he
did
not
like
to
wound
the
hump-back
's
feelings
by
saying
"
of
the
hangman
,
"
and
at
that
moment
he
had
forgotten
the
name
of
Katherine
's
uncle
.
"
My
name
is
Smithers
,
sir
,
"
said
the
lad
.
"
Ah
!
Smithers
—
so
it
is
,
"
cried
the
rector
.
"
Well
,
my
good
lad
,
I
cannot
think
of
preventing
Katherine
's
relations
from
coming
to
see
her
if
they
choose
;
but
,
as
she
is
now
in
a
good
place
and
respectably
settled
,
it
would
perhaps
be
prudent
that
those
visits
should
occur
as
seldom
as
possible
—
I
mean
,
not
too
often
.
"
"
I
'm
sure
,
sir
,
I
'm
very
sorry
if
I
have
offended
you
,
by
coming
,
"
sobbed
the
poor
hump-back
;
"
and
I
would
not
for
all
the
world
injure
Kate
in
the
opinion
of
those
friends
who
have
been
so
kind
as
to
provide
for
her
.
"
"
Yon
have
done
no
harm
—
I
am
not
angry
with
you
,
"
said
the
rector
.
"
Only
Mrs.
Kenrick
,
my
housekeeper
,
is
very
particular
,
and
does
not
like
the
servants
to
have
many
visitors
.
"
"
Then
I
wo
n't
come
any
more
,
sir
,
"
murmured
Gibbet
,
whose
heart
was
ready
to
break
at
this
cruel
announcement
.
"
Yes
—
you
may
come
and
see
your
cousin
every
Sunday
evening
.
"
"
Oh
!
thank
you
,
sir
—
thank
you
kindly
,
sir
!
"
ejaculated
the
hump-back
,
in
a
tone
of
touching
sincerity
.
"
Every
Sunday
evening
,
then
,
let
it
be
,
"
continued
the
rector
.
"
And
now
go
round
by
the
back
way
,
and
see
her
to-night
,
since
you
wish
to
do
so
.
"
The
hump-back
literally
bounded
with
joy
off
the
steps
,
and
hurried
to
the
stable-yard
,
whence
there
was
a
means
of
communication
with
the
servants
'
offices
attached
to
the
rector
's
house
.
As
he
drew
near
the
back-door
,
he
observed
lights
through
the
kitchen-windows
;
and
he
stopped
for
a
moment
to
observe
if
Katherine
were
within
.
In
order
to
see
into
the
kitchen
,
which
,
with
its
offices
,
formed
a
sort
of
out-house
joining
the
main
dwelling
,
the
hump-back
was
compelled
to
climb
upon
a
covered
dust-hole
standing
in
an
obscure
nook
on
the
opposite
side
of
the
yard
,
and
so
shrouded
in
darkness
that
no
one
passing
through
the
yard
could
observe
a
person
concealed
there
.
The
idea
of
ascertaining
if
Kate
were
in
the
kitchen
at
that
moment
,
was
not
a
mere
whim
on
the
part
of
the
hump-back
:
he
was
afraid
that
,
if
she
were
not
,
he
might
not
be
allowed
to
return
,
and
was
therefore
apprehensive
of
not
seeing
her
that
evening
at
all
.
Accordingly
,
he
clambered
upon
the
dust-bin
,
which
stood
in
a
nook
formed
by
the
irregularity
of
the
high
wall
that
separated
the
yard
of
the
rector
's
house
from
that
of
the
stables
;
and
from
this
point
of
observation
,
which
his
quick
eye
had
thus
detected
,
he
commanded
a
full
view
of
the
interior
of
the
kitchen
.
Yes
—
Kate
was
there
,
seated
at
the
table
,
and
occupied
with
her
needle
.
She
was
alone
too
.
Gibbet
remained
in
his
hiding-place
for
some
minutes
,
contemplating
,
with
melancholy
pleasure
,
the
interesting
countenance
of
the
young
girl
.
At
length
it
struck
him
that
it
was
growing
late
,
and
that
his
visit
must
not
last
long
.
