amadman
,
and
attempted
to
lay
violent
hands
upon
myself
.
I
was
taken
to
the
infirmary
of
the
prison
,
where
I
lay
delirious
with
fever
for
six
weeks
.
At
the
expiration
of
that
time
I
recovered
;
and
the
humanity
of
the
governor
of
the
gaol
secured
the
services
of
a
lawyer
to
file
my
petition
and
schedule
in
the
Insolvents
'
Court
.
The
day
of
hearing
came
;
and
I
was
discharged
.
But
,
alas
!
I
returned
to
the
humble
lodging
occupied
by
my
family
without
a
hope
—
without
resources
.
Nevertheless
,
the
angel
Julia
received
me
with
smiles
;
and
the
children
also
smiled
with
their
sickly
,
wan
,
and
famished
countenances
.
Then
,
in
the
course
of
a
conversation
which
Julia
endeavoured
to
render
as
little
mournful
as
possible
,
I
learnt
that
Colonel
Beaumont
had
been
persecuting
her
with
his
dishonourable
offers
,
—
that
he
had
dogged
her
in
her
way
to
the
prison
when
she
went
thither
to
see
me
,
—
that
he
had
even
intruded
himself
upon
her
in
her
poor
dwelling
of
one
back
room
!
Indeed
,
it
was
only
in
consequence
of
this
visit
that
my
wife
mentioned
the
circumstance
to
me
at
all
;
but
so
pure
was
her
soul
,
that
she
could
not
keep
secret
from
me
an
occurrence
on
which
,
did
I
hear
it
from
stranger
lips
,
a
disagreeable
construction
might
be
placed
.
Ill
—
weak
—
dying
as
she
was
,
she
was
still
sweetly
interesting
;
—
and
I
could
well
understand
how
an
unprincipled
libertine
might
seek
to
possess
her
.
"
Without
allowing
Julia
to
comprehend
the
full
extent
of
the
impression
made
upon
me
by
this
information
,
I
vowed
within
myself
a
desperate
vengeance
against
that
man
who
seemed
to
take
a
delight
in
persecuting
me
and
mine
.
But
for
the
present
the
condition
of
my
family
occupied
nearly
all
my
thoughts
.
Poor
Julia
was
killing
herself
with
hard
—
hard
toil
at
the
needle
;
and
the
children
were
only
the
ghosts
of
what
they
were
in
the
days
of
our
prosperity
.
I
was
,
however
,
fortunate
enough
to
obtain
another
situation
,
with
a
salary
of
twenty-eight
shillings
a
week
;
and
for
some
months
we
lived
in
comparative
tranquillity
—
if
not
in
happiness
.
But
Julia
always
had
smiles
for
me
,
—
smiles
,
too
,
when
the
worm
of
an
insidious
disease
was
gnawing
at
her
heart
's
core
.
And
for
my
part
,
my
lord
,
whenever
I
hear
the
discontented
husband
or
the
insolent
libertine
depreciating
the
character
of
Woman
,
the
memory
of
my
own
devoted
wife
instantly
renders
me
Woman
's
champion
;
—
and
lost
—
low
—
wretched
as
I
have
been
,
I
have
never
failed
—
even
in
the
vilest
pot-house
in
which
my
miseries
have
compelled
me
to
seek
shelter
—
to
vindicate
the
sex
against
the
aspersions
of
the
malevolent
!
"
Six
months
after
my
release
from
prison
the
small-pox
invaded
the
house
in
which
we
lodged
;
and
so
virulent
was
the
malady
,
that
within
three
weeks
it
carried
off
two
of
my
children
—
the
girl
,
who
was
the
eldest
,
and
the
younger
boy
.
I
need
not
attempt
to
describe
my
own
grief
nor
the
anguish
of
my
wife
.
The
blow
was
too
much
for
her
;
and
she
was
thrown
upon
a
sick
bed
.
At
the
same
time
my
employer
failed
in
business
;
and
I
accordingly
lost
my
situation
.
I
was
returning
home
,
one
evening
,
—
very
miserable
after
several
hours
'
vain
search
for
another
place
,
—
when
I
met
a
gentleman
who
had
once
been
a
brother-officer
in
the
regiment
in
which
I
first
served
.
I
made
known
to
him
my
deplorable
situation
,
assuring
him
that
both
my
wife
and
my
only
remaining
child
were
at
that
moment
lying
dangerously
ill
,
and
that
I
was
on
my
way
home
without
a
shilling
to
purchase
even
the
necessaries
of
life
.
He
said
that
he
had
no
objection
to
serve
me
;
and
,
giving
me
a
guinea
for
immediate
wants
,
desired
me
to
call
on
him
next
day
at
a
particular
address
in
Jermyn
Street
.
I
hastened
joyfully
home
,
and
communicated
my
good
fortune
to
poor
Julia
.
On
the
following
morning
I
repaired
to
Jermyn
Street
.
My
friend
received
me
cordially
,
and
then
explained
his
views
.
To
my
profound
surprise
I
learnt
that
he
was
the
proprietor
of
a
common
gaming-house
;
and
his
proposal
was
that
I
should
receive
three
guineas
a
week
for
merely
lounging
about
the
play-rooms
of
an
evening
,
and
acting
as
a
decoy
to
visitors
.
My
situation
was
so
desperate
that
I
consented
;
and
ten
guineas
were
given
me
on
the
spot
to
fit
myself
out
in
a
becoming
manner
.
I
returned
home
;
and
informed
Julia
that
I
had
obtained
the
place
of
a
night-clerk
in
a
coach-office
.
She
believed
me
:
a
smile
played
on
her
sickly
countenance
;
—
and
she
was
soon
afterwards
able
to
leave
her
bed
.
"
I
entered
on
my
new
employment
;
and
all
that
fatal
thirst
for
gaming
which
had
plunged
me
into
such
depths
of
misery
,
was
immediately
revived
.
The
proprietor
of
the
hell
would
not
of
course
permit
his
'
decoys
'
to
play
legitimately
on
their
own
account
;
but
we
were
allowed
to
make
bets
with
strangers
in
the
rooms
.
This
I
did
;
and
as
the
passion
gained
upon
me
,
I
visited
other
gambling-houses
when
my
services
were
not
required
at
the
one
where
I
was
engaged
.
Thus
I
again
plunged
into
that
dreadful
course
;
and
my
poor
wife
soon
suspected
the
fatal
truth
.
Our
little
girl
died
—
thank
God
!
—
at
this
period
.
Start
not
when
I
express
my
gratitude
to
heaven
that
it
was
so
;
for
what
could
have
become
of
her
during
the
period
of
utter
destitution
which
soon
after
supervened
?
Yes
,
my
lord
:
scarcely
a
year
had
passed
,
when
I
was
hurled
into
the
very
depths
of
want
and
misery
.
I
was
accused
of
cheating
my
employer
at
the
gaming-house
:
the
imputation
was
as
false
as
ever
villanous
lie
could
be
;
—
and
from
that
moment
forth
the
door
of
every
hell
was
closed
against
me
.
I
was
also
unable
to
obtain
an
honest
situation
;
and
after
Julia
and
myself
had
parted
with
all
our
wearing
apparel
,
save
the
few
things
upon
our
backs
,
we
were
one
night
thrust
forth
into
the
streets
—
houseless
beggars
!
