,which
sufficiently
proved
to
her
that
henceforward
the
doors
of
the
school
were
closed
against
her
.
She
had
to
pass
yet
another
cottage
before
reaching
home
;
it
was
one
of
the
humblest
in
B
—
,
and
was
the
abode
of
a
poor
imbecile
creature
,
known
in
the
village
by
the
name
of
Jack
,
who
lived
in
it
with
his
old
mother
.
He
was
perfectly
harmless
in
his
idiotcy
,
and
was
allowed
to
wander
about
at
will
,
even
within
the
grounds
of
The
Mount
.
It
was
in
fact
his
favourite
resort
,
as
Agnes
took
a
particular
interest
in
him
,
and
always
treated
him
with
the
utmost
kindness
.
She
used
to
bring
him
his
food
herself
,
that
she
might
teach
him
to
recognise
her
;
and
now
when
he
saw
her
,
he
never
failed
to
greet
her
with
his
wild
laugh
of
discordant
glee
.
Jack
was
seated
at
the
door
of
his
house
as
she
approached
,
and
starting
up
,
he
ran
to
meet
her
with
a
shout
of
delight
.
She
stopped
to
speak
to
him
,
and
he
stood
joyfully
before
her
,
clapping
his
hands
,
and
muttering
in
his
own
senseless
language
his
unintelligible
expressions
of
pleasure
.
Poor
Jack
was
little
aware
of
the
pang
which
he
caused
to
Agnes
at
that
moment
,
for
there
was
in
truth
a
most
bitter
sting
in
the
thought
that
his
was
the
first
smile
of
kindness
and
the
first
words
of
welcome
which
had
been
bestowed
upon
her
that
day
,
who
formerly
had
been
so
warmly
received
by
all
.
No
sterner
lesson
could
have
been
given
to
her
than
this
one
fact
,
that
she
had
been
shunned
and
scorned
as
one
who
had
done
an
unholy
deed
,
by
all
save
this
poor
idiot
,
to
whom
it
had
pleased
Heaven
to
deny
the
knowledge
of
right
and
wrong
!
The
bitter
experience
of
this
day
was
quite
enough
.
Agnes
now
understood
what
was
in
fact
the
truth
,
that
the
poor
people
of
the
village
had
lost
all
respect
for
her
,
and
that
consequently
her
influence
amongst
them
was
gone
for
ever
.
The
casualties
of
birth
and
education
are
by
no
means
sufficient
to
command
the
esteem
of
the
lower
orders
.
They
are
keen
and
penetrating
judges
as
to
what
is
really
estimable
in
the
character
of
their
superiors
,
and
thoroughly
alive
to
any
inconsistency
in
their
precepts
and
practice
.
The
villagers
of
B
—
thought
that
Agnes
had
greatly
erred
,
and
therefore
it
would
have
been
in
vain
for
her
to
have
talked
to
them
of
the
errors
of
their
own
ways
;
whilst
some
of
the
younger
girls
possibly
found
no
small
excuse
for
levity
in
their
conduct
from
the
fact
,
that
even
the
lady
at
The
Mount
had
thought
the
Vicar’s
notions
on
the
subject
of
marriage
so
very
strict
,
that
she
had
distinctly
acted
against
them
.
Agnes
felt
all
this
,
and
though
perhaps
in
her
secret
heart
she
acknowledged
its
justice
,
it
was
yet
with
a
proud
indignation
that
she
determined
never
again
to
visit
a
single
person
in
the
village
.
The
annoyance
which
all
these
circumstances
caused
to
Richard
and
his
wife
is
not
to
be
told
.
On
the
fiery
temper
and
undisciplined
mind
of
the
former
especially
,
the
effect
was
most
grievous
.
He
now
found
himself
deprived
of
all
the
amusement
which
hunting
and
similar
occupations
had
afforded
him
,
for
he
was
far
too
proud
ever
to
place
himself
voluntarily
in
the
society
of
those
who
would
no
longer
admit
him
to
their
houses
.
Wounded
to
the
uttermost
by
the
treatment
he
had
met
with
,
he
shut
himself
up
entirely
in
his
own
house
,
and
gave
way
to
a
sullen
,
discontented
state
of
mind
,
which
was
most
distressing
to
all
around
him
.
A
man
without
employment
is
always
a
miserable
individual
,
and
he
had
no
intellectual
resources
.
He
betook
himself
to
amusements
which
were
frivolous
and
useless
,
if
not
pernicious
;
and
much
of
his
time
,
which
now
hung
so
heavily
on
his
hands
,
was
spent
in
exercising
a
most
harassing
control
over
his
household
.
He
occupied
himself
with
all
the
little
petty
arrangements
and
minor
details
on
which
it
was
painful
to
see
the
strong
mind
of
a
man
engaged
;
and
it
almost
seemed
as
though
he
sought
to
compensate
himself
for
the
humiliations
he
met
with
in
the
world
,
by
his
overbearing
treatment
of
his
wife
and
servants
.
In
the
midst
of
all
this
misery
,
for
it
was
misery
both
to
Agnes
and
Richard
,
though
no
positive
misfortune
had
as
yet
befallen
them
,
a
gleam
of
sunshine
came
to
revive
their
hearts
in
the
birth
of
a
son
,
—
an
event
which
soon
banished
all
their
regrets
for
the
absence
of
Mary
,
who
had
long
since
been
removed
from
her
father’s
house
,
to
enter
it
no
more
for
years
.
On
the
other
poor
infant
,
the
son
of
Elizabeth
,
Agnes
had
in
truth
bestowed
the
utmost
care
and
attention
ever
since
her
marriage
.
It
had
been
chiefly
on
his
account
that
they
had
taken
this
step
,
which
in
all
other
respects
had
proved
so
unfortunate
;
and
it
seemed
to
her
an
imperative
duty
to
render
it
productive
of
good
results
to
this
child
at
least
.
With
unremitting
tenderness
she
had
therefore
watched
over
him
;
all
the
careful
affection
which
Richard
had
trusted
she
would
bestow
upon
his
son
,
and
which
he
had
married
her
partly
to
ensure
,
she
did
,
indeed
,
give
to
the
infant
,
whose
health
had
greatly
improved
;
and
now
,
as
though
to
show
how
very
vainly
(
as
well
as
sinfully
)
we
would
seek
to
interfere
with
the
Providence
of
God
,
by
doing
evil
that
good
may
come
,
and
what
madness
it
is
to
follow
any
other
course
save
that
of
rigid
duty
,
(
leaving
the
result
submissively
in
His
hands
,
)
the
little
child
was
suddenly
taken
from
them
.
There
had
been
no
neglect
,
no
illness
even
to
cause
them
any
apprehension
;
but
unexpectedly
one
night
he
was
seized
with
convulsions
,
and
died
whilst
they
stood
helpless
beside
him
.
With
a
brief
struggle
his
brief
life
closed
.
Pure
and
innocent
he
went
with
his
baptismal
cross
yet
shining
on
his
brow
,
to
join
his
brethren
who
had
borne
theirs
through
the
burden
and
heat
of
the
day
.
It
was
impossible
for
Richard
and
Agnes
,
as
they
stood
looking
down
upon
that
infant
face
—
sublime
now
,
because
of
the
holy
peace
that
was
stamped
upon
it
—
not
to
perceive
how
clearly
the
sin
and
folly
of
their
deed
was
pointed
out
to
them
in
this
bereavement
.
They
had
acted
against
the
laws
of
God
and
man
for
the
sake
of
these
children
;
the
one
they
had
themselves
delivered
up
to
their
father’s
charge
,
and
the
other
had
now
been
taken
to
a
Care
more
tender
still
.
No
good
could
now
result
from
their
union
to
these
or
to
any
other
;
but
themselves
must
reap
its
bitter
fruits
.
And
from
that
hour
Richard
and
his
wife
repented
them
of
the
deed
which
they
had
done
,
because
the
world
had
visited
them
heavily
for
it
;
but
they
repented
not
yet
of
the
crime
,
for
the
judgment
of
God
was
still
to
come
.
