scintillationof
his
former
spirit
,
it
was
merely
to
command
his
wife
to
leave
him
to
his
own
meditations
.
And
again
did
he
have
recourse
to
the
pipe
:
in
fact
he
was
never
easy
now
save
when
he
lulled
his
thoughts
into
complete
stupefaction
by
means
of
the
oriental
tobacco
.
Even
when
,
in
the
midst
of
her
earnest
prayers
,
his
wife
implored
him
to
come
forth
again
into
the
world
—
to
live
,
in
fine
,
for
the
sake
of
his
as
yet
unborn
babe
,
the
fire
that
kindled
in
his
eyes
was
so
evanescent
that
an
acute
observer
could
alone
perceive
the
momentary
—
and
only
momentary
—
effect
which
the
appeal
produced
.
The
guests
had
all
taken
their
departure
the
day
after
the
bridal
;
and
the
splendid
mansion
immediately
became
the
scene
of
silence
and
of
woe
.
To
all
the
entreaties
of
his
wife
—
to
all
the
representations
of
his
favourite
page
Quentin
,
that
he
would
engage
eminent
medical
assistance
,
Lord
Ravensworth
turned
a
deaf
ear
,
or
else
so
far
roused
himself
as
to
utter
a
stern
refusal
,
accompanied
with
a
command
that
he
might
be
left
alone
.
Thus
was
he
rapidly
accomplishing
his
own
destruction
,
—
committing
involuntary
suicide
by
slow
,
certain
,
and
yet
unsuspected
means
,
—
even
as
his
brother
,
the
Honourable
Gilbert
Vernon
,
had
declared
to
the
Resurrection
Man
.
Adeline
had
no
inclination
to
seek
the
bustle
and
excitement
of
society
.
Her
love
of
display
and
ostentation
was
subdued
—
if
not
altogether
crushed
.
She
was
so
overwhelmed
with
sorrow
—
so
goaded
by
the
tyranny
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
—
so
desperate
by
the
mere
fact
of
having
to
submit
to
that
oppression
,
and
by
the
consciousness
that
she
dared
not
unbosom
her
cares
to
a
single
sympathising
heart
,
—
that
she
at
times
felt
as
if
she
were
on
the
point
of
becoming
raving
mad
,
and
at
others
as
if
she
could
lay
herself
down
and
die
!
We
will
afford
the
reader
an
idea
of
the
mode
of
life
which
the
once
proud
and
haughty
Lady
Ravensworth
was
now
compelled
to
lead
beneath
the
crushing
despotism
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
.
It
was
on
the
seventh
morning
after
the
arrival
of
the
latter
at
Ravensworth
Hall
.
The
clock
had
struck
nine
,
when
Lydia
repaired
to
the
apartment
of
her
mistress
—
—
her
mistress
!
Until
she
reached
the
door
,
her
manner
was
meek
and
subdued
,
because
she
incurred
a
chance
of
meeting
other
domestics
in
the
passages
and
corridors
.
But
the
moment
she
entered
Adeline
's
apartment
—
the
moment
the
door
of
that
chamber
closed
behind
her
—
her
manner
suddenly
changed
.
No
longer
meek
—
no
longer
subdued
—
no
longer
wearing
the
stamp
of
servitude
Lydia
assumed
a
stern
expression
of
countenance
—
so
terrible
in
a
vengeful
woman
—
and
in
an
instant
clothed
herself
,
as
it
were
,
with
an
appearance
of
truly
fiend-like
malignity
.
Adeline
slept
.
Approaching
the
bed
,
Lydia
shook
her
rudely
.
Lady
Ravensworth
awoke
with
a
start
,
and
then
glanced
hastily
—
almost
franticly
—
around
.
"
Ah
!
you
here
again
!
"
she
murmured
,
shrinking
from
the
look
of
bitter
hatred
which
Lydia
cast
upon
her
.
"
Yes
—
I
am
here
again
,
"
said
the
vindictive
woman
.
"
It
is
time
for
you
to
rise
.
"
"
Oh
!
spare
me
,
Lydia
,
"
exclaimed
Adeline
;
"
allow
me
to
repose
a
little
longer
.
I
have
passed
a
wretched
—
a
sleepless
night
:
see
—
my
pillow
is
still
moist
with
the
tears
of
anguish
which
I
have
shed
;
and
it
was
but
an
hour
ago
that
I
fell
into
an
uneasy
slumber
!
I
cannot
live
thus
—
I
would
rather
that
you
should
take
a
dagger
and
plunge
it
into
my
heart
at
once
.
Oh
!
leave
me
—
leave
me
to
rest
for
only
another
hour
!
"
"
No
:
—
it
is
time
to
rise
,
I
say
,
"
cried
Lydia
.
"
It
has
been
my
destiny
to
pass
many
long
weary
nights
in
the
streets
—
in
the
depth
of
winter
—
and
with
the
icy
wind
penetrating
through
my
scanty
clothing
till
it
seemed
to
freeze
the
very
marrow
in
my
bones
.
I
have
been
so
wearied
—
so
cold
—
so
broken
down
for
want
of
sleep
,
that
I
would
have
given
ten
years
of
my
life
for
two
hours
'
repose
in
a
warm
and
comfortable
bed
:
—
but
still
have
I
often
,
in
those
times
,
passed
a
whole
week
without
so
resting
my
sinking
frame
.
Think
you
,
then
,
that
I
can
now
permit
you
the
luxury
of
sleep
when
your
body
requires
it
—
of
repose
when
your
mind
needs
it
?
No
,
Adeline
—
no
!
I
cannot
turn
you
forth
into
the
streets
to
become
a
houseless
wanderer
,
as
I
have
been
:
—
but
I
can
at
least
arouse
you
from
the
indolent
enjoyment
of
that
bed
of
down
.
"
With
these
words
Lydia
seized
Lady
Ravensworth
rudely
by
the
wrist
,
and
compelled
her
to
leave
the
couch
.
Then
the
revengeful
woman
seated
herself
in
a
chair
,
and
said
in
a
harsh
tone
,
"
Light
the
fire
,
Adeline
—
I
am
cold
.
"
"
No
—
no
:
I
will
not
be
your
servant
!
"
exclaimed
Lady
Ravensworth
.
"
You
are
mine
—
and
it
is
for
you
to
do
those
menial
offices
.
"
"
Provoke
me
not
,
Adeline
,
"
said
Lydia
Hutchinson
,
coolly
;
"
or
I
will
repair
straight
to
the
servants
'
hall
,
and
there
proclaim
the
astounding
fact
that
Lord
Ravensworth
's
relapse
has
been
produced
by
the
discovery
of
his
wife
's
frailty
ere
their
marriage
.
"
"
Oh
!
my
God
—
what
will
become
of
me
?
"
murmured
Adeline
,
wringing
her
hands
.
"
Are
you
a
woman
?
or
are
you
a
fiend
?
"
"
I
am
a
woman
—
and
one
who
,
having
suffered
much
,
knows
how
to
revenge
deeply
,
"
returned
Lydia
.
"
You
shall
obey
me
—
or
I
will
cover
you
with
shame
!
"
Adeline
made
no
reply
;
but
,
with
scalding
tears
trickling
down
her
cheeks
,
she
proceeded
—
yes
,
she
—
the
high-born
peeress
!
—
to
arrange
the
wood
in
the
grate
—
to
heap
up
the
coals
—
and
to
light
the
fire
.
And
while
she
was
kneeling
in
the
performance
of
that
menial
task
,
—
while
her
delicate
white
hands
were
coming
in
contact
with
the
black
grate
,
—
and
while
she
was
shivering
in
her
night
gear
,
and
her
long
dishevelled
hair
streamed
over
her
naked
neck
and
bosom
,
—
there
,
within
a
few
feet
of
her
,
sate
the
menial
—
the
servant
,
comfortably
placed
in
an
arm-chair
,
and
calmly
surveying
the
degrading
occupation
of
her
mistress
.