"
It
was
in
the
middle
of
winter
:
the
snow
lay
upon
the
ground
;
and
the
cold
was
intense
.
My
poor
wife
—
in
the
last
stage
of
consumption
,
and
with
only
a
thin
gown
and
a
miserable
rag
of
a
shawl
to
cover
her
—
clung
to
my
arm
,
and
even
then
attempted
to
console
me
.
Oh
!
God
—
what
an
angel
was
that
woman
!
We
roved
through
the
streets
—
for
we
dared
not
sit
down
on
a
door-step
,
through
fear
of
being
frozen
to
death
!
What
my
feelings
were
,
it
is
impossible
to
explain
.
Morning
—
the
cold
wintry
morning
—
found
us
dragging
our
weary
forms
along
the
Dover
Road
.
We
had
no
object
in
proceeding
that
way
;
but
with
tacit
consent
we
seemed
bent
upon
leaving
a
city
where
we
had
endured
so
much
.
At
length
Julia
murmured
in
a
faint
tone
,
'
William
,
dearest
,
I
cannot
move
a
step
farther
!
'
And
she
sank
,
half
fainting
,
upon
a
bank
covered
with
snow
.
"
I
was
nearly
distracted
;
but
still
she
smiled
—
smiled
,
and
pressed
my
hand
tenderly
,
even
while
the
ice-cold
finger
of
Death
touched
her
heart
.
I
raised
her
in
my
arms
:
—
my
God
!
she
was
as
light
as
a
child
—
so
emaciated
in
person
and
so
thinly
clad
was
she
!
I
bore
her
to
a
neighbouring
cottage
,
which
was
fortunately
tenanted
by
kind
and
hospitable
people
,
who
immediately
received
the
dying
woman
into
their
abode
.
The
good
mistress
of
the
house
gave
up
her
bed
to
Julia
,
while
her
husband
hastened
to
Blackheath
for
a
doctor
.
And
I
,
kneeling
by
the
side
of
my
poor
wife
,
implored
her
forgiveness
for
all
the
miseries
she
had
endured
through
me
.
'
Do
not
speak
in
that
manner
,
my
dearest
William
,
'
she
said
,
in
a
faint
tone
,
as
she
drew
me
towards
her
;
'
for
I
have
always
loved
you
,
and
I
am
sure
you
have
loved
me
in
return
.
Alas
!
my
adored
husband
,
what
is
to
become
of
you
?
I
am
going
to
a
better
world
,
where
I
shall
meet
our
departed
children
:
but
,
ah
!
to
what
sorrows
,
do
I
leave
you
?
Oh
!
this
is
the
pang
which
I
feel
upon
my
death-bed
;
and
it
is
more
than
I
can
bear
.
For
I
love
you
,
William
,
as
never
woman
yet
loved
;
and
when
I
am
no
more
,
do
not
remember
any
little
sufferings
which
you
may
imagine
that
you
have
caused
me
;
for
if
there
be
any
thing
to
forgive
,
God
knows
how
sincerely
I
do
forgive
you
!
Think
of
me
sometimes
,
William
—
and
remember
that
as
I
have
ever
loved
you
,
so
would
I
continue
to
love
you
were
I
spared
.
But
—
—
'
"
Her
voice
had
gradually
been
growing
fainter
,
and
her
articulation
more
difficult
,
as
she
uttered
those
loving
words
which
Death
rudely
cut
short
.
The
medical
man
came
:
it
was
too
late
—
all
was
over
!
Then
did
I
throw
myself
upon
that
senseless
form
,
and
accuse
myself
of
having
broken
the
heart
of
the
best
of
women
.
Oh
!
I
thought
,
if
I
could
only
recall
the
past
:
if
the
last
few
years
of
my
life
could
be
spent
over
again
—
if
my
beloved
wife
,
my
little
ones
,
and
my
fortune
were
still
left
to
me
—
how
different
would
my
conduct
be
!
But
repentance
was
too
late
:
the
work
was
done
—
and
the
consummation
of
the
task
of
ruin
,
sorrow
,
and
death
was
accomplished
!
Wretch
—
wretch
that
I
was
!
"
The
poor
people
at
whose
cottage
my
wife
thus
breathed
her
last
,
were
very
kind
to
me
.
They
endeavoured
to
solace
my
affliction
,
and
insisted
that
I
should
remain
with
them
at
least
until
after
the
funeral
.
And
if
my
poor
Julia
's
remains
received
decent
interment
,
—
if
she
were
spared
the
last
ignominy
of
a
parish
funeral
,
which
would
have
crowned
all
the
sad
memories
that
remained
to
me
in
respect
to
her
,
—
it
was
through
the
benevolence
of
those
poor
people
and
the
surgeon
who
had
been
called
in
.
"
When
I
had
followed
the
corpse
of
my
poor
wife
to
the
grave
,
I
returned
to
London
;
and
,
assuming
another
name
,
procured
a
humble
employment
in
the
City
.
Would
you
believe
,
my
lord
,
that
one
who
had
held
the
rank
of
a
Field
Officer
became
the
follower
of
a
bailiff
—
a
catchpole
—
a
sort
of
vampire
feeding
itself
upon
the
vitals
of
the
poor
and
unfortunate
?
Yet
such
was
my
case
:
and
even
in
that
detestable
capacity
I
experienced
one
day
of
unfeigned
pleasure
—
one
day
of
ineffable
satisfaction
;
and
that
was
upon
being
employed
to
arrest
and
convey
to
Whitecross
Street
prison
my
mortal
enemy
—
Colonel
Beaumont
.
Yes
:
he
also
was
ruined
by
play
,
and
overwhelmed
with
difficulties
.
And
at
whose
suit
was
he
captured
?
At
that
of
Goldshig
,
the
Jew
!
The
Colonel
was
playing
at
hide-and-seek
;
but
I
tracked
him
out
.
Night
and
day
did
I
pursue
my
inquiries
until
I
learnt
that
he
occupied
a
miserable
lodging
in
the
Old
Bailey
:
and
there
was
he
taken
.
He
languished
for
six
months
in
prison
—
deserted
by
his
friends
—
and
compelled
to
receive
the
City
allowance
.
Every
Sunday
during
that
period
did
I
visit
the
gaol
to
gloat
upon
his
miseries
.
At
length
he
died
in
the
infirmary
,
and
was
buried
as
a
pauper
!
"
Shortly
after
that
event
,
I
lost
my
place
through
having
shown
some
kindness
to
a
poor
family
in
whose
house
I
was
placed
in
possession
under
an
execution
;
and
from
that
time
,
until
yesterday
,
my
life
has
been
a
series
of
such
miseries
—
such
privations
—
such
maddening
afflictions
,
that
it
is
most
marvellous
how
I
ever
could
have
surmounted
them
.
Indeed
,
I
am
astonished
that
suicide
has
not
long
ago
terminated
my
wretched
career
.
Your
Highness
saw
how
I
was
spurned
from
the
door
of
that
temple
of
infamy
,
which
had
absorbed
a
considerable
part
of
my
once
ample
means
;
—
but
that
was
not
the
first
—
no
,
nor
the
fiftieth
time
that
,
when
driven
to
desperation
,
I
have
vainly
implored
succour
of
those
who
had
formerly
profited
by
my
follies
—
my
vices
.