CHAPTER
X
.
SEVENTEEN
years
had
passed
away
since
the
birth
of
Edward
Clayton
,
the
only
child
of
Richard
and
Agnes
,
when
Mr.
Clayton
died
.
His
life
had
been
greatly
protracted
,
doubtless
,
because
he
laboured
well
in
the
vineyard
of
the
Lord
;
but
at
length
his
weary
feet
were
arrested
at
the
gate
of
the
heavenly
fold
;
his
aged
form
was
laid
down
to
rest
among
the
green
pastures
and
by
the
still
waters
.
Mary
Clayton
knelt
beside
his
coffin
,
looking
for
the
last
time
on
his
serene
face
;
restored
now
to
the
look
of
innocence
and
of
placid
rest
which
only
guileless
infants
and
the
dead
can
know
;
but
she
shed
no
tears
whilst
she
laid
her
cheek
upon
his
cold
stiff
hand
,
for
she
dared
not
weep
for
him
.
She
had
been
his
chief
thought
and
care
;
for
the
last
years
of
his
life
he
had
but
one
wish
respecting
her
,
and
that
was
to
educate
in
her
a
true
and
devoted
servant
for
his
Master
.
He
set
before
himself
,
as
the
type
of
what
he
desired
her
to
be
,
a
lily
of
the
field
—
humble
,
spotless
,
having
but
slender
root
in
the
earth
;
giving
no
fragrance
to
the
world
around
,
but
lifting
up
the
sweet
head
ever
towards
heaven
:
—
and
she
became
such
.
His
tenderness
and
prayers
were
not
in
vain
.
Deep
set
within
her
heart
was
the
desire
to
keep
herself
blameless
against
the
coming
of
our
Lord
.
In
disposition
she
was
meek
,
gentle
,
and
unselfish
;
but
her
grandfather
saw
that
she
inherited
all
her
mother’s
acuteness
of
feeling
and
intensity
of
affection
,
and
from
this
peculiarity
in
her
character
he
rightly
judged
that
her
trials
in
life
would
spring
.
He
sought
then
to
fortify
her
beforehand
for
that
struggle
,
which
sooner
or
later
comes
to
us
all
,
of
our
human
wishes
and
feelings
with
our
sworn
allegiance
to
the
cross
;
for
none
ever
sought
in
sincerity
to
follow
Him
,
but
at
some
one
period
of
their
existence
they
are
called
on
to
suffer
for
His
sake
.
Mr.
Clayton
saw
with
delight
that
on
Mary
his
lessons
were
not
thrown
away
;
and
he
died
in
peace
at
last
,
with
the
firm
conviction
,
that
whatever
might
be
her
fate
in
this
world
,
she
would
never
accept
the
highest
joys
it
could
offer
if
they
involved
a
dereliction
from
duty
.
Very
different
had
been
the
education
and
very
different
was
now
the
character
of
Edward
Clayton
,
Mary’s
half‐brother
,
whom
she
had
seen
only
at
rare
intervals
.
He
resembled
his
father
in
disposition
;
he
was
clever
,
impetuous
,
and
wilful
—
proud
to
the
very
uttermost
;
and
he
had
become
profoundly
selfish
.
His
was
precisely
one
of
those
characters
which
,
rightly
controlled
and
judiciously
guided
,
might
have
been
moulded
to
great
excellence
.
Had
he
been
drawn
to
follow
and
to
seek
after
the
good
,
he
would
have
struggled
on
in
the
right
path
with
all
the
energy
of
his
ardent
mind
;
but
he
was
left
to
pursue
the
bent
of
his
own
inclination
,
and
he
turned
reckless
and
unthinking
to
evil
.
It
may
seem
strange
that
the
only
child
of
parents
yet
living
should
have
been
abandoned
to
the
fatal
guidance
of
his
own
will
;
but
it
arose
from
the
fact
,
that
although
outwardly
they
held
him
in
control
,
they
had
lost
all
moral
influence
over
him
so
soon
as
he
was
of
an
age
to
gather
from
the
remarks
of
the
servants
and
the
taunts
of
his
schoolfellows
in
what
light
esteem
they
themselves
were
held
by
the
world
in
general
;
from
that
hour
he
lost
all
respect
for
them
,
and
they
became
powerless
to
sway
his
mind
for
right
or
wrong
,
however
much
they
might
regulate
his
outward
actions
.
There
is
no
observer
more
keen
and
acute
than
a
shrewd
and
clever
child
.
Edward
soon
understood
that
his
parents
were
exiled
from
society
solely
on
account
of
their
own
conduct
;
he
saw
that
they
were
not
treated
with
the
same
consideration
as
the
relations
of
his
companions
at
school
;
he
learnt
that
his
own
grandfather
had
been
driven
from
the
village
because
he
would
not
countenance
his
son
,
and
that
his
sister
had
been
taken
away
because
his
mother
was
deemed
an
unfit
guide
for
her
.
Mr.
Lambert
,
revered
and
respected
by
the
whole
neighbourhood
,
never
visited
his
father
;
he
himself
was
sent
to
church
with
a
servant
only
,
because
his
parents
were
too
proud
and
too
ashamed
to
face
,
in
that
holy
place
,
all
those
who
so
openly
disapproved
of
their
conduct
,
and
therefore
seldom
went
there
,
thinking
too
little
of
the
guilt
they
were
incurring
by
neglecting
so
inestimable
a
privilege
.
Was
it
not
,
therefore
,
inevitable
that
when
Agnes
and
Richard
attempted
to
enforce
upon
their
son
the
necessity
of
religious
principle
and
self‐discipline
,
he
could
only
treat
their
effort
as
a
mockery
?
Still
deeper
,
however
,
lay
the
cause
which
rendered
it
impossible
for
Edward
to
feel
either
respect
or
esteem
for
his
parents
—
it
lay
in
the
dissension
and
misery
which
reigned
in
his
own
home
,
in
the
mutual
recriminations
and
disagreements
which
seemed
to
have
taken
the
place
of
the
affection
that
had
once
subsisted
between
his
father
and
mother
.
Richard
Clayton
had
become
embittered
to
the
very
last
degree
by
the
results
of
what
he
now
termed
his
most
unfortunate
marriage
.
After
the
birth
of
Edward
,
when
he
saw
how
completely
he
was
cut
off
from
society
,
he
was
very
anxious
to
go
abroad
,
and
seek
acquaintances
in
some
part
of
the
world
where
his
name
was
not
known
.
But
his
circumstances
rendered
it
quite
out
of
the
question
for
him
to
think
of
leaving
B
—
;
he
had
nothing
to
depend
upon
but
the
allowance
which
his
father
still
continued
to
give
him
;
and
as
The
Mount
was
Mr.
Clayton’s
property
,
where
he
allowed
him
to
reside
,
free
of
expense
,
he
could
not
have
lived
in
the
same
manner
elsewhere
.
He
was
,
therefore
,
compelled
to
remain
where
every
day
and
hour
he
was
subjected
to
treatment
most
galling
to
his
haughty
spirit
.
The
sinful
pride
which
restrained
himself
and
Agnes
from
entering
the
church
door
,
augmented
very
much
the
discomfort
of
their
position
:
it
prevented
the
possibility
of
any
softening
of
the
severity
with
which
the
world
had
visited
his
conduct
.
It
was
quite
impossible
for
Mr.
Lambert
to
hold
any
intercourse
with
persons
who
showed
so
pernicious
an
example
to
the
poor
of
his
parish
—
who
had
,
in
fact
,
removed
themselves
from
communion
with
the
Church
;
and
his
open
disapprobation
was
necessarily
imitated
by
the
parishioners
,
who
held
him
in
such
high
esteem
.
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Clayton
were
,
probably
,
not
altogether
aware
how
great
was
the
sin
they
committed
in
allowing
an
unholy
pride
to
debar
them
of
the
means
of
grace
.