"
I
have
often
—
oh
!
how
often
—
longed
for
a
stick
of
wood
and
a
morsel
of
coal
to
make
myself
a
fire
,
if
no
larger
than
sufficient
to
warm
the
palms
of
my
almost
frost-bitten
hands
,
"
said
Lydia
,
after
a
short
pause
;
"
and
when
I
have
dragged
my
weary
limbs
past
the
houses
of
the
rich
,
and
have
caught
sight
of
the
cheerful
flames
blazing
through
the
area-windows
of
their
kitchens
,
I
have
thought
to
myself
,
'
Oh
!
for
one
hour
to
sit
within
the
influence
of
that
genial
warmth
!
'
And
yet
you
—
you
,
the
proud
daughter
of
the
aristocracy
—
recoil
in
disgust
from
a
task
which
so
many
thousands
of
poor
creatures
would
only
be
too
glad
to
have
an
opportunity
of
performing
!
"
Adeline
sobbed
bitterly
,
but
made
no
reply
.
The
fire
was
now
blazing
in
the
grate
:
still
the
high-born
peeress
was
shivering
with
the
cold
—
for
ere
she
could
put
on
a
single
article
of
clothing
,
she
was
forced
to
wash
the
black
dirt
from
her
delicate
fingers
.
Then
that
lady
,
who
—
until
within
a
week
—
had
never
even
done
so
much
as
take
,
with
her
own
hands
,
a
change
of
linen
from
the
cupboard
or
select
a
gown
from
the
wardrobe
,
was
compelled
to
perform
those
duties
for
herself
;
—
and
all
the
while
her
servant
,
—
her
hired
servant
,
to
whom
she
had
to
pay
high
wages
and
afford
food
and
lodging
,
—
that
servant
was
seated
in
the
arm-chair
,
warming
herself
by
the
now
cheerful
fire
!
"
Do
not
be
ashamed
of
your
occupation
,
madam
,
"
said
Lydia
.
"
It
is
fortunate
for
you
that
there
is
a
well-stocked
cupboard
to
select
from
,
and
a
well-provided
wardrobe
to
have
recourse
to
.
Your
linen
is
of
the
most
delicate
texture
,
and
of
the
most
refined
work
:
your
feet
have
never
worn
any
thing
coarser
than
silk
.
For
your
gowns
,
you
may
choose
amongst
fifty
dresses
.
One
would
even
think
that
your
ladyship
would
be
bewildered
by
the
variety
of
the
assortment
.
And
yet
you
are
indignant
at
being
compelled
to
take
the
trouble
to
make
your
selections
!
For
how
many
long
weeks
and
months
together
have
I
been
forced
,
at
times
,
to
wear
the
same
thin
,
tattered
gown
—
the
same
threadbare
shawl
—
the
same
well-darned
stockings
!
And
how
many
thousands
are
there
,
Adeline
,
who
dwell
in
rags
from
the
moment
of
their
birth
to
that
of
their
death
!
Ah
!
if
we
could
only
take
the
daughters
of
the
working
classes
,
and
give
them
good
clothing
,
—
enable
them
to
smooth
their
hair
with
fragrant
oil
,
and
to
wash
their
flesh
with
perfumed
soaps
,
—
and
provide
them
with
all
those
accessories
which
enhance
so
much
the
natural
loveliness
of
woman
,
think
you
not
that
they
would
be
as
attractive
—
as
worthy
of
homage
—
as
yourself
?
And
let
me
tell
you
,
Adeline
,
that
such
black
ingratitude
as
I
have
encountered
at
your
hands
,
is
unknown
in
the
humble
cottage
:
—
the
poor
are
not
so
selfish
—
so
hollow-hearted
as
the
rich
!
"
While
Lydia
Hutchinson
was
thus
venting
her
bitter
sarcasm
and
her
cutting
reproach
upon
Lady
Ravensworth
,
the
latter
was
hurriedly
accomplishing
the
routine
of
the
toilet
.
She
no
longer
took
pride
in
her
appearance
:
—
she
scarcely
glanced
in
the
mirror
as
she
combed
out
those
tresses
which
it
was
Lydia
's
duty
to
have
arranged
;
—
her
sole
thought
was
to
escape
as
speedily
as
possible
from
that
room
where
insults
and
indignities
were
so
profusely
accumulated
upon
her
.
But
her
ordeal
of
torture
was
not
yet
at
its
end
.
So
soon
as
Lady
Ravensworth
was
dressed
,
Lydia
Hutchinson
said
in
a
cool
but
authoritative
tone
,
"
Adeline
,
you
will
comb
out
my
hair
for
me
now
.
"
"
Provoke
me
not
,
vile
woman
—
provoke
me
not
beyond
the
powers
of
endurance
!
"
almost
shrieked
the
unhappy
lady
;
"
or
I
shall
be
tempted
—
oh
!
I
shall
be
tempted
to
lay
violent
hands
upon
you
.
My
God
—
my
God
!
what
will
become
of
me
?
"
"
I
am
prepared
to
stand
the
risk
of
any
ebullition
of
fury
on
your
part
,
"
said
Lydia
,
in
the
same
imperturbable
manner
in
which
she
had
before
spoken
.
"
Lay
but
a
finger
upon
me
to
do
me
an
injury
,
and
I
will
attack
you
—
I
will
assault
you
—
I
will
disfigure
your
countenance
with
my
nails
—
I
will
tear
out
your
hair
by
handfuls
—
I
will
beat
your
teeth
from
your
mouth
;
—
for
I
am
stronger
than
you
—
and
you
would
gain
nothing
by
an
attempt
to
hurt
me
.
"
"
But
I
will
not
be
your
servant
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
fire
flashing
from
her
eyes
.
"
I
tended
your
ladyship
when
you
lay
upon
the
humble
couch
in
my
garret
,
in
the
agonies
of
maternity
,
"
replied
Lydia
;
"
and
your
ladyship
shall
now
wait
upon
me
.
"
"
No
—
no
!
You
would
make
me
a
slave
—
a
low
slave
—
the
lowest
of
slaves
!
"
ejaculated
Adeline
,
wildly
.
"
You
degrade
me
in
my
own
estimation
—
you
render
me
contemptible
in
my
own
eyes
—
—
"
"
And
you
have
spurned
and
scorned
me
,
"
interrupted
Lydia
;
"
you
have
made
me
,
too
,
the
lowest
of
slaves
,
by
using
me
as
an
instrument
to
save
you
from
shame
;
—
and
now
it
is
time
that
I
should
teach
you
—
the
proud
peeress
—
that
I
—
the
humble
and
friendless
woman
—
have
my
feelings
,
which
may
be
wounded
as
well
as
your
own
.
"
"
Lydia
—
I
beg
you
—
I
implore
you
—
on
my
knees
I
beseech
you
to
have
mercy
upon
me
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
clasping
her
hands
together
in
a
paroxysm
of
ineffable
anguish
,
and
falling
at
the
feet
of
the
stern
and
relentless
woman
whom
she
had
wronged
.
"
I
can
know
no
mercy
for
you
!
"
said
Lydia
Hutchinson
,
now
speaking
in
a
deep
and
almost
hoarse
tone
,
which
denoted
the
powerful
concentration
of
her
vengeful
passions
.
"
When
I
think
of
all
that
I
have
suffered
—
when
I
trace
my
miseries
to
their
source
—
and
remember
how
happy
I
might
have
been
in
the
society
of
a
fond
father
and
a
loving
brother
,
—
when
I
reflect
that
it
was
you
—
you
who
led
me
astray
,
and
having
blighted
all
my
prospects
—
demanding
even
the
sacrifice
of
my
good
name
to
your
interests
,
—
thrust
me
away
from
you
with
scorn
,
—
when
I
ponder
upon
all
this
,
it
is
enough
to
drive
me
mad
;
—
and
yet
you
ask
for
mercy
!
No
—
never
,
never
!
I
cannot
pity
you
—
for
I
hate
,
I
abhor
you
!