In
conclusion
,
permit
me
to
assure
your
Highness
that
if
the
most
heart-felt
gratitude
on
the
part
of
a
wretch
like
me
,
be
in
any
way
a
recompense
for
that
bounty
which
has
relieved
me
from
the
most
woeful
state
of
destitution
and
want
,
—
then
that
reward
is
yours
—
for
I
am
grateful
—
oh
!
God
only
knows
how
deeply
grateful
!
"
"
Say
no
more
upon
that
subject
,
"
exclaimed
Richard
,
who
was
profoundly
affected
by
the
history
which
he
had
just
heard
.
"
From
this
day
forth
you
shall
never
experience
want
again
—
provided
you
adhere
to
your
resolves
to
abandon
those
temples
of
ruin
in
which
fortune
,
reputation
,
and
happiness
—
yes
,
and
the
happiness
of
others
—
are
all
engulphed
.
But
for
the
present
we
have
both
a
duty
to
perform
.
Last
night
,
at
the
door
of
Crockford
's
Club
,
I
observed
a
young
man
in
the
society
of
two
villains
,
whom
I
have
,
alas
!
ample
cause
to
remember
.
This
young
man
of
whom
I
speak
,
drew
forth
his
purse
to
assist
you
at
the
moment
when
I
interfered
.
"
"
Yes
—
I
saw
him
,
and
I
know
who
he
is
,
my
lord
,
"
replied
the
Major
.
"
His
name
is
Egerton
—
he
lives
in
Stratton
Street
—
and
his
fortune
is
rapidly
passing
into
the
pockets
of
swindlers
and
black-legs
.
It
was
my
intention
to
call
upon
him
and
warn
him
of
the
frightful
precipice
upon
which
he
stands
;
but
,
alas
!
too
well
do
I
know
that
such
is
the
infatuation
which
possesses
the
gamester
—
—
"
"
Enough
!
"
interrupted
Richard
.
"
That
idea
must
not
deter
me
from
performing
what
I
conceive
to
be
a
duty
.
And
you
must
aid
me
in
the
task
.
"
"
If
your
Highness
will
show
me
how
I
can
be
instrumental
in
rescuing
that
young
man
from
the
jaws
of
destruction
,
"
exclaimed
Major
Anderson
,
"
gladly
—
most
gladly
will
I
lend
my
humble
aid
.
"
"
You
speak
as
one
who
is
anxious
to
atone
for
the
misdeeds
of
the
past
,
"
said
the
Prince
;
"
and
so
long
as
such
be
your
feelings
,
you
will
find
a
sincere
friend
in
me
.
In
respect
to
this
foolish
young
man
,
who
is
rushing
headlong
to
ruin
,
caution
must
be
used
;
or
else
those
arch-profligates
,
Chichester
and
Harborough
,
will
frustrate
my
designs
.
It
is
for
you
to
seek
an
interview
with
Mr.
Egerton
,
and
inform
him
that
the
Prince
of
Montoni
is
desirous
to
see
him
upon
business
of
a
most
serious
and
of
altogether
a
private
nature
.
"
"
The
wishes
of
your
Highness
shall
be
attended
to
,
"
replied
Major
Anderson
.
"
It
is
useless
to
attempt
to
find
Egerton
alone
at
this
time
of
the
day
;
but
to-morrow
morning
I
will
call
on
him
at
an
early
hour
.
"
The
Prince
was
satisfied
with
this
arrangement
,
and
took
his
departure
from
the
lodging
of
the
ruined
gamester
.
Reader
!
there
is
no
vice
which
is
so
fertile
in
the
various
elements
of
misery
as
Gambling
!
CHAPTER
CCXLV
.
THE
EXCURSION
.
While
Major
Anderson
was
engaged
in
relating
his
terribly
impressive
history
to
the
Prince
of
Montoni
,
Lord
Dunstable
and
Egerton
were
in
earnest
conversation
together
at
the
lodgings
of
the
latter
gentleman
in
Stratton
Street
.
The
fact
was
,
that
Albert
Egerton
was
placed
in
a
most
cruel
dilemma
,
as
the
following
note
,
which
he
had
received
in
the
morning
,
will
show
:
—
—
Pavement
,
March
28th
,
1843.
"
A
month
has
passed
,
dear
Albert
,
since
I
saw
you
;
and
you
promised
to
come
and
see
us
as
soon
as
you
had
finished
your
little
business
about
buying
the
estate
.
But
you
have
not
come
;
and
me
and
the
girls
are
quite
non-plushed
about
it
.
So
I
tell
you
what
we
've
made
up
our
minds
to
do
.
Next
Monday
is
a
holiday
;
and
we
intend
to
hire
a
shay
and
go
and
see
your
new
estate
.
But
as
we
do
n't
know
where
it
is
,
we
shall
of
course
want
you
to
go
with
us
;
and
so
you
may
expect
us
next
Monday
,
as
I
say
,
at
eleven
o'clock
precise
.
Now
mind
and
do
n't
disappoint
us
;
because
we
've
all
made
up
our
minds
to
go
,
and
we
wo
n't
take
any
refusal
.
If
you
ca
n't
go
,
why
then
we
'll
go
by
ourselves
;
so
in
that
case
send
us
the
proper
address
,
and
a
note
to
the
servants
.
You
see
that
me
and
the
girls
are
quite
determined
;
so
no
excuse
.
"
Your
loving
aunt
,
"
BETSY
BUSTARD
.
"
"
What
the
deuce
is
to
be
done
?
"
asked
Egerton
for
the
tenth
time
since
the
arrival
of
his
friend
.
"
Egad
!
I
really
am
at
a
loss
to
advise
,
my
dear
boy
,
"
replied
Dunstable
.
"
The
affair
is
so
confoundedly
ticklish
.
Ca
n't
you
write
and
put
them
off
?
"
"
Impossible
!
"
exclaimed
Egerton
:
"
you
see
how
determined
they
are
.
Even
if
I
were
to
apologise
for
not
accompanying
them
,
how
could
I
refuse
to
give
them
the
address
of
a
country-seat
which
they
so
firmly
believe
me
to
possess
?
"
"
Then
write
and
say
that
,
finding
the
house
did
not
suit
you
after
all
,
you
have
sold
it
again
,
"
suggested
Dunstable
.
"
My
aunt
would
see
through
the
thing
in
a
moment
,
"
returned
Egerton
.
"
Besides
,
she
is
intimate
with
Storks
,
my
stock-broker
,
and
would
learn
,
from
him
that
I
had
not
bought
in
any
money
lately
;
but
,
on
the
contrary
,
had
been
selling
out
.
I
really
must
do
something
—
even
if
I
hire
a
country
house
for
the
purpose
.
"
"
Ah
!
that
might
be
done
!
"
cried
Dunstable
.
"
Or
,
stay
!
"
he
continued
,
a
sudden
idea
striking
him
:
"
I
have
it
—
I
have
it
,
my
dear
boy
!
"
And
his
lordship
seemed
as
overjoyed
as
if
he
himself
were
the
individual
who
was
unexpectedly
released
from
a
serious
difficulty
.
"
Do
not
keep
me
in
suspense
,
"
said
Egerton
,
imploringly
:
"
what
is
it
that
you
have
thought
of
?