Richard
had
always
been
careless
respecting
these
things
;
and
now
his
inward
uneasiness
and
bitterness
of
spirit
,
which
arose
,
though
he
admitted
it
not
,
from
the
smitings
of
an
unquiet
conscience
,
had
rendered
him
sneering
,
and
well‐nigh
sceptical
,
on
the
subject
of
religion
.
It
is
no
uncommon
case
,
when
a
man
has
wilfully
sinned
against
the
light
,
that
he
should
seek
for
a
refuge
in
the
falsehood
which
calls
it
darkness
.
Richard
Clayton
had
taken
his
first
step
in
the
downward
course
,
when
he
placed
his
foot
within
the
church
where
Agnes
became
his
wife
;
and
the
descent
was
becoming
daily
more
abrupt
and
easy
,
although
he
was
himself
,
perhaps
,
scarce
aware
of
the
danger
in
which
he
stood
,
when
he
began
to
find
relief
and
satisfaction
in
scoffing
at
what
he
had
once
at
least
held
sacred
.
Even
Agnes
had
not
learnt
,
in
her
fashionable
Parisian
school
,
to
attach
much
value
to
Church
principles
.
Both
now
resented
very
strongly
the
judgment
of
public
opinion
,
which
consigned
them
,
in
the
midst
of
a
populous
neighbourhood
,
to
an
exile
as
complete
as
though
they
had
been
sent
to
the
wilds
of
Siberia
.
But
this
resentment
Richard
vented
on
his
wife
,
being
unable
to
give
it
scope
elsewhere
.
A
torturing
conviction
took
possession
of
his
mind
,
that
the
consequences
of
his
marriage
were
to
follow
him
throughout
his
life
,
in
every
possible
shape
in
which
misfortune
could
visit
him
.
He
felt
certain
that
it
would
cause
the
failure
of
every
scheme
and
every
hope
,
—
that
it
would
pursue
him
,
to
his
continual
vexation
and
annoyance
,
and
would
finally
hunt
him
down
,
as
it
were
,
to
a
dishonoured
and
untimely
end
.
This
idea
,
which
really
became
a
species
of
monomania
,
caused
him
to
acquire
an
irritable
dislike
to
Agnes
,
which
he
made
her
feel
every
hour
of
the
day
.
During
Edward’s
childhood
,
it
sufficed
that
his
mother
had
given
him
some
order
,
for
the
father
to
reverse
it
,
—
a
system
which
would
ruin
any
child
;
and
as
the
boy
grew
up
,
when
Richard
perceived
that
his
son
openly
showed
how
little
respect
he
felt
for
the
parents
whom
he
heard
universally
slighted
and
condemned
,
his
father
declared
it
was
but
a
part
of
the
fatality
which
had
pursued
him
since
his
Union
with
Agnes
;
and
he
recklessly
abandoned
Edward
,
without
an
attempt
to
reclaim
him
,
to
the
evil
course
which
he
began
so
early
.
Edward
found
that
his
own
position
in
the
world
was
seriously
injured
by
that
of
his
father
;
and
whilst
he
nourished
a
most
unhallowed
anger
against
his
parents
for
what
he
considered
an
injury
inflicted
on
him
by
them
,
he
was
too
proud
to
court
the
acquaintance
of
those
who
shunned
him
;
and
therefore
flung
himself
,
without
restraint
,
into
the
only
society
which
was
open
to
him
,
—
that
of
low
and
dissipated
company
.
It
was
impossible
for
the
father
and
mother
not
to
tremble
at
the
course
which
it
seemed
likely
would
be
taken
by
their
only
son
.
They
had
made
no
attempt
to
place
him
in
any
profession
,
because
Richard
had
been
so
completely
severed
from
all
connexion
with
the
world
that
he
would
have
found
great
difficulty
in
opening
out
for
him
any
honourable
career
.
Edward
was
his
grandfather’s
heir
,
and
therefore
,
in
a
pecuniary
point
of
view
,
it
was
not
necessary
that
he
should
find
any
means
of
existence
for
himself
;
but
both
Richard
and
Agnes
were
passionately
attached
to
their
son
,
and
keenly
alive
to
the
incalculable
evils
which
would
probably
result
to
him
from
their
unhappy
position
.
This
feeling
produced
,
however
,
a
very
different
effect
upon
the
minds
of
each
.
In
Richard
it
only
increased
to
an
alarming
extent
the
gloomy
morbid
despondency
in
which
he
indulged
,
under
the
belief
that
all
was
to
go
wrong
with
him
henceforward
,
and
which
paralyzed
him
so
much
,
that
he
made
no
attempt
to
rectify
the
evil
fruits
of
his
own
action
,
though
he
failed
not
bitterly
to
reproach
Agnes
as
the
cause
of
it
all
.
Mrs.
Clayton
meantime
felt
that
her
husband
was
both
unjust
and
cruel
,
in
accusing
her
so
harshly
of
the
consequences
of
that
which
she
had
done
at
his
own
solicitation
for
the
sake
of
his
own
children
.
But
there
was
now
in
the
midst
of
her
trials
a
dawning
of
better
feeling
than
she
had
ever
been
blessed
with
in
happier
days
.
That
is
a
beautiful
provision
of
nature
,
which
causes
the
purest
and
tenderest
affections
of
our
humanity
to
be
very
often
the
instruments
for
awakening
in
our
souls
a
holier
love
.
In
the
deep
anxiety
and
terror
which
the
mother
felt
lest
her
only
son
should
suffer
by
her
former
conduct
,
she
was
led
to
turn
imploringly
to
Him
who
alone
could
avert
the
evil
she
dreaded
.
But
she
could
not
approach
the
Throne
of
all
Purity
without
looking
also
into
her
own
life
,
and
learning
how
far
she
had
erred
and
strayed
from
His
ways
.
Her
heart
was
full
of
penitence
,
but
she
was
too
much
bewildered
by
the
mists
and
obscurity
of
a
life
of
negligence
and
sin
,
to
understand
as
yet
what
the
Lord
would
have
her
to
do
,
and
how
,
if
she
could
not
retrieve
the
past
,
she
might
at
least
sanctify
the
future
by
deep
submission
and
repentance
.
She
longed
earnestly
to
apply
to
Mr.
Lambert
for
counsel
and
instruction
;
but
she
dared
not
do
it
—
she
dared
not
brave
the
fierce
anger
which
she
knew
such
a
proceeding
would
awaken
in
her
husband
.
In
like
manner
she
would
now
gladly
have
gone
to
church
,
though
she
did
not
even
yet
appreciate
either
the
duty
or
the
privilege
of
worshipping
in
His
courts
;
but
this
was
equally
impossible
—
Richard
would
never
have
permitted
it
.
Remorse
and
uncertainty
for
herself
,
and
profound
anxiety
for
her
son
,
rendered
Agnes
Clayton
a
miserable
being
.
Such
was
the
condition
of
the
inhabitants
of
The
Mount
at
the
period
of
Mr.
Clayton’s
death
.
But
immediately
on
this
event
there
followed
another
,
which
gave
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Clayton
the
first
moment
of
joy
,
real
heartfelt
joy
,
which
they
had
known
for
years
.
Intelligence
was
brought
them
of
the
approaching
marriage
of
Mary
Clayton
with
one
to
whom
it
was
most
desirable
,
under
every
point
of
view
,
that
she
should
be
united
.
Mr.
Verney
was
the
heir
and
future
representative
of
a
most
ancient
and
noble
house
.
He
was
the
only
child
of
Lord
and
Lady
Verney
,
who
were
chiefly
remarkable
for
the
pride
of
birth
,
which
was
to
them
almost
a
hereditary
possession
.
Forgetting
how
their
name
would
avail
them
nothing
in
the
dust
,
their
whole
thoughts
and
hopes
and
schemes
in
this
life
were
given
to
maintain
the
honour
of
that
which
had
come
to
them
unstained
through
a
long
line
of
ances‐
try
.
In
their
only
son
,
as
was
to
be
expected
,
all
their
plans
and
wishes
were
centred
.