"
"
Do
not
talk
so
fearfully
,
Lydia
—
good
Lydia
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
in
a
voice
of
despair
,
while
she
endeavoured
to
take
the
hands
of
her
servant
,
at
whose
feet
she
still
knelt
.
"
Think
not
to
move
me
with
a
show
of
kindness
,
"
said
Lydia
,
drawing
back
her
hands
in
a
contemptuous
manner
:
"
your
overtures
of
good
treatment
come
too
late
!
"
"
But
I
will
make
amends
for
the
past
—
I
will
henceforth
consider
you
as
my
sister
,
"
exclaimed
Adeline
,
raising
her
eyes
in
an
imploring
manner
towards
the
vengeful
woman
.
"
I
will
do
all
I
can
to
repair
my
former
ingratitude
—
only
be
forbearing
with
me
—
if
not
for
my
sake
,
at
least
for
the
sake
of
my
unborn
babe
!
"
"
Your
maternal
feelings
have
improved
in
quality
of
late
,
"
said
Lydia
,
with
a
scornful
curl
of
the
lip
;
"
for
—
as
you
must
well
remember
—
your
first
babe
was
consigned
to
me
to
be
concealed
in
a
pond
,
or
thrust
into
some
hole
—
you
cared
not
how
nor
where
,
so
long
as
it
was
hidden
from
every
eye
.
"
"
Of
all
the
agonies
which
you
make
me
endure
,
detestable
woman
,
"
ejaculated
Adeline
,
rising
from
her
knees
in
a
perfect
fury
of
rage
and
despair
,
"
that
perpetual
recurrence
to
the
past
is
the
most
intolerable
of
all
!
Tell
me
—
do
you
want
to
kill
me
by
a
slow
and
lingering
death
?
or
do
you
wish
to
drive
me
mad
—
mad
?
"
she
repeated
,
her
eyes
rolling
wildly
,
and
her
delicate
hands
clenching
as
she
screamed
forth
the
word
.
The
scene
was
really
an
awful
one
—
a
scene
to
which
no
powers
of
description
can
possibly
do
justice
.
The
stern
,
inflexible
tyranny
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
forced
Lady
Ravensworth
to
pass
through
all
the
terrible
ordeal
of
the
most
tearing
and
heart-breaking
emotions
.
Did
the
miserable
peeress
endeavour
to
screen
herself
within
the
stronghold
of
a
sullen
silence
,
the
words
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
would
gradually
fall
upon
her
,
one
after
the
other
,
with
an
irritating
power
that
at
length
goaded
her
to
desperation
.
Did
she
meet
accusation
by
retort
,
and
encounter
reproach
with
upbraiding
,
the
inveteracy
of
Lydia
's
torturing
language
wound
her
feelings
up
to
such
a
pitch
that
it
was
no
wonder
she
should
ask
,
with
an
agonising
scream
,
whether
the
avenging
woman
sought
to
drive
her
mad
?
Or
,
again
,
did
she
endeavour
to
move
the
heart
of
her
hired
servant
by
self-humiliation
and
passionate
appeal
,
the
coldness
,
or
the
malignant
triumph
with
which
those
manifestations
were
received
awoke
within
her
that
proud
and
haughty
spirit
which
was
now
so
nearly
subdued
altogether
.
"
Do
you
wish
to
drive
me
mad
?
"
Lady
Ravensworth
had
said
:
—
then
,
when
the
accompanying
paroxysm
of
feeling
was
past
,
she
threw
herself
on
a
chair
,
and
burst
into
an
agony
of
tears
.
But
Lydia
was
not
softened
!
She
suffered
Adeline
to
weep
for
a
few
minutes
;
and
when
the
unhappy
lady
was
exhausted
—
subdued
—
spirit-broken
—
the
unrelenting
torturess
repeated
her
command
—
"
You
can
now
arrange
my
hair
.
"
Oh
!
bad
as
Adeline
was
at
heart
—
selfish
as
she
was
by
nature
and
by
education
,
—
it
would
have
moved
a
savage
to
have
seen
the
imploring
,
beseeching
look
which
,
through
her
tears
,
she
cast
upon
Lydia
's
countenance
.
"
My
hair
!
"
said
Lydia
,
imperatively
.
Then
Lady
Ravensworth
rose
,
and
meekly
and
timidly
began
to
perform
that
menial
office
for
her
own
menial
.
"
I
never
thought
,
"
observed
Lydia
,
"
while
I
was
a
wanderer
and
an
outcast
in
the
streets
,
—
as
,
for
instance
,
on
the
occasion
when
I
accosted
you
,
in
the
bitterness
of
my
starving
condition
,
in
Saint
James
's
Street
,
and
when
your
lacqueys
thrust
me
back
,
your
husband
declaring
that
it
was
easy
to
see
what
I
was
,
and
your
carriage
dashing
me
upon
the
kerb-stone
,
—
little
did
I
think
then
that
the
time
would
ever
be
when
a
peeress
of
England
should
dress
my
hair
—
and
least
of
all
that
this
peeress
should
be
you
!
But
when
,
in
your
pride
,
you
spurned
the
worm
—
you
knew
not
that
the
day
could
ever
possibly
come
for
that
worm
to
raise
its
head
and
sting
you
!
Think
you
that
I
value
any
peculiar
arrangement
which
you
can
bestow
upon
my
hair
?
Think
you
that
I
cannot
even
,
were
I
still
vain
,
adapt
it
more
to
my
taste
with
my
own
hands
?
Yes
—
certainly
I
could
!
But
I
compel
you
to
attend
upon
me
thus
—
I
constitute
myself
the
mistress
,
and
make
you
the
menial
,
when
we
are
alone
together
—
because
it
is
the
principal
element
of
my
vengeance
.
It
degrades
you
—
it
renders
you
little
in
your
own
eyes
,
—
you
who
were
once
so
great
—
so
haughty
—
and
so
proud
!
"
In
this
strain
did
Lydia
Hutchinson
continue
to
speak
,
while
Lady
Ravensworth
arranged
her
hair
.
And
each
word
that
the
vindictive
woman
uttered
,
fell
like
a
drop
of
molten
lead
upon
the
already
lacerated
heart
of
the
unfortunate
Adeline
.
At
length
the
ordeal
—
that
same
ordeal
which
had
characterised
each
morning
since
Lydia
Hutchinson
had
become
an
inmate
of
Ravensworth
Hall
—
was
over
;
and
Adeline
was
released
from
that
horrible
tyranny
—
but
only
for
a
short
time
.
CHAPTER
CCXIV
.
THE
DUELLISTS
.
When
Lady
Ravensworth
descended
to
the
breakfast
parlour
,
she
summoned
her
husband
's
principal
valet
,
Quentin
,
to
her
presence
,
and
desired
him
to
hasten
and
inform
his
lordship
that
the
morning
meal
was
served
up
.
Quentin
bowed
and
retired
.
But
both
Lady
Ravensworth
and
the
valet
were
well
aware
that
this
was
a
mere
idle
ceremonial
which
would
only
lead
to
the
same
ineffectual
result
as
on
the
six
preceding
mornings
—
indeed
,
ever
since
the
arrival
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
at
the
Hall
.
At
the
same
time
,
the
servant
was
very
far
from
suspecting
how
large
a
share
the
new
lady's-maid
enjoyed
in
the
relapse
of
his
master
and
the
increasing
sorrows
of
his
mistress
.
In
a
few
minutes
Quentin
returned
.
"
His
lordship
requests
you
,
my
lady
,
to
excuse
his
absence
,
"
was
the
message
which
he
delivered
—
a
message
as
formal
as
the
one
that
had
evoked
it
.
"
How
is
your
lord
this
morning
?
"
asked
Adeline
,
with
a
profound
sigh
.
"
His
lordship
does
not
appear
to
be
improving
,
my
lady
,
"
was
the
answer
.
Adeline
sighed
once
more
,
and
remained
silent
.
The
valet
withdrew
;
and
the
unhappy
lady
endeavoured
to
eat
a
morsel
of
food
:
but
she
had
no
appetite
—
her
stomach
seemed
to
loathe
all
solid
nourishment
;
and
she
pushed
her
plate
from
her
.