"
"
I
'll
tell
you
in
as
few
words
as
possible
my
boy
,
"
returned
the
nobleman
.
"
It
was
about
two
years
ago
that
I
passed
a
short
time
at
a
place
not
far
from
London
,
called
Ravensworth
Hall
.
It
is
a
splendid
mansion
,
and
has
been
shut
up
almost
ever
since
that
period
.
Lady
Ravensworth
is
living
somewhere
on
the
continent
,
in
great
seclusion
;
and
I
happen
to
know
that
there
is
only
an
old
gardener
,
with
his
wife
,
residing
at
the
Hall
.
"
"
But
I
cannot
understand
how
any
thing
you
are
now
telling
me
bears
reference
to
my
difficulty
,
"
observed
Egerton
,
impatiently
.
"
Why
—
do
n't
you
see
!
"
ejaculated
Lord
Dunstable
,
slapping
his
friend
upon
the
shoulder
.
"
The
gardener
and
his
wife
will
not
decline
a
five-pound
note
;
and
I
dare
say
they
are
not
so
mighty
punctilious
as
to
refuse
to
allow
you
to
call
yourself
the
master
of
Ravensworth
Hall
for
one
day
.
What
do
you
think
of
that
idea
?
"
"
I
think
it
is
most
admirable
,
"
returned
Egerton
,
his
countenance
brightening
up
—
"
if
it
can
only
be
carried
into
execution
.
"
"
Will
you
leave
it
all
to
me
?
"
asked
Dunstable
.
"
I
cannot
possibly
do
better
,
"
replied
Egerton
.
"
But
remember
—
there
is
no
time
to
lose
.
This
cursed
letter
must
be
answered
to-day
,
or
to-morrow
morning
at
latest
.
"
"
I
will
ride
out
to
Ravensworth
as
quickly
as
a
thorough-bred
can
take
me
thither
,
"
said
Dunstable
,
rising
to
depart
.
"
At
seven
o'clock
this
evening
I
'll
meet
you
to
dine
at
Long
's
;
and
by
that
time
all
shall
be
satisfactory
arranged
,
I
can
promise
you
.
"
Egerton
wrung
his
friend
's
hand
;
and
the
nobleman
had
already
reached
the
door
of
the
room
,
when
he
turned
back
as
if
a
sudden
recollection
had
struck
him
,
and
said
,
"
By
the
way
,
my
dear
boy
,
have
you
any
cash
in
the
house
?
I
must
make
a
certain
payment
in
the
neighbourhood
before
I
go
;
and
my
agent
in
the
country
has
been
infernally
slow
lately
in
sending
up
the
rents
of
my
estate
.
"
Lord
Dunstable
's
estate
was
one
of
those
pleasing
fictions
which
exhibit
the
imaginative
faculties
of
so
many
members
of
the
aristocracy
and
gentry
residing
at
the
West
End
of
London
.
"
Oh
!
certainly
,
"
was
Egerton
's
prompt
answer
to
the
question
put
to
him
.
"
I
have
some
four
or
five
hundred
pounds
in
my
pocket-book
.
How
much
do
you
require
?
"
"
Four
hundred
pounds
will
just
make
up
the
amount
I
have
to
pay
,
"
said
Dunstable
;
and
having
received
that
sum
in
Bank-notes
,
he
took
his
departure
,
humming
an
opera
air
.
It
is
not
necessary
to
detail
the
particulars
of
the
young
nobleman
's
visit
to
Ravensworth
Hall
:
suffice
it
to
say
that
he
was
completely
successful
in
his
proposed
arrangements
with
the
gardener
,
and
that
he
communicated
this
result
to
his
friend
Egerton
at
Long
's
Hotel
in
the
evening
.
Chichester
,
Cholmondeley
,
and
Harborough
were
let
into
the
secret
;
and
they
insisted
upon
joining
the
party
.
Accordingly
,
on
the
following
day
Egerton
sent
a
favourable
reply
to
his
aunt
's
letter
;
but
his
conscience
reproached
him
—
deeply
reproached
him
,
for
the
cheat
which
he
was
about
to
practise
upon
his
confiding
and
affectionate
relative
.
For
,
in
spite
of
the
dissipated
courses
which
he
was
pursuing
,
—
in
spite
of
the
gratification
which
his
pride
received
from
the
companionship
of
his
aristocratic
acquaintances
,
—
in
spite
of
the
lavish
extravagance
that
marked
his
expenditure
,
this
young
man
's
good
feelings
were
not
altogether
perverted
;
and
it
required
but
the
timely
interposition
of
some
friendly
hand
to
reclaim
him
from
the
ways
that
were
hurrying
him
on
to
ruin
!
The
Monday
fixed
upon
for
the
excursion
arrived
;
and
at
eleven
o'clock
in
the
forenoon
a
huge
yellow
barouche
,
commonly
called
"
a
glass-coach
,
"
rattled
up
to
the
door
of
Mr.
Egerton
's
lodgings
in
Stratton
Street
.
The
driver
of
this
vehicle
had
put
on
his
best
clothes
,
which
were
,
however
,
of
a
seedy
nature
,
and
gave
him
the
air
of
an
insolvent
coachman
;
and
the
pair
of
horses
which
it
was
his
duty
to
drive
seemed
as
if
they
had
been
purchased
at
least
six
months
previously
by
a
knacker
who
had
,
nevertheless
,
mercifully
granted
them
a
respite
during
pleasure
.
Egerton
's
countenance
became
as
red
as
scarlet
when
this
crazy
equipage
stopped
at
his
door
:
but
his
four
friends
,
who
were
all
posted
at
the
windows
of
his
drawing-room
,
affected
to
consider
the
whole
affair
as
"
a
very
decent
turn-out
;
"
and
thus
the
young
man
's
mind
was
somewhat
calmed
.
By
the
side
of
the
seedy
coachman
upon
the
box
sate
a
tall
,
thin
,
red-haired
young
man
,
dressed
in
deep
black
,
and
with
his
shirt-collar
turned
down
,
over
a
neckerchief
loosely
tied
,
after
the
fashion
of
Lord
Byron
.
The
moment
the
glass-coach
stopped
in
Stratton
Street
,
down
leapt
the
aforesaid
seedy
coachman
on
one
side
,
and
the
thin
young
man
on
the
other
;
and
while
the
seedy
coachman
played
a
nondescript
kind
of
tune
upon
the
knocker
of
the
house
,
the
young
gentleman
proceeded
to
hand
out
first
Mrs.
Bustard
,
and
then
her
five
daughters
one
after
the
other
.
This
being
done
,
and
Egerton
's
tiger
having
thrown
open
the
front
door
,
the
thin
young
man
offered
one
arm
to
Mrs.
Bustard
and
the
other
to
Miss
Clarissa
Jemima
Bustard
,
and
escorted
them
into
the
house
,
the
four
remaining
young
ladies
following
in
a
very
interesting
procession
indeed
.
Egerton
hastened
to
welcome
his
relatives
;
but
from
the
first
moment
that
he
had
set
his
eyes
upon
the
red-haired
young
man
,
he
had
entertained
the
most
awful
misgivings
;
—
and
those
fears
were
fully
confirmed
when
Mrs.