Their
pride
and
their
ancient
title
were
allied
to
a
poverty
which
they
held
to
be
a
most
unseemly
condition
for
the
members
of
so
noble
a
family
;
and
it
was
their
favourite
project
that
he
should
make
some
wealthy
alliance
,
which
should
restore
them
to
their
former
grandeur
;
at
the
same
time
,
no
desire
for
riches
could
have
induced
them
to
overlook
the
necessity
that
the
wife
of
their
son
should
bear
a
name
,
if
not
as
noble
,
at
least
as
honourable
and
unsullied
as
their
own
.
It
was
their
wish
that
she
should
be
possessed
of
rank
also
,
and
for
this
reason
they
were
at
first
highly
displeased
when
they
perceived
that
their
son
had
formed
a
very
serious
attachment
with
Mary
Clayton
,
whose
grandfather’s
residence
was
close
to
their
own
.
Gradually
,
however
,
they
became
somewhat
more
reconciled
to
the
idea
that
she
was
to
be
their
daughter‐in‐law
,
not
because
she
was
in
herself
everything
they
could
wish
,
but
because
they
believed
her
to
be
the
heiress
of
all
Mr.
Clayton’s
property
:
and
they
were
also
well
aware
,
that
though
not
of
noble
birth
,
he
was
of
a
good
old
family
,
and
of
a
most
honourable
reputation
.
Of
the
existence
of
her
father
,
mother‐in‐law
,
and
brother
,
they
knew
nothing
whatever
;
Mary
never
mentioned
them
,
know‐
ing
how
painful
the
subject
was
to
her
grandfather
;
and
he
himself
never
allowed
those
names
to
pass
his
lips
which
he
sent
up
hourly
in
prayer
to
heaven
.
If
Mr.
Clayton
had
entertained
the
slightest
idea
that
Mr.
Verney
wished
to
marry
his
granddaughter
,
he
would
at
once
have
stated
the
whole
circumstances
of
his
son’s
second
marriage
and
present
position
to
Lord
Verney
,
with
which
it
was
in
fact
impossible
he
could
be
acquainted
,
as
the
family
had
resided
abroad
until
lately
.
But
the
good
old
Vicar
was
far
too
unworldly
and
simple‐minded
to
think
of
such
an
occurrence
at
all
;
he
could
scarce
have
believed
that
his
little
Mary
had
left
her
childhood
so
far
behind
her
.
And
his
death
,
somewhat
unexpected
at
the
last
,
occurred
before
Mr.
Verney
had
taken
any
steps
for
arranging
the
matter
beyond
his
own
secret
determination
.
When
Mr.
Clayton
died
,
Lady
Verney
,
at
her
son’s
solicitation
,
persuaded
Mary
to
leave
the
house
where
she
was
now
quite
alone
(
as
Mrs.
Harewood
had
died
some
years
previously
)
,
and
conveyed
her
to
their
own
home
,
to
remain
with
them
till
her
future
plans
were
arranged
.
Mary
then
communicated
to
them
the
fact
,
that
her
father
was
living
,
and
that
she
had
decided
,
of
course
,
on
returning
to
his
house
.
This
intelligence
was
rather
startling
to
Lord
and
Lady
Verney
,
but
as
Mary
herself
had
been
kept
very
much
in
ignorance
of
the
circumstances
of
her
family
,
they
still
believed
that
her
grandfather
must
have
left
her
a
large
fortune
,
and
at
all
events
,
the
universal
lamentations
which
his
death
called
forth
from
high
and
low
,
sufficiently
proved
that
his
virtues
had
rendered
an
alliance
with
her
in
truth
,
an
honour
.
They
therefore
acquiesced
in
their
son’s
wishes
,
when
he
announced
to
them
that
Mary
had
given
her
consent
to
the
marriage
,
provided
theirs
could
be
obtained
.
And
they
could
not
but
admit
that
by
doing
so
they
insured
him
every
prospect
of
happiness
,
for
the
quiet
and
gentle
Mary
Clayton
was
not
one
to
feel
a
light
attachment
for
her
future
husband
.
They
saw
that
her
affection
for
him
was
deeply
rooted
and
intense
,
of
a
nature
to
endure
even
to
her
life’s
end
,
alike
unchanging
whether
it
were
destined
to
work
her
happiness
or
misery
.
Lady
Verney
could
not
but
agree
with
Mary
,
that
she
ought
now
at
once
to
repair
to
her
father’s
house
,
there
to
pass
the
time
which
must
intervene
till
the
period
fixed
for
her
marriage
.
But
as
they
were
all
anxious
that
they
should
not
be
completely
separated
for
so
many
months
,
the
Verneys
determined
to
come
themselves
to
spend
the
interval
at
a
place
of
public
resort
in
the
vicinity
of
B
—
.
It
so
chanced
that
one
of
the
most
aristocratic
and
exclusive
of
the
families
in
the
neighbourhood
of
that
village
were
old
acquaintances
of
theirs
,
which
was
of
course
an
additional
inducement
to
them
to
visit
the
place
.
But
it
more
than
once
occurred
to
Lady
Verney
as
a
strange
circumstance
,
that
her
noble
friends
had
never
mentioned
the
father
of
her
future
daughter‐in‐law
among
their
list
of
acquaintances
,
for
she
never
doubted
but
that
he
was
held
in
the
same
consideration
as
Mr.
Clayton
had
been
in
their
own
county
.
She
did
not
,
however
,
dwell
much
on
the
fact
;
and
when
Mary
left
them
to
proceed
to
The
Mount
,
she
promised
that
they
would
all
join
her
at
B
—
in
a
very
short
time
.
Mr.
Verney
himself
followed
her
almost
immediately
,
that
he
might
be
introduced
to
the
family
of
his
future
wife
;
their
ready
consent
having
been
obtained
,
of
course
,
before
the
marriage
was
finally
settled
.
CHAPTER
XI
.
IT
may
be
imagined
with
what
delight
Richard
welcomed
his
child
and
her
future
husband
to
the
home
which
had
so
long
been
cheerless
and
unblest
.
He
almost
fancied
,
as
he
looked
on
his
fair
and
innocent
daughter
,
that
she
was
to
be
the
means
of
redeeming
him
from
the
fatality
which
pursued
him
,
from
the
sort
of
curse
which
he
asserted
had
settled
upon
him
and
his
family
since
the
day
when
he
made
his
sister‐in‐law
his
wife
.
Not
only
did
he
believe
that
Mary
would
herself
have
a
most
happy
fate
,
but
by
her
marriage
with
a
man
of
rank
and
station
,
he
trusted
she
would
restore
to
him
the
honour
and
consideration
he
had
lost
,
and
she
might
even
regain
for
him
his
former
footing
in
society
.
He
forgot
in
what
awful
words
it
had
been
said
,
that
the
sins
of
the
fathers
should
be
visited
on
the
children
.
Mary
Clayton
found
much
in
her
father’s
house
to
startle
and
distress
her
.
Of
her
father
and
step‐mother’s
conduct
and
state
of
mind
she
would
not
allow
herself
to
form
an
opinion
.
At
her
age
and
in
their
relative
posi‐
tions
she
would
have
held
it
the
height
of
presumption
to
have
done
so
;
but
the
condition
of
her
brother
Edward
filled
her
with
anxiety
.
She
saw
that
he
had
already
gone
very
far
astray
;
his
parents
had
not
now
the
slightest
authority
over
him
,
and
he
treated
them
both
with
disrespect
and
unkindness
;
he
took
care
to
let
them
see
how
much
he
thought
they
had
injured
him
;
and
yet
Mary
could
not
help
perceiving
clearly
,
that
his
faults
and
follies
were
only
the
result
of
his
neglected
education
,
and
of
the
unfortunate
circumstances
in
which
he
was
placed
.
She
believed
that
he
might
even
yet
be
led
to
know
the
unspeakable
happiness
of
abjuring
all
unholy
things
,
and
doing
His
will
in
submission
and
in
love
;
and
she
determined
to
try
at
least
what
her
own
gentle
influence
could
effect
.