She
then
endeavoured
to
while
away
an
hour
or
two
with
the
most
recently
published
novel
and
the
morning
's
newspapers
;
but
she
found
her
imagination
ever
wandering
to
other
and
sadly
painful
topics
.
It
was
about
mid-day
,
when
,
as
she
was
standing
listlessly
at
the
window
,
which
commanded
a
view
of
the
park
,
she
suddenly
caught
sight
of
a
carriage
that
was
advancing
rapidly
towards
the
mansion
.
The
livery
of
the
servants
belonging
to
it
was
unknown
to
her
;
and
she
hastily
summoned
a
domestic
to
instruct
him
that
"
she
was
not
at
home
to
any
visitors
.
"
The
vehicle
drove
up
to
the
principal
entrance
of
Ravensworth
Hall
;
and
although
the
domestic
delivered
the
answer
commanded
by
his
mistress
,
it
did
not
seem
sufficient
to
cause
the
departure
of
the
carriage
.
There
was
some
conversation
between
the
servant
who
gave
that
answer
and
the
occupants
of
the
vehicle
;
—
but
Lady
Ravensworth
could
not
overhear
a
word
that
was
said
.
In
a
few
minutes
,
however
,
the
domestic
returned
to
Adeline
's
presence
.
"
Please
your
ladyship
,
"
he
said
,
"
there
is
a
gentleman
below
who
has
just
been
dangerously
wounded
in
a
duel
;
and
his
companions
earnestly
request
—
—
"
"
I
understand
you
,
"
interrupted
Lady
Ravensworth
.
"
This
is
quite
another
consideration
.
You
must
admit
them
by
all
means
.
"
The
domestic
once
more
hurried
away
;
and
Adeline
shortly
beheld
,
from
the
window
,
two
gentlemen
alight
from
the
carriage
,
and
then
carefully
remove
a
third
,
who
appeared
to
be
in
a
helpless
condition
.
She
did
not
,
however
,
catch
a
glimpse
of
either
of
their
faces
.
Lady
Ravensworth
now
felt
herself
to
be
in
a
most
unpleasant
situation
.
Her
husband
,
she
knew
,
would
not
come
forth
from
his
private
cabinet
to
do
the
honours
of
his
mansion
;
and
delicacy
prevented
her
from
hastening
to
receive
persons
who
might
be
total
strangers
to
her
,
and
who
arrived
under
such
extraordinary
circumstances
.
She
did
not
,
however
,
long
hesitate
how
to
act
.
Ringing
the
bell
,
and
summoning
Quentin
to
her
presence
,
she
said
to
him
,
"
You
must
make
a
fitting
excuse
for
the
non-appearance
of
Lord
Ravensworth
,
and
see
that
the
wounded
gentleman
be
conveyed
to
a
chamber
.
Then
assure
his
friends
that
they
may
command
every
thing
they
require
in
this
house
;
and
state
that
I
shall
be
happy
to
receive
them
in
the
drawing-room
in
half
an
hour
.
"
Quentin
retired
to
execute
this
commission
.
He
had
the
wounded
man
borne
to
a
bed-room
,
and
offered
to
send
a
messenger
on
horseback
to
procure
medical
assistance
,
from
the
nearest
village
;
but
one
of
the
other
two
gentlemen
proved
to
be
a
surgeon
,
whose
services
had
been
engaged
in
the
usual
manner
by
the
duellists
.
In
the
meantime
,
Lady
Ravensworth
repaired
to
her
boudoir
,
to
change
her
dress
.
She
was
immediately
followed
thither
by
Lydia
Hutchinson
.
"
I
do
not
require
your
attendance
,
"
said
Adeline
,
with
a
visible
shudder
,
as
the
lady's-maid
closed
the
door
behind
her
.
"
I
care
not
for
your
wishes
or
aversions
,
"
returned
Lydia
.
"
Appearances
compel
me
to
wait
upon
you
—
or
to
have
the
semblance
of
waiting
upon
you
;
—
and
,
moreover
,
I
have
something
important
to
communicate
.
Oh
!
I
feel
such
pleasure
in
being
the
bearer
of
good
news
to
you
!
"
"
What
new
torture
have
you
in
store
for
me
,
horrible
woman
?
"
cried
Lady
Ravensworth
,
affrighted
by
the
malignant
bitterness
with
which
these
last
words
were
uttered
.
"
Know
you
to
whom
your
princely
mansion
has
just
afforded
its
hospitality
?
"
demanded
Lydia
.
"
To
a
wounded
duellist
and
his
friends
,
"
replied
Adeline
.
"
Is
this
circumstance
to
be
in
any
way
rendered
available
to
your
fearful
purposes
of
torture
in
respect
to
me
?
"
"
And
that
wounded
duellist
and
one
of
his
companions
are
well
known
to
you
,
"
said
Lydia
,
impressively
.
"
Known
to
me
!
"
ejaculated
Adeline
,
who
felt
convinced
that
some
fresh
cause
of
anguish
to
herself
lurked
in
the
mysterious
language
of
her
torturess
.
"
Oh
!
yes
—
known
too
well
to
yourself
and
to
me
also
!
"
said
Lydia
,
as
if
shuddering
with
concentrated
rage
.
"
Ah
!
my
God
—
it
would
require
but
that
to
drive
me
to
desperation
!
"
exclaimed
Adeline
,
a
terrible
suspicion
darting
across
her
mind
.
"
Then
despair
must
be
your
lot
,
"
said
Lydia
,
fixing
her
eyes
with
malignant
joy
upon
her
mistress
:
"
for
—
as
sure
as
you
are
called
Lady
Ravensworth
—
Lord
Dunstable
and
Colonel
Cholmondeley
are
inmates
of
this
mansion
!
"
"
May
God
have
mercy
upon
me
!
"
murmured
Adeline
,
in
a
low
but
solemn
tone
.
And
she
sank
almost
insensible
upon
the
sofa
.
"
Yes
,
"
continued
the
unrelenting
Lydia
,
"
he
to
whom
you
gave
your
honour
,
as
one
child
might
give
a
toy
of
little
value
to
another
—
and
he
who
stole
my
honour
as
a
vile
thief
plunders
the
defenceless
traveller
upon
the
highway
,
—
those
two
men
are
beneath
this
roof
!
The
villain
who
ruined
me
and
slew
my
brother
,
is
now
lying
upon
a
bed
from
which
he
may
never
more
be
removed
save
to
the
coffin
.
His
second
was
the
gay
seducer
who
rioted
awhile
upon
your
charms
,
and
then
threw
you
aside
,
—
yes
,
you
—
the
daughter
of
one
of
England
's
proudest
peers
—
as
he
would
a
flower
that
had
garnished
his
button-hole
for
an
hour
,
and
then
failed
to
please
any
longer
.
These
two
men
are
beneath
your
roof
!
"
"
Oh
!
if
my
errors
have
been
great
,
surely
—
surely
my
punishment
is
more
than
commensurate
!
"
murmured
Adeline
,
in
the
bitterness
of
her
heart
.
"
Your
punishment
seems
only
to
have
just
begun
,
"
retorted
Lydia
,
ever
ready
to
plunge
a
fresh
dagger
into
the
soul
of
the
unhappy
lady
.
"
My
God
!
you
speak
but
too
truly
!
"
ejaculated
Adeline
,
clasping
her
hands
together
.
"
Oh
!
that
I
could
pass
the
latter
half
of
my
life
over
again
—
oh
!
that
I
could
recall
the
years
that
have
fled
!
"
"
The
years
that
have
fled
have
prepared
a
terrible
doom
for
those
that
are
to
come
,
"
said
Lydia
.
"
But
hasten
,
my
lady
,
—
this
time
I
will
aid
you
to
change
your
dress
,
"
she
added
sneeringly
;
"
for
I
long
to
see
your
meeting
with
Colonel
Cholmondeley
.
"
"
See
our
meeting
!
—
you
!
"
cried
Lady
Ravensworth
,
springing
from
the
sofa
in
alarm
.