Bustard
introduced
that
same
young
man
by
the
name
of
"
Mr.
Tedworth
Jones
,
the
intended
husband
of
Clarissa
Jemima
.
"
The
son
and
heir
of
the
wealthy
tripe-man
tendered
a
hand
which
felt
as
flabby
as
tripe
itself
;
and
Miss
Clarissa
Jemima
was
under
the
necessity
of
blushing
deeply
at
her
mamma
's
allusion
to
her
contemplated
change
of
situation
.
Egerton
gave
Mr.
Tedworth
Jones
the
tip
of
his
fore-finger
,
and
then
conducted
the
party
up
stairs
to
the
drawing-room
,
where
the
ceremony
of
introducing
his
City
relatives
to
his
West
End
friends
took
place
.
Lord
Dunstable
was
most
gallant
in
claiming
Mrs.
Bustard
as
"
an
old
acquaintance
;
"
and
he
even
overcame
his
aristocratic
prejudices
so
far
as
to
shake
hands
with
Mr.
Tedworth
Jones
.
Then
the
young
ladies
were
introduced
in
due
order
;
and
,
though
they
giggled
with
each
other
a
great
deal
,
and
were
dressed
in
very
flaunting
colours
,
they
were
all
very
good-looking
;
and
this
circumstance
rendered
Lord
Dunstable
,
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
,
Colonel
Cholmondeley
,
and
Mr.
Chichester
particularly
agreeable
towards
them
.
"
Well
!
"
exclaimed
Mrs.
Bustard
,
throwing
herself
into
an
arm-chair
,
and
wiping
the
perspiration
from
her
fat
face
,
"
we
really
was
scrooged
up
in
that
shay
—
—
"
"
Glass-coach
,
mamma
,
"
said
Miss
Susannah
Rachel
,
reprovingly
.
"
Never
mind
the
name
,
my
dear
,
"
returned
Mrs.
Bustard
.
"
Your
poor
father
always
called
it
a
shay
;
and
he
could
n't
have
been
wrong
.
But
,
as
I
was
a-saying
,
how
we
was
squeeged
up
,
to
be
sure
!
Six
of
us
inside
,
and
obleeged
to
sit
on
each
other
's
knees
.
"
"
That
will
be
just
the
very
thing
,
madam
,
to
render
the
trip
more
agreeable
,
"
said
Mr.
Chichester
,
with
an
affable
smile
.
"
Provided
the
old
lady
does
n't
sit
on
my
knees
,
"
whispered
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
to
Colonel
Cholmondeley
.
But
Mr.
Chichester
's
observation
had
made
all
the
young
ladies
giggle
,
with
the
exception
of
Miss
Clarissa
Jemima
,
who
blushed
,
and
whispered
to
Mr.
Jones
something
about
such
a
remark
being
very
unpleasant
for
a
person
"
in
her
situation
.
"
Mr.
Jones
cast
a
sentimental
glance
upon
his
intended
,
and
sighed
very
poetically
as
he
assured
Miss
Clarissa
that
she
was
"
a
hangel
.
"
"
How
are
we
going
,
Al
dear
?
"
asked
Mrs.
Bustard
,
after
a
pause
;
"
and
how
far
off
is
it
?
because
I
do
n't
think
the
cattle
in
our
shay
are
any
very
great
shakes
.
"
"
On
the
contrary
,
aunt
,
I
am
afraid
they
are
very
great
shakes
indeed
,
"
replied
Egerton
,
with
miserable
attempt
at
a
joke
.
"
But
I
think
you
will
approve
of
the
arrangements
made
.
"
"
Oh
!
yes
—
I
am
sure
of
that
,
"
hastily
interposed
Lord
Dunstable
,
who
perceived
that
his
young
friend
was
very
far
from
happy
.
"
Your
nephew
's
establishment
is
not
prepared
for
his
reception
yet
;
but
we
have
done
all
we
could
to
make
you
and
your
amiable
daughters
comfortable
.
Materials
for
an
elegant
collation
were
sent
out
yesterday
;
and
my
four-in-hand
and
the
Colonel
's
phaeton
,
in
addition
to
your
glass-coach
,
will
convey
us
all
in
a
very
short
time
to
your
nephew
's
country
seat
.
"
Scarcely
were
these
words
uttered
when
the
four-in-hand
and
the
phaeton
alluded
to
,
dashed
up
the
street
;
and
the
tiger
entered
to
announce
their
arrival
.
Egerton
immediately
offered
his
arm
to
his
aunt
,
well
knowing
that
if
he
did
not
take
care
of
her
no
one
else
would
:
Mr.
Tedworth
Jones
escorted
his
intended
;
Lord
Dunstable
took
one
of
the
young
ladies
under
his
protection
;
and
the
three
others
of
course
fell
respectively
to
the
lot
of
Colonel
Cholmondeley
,
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
,
and
Mr.
Chichester
.
A
fair
and
equitable
distribution
of
the
party
took
place
between
the
three
vehicles
;
and
the
cavalcade
moved
rapidly
away
in
a
northern
direction
,
Mrs.
Bustard
assuring
her
nephew
"
that
it
was
quite
a
blessing
to
get
rid
of
so
much
scrooging
and
squeeging
as
she
had
previously
endured
.
"
The
gentlemen
were
very
agreeable
,
and
the
young
ladles
very
amiable
—
although
they
every
now
and
then
simpered
and
giggled
without
much
apparent
cause
;
but
then
it
must
be
recollected
that
they
suddenly
found
themselves
for
the
first
time
in
their
lives
in
the
company
of
a
Lord
,
a
Baronet
,
and
two
Honourables
,
one
of
whom
moreover
was
a
Colonel
.
The
day
was
very
fine
:
the
air
was
as
mild
as
if
it
were
the
month
of
May
instead
of
March
;
and
the
whole
party
were
in
excellent
spirits
—
for
even
Egerton
recovered
his
natural
gaiety
when
he
saw
that
the
affair
was
likely
to
pass
off
without
any
of
those
annoyances
which
he
had
feared
would
arise
from
the
collision
of
Finsbury
denizens
and
West
End
fashionables
.
At
length
the
open
country
was
gained
;
and
in
due
time
the
stately
pile
of
Ravensworth
Hall
appeared
in
the
distance
.
Nothing
could
equal
the
gratification
which
Mrs.
Bustard
and
the
five
Misses
Bustard
experienced
when
the
edifice
was
pointed
out
to
them
as
Egerton
's
country-seat
;
and
,
without
pausing
to
reflect
how
incompatible
were
his
means
with
such
a
grand
mansion
,
they
felt
no
small
degree
of
pride
at
the
idea
of
claiming
the
proprietor
of
Ravensworth
Hall
as
their
own
near
relation
.
"
What
a
beautiful
place
!
"
whispered
Miss
Clarissa
to
Mr.
Jones
,
who
would
insist
on
keeping
her
hand
locked
in
his
during
the
whole
ride
.
"
Charming
,
dearest
—
charming
!
"
replied
the
enamoured
swain
;
"
and
so
are
you
.
"
Miss
Clarissa
blushed
for
the
thirtieth
time
that
morning
;
and
,
as
if
the
squeeze
of
the
hand
which
Mr.
Jones
gave
her
as
a
proof
of
his
undivided
affection
were
not
sufficient
,
he
planted
his
boot
upon
her
foot
at
the
same
time
.