He
let
himself
gently
down
from
the
eminence
to
which
he
had
clambered
;
and
as
he
was
about
to
turn
away
,
to
cross
the
yard
to
the
kitchen
door
,
he
stopped
short
,
as
if
an
idea
had
suddenly
entered
his
mind
.
Casting
a
look
back
upon
the
obscure
place
from
which
he
had
just
emerged
,
he
muttered
between
his
teeth
,
"
No
Kate
—
they
shall
not
prevent
me
from
seeing
you
of
an
evening
when
I
will
—
and
when
,
too
,
you
will
little
suspect
that
I
am
so
near
.
"
He
then
walked
over
to
the
kitchen
door
,
and
knocked
gently
.
Kate
herself
rose
to
open
it
,
and
with
unfeigned
pleasure
admitted
the
hump-back
.
"
Mr.
Tracy
says
that
I
may
come
and
see
you
every
Sunday
evening
,
Kate
,
"
were
Gibbet
's
first
words
:
"
you
wo
n't
say
no
—
will
you
,
Kate
?
"
"
Certainly
not
,
John
,
"
answered
the
maiden
.
"
I
shall
always
be
glad
to
see
you
,
my
poor
cousin
,
"
she
added
compassionately
.
"
Oh
!
I
know
you
will
,
Kate
,
"
exclaimed
the
hump-back
.
"
I
have
missed
you
so
all
yesterday
afternoon
,
and
all
to-day
;
and
father
is
more
unkind
to
me
than
ever
,
"
he
added
,
the
tears
trickling
down
his
cheeks
.
"
We
must
hope
that
better
times
await
you
,
John
,
"
said
Katherine
,
in
a
soothing
tone
.
"
Never
for
me
,
"
observed
Gibbet
,
with
a
profound
sigh
.
"
Father
does
not
cease
to
upbraid
me
for
my
conduct
yesterday
morning
.
But
I
could
not
help
it
.
I
went
down
to
Newgate
with
the
intention
to
do
my
best
;
but
when
I
got
there
,
and
found
myself
face
to
face
with
the
miserable
wretch
who
was
about
to
suffer
,
—
when
I
saw
his
awful
pale
face
,
his
wild
glaring
eyes
,
his
distorted
features
,
his
quivering
limbs
,
—
and
when
I
heard
him
murmur
every
other
moment
,
'
O
Lord
!
O
Lord
!
'
in
a
tone
scarcely
audible
and
yet
expressive
of
such
intense
anguish
,
—
I
could
not
lay
a
finger
upon
him
!
When
my
father
gave
me
the
twine
to
pinion
him
,
it
fell
from
my
hands
;
and
I
believe
I
felt
as
much
as
the
unfortunate
man
himself
.
Oh
!
heavens
—
his
face
will
haunt
me
in
my
dreams
as
long
as
I
live
.
I
never
shall
forget
it
—
it
was
so
ghastly
,
so
dreadful
!
I
would
not
have
had
any
thing
to
do
with
taking
that
man
's
life
away
—
no
,
not
for
all
the
world
.
I
did
not
see
a
criminal
before
me
—
I
only
saw
a
fellow-creature
from
whom
his
fellow-creatures
were
about
to
take
away
something
which
God
alone
gave
,
and
which
God
alone
should
have
the
right
to
recall
.
I
thought
of
all
this
;
and
I
was
paralysed
.
And
it
was
because
my
nature
would
not
let
me
touch
so
much
as
the
hem
of
that
man
's
garment
to
do
him
harm
,
that
my
father
upbraids
and
beats
me
.
Oh
!
it
is
too
cruel
,
Kate
—
it
is
too
cruel
to
bear
!
"
"
It
is
,
my
poor
cousin
,
"
answered
the
girl
;
"
but
let
me
entreat
you
to
submit
patiently
—
as
patiently
as
you
can
.
Times
must
change
for
you
—
as
they
have
for
me
.
"
These
last
words
she
uttered
in
a
half-tone
of
self-reproach
,
as
if
she
upbraided
herself
with
having
left
her
unfortunate
cousin
to
the
mercy
of
his
brutal
father
.
But
how
could
she
have
done
otherwise
,
poor
girl
?