"
Yes
—
I
shall
contrive
that
pleasure
for
myself
,
"
observed
Lydia
,
calmly
.
Adeline
made
no
reply
:
she
felt
convinced
that
all
remonstrance
would
be
useless
.
She
accordingly
addressed
herself
to
the
toilet
,
Lydia
assisting
her
in
that
ceremony
for
the
first
time
.
"
I
have
chosen
the
attire
that
best
becomes
you
—
and
I
have
arranged
your
hair
in
the
most
attractive
manner
,
"
said
Lydia
;
"
for
I
should
be
vexed
were
you
not
to
appear
to
advantage
in
the
presence
of
him
who
made
you
his
mistress
during
pleasure
.
"
"
Wretch
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
turning
sharply
round
upon
Lydia
,
whose
bitter
taunt
touched
the
most
sensitive
fibre
of
her
heart
.
"
If
I
be
a
wretch
,
it
is
you
who
made
me
so
,
"
said
Lydia
,
with
imperturbable
coolness
.
Adeline
bit
her
lips
almost
till
the
blood
came
,
to
suppress
the
rage
that
rose
as
it
were
into
her
throat
.
She
then
hastily
left
the
boudoir
,
followed
at
a
short
distance
by
Lydia
Hutchinson
.
Lady
Ravensworth
knew
that
her
torturess
was
behind
her
,
—
knew
also
that
it
was
vain
to
reason
with
her
in
respect
to
any
particular
line
of
conduct
that
she
might
choose
to
adopt
.
As
the
unhappy
lady
proceeded
towards
the
drawing-room
,
she
endeavoured
to
compose
both
her
countenance
and
her
mind
as
much
as
possible
:
but
she
felt
herself
blushing
at
one
moment
and
turning
pale
the
next
,
—
now
with
a
face
that
seemed
to
be
on
fire
—
then
with
an
icy
coldness
at
the
heart
.
Since
she
was
at
school
at
Belvidere
House
she
had
never
met
Colonel
Cholmondeley
.
He
had
been
much
abroad
;
and
,
when
he
was
in
London
,
accident
had
so
willed
it
that
he
did
not
once
encounter
the
partner
of
his
temporary
amour
.
But
that
same
chance
was
not
for
ever
to
be
favourable
to
Adeline
in
this
respect
;
and
now
she
was
at
length
about
to
meet
that
man
of
all
the
species
in
whose
presence
she
had
most
cause
to
blush
.
Such
an
encounter
was
however
necessary
,
for
the
sake
of
appearances
.
What
would
her
servants
think
if
she
remained
in
the
solitude
of
her
own
chamber
while
visitors
were
at
the
mansion
?
what
would
the
surgeon
,
who
attended
the
wounded
duellist
,
conjecture
if
she
refused
the
common
courtesy
which
became
the
mistress
of
the
mansion
?
The
total
retirement
of
Lord
Ravensworth
was
already
a
sufficient
reason
to
provoke
strange
surmises
on
the
part
of
the
newly-arrived
guests
,
although
the
existence
of
his
extraordinary
and
unaccountable
malady
was
well
known
in
the
fashionable
world
:
but
if
to
that
fact
were
superadded
the
circumstance
of
a
similar
seclusion
on
the
part
of
Lady
Ravensworth
,
the
most
unpleasant
rumours
might
arise
.
Thus
was
Adeline
imperatively
forced
to
do
the
honours
of
her
house
on
this
occasion
.
And
now
she
has
reached
the
door
of
the
drawing-room
.
She
pauses
for
a
moment
:
how
violently
beats
her
heart
!
"
This
is
foolish
!
"
she
murmurs
to
herself
:
"
the
ordeal
must
be
passed
;
—
better
to
enter
upon
it
at
once
!
"
And
she
entered
the
drawing-room
.
One
only
of
the
guests
was
there
;
and
he
had
his
back
towards
the
door
at
the
moment
.
But
full
well
did
she
recognise
that
tall
,
graceful
,
and
well-knit
frame
.
The
sound
of
light
footsteps
upon
the
thick
carpet
caused
him
to
turn
hastily
round
;
—
and
then
Adeline
and
her
seducer
were
face
to
face
.
"
Lady
Ravensworth
,
"
said
the
Colonel
,
rather
averting
his
glance
as
he
spoke
—
for
he
experienced
the
full
embarrassment
of
this
encounter
,
—
"
necessity
,
and
not
my
wish
,
has
compelled
me
to
intrude
upon
your
hospitality
.
My
friend
Lord
Dunstable
and
another
officer
in
the
same
regiment
had
an
altercation
last
evening
,
which
would
permit
of
none
other
than
a
hostile
settlement
.
The
choice
of
time
and
place
,
fell
by
the
laws
of
honour
,
to
Lord
Dunstable
's
opponent
;
and
the
vicinity
of
your
abode
was
unfortunately
fixed
upon
as
the
spot
for
meeting
.
My
friend
was
grievously
wounded
with
the
first
shot
;
and
I
had
no
alternative
but
to
convey
him
to
the
nearest
habitation
where
hospitality
might
be
hoped
for
.
Your
ladyship
can
now
understand
the
nature
of
that
combination
of
circumstances
which
has
brought
me
hither
.
"
"
I
deeply
regret
that
Lord
Ravensworth
should
be
too
much
indisposed
to
do
the
honours
of
his
house
in
person
,
"
said
Adeline
,
with
her
eyes
fixed
upon
the
ground
,
and
a
deep
blush
upon
her
cheeks
.
"
Is
your
friend
's
wound
dangerous
?
"
"
Mr.
Graham
,
a
surgeon
of
known
skill
,
is
now
with
him
,
"
answered
the
Colonel
;
"
and
entertains
great
hopes
of
being
enabled
to
extract
the
ball
,
which
has
lodged
in
the
right
side
.
It
is
true
that
I
incur
some
risk
by
remaining
in
the
neighbourhood
of
the
metropolis
;
but
I
cannot
consent
to
abandon
my
friend
until
I
am
convinced
that
he
is
beyond
danger
.
"
"
It
is
the
fashion
in
the
aristocratic
world
to
adhere
to
a
friend
,
but
to
abandon
the
seduced
girl
when
she
no
longer
pleases
,
"
said
Lydia
Hutchinson
,
who
had
entered
the
room
unperceived
by
either
Colonel
Cholmondeley
or
Lady
Ravensworth
,
and
who
now
advanced
slowly
towards
them
.
The
Colonel
stared
at
Lydia
for
a
few
moments
:
but
evidently
not
recognising
her
,
he
turned
a
rapid
glance
of
inquiry
upon
Adeline
,
who
only
hung
down
her
head
,
and
remained
silent
.
"
I
see
that
you
do
not
know
me
,
sir
,
"
continued
Lydia
,
approaching
close
to
Colonel
Cholmondeley
:
then
,
fixing
her
eyes
intently
upon
him
,
she
said
,
"
Do
you
remember
me
now
?
"
"
My
good
young
woman
,
"
replied
the
Colonel
,
with
a
mixture
of
hauteur
and
bantering
jocularity
,
"
I
really
do
not
think
that
you
have
served
in
any
family
which
I
have
had
the
honour
to
visit
:
and
,
even
if
you
had
,
I
must
candidly
confess
that
my
memory
is
not
capacious
enough
to
retain
the
image
of
every
lady's-maid
whom
I
may
happen
to
see
.
"
"
And
yet
it
is
not
every
lady's-maid
,
"
said
Lydia
,
with
a
scornful
glance
towards
Adeline
,
who
,
pale
and
trembling
,
had
sunk
upon
a
seat
,
—
"
it
is
not
every
lady's-maid
that
can
venture
to
talk
thus
openly
—
thus
familiarly
in
the
presence
of
her
mistress
.
"
While
she
was
yet
speaking
,
a
light
broke
upon
the
Colonel
's
mind
.
Who
but
one
acquainted
with
Lady
Ravensworth
's
secret
could
be
capable
of
such
extraordinary
conduct
?