This
is
,
however
,
so
common
a
token
of
love
in
all
civilised
and
enlightened
countries
,
that
Miss
Clarissa
Jemima
received
it
as
such
,
although
the
tender
pressure
somewhat
impaired
the
snow-white
propriety
of
her
stocking
.
"
Oh
!
what
an
immense
building
!
"
exclaimed
Miss
Susannah
Rachel
Bustard
,
as
the
three
carriages
now
swept
through
Ravensworth
Park
.
"
Gigantic
!
"
said
another
Miss
Bustard
.
"
Very
stupendous
,
indeed
,
ladies
,
"
observed
Colonel
Cholmondeley
,
who
was
seated
in
the
same
vehicle
with
two
of
Mrs.
Bustard
's
fair
daughters
.
"
And
so
this
great
large
edifisk
is
yours
,
my
dear
Al
?
"
said
the
good
lady
herself
,
as
she
thrust
her
head
from
the
window
of
the
glass-coach
,
and
surveyed
the
building
with
ineffable
satisfaction
.
"
But
what
a
sight
of
chimbleys
it
has
,
to
be
sure
!
"
"
Because
it
has
a
great
number
of
rooms
,
aunt
,
"
replied
Egerton
.
"
What
sweet
balconies
!
"
cried
the
enraptured
lady
.
"
Yes
,
"
said
Egerton
:
"
and
they
will
look
very
handsome
when
all
the
shutters
are
opened
and
the
windows
are
filled
with
flowers
and
evergreens
.
"
"
Oh
!
to
be
sure
,
"
exclaimed
Mrs.
Bustard
,
joyfully
.
"
Well
,
really
,
it
is
a
most
charming
place
;
and
I
never
did
see
such
lovely
chimbley-pots
in
all
my
life
.
Quite
picturesque
,
I
declare
!
"
The
three
carriages
now
stopped
before
the
entrance
of
the
Hall
;
and
Lord
Dunstable
's
lacquey
gave
a
furious
ring
at
the
bell
.
In
a
short
time
one
of
the
folding-doors
was
slowly
opened
to
a
distance
of
about
a
foot
,
and
an
old
man
,
wearing
a
strange
brown
wig
surmounted
by
a
paper
cap
,
thrust
his
head
forth
.
Then
,
having
surveyed
the
party
with
a
suspicious
air
for
some
moments
,
he
opened
the
door
a
little
wider
and
revealed
the
remainder
of
his
form
.
"
Come
,
my
good
fellow
,
"
ejaculated
Dunstable
,
as
he
rushed
up
the
steps
;
"
do
n't
you
know
your
new
master
,
who
is
just
handing
that
lady
out
of
the
glass-coach
?
"
This
was
intended
as
a
hint
to
make
the
gardener
aware
of
the
particular
individual
who
was
to
be
passed
off
as
the
owner
of
Ravensworth
Hall
.
"
Oh
!
ah
!
"
said
the
man
,
in
a
drawling
tone
,
as
he
took
off
the
paper
cap
,
and
made
a
bow
to
the
company
;
"
I
sees
him
,
and
a
wery
nice
gentleman
he
is
,
I
've
no
doubt
.
But
I
hope
he
'll
ex-kooze
me
for
not
opening
the
gate
at
fust
,
because
—
—
"
"
Because
,
I
suppose
,
"
hastily
interposed
Dunstable
,
"
you
did
not
know
who
we
all
were
.
"
"
No
that
I
did
n't
,
"
continued
the
old
man
;
"
and
I
'm
desperate
afeard
of
thieves
.
"
"
Thieves
!
"
cried
Lord
Dunstable
:
"
what
—
in
the
broad
day-light
,
and
riding
in
carriages
?
"
"
Lor
,
sir
,
"
said
the
gardener
,
turning
a
quid
of
tobacco
from
one
side
of
his
mouth
to
another
,
so
that
a
swelling
which
at
first
appeared
in
his
left
cheek
was
suddenly
transferred
to
the
right
;
"
me
and
my
old
'
ooman
is
wery
lonesome
in
this
great
place
;
and
we
've
heerd
such
strange
stories
about
the
tricks
of
thieves
,
that
we
never
know
what
shape
they
may
come
in
.
"
Dunstable
cut
short
the
old
man
's
garrulity
by
inquiring
if
the
baskets
,
that
were
sent
on
the
previous
day
,
had
arrived
;
and
,
on
receiving
a
round-about
reply
in
the
misty
verbosity
of
which
he
perceived
an
affirmative
,
the
nobleman
desired
Egerton
to
do
the
honours
of
his
new
mansion
.
"
My
good
man
,
"
said
Mrs.
Bustard
,
advancing
in
a
stately
fashion
towards
the
gardener
,
who
had
replaced
the
paper
cap
on
his
head
,
and
had
tucked
up
his
dirty
apron
,
so
that
it
looked
like
a
reefed
sail
hanging
to
his
waist
,
—
"
my
good
man
,
what
is
your
name
?
I
do
n't
ask
through
imperent
curiosity
;
but
only
because
I
am
the
aunt
of
your
new
master
,
and
all
them
young
ladies
is
my
daughters
,
your
new
master
's
fust
cousins
in
consequence
;
and
it
's
more
than
likely
that
we
shall
pay
a
many
visits
to
the
Hall
.
So
it
is
but
right
and
proper
that
we
should
know
by
what
name
we
're
to
call
you
.
"
The
gardener
was
a
little
,
shrivelled
,
stolid-looking
old
man
;
and
there
was
something
so
ludicrous
in
the
way
in
which
he
stared
at
Mrs.
Bustard
as
she
thus
addressed
him
,
that
Cholmondeley
and
Chichester
were
compelled
to
turn
aside
to
prevent
themselves
from
bursting
into
a
roar
of
laughter
.
"
My
good
fellow
,
"
said
Dunstable
,
hastening
forward
to
the
rescue
—
for
Egerton
was
trembling
like
a
leaf
through
the
fear
of
exposure
,
—
"
this
lady
puts
a
very
proper
question
to
you
;
but
of
course
her
nephew
,
your
new
master
,
is
able
to
answer
it
.
"
"
Well
,
now
!
"
cried
Mrs.
Bustard
,
struck
by
this
observation
;
"
and
I
never
thought
of
asking
Albert
!
Why
,
it
's
nat'ral
that
one
should
know
the
names
of
one
's
own
servants
.
"
"
To
be
sure
,
"
said
Lord
Dunstable
,
hastily
;
"
and
this
worthy
man
's
name
is
—
is
—
ahem
?
"
"
Oh
!
yes
,
"
observed
Egerton
,
in
a
faint
tone
,
"
his
name
is
—
—
"
"
Squiggs
is
my
name
,
ma'am
,
"
said
the
gardener
:
"
leastways
,
that
's
the
name
I
've
bore
these
nine-and-sixty
blessed
years
past
,
come
next
Aperil
—
Abraham
Squiggs
at
your
service
.
And
now
that
I
've
told
you
my
name
,
ma'am
,
p'rhaps
you
'll
be
so
obleeging
as
to
tell
me
your'n
?