The
conversation
between
that
interesting
young
creature
and
the
hump-back
continued
in
pretty
much
the
same
strain
for
about
half-an-hour
,
when
Gibbet
took
leave
of
his
cousin
.
"
You
will
come
and
see
me
next
Sunday
,
John
,
"
said
Katharine
,
as
she
shook
him
warmly
by
the
hand
.
"
Next
Sunday
evening
,
dear
Kate
,
"
he
replied
,
and
then
departed
.
CHAPTER
CXLVIII
.
THE
OLD
HAG
'S
INTRIGUE
.
On
the
morning
after
she
had
received
the
visit
from
the
Reverend
Reginald
Tracy
,
the
old
hag
rose
early
,
muttering
to
herself
,
"
I
must
lose
no
time
—
I
must
lose
no
time
.
"
She
then
proceeded
to
dress
herself
in
her
holiday
attire
,
each
article
of
which
was
purchased
with
the
wages
of
her
infamous
trade
.
Female
frailty
—
female
shame
had
clothed
the
hag
:
female
dishonour
had
produced
her
a
warm
gown
,
a
fine
shawl
,
and
a
new
bonnet
.
When
she
was
young
she
had
lived
by
the
sale
of
herself
:
now
that
she
was
old
she
lived
by
the
sale
of
others
.
And
she
gloried
in
all
the
intrigues
which
she
successfully
worked
out
for
those
who
employed
her
,
as
much
as
a
sharp
diplomatist
triumphs
in
outwitting
an
astute
antagonist
.
It
is
said
that
when
Perseus
carried
the
hideous
head
of
the
Gorgon
Medusa
through
the
air
,
the
gore
which
dripped
from
it
as
he
passed
over
the
desert
of
Libya
turned
into
frightful
serpents
:
so
does
the
moral
filth
which
the
corruption
of
great
cities
distils
,
engender
grovelling
and
venomous
wretches
like
that
old
hag
.
Well
—
she
dressed
herself
in
her
best
attire
,
and
contemplated
herself
with
satisfaction
in
a
little
mirror
cracked
all
across
.
Then
,
having
partaken
of
a
hearty
breakfast
,
she
sallied
forth
.
By
means
of
a
public
conveyance
she
soon
reached
the
vicinity
of
Markham
Place
.
She
had
never
been
in
that
neighbourhood
before
;
and
when
she
beheld
the
spacious
mansion
,
with
its
heavy
but
imposing
architecture
,
she
muttered
to
herself
,
"
She
is
well
lodged
—
she
is
well
lodged
!
"
The
hag
then
strolled
leisurely
round
Richard
's
miniature
domain
,
debating
within
herself
whether
she
should
knock
boldly
at
the
front
door
and
inquire
for
Miss
Monroe
,
or
wait
in
the
neighbourhood
to
see
if
that
young
lady
might
chance
to
walk
out
alone
.
The
day
was
fine
,
though
cold
;
and
the
hag
accordingly
resolved
to
abide
by
the
latter
alternative
.
Perceiving
a
seat
upon
the
summit
of
the
hill
,
whereon
stood
the
two
trees
,
she
opened
the
gate
at
the
foot
of
the
path
which
led
to
the
top
.
Then
she
toiled
up
the
hill
,
and
seated
herself
between
the
two
ash
trees
—
now
denuded
of
their
foliage
.
Presently
,
as
her
eyes
wandered
hither
and
thither
,
they
fell
upon
the
inscriptions
engraved
on
the
stem
of
one
of
the
trees
.
Thus
they
stood
:
—
Eugene
.
Dec.
25
,
1836.
Eugene
.
May
17th
,
1838.
The
old
woman
marvelled
what
that
name
,
twice
inscribed
,
and
those
dates
could
mean
.
But
she
did
not
trouble
herself
much
with
conjecture
on
that
point
:
she
had
other
business
on
hand
,
and
was
growing
impatient
because
Ellen
did
not
appear
.
At
length
her
penetrating
eyes
caught
a
glimpse
of
a
female
form
approaching
from
the
direction
of
the
garden
at
the
back
of
the
mansion
.