This
idea
led
him
to
survey
Lydia
Hutchinson
's
countenance
more
attentively
than
before
;
—
and
,
although
it
was
much
altered
,
—
although
it
no
longer
bore
the
blooming
freshness
which
had
characterised
it
when
he
first
knew
her
,
—
still
the
expression
and
the
features
enabled
him
to
recognise
the
young
woman
who
had
become
the
victim
of
his
friend
Lord
Dunstable
.
"
Ah
!
you
know
me
now
,
"
continued
Lydia
,
perceiving
by
a
sudden
gesture
on
the
part
of
the
Colonel
that
he
had
at
length
remembered
her
.
"
Think
you
that
I
have
no
reproaches
to
hurl
at
you
,
sir
?
Was
it
not
at
your
house
that
my
ruin
was
consummated
?
and
were
you
no
party
to
the
infamous
treachery
which
gave
me
to
the
arms
of
your
friend
?
But
you
have
no
shame
:
—
you
are
a
fashionable
gentleman
—
a
roué
—
one
who
considers
seduction
an
aristocratic
amusement
,
as
well
as
wrenching
off
knockers
or
breaking
policemen
's
heads
.
What
to
such
as
you
are
the
tears
of
deceived
and
lost
girls
?
what
to
you
are
the
broken
hearts
of
fond
parents
?
Nothing
—
nothing
:
I
know
it
well
!
And
therefore
it
were
vain
for
me
to
say
another
word
—
unless
it
be
that
I
shall
now
leave
you
to
make
your
peace
as
best
you
may
with
your
cast-off
mistress
there
!
"
And
pointing
disdainfully
at
Adeline
,
who
uttered
a
low
scream
and
covered
her
face
with
her
hands
as
those
terrible
words
fell
upon
her
ears
,
Lydia
slowly
quitted
the
room
.
Frightfully
painful
was
now
the
situation
of
Lady
Ravensworth
and
Colonel
Cholmondeley
.
The
former
was
crushed
by
the
terrible
indignity
cast
upon
her
:
the
latter
was
so
astounded
and
at
the
same
time
so
hurt
by
all
that
had
just
occurred
,
that
he
knew
not
how
to
act
.
He
felt
that
any
attempt
to
console
Lady
Ravensworth
would
be
an
insult
;
and
yet
he
experienced
an
equal
inability
to
permit
the
scene
to
pass
without
some
comment
.
Fortunately
for
them
both
,
Mr.
Graham
,
the
surgeon
,
entered
the
room
at
this
juncture
.
Adeline
composed
herself
by
one
of
those
extraordinary
efforts
which
she
had
lately
been
so
often
compelled
to
exert
;
and
Cholmondeley
,
with
the
case
of
a
man
of
fashion
(
who
must
necessarily
be
a
thorough
hypocrite
)
,
instantly
assumed
a
manner
that
would
even
have
disarmed
suspicion
,
had
any
been
excited
.
Having
uttered
a
few
ceremonial
phrases
upon
his
introduction
to
Lady
Ravensworth
,
Mr.
Graham
said
,
"
I
am
happy
to
state
that
Lord
Dunstable
is
in
as
favourable
a
state
as
under
the
circumstances
could
be
expected
.
I
have
succeeded
in
extracting
the
ball
—
and
he
now
sleeps
.
"
"
Thank
God
!
"
exclaimed
Cholmondeley
,
—
not
with
any
real
piety
,
but
merely
using
that
common
phrase
as
expressive
of
his
joy
to
think
that
the
matter
was
not
more
serious
than
it
now
appeared
to
be
.
"
I
am
,
however
,
afraid
,
"
continued
the
surgeon
,
turning
towards
Adeline
,
"
that
my
patient
will
be
compelled
to
trespass
for
some
few
days
upon
the
kind
hospitality
of
your
ladyship
.
"
"
In
which
case
Lord
Dunstable
shall
receive
every
attention
that
can
be
here
afforded
him
,
"
observed
Adeline
.
"
It
would
be
but
an
idle
compliment
to
you
,
sir
,
under
the
circumstances
,
to
say
that
Ravensworth
Hall
will
be
honoured
by
your
presence
so
long
as
you
may
see
fit
to
make
it
your
abode
.
"
The
surgeon
bowed
in
acknowledgment
of
this
courteous
intimation
.
"
For
my
part
,
"
Colonel
Cholmondeley
hastened
to
say
,
"
I
shall
not
trespass
upon
her
ladyship
's
hospitality
;
for
—
since
I
am
assured
that
my
friend
is
no
longer
in
danger
—
I
must
attend
to
certain
pressing
business
which
calls
me
elsewhere
.
"
Adeline
threw
a
glance
of
gratitude
upon
the
Colonel
for
this
expression
of
his
intention
to
relieve
her
from
the
embarrassment
of
his
presence
;
and
accordingly
,
after
partaking
of
some
luncheon
,
Cholmondeley
took
his
departure
.
But
ere
he
left
,
Lydia
Hutchinson
had
secretly
placed
a
letter
,
containing
a
key
,
upon
the
seat
of
the
carriage
which
bore
him
away
.
CHAPTER
CCXV
.
THE
VOICES
IN
THE
RUINS
.
It
would
be
impossible
to
conceive
the
existence
of
a
more
wretched
woman
than
Adeline
Ravensworth
.
Though
wealth
and
title
were
hers
,
—
though
every
luxury
and
every
pleasure
were
within
her
reach
,
—
though
with
jewels
of
inestimable
value
she
might
deck
herself
at
will
,
and
thus
enhance
her
natural
charms
,
—
still
,
still
was
she
the
prey
to
a
constant
agony
of
mind
which
rendered
life
intolerable
.
For
it
is
not
all
the
wealth
of
India
,
—
nor
all
the
luxuries
and
pleasures
of
oriental
palaces
,
—
nor
all
the
diamonds
that
ever
sparkled
over
the
brow
of
beauty
,
—
it
is
not
these
that
can
impart
tranquillity
to
the
soul
,
nor
give
peace
to
the
conscience
.
Such
was
the
bitter
truth
that
Adeline
was
now
compelled
to
acknowledge
!
Shortly
after
the
departure
of
Colonel
Cholmondeley
,
which
occurred
at
about
four
o'clock
in
the
afternoon
,
Lady
Ravensworth
felt
so
deeply
the
want
of
undisturbed
solitude
for
her
meditations
and
of
fresh
air
to
relieve
the
stifling
sensation
which
oppressed
her
,
that
she
determined
to
take
a
long
walk
through
the
quiet
fields
.
Hastily
slipping
on
a
plain
straw
bonnet
and
a
thick
warm
shawl
,
she
left
the
house
unperceived
by
her
torturess
—
Lydia
Hutchinson
.
Passing
through
the
spacious
gardens
at
the
back
of
the
mansion
,
she
gained
the
open
fields
,
where
the
cold
fresh
breeze
somewhat
revived
her
drooping
spirits
.
"
Heaven
grant
that
the
babe
which
now
agitates
in
my
bosom
may
prove
a
son
!
"
she
thought
,
as
she
cast
a
hasty
but
proud
glance
around
:
"
or
else
the
broad
lands
which
I
now
behold
,
and
the
soil
on
which
my
feet
now
tread
,
will
stand
but
a
poor
chance
of
remaining
long
beneath
my
control
.
Yes
—
they
would
pass
away
to
one
whom
I
have
never
seen
—
whom
I
have
never
known
save
by
name
—
and
who
could
not
possibly
be
supposed
to
entertain
any
sympathy
for
me
!
But
if
my
babe
should
prove
a
boy
—
if
he
should
live
,
too
—
then
adieu
to
all
thy
hopes
and
chances
,
Gilbert
Vernon
.
"
These
reflections
led
to
a
variety
of
others
—
all
connected
with
Adeline
's
interests
or
her
sorrows
.
So
profoundly
was
she
plunged
in
her
painful
reverie
,
and
at
the
same
time
so
invigorated
did
she
feel
by
the
freshness
of
the
air
,
that
she
insensibly
prolonged
her
walk
until
the
shades
of
evening
gathered
around
her
.