"
But
Dunstable
hastened
to
cut
short
this
somewhat
disagreeable
scene
,
—
which
,
by
the
way
,
never
would
have
occurred
,
had
he
adopted
the
precaution
of
previously
ascertaining
the
name
of
the
gardener
,
—
by
desiring
Mr.
Abraham
Squiggs
to
lead
the
way
into
the
drawing-room
prepared
to
receive
the
company
.
This
request
was
complied
with
;
and
the
old
man
slowly
proceeded
up
the
marble
staircase
,
followed
by
the
whole
party
.
Mrs.
Bustard
and
her
daughters
were
highly
delighted
at
the
splendid
appearance
of
the
mansion
;
and
their
joy
was
expressed
by
repeated
exclamations
of
"
Beautiful
!
"
—
"
Charming
!
"
—
"
Quite
a
palace
!
"
—
"
Well
,
I
never
!
"
—
"
Oh
!
the
sweet
place
!
"
—
and
other
sentences
of
equally
significant
meaning
.
"
Ah
!
this
here
mansion
has
seen
a
many
strange
things
,
"
said
the
old
gardener
,
as
he
admitted
the
company
into
a
handsome
apartment
,
the
shutters
of
which
were
open
:
"
this
wery
room
is
the
one
where
Mr.
Gilbert
Vernon
throwed
his-self
out
of
winder
about
two
years
ago
.
"
"
Threw
himself
out
of
the
window
!
"
cried
Mrs.
Bustard
;
"
and
what
did
he
do
that
for
?
"
"
To
kill
his-self
,
ma'am
,
"
answered
the
old
man
.
"
I
was
n't
here
at
the
time
:
I
'd
gone
down
into
the
country
to
see
a
garden
that
a
friend
o
'
mine
manured
with
some
stuff
that
he
bought
in
a
jar
at
the
chemist
's
—
about
a
pint
of
it
to
a
acre
.
Ah
!
it
's
a
wonderful
thing
,
to
be
sure
,
to
be
able
to
carry
manure
enow
for
a
whole
garden
in
your
veskit-pocket
,
as
one
may
say
.
"
"
But
you
was
speaking
about
a
gentleman
who
threw
himself
out
of
the
window
?
"
said
Mrs.
Bustard
,
impatiently
.
"
Ah
!
so
I
were
,
"
continued
the
gardener
.
"
It
was
told
in
the
newspapers
at
the
time
;
but
no
partickler
cause
was
given
.
Oh
!
there
was
a
great
deal
of
mystery
about
all
that
business
;
and
I
do
n't
like
to
say
much
on
it
,
'
cos
Mr.
Vernon
is
knowed
to
walk
.
"
"
Known
to
walk
!
"
exclaimed
several
of
the
ladies
and
gentlemen
,
all
as
it
were
speaking
in
one
breath
.
"
Yes
,
"
returned
the
gardener
,
with
a
solemn
shake
of
the
head
:
"
Gilbert
Vernon
sleeps
in
a
troubled
grave
;
and
his
sperret
wanders
about
the
mansion
of
a
night
.
If
it
was
n't
that
me
and
my
wife
is
old
and
friendless
,
and
must
go
to
the
workus
if
we
had
n't
this
place
,
we
'd
not
sleep
another
night
in
Ravensworth
Hall
.
"
"
Why
,
my
dear
Al
!
"
ejaculated
Mrs.
Bustard
,
casting
a
terrified
glance
around
,
although
the
sun
was
shining
gloriously
and
pouring
a
flood
of
golden
lustre
through
the
windows
,
—
"
you
have
gone
and
bought
a
haunted
house
,
I
do
declare
!
"
"
How
charmingly
poetical
!
"
whispered
the
tripeman
's
son
to
Miss
Clarissa
Jemima
:
"
only
think
,
dearest
—
a
haunted
house
!
"
"
Yes
,
Tedworth
—
I
do
indeed
think
—
—
"
"
What
?
beloved
one
!
"
asked
the
sentimental
swain
.
"
That
I
hope
we
shall
leave
it
before
it
grows
dusk
,
"
returned
the
young
lady
,
who
evidently
saw
nothing
poetical
in
the
matter
at
all
.
"
My
dear
aunt
,
"
said
Egerton
,
in
reply
to
the
observation
which
his
relative
had
addressed
to
him
,
"
I
am
not
so
silly
as
to
be
frightened
by
tales
of
ghosts
and
spirits
;
and
I
would
as
soon
sleep
in
this
room
as
in
any
other
throughout
the
mansion
.
"
"
No
,
you
would
n't
,
young
man
—
no
,
indeed
,
you
would
n't
!
"
exclaimed
the
gardener
,
in
so
earnest
and
impressive
a
manner
that
the
young
ladies
huddled
together
like
terrified
lambs
,
and
even
the
gentlemen
now
began
to
listen
to
the
old
man
with
more
attention
than
they
had
hitherto
shown
:
"
I
say
,
sir
,
that
you
would
not
like
to
sleep
in
this
room
—
for
,
as
sure
as
there
is
a
God
above
us
,
have
me
and
my
wife
seen
the
sperret
of
Gilbert
Vernon
standing
at
dusk
in
that
very
balcony
which
he
throwed
his-self
from
.
"
"
Dear
!
dear
!
"
whispered
all
the
young
ladies
together
.
"
And
what
was
he
like
?
"
asked
Mrs.
Bustard
.
"
Why
,
ma'am
,
"
returned
the
gardener
,
"
he
was
dressed
all
in
deep
black
;
but
his
face
were
as
pale
as
a
corpse
's
;
and
when
the
moonbeams
fell
on
it
,
me
and
my
wife
could
see
that
it
was
the
face
of
a
dead
man
as
well
as
I
can
see
e'er
a
one
of
you
at
this
present
speaking
.
"
"
Egad
!
you
have
bought
a
nice
property
,
Egerton
,
"
said
Lord
Dunstable
,
turning
towards
his
young
friend
.
"
I
shall
propose
that
we
return
to
London
again
before
it
grows
dusk
.
"
"
Decidedly
—
since
you
are
so
disposed
,
"
returned
Egerton
,
who
was
rejoiced
to
think
that
the
old
gardener
had
started
a
topic
so
well
calculated
to
frighten
his
aunt
and
cousins
away
from
the
Hall
some
hours
earlier
than
they
might
have
otherwise
been
induced
to
leave
it
.
"
'
Pon
my
honour
,
all
this
is
vastly
entertaining
!
"
exclaimed
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
.
"
But
how
long
ago
was
it
that
you
saw
the
ghost
,
my
good
friend
?
"
"
How
long
ago
?
"
repeated
the
old
man
,
slowly
:
"
why
,
I
have
seen
it
a
matter
of
fifty
—
or
,
may
be
a
hundred
times
.
The
fust
time
,
me
and
my
wife
was
together
:
we
had
been
across
the
fields
to
a
farm-house
to
get
some
milk
,
butter
,
and
what
not
;
and
we
was
a-coming
home
through
the
Park
,
when
we
see
a
dark
object
in
the
balcony
there
.
My
wife
looks
—
and
I
looks
—
and
sure
enow
there
it
were
.
—
'
What
do
you
think
it
is
?
'
says
she
.
—
'
I
think
it
's
a
thief
,
'
says
I
.