The
hag
watched
that
form
attentively
,
and
in
a
few
moments
exclaimed
joyfully
,
"
It
is
she
!
"
Ellen
was
indeed
advancing
up
the
hill
.
She
had
come
forth
for
a
short
ramble
;
and
the
clearness
of
the
day
had
prompted
her
to
ascend
the
eminence
which
afforded
so
fine
a
view
of
the
mighty
metropolis
at
a
little
distance
.
When
she
was
near
the
top
,
she
caught
sight
of
a
female
seated
upon
the
bench
between
the
trees
,
and
was
about
to
retreat
—
fearful
that
her
presence
might
be
deemed
a
reproach
for
what
was
in
fact
an
intrusion
upon
private
property
.
But
,
to
her
surprise
,
she
observed
the
female
beckoning
familiarly
to
her
;
and
she
continued
her
way
to
the
summit
.
Then
,
with
profound
astonishment
and
no
little
annoyance
,
she
recognised
the
old
hag
.
"
What
are
you
doing
here
?
"
demanded
Ellen
,
hastily
.
"
Resting
myself
,
as
you
see
,
miss
,
"
answered
the
harridan
.
"
But
how
charming
you
look
this
morning
!
That
black
velvet
bonnet
sets
off
your
beautiful
complexion
;
and
the
fresh
air
has
given
a
lovely
glow
to
your
cheeks
.
"
"
You
have
not
uttered
that
compliment
without
a
motive
,
"
said
Ellen
,
vainly
endeavouring
to
suppress
a
half-smile
of
satisfaction
.
"
But
you
must
not
suppose
that
your
flattery
will
make
me
forget
the
part
which
you
played
when
Mr.
Greenwood
had
me
conveyed
to
his
house
somewhere
in
the
country
.
"
"
My
dear
child
,
do
not
be
angry
with
me
on
that
account
,
"
said
the
old
hag
.
"
Mr.
Greenwood
thought
that
you
would
prefer
me
as
your
servant
instead
of
a
stranger
.
"
"
Or
rather
,
he
hired
you
to
talk
me
over
to
his
wishes
—
or
,
perhaps
,
because
he
knew
that
you
would
wink
at
any
violence
which
he
might
use
.
But
I
outwitted
you
both
,
"
added
Ellen
,
laughing
.
"
Ah
!
now
I
see
that
you
have
forgiven
me
,
my
child
,
"
cried
the
hag
.
"
And
when
I
behold
your
sweet
lips
,
red
as
cherries
—
your
lovely
blue
eyes
,
so
soft
and
languishing
—
and
that
small
round
chin
,
with
its
charming
dimple
,
I
feel
convinced
—
—
"
"
Nay
—
you
are
determined
to
flatter
me
,
"
interrupted
Ellen
;
"
but
I
shall
not
forgive
you
the
more
readily
on
that
account
.
"
"
How
well
this
pelisse
becomes
your
beautiful
figure
,
my
child
,
"
said
the
hag
,
affecting
not
to
notice
Ellen
's
last
observation
.
"
Cease
this
nonsense
,
"
cried
Miss
Monroe
;
"
and
tell
me
what
brings
you
hither
.
"
"
To
see
you
once
more
,
my
child
.
"
"
How
did
you
discover
my
abode
?
"
"
A
pleasant
question
,
forsooth
!
"
ejaculated
the
hag
.
"
Do
you
think
that
I
am
not
well
acquainted
with
all
—
yes
,
all
that
concerns
you
?
"
she
added
significantly
.
"
Alas
!
I
am
well
aware
that
you
know
much
—
too
much
,
"
said
Ellen
,
with
a
profound
sigh
.
"
Much
!
"
repeated
the
hag
.
"
I
know
all
,
I
say
,
—
even
to
the
existence
of
the
little
one
that
will
some
day
call
you
mother
.
"
"
Who
told
you
that
?
Speak
—
who
told
you
that
?
"
demanded
Ellen
,
greatly
excited
.
"
It
cannot
matter
—
since
I
know
it
,
"
returned
the
hag
:
"
it
cannot
matter
.