She
had
now
reached
the
ruined
remains
of
a
gamekeeper
's
lodge
which
marked
the
boundary
of
the
Ravensworth
estate
in
that
direction
.
Feeling
a
sudden
sensation
of
weariness
come
over
her
,
she
seated
herself
on
a
bench
which
still
existed
near
the
dilapidated
remnant
of
the
cottage-portico
.
Scarcely
had
she
taken
that
place
,
when
a
voice
from
the
other
side
of
the
ruined
wall
caused
her
to
start
with
sudden
affright
:
but
the
words
that
met
her
ears
conquered
this
first
feeling
of
alarm
,
and
inspired
one
of
curiosity
.
She
accordingly
lingered
where
she
was
;
and
as
the
darkness
was
every
moment
growing
more
intense
,
she
knew
there
was
but
little
danger
of
being
perceived
.
"
I
tell
you
that
I
am
a
man
capable
of
doing
any
thing
for
money
,
"
said
the
voice
,
in
an
impatient
tone
.
"
If
you
think
there
is
any
squeamishness
about
me
,
you
are
deucedly
mistaken
.
What
I
have
promised
you
,
I
will
perform
,
when
the
time
comes
,
and
if
there
should
be
a
necessity
for
such
a
step
.
I
value
a
human
life
no
more
than
I
do
that
of
a
dog
.
If
any
one
came
to
me
and
said
,
'
There
is
my
enemy
,
and
here
is
your
price
—
now
go
and
kill
him
,
'
I
should
just
count
the
money
first
to
see
that
it
was
all
right
,
and
the
remainder
of
the
job
would
soon
be
done
,
I
can
assure
you
.
"
"
Well
—
well
,
I
believe
you
,
"
said
another
voice
,
whose
deep
tones
rolled
solemnly
upon
the
silence
of
the
dark
evening
.
"
To
all
that
you
have
proposed
I
must
assent
—
I
have
gone
too
far
to
retreat
.
But
we
must
now
separate
.
"
"
And
when
shall
I
see
you
again
?
"
demanded
the
first
speaker
:
"
because
now
that
you
have
made
me
acquainted
with
the
whereabouts
,
I
shall
constantly
be
ascertaining
how
things
go
on
,
and
I
ought
therefore
to
be
able
to
communicate
very
often
with
you
.
That
is
—
I
ought
to
see
you
frequently
;
for
I
hate
doing
business
by
letter
.
"
"
Can
you
not
give
me
your
own
private
address
?
"
asked
the
individual
with
the
deep-toned
voice
;
"
and
then
I
might
call
upon
you
every
other
evening
.
"
"
Well
said
,
"
exclaimed
the
first
speaker
:
then
,
after
a
pause
,
during
which
Adeline
distinctly
heard
the
rustling
sound
of
paper
,
he
said
,
"
Have
you
got
a
pencil
in
your
pocket
?
for
I
can
feel
to
write
a
few
words
in
the
dark
.
"
"
Yes
—
here
is
a
pencil
,
"
returned
the
deep-toned
voice
.
There
was
another
short
pause
.
"
All
right
!
"
cried
the
first
speaker
,
at
length
.
"
That
bit
of
paper
contains
the
name
and
address
of
the
most
daring
fellow
that
London
ever
produced
,
"
he
added
with
a
low
chuckle
.
"
Talk
of
your
bravos
of
Spain
or
Italy
—
why
,
they
are
nothing
to
me
!
And
is
n't
it
odd
,
too
,
that
whenever
a
rich
or
great
person
wants
any
thing
queer
done
for
him
,
it
is
sure
to
be
me
that
he
gets
hold
of
somehow
or
another
?
"
"
I
have
no
doubt
that
you
enjoy
a
most
extensive
patronage
,
"
said
the
deep-toned
voice
,
rather
impatiently
—
and
even
haughtily
.
"
But
we
must
now
separate
.
The
day
after
to-morrow
—
in
the
evening
—
I
shall
call
upon
you
.
"
"
Good
:
I
shall
expect
you
,
"
returned
the
other
.
The
two
individuals
then
separated
—
each
taking
a
different
way
;
but
one
came
round
the
angle
of
the
ruined
wall
,
and
passed
so
close
to
Adeline
that
she
shrank
back
in
a
dreadful
state
of
alarm
lest
her
presence
there
should
be
discovered
;
—
for
,
mysterious
as
was
the
conversation
which
she
had
just
overheard
,
there
was
one
fact
which
it
too
intelligibly
revealed
—
and
this
was
the
desperate
nature
of
those
two
men
's
characters
.
But
the
individual
who
passed
so
closely
,
did
not
observe
her
—
for
the
evening
was
very
dark
,
and
she
moreover
was
sitting
in
the
still
deeper
obscurity
of
the
ruined
portico
.
Neither
was
she
enabled
to
obtain
a
glimpse
of
his
countenance
:
the
outline
of
a
tall
and
somewhat
stout
figure
,
as
he
hurried
by
her
,
was
the
extent
of
the
view
which
she
caught
of
him
.
In
a
few
moments
all
was
again
silent
:
the
sounds
of
the
retreating
footsteps
no
longer
met
her
ears
.
She
did
not
immediately
leave
the
ruins
:
she
paused
to
reflect
upon
the
strange
conversation
which
she
had
overheard
.
But
all
its
details
were
dark
and
mysterious
—
save
that
one
man
was
a
wretch
who
gloried
in
his
readiness
to
perform
any
crime
for
a
commensurate
reward
,
and
that
the
other
was
either
his
accomplice
or
his
employer
in
some
fearful
plot
that
was
in
progress
.
There
was
one
expression
that
had
fallen
from
the
lips
of
the
former
miscreant
,
and
on
which
Lady
Ravensworth
principally
dwelt
:
—
"
Now
that
you
have
made
me
acquainted
with
the
whereabouts
,
I
shall
be
constantly
ascertaining
how
things
go
on
.
"
Could
the
whereabouts
,
or
locality
,
alluded
to
,
have
any
connexion
with
that
neighbourhood
?
And
,
if
so
,
did
the
observation
refer
to
the
Ravensworth
estate
?
Or
were
the
two
men
merely
discussing
,
in
those
ruins
,
matters
which
regarded
some
other
and
totally
distinct
spot
?
"
The
latter
supposition
must
be
the
right
one
,
"
said
Adeline
to
herself
,
after
a
long
meditation
upon
the
subject
.
"
The
only
person
in
the
world
who
could
have
any
interest
in
learning
'
how
things
were
going
on
'
in
this
neighbourhood
,
is
Gilbert
Vernon
;
and
he
is
in
Turkey
.
Moreover
—
even
were
he
in
England
—
he
would
have
no
need
to
spy
about
in
the
dark
:
he
is
on
friendly
terms
with
his
brother
,
and
might
present
himself
boldly
at
the
Hall
.
"
Thus
reasoning
against
the
vague
and
temporary
fears
which
had
arisen
in
her
mind
,
Adeline
rose
from
the
bench
and
was
about
to
retrace
her
steps
homewards
,
when
the
moon
suddenly
appeared
from
behind
a
cloud
,
and
its
rays
fell
upon
a
small
white
object
that
lay
at
the
lady
's
feet
.
She
mechanically
picked
it
up
:
—
it
was
a
piece
of
paper
on
which
she
could
perceive
,
by
the
moonlight
,
that
a
few
words
were
written
;
but
she
could
not
decypher
them
.
Nevertheless
,
the
mode
in
which
the
short
lines
were
arranged
struck
her
with
the
idea
that
this
paper
contained
an
address
;
and
a
natural
association
of
facts
immediately
encouraged
the
belief
that
she
held
in
her
hand
the
one
which
the
self-vaunted
bravo
had
given
ere
now
to
his
companion
,
and
which
the
latter
might
probably
have
dropped
by
accident
.