She
soon
won
his
warmest
affection
;
for
few
could
know
Mary
Clayton
without
loving
her
.
Her
pure
and
elevated
character
,
and
the
daily
shining
forth
in
all
her
actions
of
the
holy
faith
which
Edward
had
never
before
seen
thus
practically
illustrated
in
the
life
of
an
individual
,
failed
not
to
inspire
him
with
a
degree
of
respect
and
almost
reverence
for
his
sister
,
which
had
a
strong
effect
upon
his
mind
.
Already
he
had
begun
to
attend
to
her
counsels
;
he
seemed
disposed
to
admit
,
at
least
,
the
Glory
and
the
Beauty
of
the
Truths
which
she
set
be‐
fore
him
;
and
Richard
Clayton
dwelt
more
and
more
on
the
flattering
hope
,
that
his
daughter
was
as
a
good
angel
sent
to
restore
peace
and
honour
and
happiness
to
his
house
.
At
this
juncture
Lord
and
Lady
Verney
arrived
at
B
—
.
They
were
to
spend
the
first
few
weeks
of
their
stay
in
this
place
at
the
house
of
the
noble
family
who
had
been
the
most
rigid
and
uncompromising
in
their
just
exclusion
of
Richard
and
his
wife
from
all
respectable
society
.
The
marriage
of
Mary
and
Mr.
Verney
had
not
been
announced
till
the
arrival
of
his
father
and
mother
,
and
they
were
themselves
the
first
to
mention
it
to
their
friends
.
Their
horror
and
indignation
may
be
imagined
at
the
revelation
which
followed
from
their
astonished
acquaintance
.
They
were
told
at
once
who
and
what
was
the
man
to
whose
daughter
their
son
and
heir
was
to
be
united
.
They
learnt
that
he
was
one
who
had
contracted
a
union
which
,
by
the
most
holy
authority
,
has
been
pronounced
a
sin
worthy
to
be
branded
with
a
fearful
name
;
a
union
which
the
Church
of
Christ
in
all
ages
has
openly
denounced
and
solemnly
prohibited
;
so
that
none
professing
themselves
members
of
the
same
,
dare
countenance
him
who
has
not
feared
to
disregard
that
stern
prohibition
;
a
union
which
,
if
ever
in
a
Christian
country
it
came
to
be
regarded
with
other
feelings
than
those
of
the
profoundest
abhorrence
,
would
serve
as
a
precedent
to
the
license
that
might
then
be
taken
for
the
commission
of
the
most
awful
crimes
.
This
unnatural
and
most
unholy
union
Richard
Clayton
had
contracted
,
in
defiance
of
his
father’s
righteous
indignation
as
a
Priest
,
steward
of
the
mysteries
of
God
,
and
as
a
man
serving
an
All‐pure
Master
—
in
defiance
of
a
distinct
law
Divine
and
human
.
Lord
and
Lady
Verney
further
learnt
that
Richard
,
and
the
wife
who
had
co‐operated
with
him
in
this
sinful
act
,
had
been
by
just
and
universal
judgment
expelled
from
society
in
all
the
bitterness
of
disgrace
.
The
history
of
their
life
from
that
period
to
the
present
day
was
then
detailed
;
—
the
birth
of
the
son
,
whose
social
position
was
so
questionable
,
that
the
very
companions
of
his
games
taunted
him
with
many
a
galling
name
;
—
the
reckless
and
dissipated
course
he
was
now
pursuing
,
whereby
it
seemed
likely
that
he
would
add
to
the
dishonour
which
had
in
fact
made
him
what
he
was
;
—
the
self‐excommunication
of
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Clayton
,
sufficiently
showing
that
they
dared
not
for
very
shame
pass
the
sacred
threshold
of
the
house
of
God
;
—
and
,
finally
,
the
condition
to
which
they
had
for
some
years
been
reduced
,
so
disgraceful
and
humiliating
,
shunned
by
high
and
low
,
and
above
all
,
avoided
by
those
,
like
Mr.
Lambert
,
whose
holiness
of
life
and
faithful
obedience
to
the
given
laws
,
rendered
their
disapprobation
of
any
individual
a
sure
sign
of
his
unworthiness
.
Amidst
the
contending
feelings
of
excessive
anger
and
vexation
,
which
filled
the
minds
of
Lord
and
Lady
Verney
when
they
had
heard
all
these
facts
,
there
were
two
ideas
which
predominated
over
the
rest
.
The
first
was
,
a
sensation
of
profound
thankfulness
,
that
it
was
yet
time
to
prevent
their
only
son
from
contracting
the
disgraceful
alliance
,
to
which
no
power
on
earth
would
ever
induce
them
to
consent
;
and
the
next
,
a
feeling
of
the
very
deepest
indignation
against
Mary
and
her
relations
,
for
having
concealed
these
dishonouring
circumstances
from
them
,
and
so
having
artfully
stolen
,
as
it
were
,
their
consent
from
them
.
Their
anger
at
what
they
held
to
be
an
unworthy
deception
had
certainly
been
justly
incurred
by
Richard
,
who
ought
in
strictest
honour
to
have
acquainted
them
with
the
whole
truth
the
moment
he
heard
of
the
proposed
alliance
;
and
who
had
not
done
so
merely
because
he
was
too
weak
and
selfish
to
risk
the
failure
of
the
plan
which
gave
him
so
much
pleasure
.
A
man
who
once
indulges
in
laxity
of
principle
,
as
Richard
had
done
when
he
married
his
sister‐
in‐law
,
will
have
no
scruple
in
carrying
out
the
same
system
in
all
other
matters
.
But
poor
Mary
was
most
innocent
of
the
contemptible
and
wicked
conduct
of
which
they
had
accused
her
.
No
one
had
ever
ventured
to
enlarge
to
her
upon
her
father’s
sins
,
or
their
consequences
;
she
knew
far
too
little
of
the
world
to
be
aware
of
their
peculiar
and
painful
position
in
society
.
She
was
perfectly
aware
,
as
a
Christian
,
what
a
great
and
grievous
sin
Richard
and
Agnes
had
committed
in
their
marriage
;
but
,
as
a
daughter
,
she
considered
it
unwarrantable
in
herself
to
allow
her
mind
to
dwell
one
moment
on
their
failings
;
and
she
had
never
opened
her
lips
on
the
subject
to
any
human
being
,
or
allowed
a
whisper
connected
with
it
to
meet
her
ear
.
But
as
for
concealment
,
Mary
was
too
guileless
to
suppose
that
it
could
exist
;
she
had
never
doubted
but
that
Lord
and
Lady
Verney
were
thoroughly
acquainted
with
all
circumstances
connected
with
herself
and
her
family
.
Meantime
,
they
determined
at
once
to
take
vigorous
measures
for
terminating
an
affair
which
they
considered
already
but
too
dishonouring
to
themselves
.
That
their
son’s
name
should
ever
have
been
even
coupled
with
that
of
Richard
Clayton’s
daughter
was
a
disgrace
most
galling
to
their
pride
.
They
sent
for
Mr.
Verney
,
they
acquainted
him
with
all
the
unhappy
circumstances
of
the
case
,
and
commanded
him
from
that
moment
to
give
up
all
thoughts
of
ever
making
Mary
Clayton
his
wife
.
Never
,
under
any
circumstances
,
would
they
consent
to
such
a
marriage
;
sooner
would
they
see
him
laid
in
his
grave
with
an
unstained
name
—
sooner
would
they
disown
him
altogether
,
and
alienate
from
him
the
family
estates
,
so
that
he
should
have
but
an
empty
title
to
dishonour
.
Nothing
is
too
violent
for
injured
pride
,
when
pride
has
become
a
passion
;
and
Lord
and
Lady
Verney
spoke
violently
,
unmoved
by
their
son’s
despair
.
But
they
took
a
yet
stronger
measure
for
putting
a
complete
stop
to
an
affair
now
most
hateful
to
them
.