"
"
One
question
,
"
said
Ellen
,
—
"
and
I
will
ask
you
no
more
.
Was
Mr.
Greenwood
your
informant
?
"
"
He
was
not
,
"
answered
the
hag
.
"
And
now
tell
me
,
without
circumlocution
,
what
business
has
brought
you
hither
—
for
that
you
came
to
meet
with
me
I
have
no
doubt
.
"
"
Sit
down
by
me
,
my
child
,
"
said
the
hag
,
"
and
listen
while
I
speak
to
you
.
"
"
Nay
—
I
can
attend
to
you
as
well
here
,
"
returned
Ellen
,
laughing
,
as
she
leant
against
one
of
the
trees
—
an
attitude
which
revealed
her
tiny
feet
and
delicate
ankles
.
"
You
seem
to
have
no
confidence
in
me
,
"
observed
the
hag
;
"
and
yet
I
have
ever
been
your
friend
.
"
"
Yes
—
you
have
helped
me
to
my
ruin
,
"
said
Ellen
,
mournfully
.
"
And
yet
I
scarcely
blame
you
for
all
that
,
because
you
only
aided
me
to
discover
what
I
sought
at
the
time
—
and
that
was
bread
at
any
sacrifice
.
Well
—
go
on
,
and
delay
not
:
I
will
listen
to
you
,
if
only
through
motives
of
curiosity
.
"
"
My
sweet
child
,
"
said
the
harridan
,
endeavouring
to
twist
her
wrinkled
face
into
as
pleasing
an
expression
as
possible
,
"
a
strange
thing
has
come
to
my
knowledge
.
What
would
you
think
if
I
told
you
that
a
man
of
pure
and
stainless
life
,
who
is
virgin
of
all
sin
,
—
a
man
who
to
a
handsome
exterior
unites
a
brilliant
intellect
,
—
a
man
whose
eloquence
can
excite
the
aristocracy
as
well
as
produce
a
profound
impression
upon
the
middle
classes
,
—
a
man
possessed
of
a
fine
fortune
and
a
high
position
,
—
what
would
you
think
,
I
say
,
if
I
told
you
that
such
a
man
has
become
enamoured
of
you
?
"
"
I
should
first
wonder
how
such
a
phœnix
of
perfection
came
to
select
you
as
his
intermediate
,
"
answered
Ellen
,
with
a
smile
,
which
displayed
her
brilliant
teeth
.
"
A
mere
accident
made
me
acquainted
with
his
passion
,
"
said
the
hag
.
"
But
surely
you
would
not
scorn
the
advances
of
a
man
who
would
sacrifice
every
thing
for
you
—
who
would
consent
to
fall
from
his
high
place
for
one
single
hour
of
your
love
—
who
would
lay
his
whole
fortune
at
your
feet
as
a
proof
of
his
sincerity
.
"
"
To
cut
short
this
conversation
,
I
will
answer
you
with
sincerity
,
"
returned
Ellen
.
"
Mr.
Greenwood
is
the
only
man
who
can
boast
of
a
favour
which
involves
my
shame
:
he
is
the
father
of
my
child
.
I
do
not
love
him
—
I
have
no
reason
to
love
him
:
nevertheless
,
he
is
—
I
repeat
—
the
father
of
my
child
!
That
expresses
every
thing
.
Who
knows
but
that
,
sooner
or
later
,
he
may
do
me
justice
?
And
should
such
an
idea
ever
enter
his
mind
,
must
I
not
retain
myself
worthy
of
that
repentant
sentiment
on
his
part
?
"
"
You
cherish
a
miserable
delusion
,
my
child
,
"
said
the
hag
;
"
and
I
am
surprised
at
your
confidence
in
the
good
feelings
of
a
man
of
whom
you
have
already
seen
so
much
.
"
"
Ah
!
there
is
a
higher
power
that
often
sways
the
human
heart
,
"
observed
Ellen
;
and
,
as
she
spoke
,
her
eyes
were
fixed
upon
the
inscriptions
on
the
tree
,
while
her
heart
beat
with
emotions
unintelligible
to
the
old
hag
.