Hastily
concealing
it
in
her
bosom
,
Adeline
retraced
her
steps
to
Ravensworth
Hall
.
On
her
arrival
she
hurried
to
her
boudoir
,
lighted
the
wax
tapers
,
and
examined
the
paper
ere
she
even
laid
aside
her
bonnet
and
shawl
.
Yes
—
it
contained
an
address
;
and
the
words
were
scrawled
as
they
would
be
if
written
in
the
dark
.
There
could
,
then
,
be
no
doubt
that
this
was
the
address
which
one
of
the
men
had
given
to
his
companion
in
the
ruins
of
the
gamekeeper
's
lodge
.
"
It
is
useful
to
know
that
such
a
villain
as
this
can
be
hired
for
money
!
"
muttered
Adeline
to
herself
,
as
she
concealed
the
paper
in
one
of
her
jewel-caskets
.
"
What
did
he
say
?
That
if
any
one
went
to
him
and
whispered
,
'
There
is
my
enemy
,
and
here
is
your
price
—
now
go
and
kill
him
,
'
he
would
take
the
bribe
and
do
the
deed
.
And
did
he
not
boast
that
he
was
employed
by
the
rich
and
the
powerful
?
In
what
manner
could
such
persons
require
his
aid
?
Assuredly
in
no
good
cause
!
Ah
!
Lydia
—
Lydia
,
"
continued
Adeline
,
her
brows
contracting
and
a
dark
cloud
passing
over
her
countenance
as
she
spoke
,
"
be
not
too
confident
!
You
are
now
in
my
power
!
"
But
scarcely
was
the
fearful
thought
thus
implied
,
when
Adeline
seemed
to
recoil
from
it
with
horror
:
for
,
covering
her
face
with
her
hands
,
she
almost
shrieked
out
,
"
No
—
no
!
I
could
not
do
it
!
"
"
What
can
you
not
do
,
dearest
?
"
said
a
low
voice
close
by
her
ear
;
and
almost
at
the
same
instant
she
was
clasped
in
the
arms
of
Colonel
Cholmondeley
.
"
Release
me
—
release
me
!
"
exclaimed
Adeline
,
struggling
to
free
herself
from
his
embrace
.
"
Not
till
I
have
imprinted
another
kiss
upon
,
those
sweet
lips
,
"
returned
the
Colonel
:
"
not
till
I
have
made
my
peace
with
you
,
dearest
Adeline
,
in
respect
to
the
past
:
—
else
wherefore
should
I
have
come
hither
?
"
And
as
he
uttered
these
words
,
he
glued
his
lips
to
hers
,
although
she
still
continued
to
resist
his
insolence
to
the
utmost
of
her
power
.
"
Oh
!
my
God
!
"
she
murmured
in
a
faint
tone
"
am
I
to
submit
to
this
new
indignity
?
"
Cholmondeley
supported
her
to
the
sofa
;
then
,
throwing
himself
at
her
feet
,
he
took
her
hands
in
his
,
and
said
in
a
fervent
tone
,
"
Adeline
—
dearest
Adeline
,
wherefore
do
you
receive
me
thus
coldly
?
Is
it
possible
that
you
can
have
altogether
forgotten
those
feelings
which
animated
our
hearts
with
a
reciprocal
affection
some
years
ago
?
But
perhaps
my
conduct
—
my
ungrateful
,
my
ungenerous
conduct
—
has
completely
effaced
all
those
emotions
,
and
excited
hatred
and
disgust
instead
?
Oh
!
I
admit
—
I
acknowledge
that
my
conduct
was
ungrateful
—
was
ungenerous
!
I
abandoned
you
at
a
moment
when
you
most
required
my
counsel
—
my
assistance
!
But
was
my
fault
so
grave
that
it
is
beyond
the
possibility
of
pardon
?
When
I
found
myself
this
morning
brought
by
an
imperious
necessity
—
or
rather
by
a
strange
chance
—
to
this
mansion
,
I
thought
within
my
breast
,
'
I
shall
now
see
Adeline
once
again
:
but
we
must
be
strangers
unto
each
other
.
Cold
ceremony
must
separate
hearts
that
once
beat
in
the
reciprocities
of
love
.
'
—
And
you
know
,
Adeline
,
with
what
formal
respect
I
sought
to
treat
you
.
But
when
I
beheld
you
so
beautiful
,
and
yet
so
unhappy
,
—
when
I
saw
that
the
lovely
girl
had
grown
into
the
charming
woman
,
—
oh
!
I
was
every
moment
about
to
dash
aside
that
chilling
ceremony
and
snatch
you
to
my
breast
.
And
now
,
Adeline
,
will
you
forgive
me
?
—
will
you
say
that
you
do
not
quite
detest
me
—
even
if
you
cannot
call
me
your
lover
—
your
friend
?
"
With
her
head
drooping
upon
her
bosom
,
—
with
tears
trembling
upon
her
long
dark
lashes
,
—
and
with
her
hands
still
retained
in
those
of
Colonel
Cholmondeley
,
did
Adeline
listen
to
this
specious
appeal
.
The
words
"
your
friend
"
touched
a
chord
which
vibrated
to
her
heart
's
core
.
"
Oh
!
yes
—
I
do
require
a
friend
—
a
friend
to
advise
and
console
me
,
"
she
exclaimed
;
"
for
I
am
very
—
very
miserable
!
"
Cholmondeley
was
man
of
the
world
enough
to
perceive
that
his
appeal
was
successful
—
that
his
victory
was
complete
;
and
,
seating
himself
by
Adeline
's
side
,
he
drew
her
towards
him
,
saying
,
"
I
will
be
your
friend
,
dearest
—
I
will
advise
you
—
I
will
console
you
.
You
shall
pour
forth
all
your
sorrows
to
me
,
as
if
I
were
your
brother
:
and
I
swear
most
solemnly
,
beloved
Adeline
,
that
if
it
be
your
wish
,
I
will
never
seek
henceforth
to
be
more
to
you
than
a
brother
!
"
"
Oh
!
if
that
were
true
—
if
I
could
rely
upon
your
word
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
joyfully
.
"
By
every
sacred
obligation
with
which
man
can
bind
himself
,
do
I
vow
the
sincerity
of
that
promise
,
"
returned
Cholmondeley
.
Then
withdrawing
his
arm
from
her
waist
,
as
a
tacit
proof
of
his
honourable
intentions
,
but
still
retaining
one
of
her
hands
in
his
own
,
he
looked
anxiously
in
her
countenance
to
read
the
impression
which
his
words
and
manner
had
created
.
"
Again
I
say
that
if
I
could
believe
you
,
I
should
think
myself
happy
—
nay
,
blest
in
your
friendship
,
"
returned
Adeline
;
"
for
I
am
so
miserable
—
so
very
,
very
wretched
—
that
I
feel
the
burden
of
such
an
existence
too
heavy
to
bear
.
All
that
has
passed
between
us
constitutes
a
reason
to
induce
me
to
accept
you
as
my
friend
,
rather
than
any
other
;
—
for
I
have
lately
seen
so
much
of
the
fiend-like
disposition
of
one
woman
,
that
I
am
inclined
to
abhor
the
whole
sex
—
yes
,
even
though
it
be
my
own
!
And
to
you
,
moreover
,
I
can
speak
frankly
of
those
causes
which
have
rendered
me
so
very
wretched
.
"
"
Speak
,
dear
Adeline
—
unburden
your
mind
to
me
,
"
said
Cholmondeley
,
in
a
low
,
but
tender
tone
.
"
I
must
,
however
,
inform
you
that
I
am
already
acquainted
with
many
of
the
incidents
regarding
the
connexion
between
Lydia
Hutchinson
and
yourself
,
from
the
moment
when
Lord
Dunstable
and
I
so
dishonourably
wrote
to
you
both
to
state
that
we
were
going
abroad
.
Yes
—
Adeline
,
I
have
learnt
how
you
were
extricated
from
the
embarrassments
of
that
situation
in
which
I
shamefully
left
you
,
—
how
,
in
a
word
,
the
offspring
of
our
love