They
wrote
two
letters
,
Lord
Verney
to
Richard
,
his
wife
to
Mary
;
the
tenor
of
both
was
the
same
.
In
unsparing
terms
they
qualified
the
dishonourable
position
of
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Clayton
;
solemnly
and
with
a
cruel
haughtiness
they
declared
that
nothing
should
ever
induce
them
to
allow
their
son
to
have
the
slightest
connexion
with
such
a
family
.
With
the
most
cutting
bitterness
they
intimated
that
if
Richard
chose
to
take
legal
measures
for
forcing
Mr.
Verney
to
keep
his
engagement
,
they
were
willing
to
sacrifice
their
whole
fortune
to
save
him
from
the
disgrace
of
the
proposed
marriage
;
and
they
concluded
by
openly
expressing
their
utter
contempt
of
the
miserable
deception
which
they
declared
had
been
practised
upon
them
by
Mary
and
her
father
.
Richard
Clayton
was
alone
when
this
cruel
letter
reached
him
,
whereby
he
saw
that
the
retribution
of
his
sin
,
which
he
termed
a
curse
,
so
far
from
being
removed
by
his
daughter’s
hand
,
was
now
about
to
take
effect
upon
herself
.
By
this
anticipated
marriage
he
had
looked
for
happiness
to
Mary
,
and
restored
honour
to
himself
,
and
straightway
his
unforgotten
deed
,
his
ineffaceable
act
,
rose
up
before
him
,
and
turned
that
bright
prospect
into
gloom
and
bitterness
;
it
changed
the
hope
of
his
daughter’s
happiness
to
the
certainty
of
her
misery
;
it
converted
the
vision
of
his
own
renewed
prosperity
into
the
palpable
evidence
of
the
actual
dishonour
that
sullied
his
name
with
a
stain
never
to
be
blotted
out
.
At
once
his
conviction
of
the
fatality
which
he
believed
had
pursued
him
ever
since
his
marriage
,
(
bringing
upon
him
the
results
of
that
fatal
step
in
the
shape
of
unceasing
misfortune
,
)
returned
to
his
mind
with
redoubled
vigour
.
It
had
but
gained
new
strength
from
its
temporary
banishment
by
that
delusive
hope
,
and
it
came
to
him
now
in
the
guise
of
despair
.
He
saw
clearly
that
the
effects
of
his
crime
were
coming
at
last
to
their
full
fruition
;
they
were
spreading
on
to
sufferers
most
innocent
of
the
guilt
.
“
The
father
had
eaten
sour
grapes
,
and
the
children’s
teeth
were
set
on
edge
.
”
Hitherto
the
punishment
of
his
deed
had
been
administered
by
the
world
,
because
of
his
dereliction
from
the
merely
human
laws
of
morality
;
but
now
,
for
the
first
time
,
he
perceived
and
understood
his
sin
in
its
true
nature
and
actual
criminality
,
for
the
judgment
of
God
had
commenced
.
Truly
Lord
Verney’s
letter
was
an
awful
blow
to
Richard
Clayton
.
When
Agnes
,
alarmed
at
his
long
absence
,
entered
his
room
,
she
found
him
lying
back
in
his
armchair
,
speechless
and
well
nigh
senseless
;
breathing
only
in
short
suffocating
gasps
,
his
face
livid
,
his
whole
frame
convulsed
,
his
appearance
was
fearful
.
It
was
clear
that
he
had
been
stricken
with
some
physical
attack
of
a
dreadful
nature
.
The
screams
of
his
terrified
wife
brought
the
servants
flocking
in
.
A
physician
was
instantly
sent
for
;
he
soon
arrived
,
and
seemed
quite
appalled
at
the
state
in
which
he
found
Mr.
Clayton
.
He
used
the
strongest
remedies
,
but
for
some
hours
he
would
give
little
hope
.
At
length
his
patient
breathed
more
freely
,
his
countenance
resumed
its
natural
hue
,
and
without
having
spoken
,
or
appeared
aware
of
his
position
,
he
sunk
into
a
deep
lethargic
sleep
.
The
physician
then
pronounced
him
out
of
danger
,
and
informed
Agnes
that
her
husband
had
been
seized
with
an
attack
evidently
brought
on
by
some
overpowering
mental
excitement
,
and
which
had
well
nigh
proved
fatal
.
He
earnestly
urged
upon
her
the
necessity
of
his
being
kept
free
henceforward
from
all
agitation
or
uneasiness
.
It
would
be
next
to
impossible
that
he
should
rise
from
another
such
seizure
.
Agnes
literally
shuddered
at
these
words
.
She
knew
it
would
be
madness
even
to
hope
that
Richard
could
henceforward
be
preserved
,
either
from
mental
anxiety
,
or
from
bitter
corroding
grief
.
She
had
taken
Lord
Verney’s
letter
from
the
stiffened
hand
of
her
unhappy
husband
,
and
she
knew
its
contents
.
She
had
already
seen
that
which
Lady
Verney
had
written
to
her
step‐daughter
;
and
she
had
met
the
piteous
despairing
gaze
of
Mary
Clayton’s
sweet
blue
eyes
,
when
she
received
from
it
the
blow
whereby
she
was
smitten
to
the
very
dust
.
Agnes
Clayton
betook
herself
to
her
knees
,
crushed
and
bewildered
with
anguish
,
but
she
scarce
knew
what
to
pray
for
;
it
seemed
to
her
a
hopeless
task
to
seek
to
avert
from
Richard
and
herself
the
misfortunes
that
were
springing
so
thickly
from
the
seed
they
had
sown
in
their
reckless
sin
and
folly
years
ago
.
Truly
it
was
bearing
such
fruit
as
they
had
never
dreamt
of
;
and
there
fell
a
terrible
weight
upon
her
heart
,
when
she
thought
of
that
innocent
one
whose
whole
existence
was
too
probably
blighted
by
her
father’s
fault
.
It
was
some
days
before
Richard
was
sufficiently
recovered
to
inquire
how
it
fared
with
his
daughter
since
she
had
learnt
the
utter
destruction
of
her
whole
earthly
happiness
.
The
misery
which
Mary
Clayton
was
enduring
would
have
been
altogether
insupportable
to
her
but
for
one
thought
of
holy
hope
.
The
affection
she
felt
for
him
she
had
believed
was
to
be
her
husband
,
was
of
a
nature
to
be
felt
but
once
in
a
lifetime
,
and
never
to
be
forgotten
or
replaced
—
full
of
an
unchanging
clinging
tenderness
,
which
must
turn
to
bitterest
suffering
if
rejected
.
There
is
no
trial
purely
of
this
earth
which
can
bring
greater
agony
to
a
human
heart
,
than
the
conviction
that
its
true
and
devoted
affection
has
been
for
ever
given
in
vain
.
It
seemed
to
her
,
when
she
was
thus
suddenly
flung
down
from
her
bright
hope
and
joy
into
such
exceeding
wretchedness
,
as
though
the
eyes
that
were
to
look
on
him
no
more
might
well
refuse
to
meet
again
the
light
of
day
;
and
the
sinking
heart
revolt
from
bearing
the
heavy
load
of
that
dark
cheerless
future
,
which
was
all
that
now
remained
to
her
on
earth
Her
sorrow
had
every
aggravation
which
man
could
give
it
;
for
not
only
was
she
rejected
and
cast
off
by
him
to
whom
she
had
trusted
for
her
life’s
happiness
,
but
she
was
treated
with
the
most
unmerited
and
cutting
contempt
by
his
family
.
Mary
would
have
sunk
altogether
under
this
overwhelming
burden
of
sudden
trial
,
had
it
not
been
,
as
we
have
said
,
for
one
thought
.