"
You
will
then
allow
this
man
of
whom
I
have
spoken
,
and
who
has
formed
so
enthusiastic
an
attachment
towards
you
,
to
languish
without
a
hope
?
"
demanded
the
woman
.
"
Men
do
not
die
of
love
,
"
said
Ellen
,
with
a
smile
.
"
But
he
is
rich
—
and
he
would
enrich
you
,
"
continued
the
old
harridan
:
"
he
would
place
your
father
in
so
happy
a
position
that
the
old
man
should
not
even
experience
a
regret
for
the
prosperity
which
he
has
lost
.
"
"
My
father
dwells
with
a
friend
,
and
is
happy
,
"
observed
Ellen
.
"
But
he
is
dependant
,
"
exclaimed
the
old
hag
:
"
for
you
yourself
once
said
to
me
,
'
We
are
dependant
upon
one
who
cannot
afford
to
maintain
us
in
idleness
.
'
How
happy
would
you
be
—
for
I
know
your
heart
—
to
be
enabled
to
place
your
father
in
a
state
of
independence
!
"
"
Would
he
be
happy
did
he
know
that
he
owed
the
revival
of
his
prosperity
to
his
daughter
's
infamy
?
"
"
Did
he
divine
whence
came
the
bread
that
was
purchased
by
your
services
to
the
statuary
,
the
artist
,
the
sculptor
,
and
the
photographer
?
You
yourself
assured
me
that
you
kept
your
avocations
a
profound
secret
.
"
"
Were
I
inclined
to
sell
myself
for
gold
,
Greenwood
would
become
a
liberal
purchaser
,
"
said
Ellen
.
"
All
your
sophistry
is
vain
.
You
cannot
seduce
me
from
that
state
of
tranquil
seclusion
in
which
I
now
dwell
.
"
"
At
least
grant
your
unknown
lover
an
interview
,
and
let
him
plead
his
own
cause
,
"
exclaimed
the
hag
,
who
did
not
calculate
upon
so
much
firmness
on
the
part
of
the
young
lady
.
"
Ah
!
think
not
that
he
is
unknown
,
"
cried
Ellen
,
a
light
breaking
in
upon
her
mind
:
"
a
man
of
pure
and
stainless
life
,
virgin
of
all
sin
,
—
a
man
endowed
with
a
handsome
person
,
and
a
brilliant
intellect
,
—
a
man
whose
eloquence
acts
as
a
spell
upon
all
classes
,
—
a
man
possessed
of
a
large
fortune
and
enjoying
a
high
position
,
—
such
is
your
description
!
And
this
man
must
have
seen
me
to
love
me
!
Now
think
you
I
cannot
divine
the
name
of
your
phœnix
?
"
"
You
suspect
then
,
my
child
—
—
"
"
Nay
—
I
have
something
more
than
mere
suspicion
in
my
mind
,
"
interrupted
Ellen
.
"
Oh
!
now
I
comprehend
the
motive
of
that
apparent
earnestness
with
which
he
implored
me
to
reveal
the
secret
sorrow
that
oppressed
me
!
In
a
word
,
old
woman
,
"
added
the
young
lady
,
in
a
tone
of
superb
contempt
,
"
your
phœnix
is
the
immaculate
rector
of
St.
David
's
!
"
"
And
do
you
not
triumph
in
your
conquest
,
Miss
?
"
demanded
the
hag
,
irritated
by
Ellen
's
manner
.
"
Oh
!
yes
,
"
exclaimed
the
young
lady
,
with
a
sort
of
good-humoured
irony
;
"
so
much
so
,
that
I
will
meet
him
when
and
where
you
will
.
"
"
Are
you
serious
?
"
inquired
the
hag
,
doubtfully
.
"
Did
I
ever
jest
when
I
agreed
to
accept
the
fine
offers
which
you
made
me
on
past
occasions
?
"
asked
Ellen
.
"
No
:
and
you
cannot
have
an
object
in
jesting
now
,
"
observed
the
old
woman
.
"
But
when
and
where
will
you
meet
him
who
is
enamoured
of
you
?
"
"
You
say
that
he
will
make
any
sacrifice
to
please
me
?
"
"
He
will
—
he
will
.
"
"
Then
he
cannot
refuse
the
appointment
which
I
am
about
to
propose
to
you
.
On
Monday
evening
next
there
is
to
be
a
masked
ball
at
Drury
Lane
Theatre
.
At
ten
o'clock
precisely
I
will
be
there
,
dressed
as
a
Circassian
slave
,
with
a
thick
veil
over
my
face
.
Let
him
be
attired
as
a
monk
,
so
that
he
may
be
enabled
to
shroud
his
features
with
his
cowl
.
We
shall
not
fail
to
recognise
each
other
.
"
"
Again
I
ask
if
you
are
in
earnest
?
"
demanded
the
old
woman
,
surprised
at
this
singular
arrangement
.
"
I
was
never
more
so
,
"
answered
Ellen
.
"
But
why
cannot
the
appointment
take
place
at
my
abode
?
"
said
the
hag
.
"
Oh
!
fie
—
the
immaculate
rector
in
your
dirty
court
in
Golden
Lane
!
"
ejaculated
Ellen
.
"
That
court
was
once
good
enough
for
you
,
my
child
,
"
muttered
the
old
woman
.
"
We
will
not
dispute
upon
that
point
,
"
said
the
young
lady
.
"
If
I
am
worth
having
,
I
am
worth
humouring
;
and
I
must
test
the
sincerity
of
the
attachment
which
your
phœnix
experiences
for
me
,
by
making
him
seek
me
at
a
masked
ball
.
"
"
Oh
!
the
caprices
of
you
fair
ones
!
"
ejaculated
the
hag
.
"
Well
,
my
child
,
I
will
undertake
that
it
shall
be
as
you
desire
.
"
"
Next
Monday
evening
at
ten
o'clock
,
"
cried
Ellen
;
and
with
these
words
she
tripped
lightly
down
the
hill
in
the
direction
of
the
mansion
.
The
old
hag
then
took
her
departure
by
the
path
on
the
opposite
side
;
and
,
as
she
went
along
,
she
chuckled
at
the
success
of
her
intrigue
.
CHAPTER
CXLIX
.
THE
MASQUERADE
.
The
evening
of
the
masquerade
arrived
.
It
is
not
our
intention
to
enter
into
a
long
description
of
a
scene
the
nature
of
which
must
be
so
well
known
to
our
readers
.
Suffice
it
to
say
that
at
an
early
hour
Old
Drury
was
,
within
,
a
blaze
of
light
.
The
pit
had
been
boarded
over
so
as
to
form
a
floor
level
with
the
stage
,
at
the
extremity
of
which
the
orchestra
was
placed
.
The
spacious
arena
thus
opened
,
soon
wore
a
busy
and
interesting
appearance
,
when
the
masques
began
to
arrive
;
and
the
boxes
were
speedily
filled
with
ladies
and
gentlemen
who
,
wearing
no
fancy
costumes
,
had
thronged
thither
for
the
purpose
of
beholding
,
but
not
commingling
with
,
the
diversions
of
the
masquerade
.
To
contemplate
that
blaze
of
female
loveliness
which
adorned
the
boxes
,
one
would
imagine
that
all
the
most
charming
women
of
the
metropolis
had
assembled
there
by
common
consent
that
night
;
and
the
traveller
,
who
had
visited
foreign
climes
,
must
have
been
constrained
to
admit
that
no
other
city
in
the
universe
could
produce
such
a
brilliant
congress
.
For
the
fastidious
elegancies
of
fashion
,
sprightliness
of
manners
,
sparkling
discourse
,
and
all
the
refinements
of
a
consummate
civilization
,
which
are
splendid
substitutes
for
mere
animal
beauty
,
the
ladies
of
Paris
are
unequalled
;
—
but
for
female
loveliness
in
all
its
glowing
perfection
—
in
all
its
most
voluptuous
expansion
,
London
is
the
sovereign
city
that
knows
in
this
respect
no
rival
.
In
sooth
,
the
scene
was
ravishing
and
gorgeous
within
Old
Drury
on
the
night
of
which
we
are
writing
.