It
was
the
recollection
of
the
Love
of
Him
who
alone
is
holy
,
who
only
is
the
Lord
,
for
her
that
was
even
as
a
worm
in
His
sight
;
a
love
that
was
manifest
in
His
unutterable
agony
,
that
hereafter
might
be
manifest
in
her
unutterable
bliss
;
that
even
now
was
shown
forth
in
the
light
affliction
,
enduring
but
for
a
moment
,
wherewith
He
chastened
her
,
in
order
that
at
the
last
it
might
bear
fruit
in
a
great
and
exceeding
weight
of
glory
.
She
felt
that
though
by
His
will
the
soul
may
be
cast
forth
into
the
deep
waters
of
human
misery
,
whose
bitterness
no
earthly
power
can
assuage
,
still
this
one
hope
shall
uphold
it
in
the
fearful
struggle
,
as
with
the
hand
of
an
angel
,
and
teach
it
through
its
very
suffering
(
tempered
by
submission
and
faith
)
that
neither
in
this
world
nor
in
the
world
to
come
can
the
redeemed
of
Christ
know
aught
of
despair
.
Richard
Clayton
rose
from
his
dangerous
illness
a
humbled
and
remorseful
man
.
It
may
be
doubted
whether
his
was
a
repentance
not
to
be
repented
of
;
but
,
at
least
,
he
now
thoroughly
understood
how
glaring
was
the
sin
from
which
so
much
suffering
was
springing
,
not
to
those
only
who
had
erred
,
but
to
those
also
who
were
altogether
guiltless
of
it
.
He
no
longer
felt
any
power
to
struggle
with
the
retribution
which
had
so
clearly
commenced
;
silent
and
hopeless
,
he
seemed
constrained
to
sit
by
and
watch
the
working
of
all
the
misery
and
ruin
which
his
selfishness
had
wrought
.
The
first
meeting
between
the
father
and
daughter
was
a
terrible
one
.
Richard
gave
but
one
glance
to
that
pale
sad
face
,
with
its
look
of
patient
wretchedness
,
and
to
the
dim
eyes
from
which
the
sunshine
of
hope
and
joy
was
for
ever
fled
,
quenched
in
bitterest
tears
,
and
then
he
almost
crouched
down
before
her
as
though
he
would
have
implored
her
forgiveness
.
Mary
understood
from
that
moment
that
a
great
duty
and
task
were
now
set
before
her
,
in
the
soothing
and
comforting
of
the
father
,
who
had
so
profoundly
though
unwillingly
injured
her
.
She
must
not
only
be
resigned
,
but
cheerful
;
that
he
might
never
know
how
sorely
stricken
and
overwhelmed
she
was
by
the
sorrow
he
had
brought
upon
her
.
She
nerved
herself
at
once
to
this
holy
effort
of
filial
love
,
but
the
struggle
was
severe
,
and
she
felt
it
would
undermine
both
health
and
life
.
CHAPTER
XII
.
MEANWHILE
Mr.
Verney
was
by
no
means
disposed
to
submit
without
a
struggle
to
the
stern
commands
of
his
proud
father
.
His
affection
for
the
quiet
gentle
Mary
Clayton
had
taken
deep
root
in
his
heart
,
with
a
strength
of
which
he
was
not
aware
till
she
was
actually
taken
from
him
.
For
the
time
it
absorbed
all
other
considerations
,
and
extinguished
whatever
pride
he
might
have
inherited
from
his
parents
.
They
had
accustomed
him
from
childhood
to
the
unrestrained
indulgence
of
every
wish
,
and
now
when
,
for
the
first
time
,
they
thwarted
him
,
he
resolved
to
cast
off
their
authority
altogether
.
If
they
would
not
give
their
consent
to
his
union
with
Mr.
Clayton’s
daughter
,
he
would
marry
her
without
it
.
After
about
three
weeks
spent
in
vain
expostulations
with
Lord
and
Lady
Verney
,
Mr.
Verney
went
to
The
Mount
,
to
announce
his
resolution
to
Mary
,
and
to
obtain
her
consent
to
a
private
marriage
.
He
was
perfectly
aware
of
the
depth
of
the
attachment
with
which
he
had
inspired
her
,
and
of
all
the
worldly
advantages
of
an
alliance
with
him
;
and
his
astonishment
was
therefore
unbounded
when
Mary
positively
refused
to
marry
him
without
the
full
consent
of
his
father
and
mother
.
Mr.
Verney
would
not
believe
it
possible
that
she
could
continue
firm
in
her
determination
,
for
her
extreme
agitation
showed
what
the
sacrifice
cost
her
,
and
he
used
every
argument
to
induce
her
to
relent
.
He
assured
her
that
as
soon
as
the
marriage
was
over
,
and
opposition
of
no
further
avail
,
Lord
and
Lady
Verney
would
gladly
receive
her
;
and
he
called
upon
Richard
to
use
all
his
influence
with
her
.
It
was
,
perhaps
,
the
bitterest
pang
which
Mary
Clayton
had
yet
experienced
in
this
sore
trial
,
when
her
father
,
complying
with
Mr.
Verney’s
request
,
urged
her
to
do
that
which
was
actually
wrong
.
Gently
and
even
humbly
,
(
for
was
she
not
his
daughter
?
)
she
implored
of
him
to
desist
from
further
entreaties
,
and
again
quietly
repeated
her
refusal
to
Mr.
Verney
.
He
saw
that
she
was
too
resolute
in
the
strait
and
narrow
path
of
duty
,
to
be
allured
from
it
,
though
he
tempted
her
with
a
whole
life
of
happiness
;
and
in
his
bitter
anger
and
disappointment
,
he
upbraided
her
with
many
a
cruel
reproach
.
He
declared
that
she
had
never
really
felt
any
true
affection
for
him
,
that
she
was
cold
and
heart‐
less
,
that
it
cost
her
nothing
to
consign
him
to
misery
.
These
were
terrible
words
to
her
who
would
so
thankfully
have
devoted
her
whole
existence
to
make
him
happy
—
but
no
answering
word
of
bitterness
came
from
her
colourless
lips
.
She
bade
him
farewell
meekly
,
as
though
she
had
really
injured
him
;
and
when
he
was
gone
,
she
returned
to
all
her
home
duties
with
a
strong
effort
to
appear
contented
and
at
peace
,
at
least
in
her
father’s
eyes
.
During
Richard
Clayton’s
illness
,
Mr.
Lambert
,
now
Vicar
of
B
—
,
had
,
unasked
,
come
to
visit
him
,
and
from
that
period
he
continued
ministering
to
the
spiritual
necessities
of
the
various
members
of
the
family
,
with
faithfulness
and
zeal
.
Agnes
had
surrendered
herself
as
an
humble
penitent
entirely
to
his
guidance
.
Richard
himself
seemed
now
well
disposed
to
follow
her
example
;
and
to
Mary
,
his
counsels
were
of
inestimable
benefit
.
He
advised
her
as
to
her
conduct
towards
her
father
and
stepmother
,
for
her
position
was
by
no
means
an
easy
one
in
their
house
,
and
he
now
confirmed
and
strengthened
her
in
her
resolution
to
do
that
which
was
right
,
however
much
suffering
it
might
entail
upon
herself
.
Very
soon
,
however
,
her
miserable
father
began
to
fear
that
she
would
prove
,
with
her
life
itself
,
the
falsity
of
Mr.
Verney’s
assertion
,
that
he
was
the
only
sufferer
in
this
trial
,
for
her
health
and
strength
began
gradually
to
sink
under
her
constant
mental
exertion
.
Mr.
Verney
,
though
he
professed
to
leave
The
Mount
angry
and
hopeless
,
had
in
truth
only
felt
his
esteem
and
affection
for
Mary
increased
by
her
holy
resignation
and
obedience
to
the
Will
of
Heaven
.
He
was
more
than
ever
determined
not
to
lose
her
,
and
he
spent
his
days
in
devising
some
means
of
overcoming
the
difficulties
in
his
way
.
Lord
and
Lady
Verney
had
returned
to
their
own
home
,
but
he
himself
persisted
in
remaining
at
B
—
,
though
he
consented
,
at
their
earnest
request
,
to
stay
at
the
house
of
their
friends
,
who
received
private
instructions
to
watch
his
proceedings
.