The
spacious
floor
was
crowded
with
masques
in
the
most
varied
and
fanciful
garbs
.
There
were
Turks
who
had
never
uttered
a
"
Bismillah
,
"
and
Shepherdesses
who
had
seen
more
of
mutton
upon
their
tables
than
ever
they
had
in
the
fields
;
—
Highlanders
who
had
never
been
twenty
miles
north
of
London
,
and
Princesses
whose
fathers
were
excellent
aldermen
or
most
conscientious
tradesmen
;
—
Generals
without
armies
,
and
Flower-Girls
whose
gardens
consisted
of
a
pot
of
mignonette
on
the
ledge
of
their
bed-room
windows
;
—
Admirals
whose
nautical
knowledge
had
been
gleaned
on
board
Gravesend
steamers
,
and
Heathen
Goddesses
who
were
devoted
Christians
;
—
Ancient
Knights
who
had
not
even
seen
so
much
as
the
Eglintoun
Tournament
,
and
Witches
whose
only
charms
lay
in
their
eyes
;
—
and
numbers
,
of
both
sexes
,
attired
in
fancy-dresses
which
were
very
fanciful
indeed
.
Then
there
was
all
the
usual
fun
and
frolic
of
a
masquerade
;
—
friends
availing
themselves
of
their
masks
and
disguises
to
mystify
each
other
,
—
witticism
and
repartee
,
which
if
not
sharp
nor
pointed
,
still
served
the
purpose
of
eliciting
laughter
,
—
and
strange
mistakes
in
respect
to
personal
identity
,
which
were
more
diverting
than
all
.
There
was
also
plenty
of
subdued
whispering
between
youthful
couples
;
for
Love
is
as
busy
at
masquerades
as
elsewhere
.
The
brilliancy
of
the
dresses
in
the
boxes
,
and
the
variety
of
those
upon
the
floor
,
combined
with
the
blaze
of
light
and
the
sounds
of
the
music
,
formed
a
scene
at
once
gay
,
exhilarating
,
and
ravishing
.
At
about
a
quarter
before
ten
o'clock
,
a
masque
,
attired
in
the
sombre
garb
of
a
Carmelite
Friar
,
with
his
cowl
drawn
completely
over
his
face
,
and
a
long
rosary
hanging
from
the
rude
cord
which
girt
his
waist
,
entered
the
theatre
.
He
cast
a
wistful
glance
,
through
the
slight
opening
in
his
cowl
,
all
around
;
and
,
not
perceiving
the
person
whom
he
sought
,
retired
into
the
most
obscure
nook
which
he
could
find
,
but
whence
he
could
observe
all
that
passed
.
At
five
minutes
to
ten
,
a
lady
,
habited
as
a
Circassian
slave
,
and
wearing
an
ample
white
veil
,
so
thick
that
it
was
impossible
to
obtain
a
glimpse
of
her
countenance
,
alighted
from
a
cab
at
the
principal
entrance
of
the
theatre
.
Lightly
she
tripped
up
the
steps
;
but
as
she
was
about
to
enter
the
vestibule
,
her
veil
caught
the
buttons
of
a
lounger
's
coat
,
and
was
drawn
partly
off
her
face
.
She
immediately
re-adjusted
it
—
but
not
before
a
gentleman
,
masked
,
and
in
the
habit
of
a
Greek
Brigand
,
who
was
entering
at
the
time
,
obtained
a
glimpse
of
her
features
.
"
What
?
Ellen
here
!
"
murmured
the
Greek
Brigand
to
himself
:
"
I
must
not
lose
sight
of
her
!
"
Ellen
did
not
however
notice
that
she
had
been
particularly
observed
;
much
less
did
she
suspect
that
she
was
recognised
.
But
as
she
hastened
up
the
great
staircase
,
the
Greek
Brigand
followed
her
closely
.
Although
her
countenance
was
so
completely
concealed
,
her
charming
figure
was
nevertheless
set
off
to
infinite
advantage
by
the
dualma
which
she
wore
,
and
which
,
fitting
close
to
her
shape
,
reached
down
to
her
knees
.
Her
ample
trousers
were
tied
just
above
the
ankle