They
were
continually
enlarging
on
the
disgrace
which
he
would
have
incurred
by
his
marriage
with
Mary
Clayton
;
and
one
day
in
particular
they
expatiated
much
on
the
miserable
position
of
her
brother
Edward
;
who
,
although
he
would
be
allowed
quietly
to
succeed
to
his
father’s
property
,
might
have
his
legitimacy
called
in
question
any
day
.
These
casual
remarks
suddenly
gave
Mr.
Verney
a
new
and
hopeful
idea
.
It
struck
him
that
if
Mary
could
be
put
in
possession
of
the
whole
of
the
large
fortune
which
belonged
to
the
Clayton
family
,
by
the
setting
aside
of
her
brother’s
claim
,
his
proud
but
poverty‐stricken
parents
might
possibly
be
induced
to
overlook
Richard’s
disgraced
name
,
and
receive
her
as
their
daughter
even
yet
.
It
seemed
clear
to
him
,
that
if
Edward’s
legal
right
were
disproved
,
Mary
would
succeed
to
an
amount
of
wealth
which
might
well
cover
the
dishonour
of
her
family
,
and
enable
him
at
once
to
obtain
the
consent
of
his
parents
;
but
it
was
a
question
which
a
lawyer
alone
could
answer
,
and
Mr.
Verney
repaired
without
loss
of
time
to
Mr.
Sharp
,
who
had
now
a
considerable
reputation
in
the
neighbourhood
of
B
—
.
He
was
too
much
absorbed
in
his
resolution
to
remember
how
cruel
and
selfish
he
was
towards
Edward
and
his
unhappy
parents
,
in
contemplating
such
a
measure
.
He
quieted
his
conscience
with
the
conviction
,
that
Mary
would
make
a
much
better
use
of
the
money
than
her
dissipated
brother
,
and
never
thought
of
the
shame
and
misery
he
was
bringing
upon
Agnes
,
or
of
her
son’s
existence
thus
early
ruined
and
blighted
.
Mr.
Verney
put
the
question
to
Mr.
Sharp
,
and
received
at
once
a
decisive
answer
.
The
passing
of
the
act
in
1835
,
respecting
marriages
within
the
prohibited
degrees
of
affinity
,
has
made
the
law
in
the
present
day
different
to
what
it
was
at
the
period
to
which
we
refer
.
At
that
time
,
as
the
lawyer
informed
Mr.
Verney
,
the
legitimacy
of
the
offspring
of
a
man
and
his
sister‐in‐law
could
be
set
aside
if
an
action
were
brought
against
them
during
the
lifetime
of
both
parents
.
Thus
,
in
the
case
of
Edward
Clayton
,
the
thing
was
perfectly
possible
,
and
his
sister
might
unquestionably
succeed
to
the
property
;
but
,
of
course
,
the
necessary
measures
could
only
be
taken
by
Mr.
Verney
when
he
should
be
her
husband
.
This
was
,
however
,
quite
satisfactory
to
him
;
as
he
thought
it
by
no
means
impossible
that
his
father
and
mother
might
consent
to
his
marriage
,
if
he
could
hold
out
so
sure
a
prospect
of
his
wife’s
becoming
a
wealthy
heiress
.
He
therefore
determined
to
proceed
at
once
to
his
own
home
,
in
order
to
acquaint
his
parents
with
his
plans
;
but
he
could
not
resist
the
temptation
of
first
paying
a
visit
at
The
Mount
,
that
Mary
might
learn
the
new
hopes
which
cheered
him
.
He
informed
both
her
and
Richard
,
that
he
had
found
a
means
whereby
he
hoped
to
overcome
all
the
obstacles
to
their
union
;
and
with
all
the
ardour
of
his
peculiarly
sanguine
temperament
,
he
assured
her
,
that
he
doubted
not
his
parents
would
soon
come
themselves
to
claim
her
as
their
daughter
.
Mr.
Verney
was
scrupulously
careful
to
conceal
from
Mary
the
cruel
and
wicked
scheme
he
had
devised
.
He
knew
enough
of
her
character
and
principles
to
feel
certain
that
she
would
never
consent
to
be
his
wife
on
such
terms
,
and
he
resolved
that
she
should
only
know
the
truth
,
when
as
her
husband
he
could
claim
her
obedience
to
his
wishes
.
Mary
never
asked
,
however
,
what
was
the
plan
of
which
he
spoke
.
She
was
bewildered
with
joy
;
for
she
implicitly
believed
his
assurance
,
that
they
should
yet
be
happy
,
and
the
sudden
revulsion
of
feeling
was
almost
too
much
for
her
enfeebled
frame
.
After
he
left
her
Mr.
Verney
wrote
to
Mr.
Sharp
,
to
inform
him
that
his
marriage
would
be
concluded
very
shortly
,
and
that
he
held
him
engaged
to
commence
immediately
afterwards
the
legal
proceedings
against
Edward
Clayton
.
This
letter
was
entrusted
by
Mr.
Sharp
to
his
son
,
who
was
in
the
habit
of
making
copies
of
such
documents
for
his
father’s
use
.
It
so
chanced
that
this
young
man
had
once
a
violent
quarrel
with
Edward
when
he
was
little
more
than
a
boy
.
He
had
taunted
him
,
as
many
others
were
in
the
habit
of
doing
,
with
the
circumstances
of
his
birth
,
and
the
insult
had
been
answered
by
a
blow
.
This
indignity
was
never
forgotten
by
the
lawyer’s
son
,
who
was
a
mean
and
pitiful
character
;
and
even
if
he
had
been
disposed
to
forgive
it
,
his
mother
was
at
hand
to
foster
his
anger
and
encourage
his
desire
for
revenge
.
Mrs.
Sharp
saw
,
in
the
insult
her
son
had
received
from
Edward
,
only
an
aggravation
of
that
offered
to
herself
by
Agnes
,
many
years
previously
;
for
the
lapse
of
time
had
but
served
to
strengthen
her
enmity
against
the
whole
family
,
which
was
now
brought
to
its
height
by
her
son’s
complaints
.
Of
late
she
had
been
bitterly
displeased
at
the
bright
prospects
which
had
seemed
to
dawn
for
them
in
the
proposed
marriage
of
Mary
Clayton
,
and
it
was
now
with
a
spiteful
pleasure
that
she
learnt
,
from
Mr.
Verney’s
letter
,
the
disgrace
and
misery
which
were
preparing
for
them
.
Neither
she
nor
her
son
,
however
,
could
resist
forestalling
the
evils
which
threatened
the
Claytons
,
when
so
favourable
an
opportunity
for
revenge
presented
itself
.
Together
they
arranged
a
plan
for
Edward’s
public
humiliation
,
which
Mr.
Sharp’s
son
knew
he
could
put
in
execution
without
loss
of
time
.
That
same
evening
he
took
Mr.
Verney’s
letter
with
him
when
he
went
to
join
a
dinner
party
of
young
men
,
where
he
knew
he
should
meet
Edward
.
There
he
openly
repeated
the
insult
which
years
before
had
provoked
the
return
he
resented
;
and
when
Edward
,
stung
almost
to
fury
at
his
words
,
would
have
called
him
to
account
for
them
,
he
flung
Mr.
Verney’s
letter
across
the
table
to
him
,
and
told
him
he
might
learn
there
how
he
would
soon
have
to
fight
the
whole
world
for
attributing
to
him
a
disgrace
which
was
to
be
publicly
and
legally
proved
.
The
lawyer’s
son
was
perfectly
aware
that
he
was
betraying
his
employer’s
confidence
by
this
proceeding
,
but
he
had
the
less
scruple
in
doing
it
for
the
gratification
of
his
own
malice
,
because
he
knew
that
it
was
perfectly
impossible
for
Edward
or
his
family
to
avert
the
threatened
evil
,
if
Mary’s
husband
chose
to
institute
proceedings
against
him
.
It
was
late