—
'
No
it
ai
n't
,
'
say
she
:
'
it
do
n't
move
;
and
a
thief
would
n't
stand
there
to
amuse
his-self
.
'
—
'
No
more
he
would
,
'
says
I
:
'
let
's
go
near
,
for
no
one
wo
n't
harm
two
poor
old
creaturs
like
us
.
'
And
we
went
close
under
the
balcony
,
and
looked
up
;
but
never
shall
I
forget
,
or
my
old
'
ooman
either
,
the
awful
pale
face
that
stared
down
upon
us
!
Then
we
recollected
that
that
wery
balcony
was
the
one
which
Mr.
Vernon
had
throwed
his-self
from
;
and
that
was
enow
for
us
.
We
knowed
we
had
seen
his
sperret
!
"
"
Oh
!
dear
,
if
it
should
come
now
!
"
murmured
Miss
Clarissa
,
who
was
so
alarmed
—
or
at
least
seemed
to
be
—
that
she
was
forced
to
throw
herself
into
the
arms
of
Mr.
Tedworth
Jones
.
"
Well
—
this
is
what
I
call
a
leetle
dilemmy
that
you
're
got
into
,
Albert
,
"
said
Mrs.
Bustard
;
"
for
you
'll
never
be
able
to
live
in
this
place
.
"
"
And
no
one
else
—
unless
it
is
such
poor
old
helpless
creaturs
as
me
and
my
wife
,
"
said
the
gardener
.
"
Since
the
fust
time
we
see
the
sperret
—
and
that
's
near
a
year
and
a
half
ago
—
we
've
seen
him
a
many
,
many
times
;
but
he
do
n't
hurt
us
—
we
've
got
used
to
him
,
as
one
may
say
.
"
"
If
this
be
the
room
that
your
ghost
frequents
,
"
exclaimed
Colonel
Cholmondeley
,
"
why
did
you
select
it
for
our
reception
to-day
,
since
there
are
so
many
other
apartments
in
the
mansion
?
"
The
gardener
looked
confused
,
and
made
a
movement
as
if
he
were
about
to
leave
the
room
.
"
Oh
!
do
make
him
tell
us
why
he
chose
this
apartment
of
all
others
!
"
whispered
Mrs.
Bustard
to
her
nephew
.
"
My
good
fellow
,
"
said
Egerton
,
thus
urged
on
in
a
manner
to
which
he
could
not
reasonably
object
in
his
presumed
capacity
of
owner
of
the
mansion
,
—
"
my
good
fellow
,
did
you
not
hear
the
question
addressed
to
you
by
Colonel
Cholmondeley
?
"
"
Yes
,
"
replied
the
gardener
,
abruptly
.
"
Then
,
why
—
why
do
you
not
answer
it
?
"
said
Egerton
,
not
daring
to
speak
in
a
firm
or
commanding
tone
.
"
Why
—
if
you
're
koorious
to
know
,
I
ha
n't
no
objection
to
tell
you
,
"
responded
the
old
gardener
,
after
a
few
moments
'
consideration
.
"
You
see
,
when
the
establishment
was
broke
up
just
after
Lady
Ravensworth
left
the
Hall
on
a
sudden
,
and
when
her
lawyer
come
down
here
to
discharge
the
servants
,
except
me
and
my
wife
,
who
was
put
in
charge
o
'
the
place
,
he
goes
through
the
whole
building
,
has
all
the
shutters
shut
,
and
locks
up
all
the
rooms
—
—
"
"
Yes
,
yes
—
of
course
,
"
interposed
Dunstable
,
hastily
:
"
because
the
mansion
was
to
be
sold
just
as
it
stood
,
with
all
the
furniture
in
it
.
"
"
But
he
give
us
the
keys
,
in
course
,
"
continued
the
gardener
;
"
on'y
he
told
us
to
keep
the
rooms
locked
,
and
the
shutters
shut
,
when
we
was
n't
dusting
or
cleaning
.
Well
,
the
wery
next
day
arter
we
see
the
sperret
in
the
balcony
,
me
and
my
wife
come
up
to
this
room
together
,
and
sure
enow
the
shutters
was
open
!
"
"
And
they
had
been
closed
before
?
"
asked
one
of
the
young
ladies
,
in
a
tremulous
tone
.
"
As
sure
as
you
're
there
,
Miss
,
"
replied
the
old
man
,
"
what
I
now
tell
you
is
as
true
as
true
can
be
.
But
the
door
was
locked
—
and
that
made
it
more
koorious
still
.
"
"
It
is
clear
that
the
shutters
in
this
one
particular
room
had
been
left
open
when
all
the
others
were
closed
,
"
said
Colonel
Cholmondeley
,
with
a
contemptuous
smile
;
for
he
began
to
grow
weary
of
the
old
man
's
garrulity
.
"
Well
—
and
if
they
was
,
"
cried
Abraham
Squiggs
,
in
an
angry
tone
,
—
for
the
Colonel
's
remark
seemed
to
convey
an
imputation
against
his
veracity
,
—
"
me
and
my
wife
shut
'
em
up
again
,
and
locked
the
door
when
we
went
out
.
"
"
And
what
followed
?
"
inquired
two
or
three
of
the
Misses
Bustard
,
speaking
in
low
voices
which
indicated
breathless
curiosity
.
"
Why
,
that
next
night
the
shutters
was
opened
again
,
"
answered
the
old
man
,
fixing
a
reproachful
glance
upon
the
sceptical
Colonel
.
The
young
ladies
shuddered
visibly
,
and
crowded
together
;
—
Mrs
.
Bustard
again
cast
a
timorous
glance
around
;
—
and
the
gentlemen
knew
not
what
to
make
of
the
gardener
's
story
.
"
Yes
,
"
continued
the
old
man
,
now
triumphing
in
the
impression
which
he
had
evidently
made
upon
his
audience
;
"
and
from
that
moment
till
now
I
've
never
set
foot
in
this
here
drawing-room
.
But
the
sperret
is
often
here
;
for
sometimes
the
shutters
stays
open
for
two
or
three
days
—
sometimes
they
're
closed
for
weeks
together
.
"
"
But
what
has
all
that
to
do
with
your
bringing
us
to
this
very
room
on
the
present
occasion
?
"
asked
Egerton
,
his
aunt
again
prompting
the
question
.
"
Now
do
n't
be
angry
,
sir
,
and
I
'll
tell
you
,
"
replied
the
gardener
,
remembering
that
he
was
to
treat
Mr.
Egerton
as
the
owner
of
the
place
.
"
The
shutters
has
been
shut
for
a
matter
of
three
weeks
up
to
last
night
;
and
so
when
I
see
'
em
open
agen
,
I
says
to
my
wife
,
says
I
,
'
Now
's
the
time
to
see
what
the
sperret
raly
wants
,
and
why
he
troubles
that
room
.
There
's
a
power
of
fine
folks
a-coming
to-morrow
,
'
says
I
;
'
and
we
'll
just
put
'
em
in
the
haunted-room
.
If
so
be
the
sperret
shows
his-self
,
they
're
sure
to
speak
to
him
;
and
may
be
he
'll
tell
them
why
he
walks
.
'
—
'
Do
so
,
'
says
my
old
o'oman
:
and
by
rights
I
should
n't
have
said
a
word
about
the
sperret
at
all
;
—
but
it
come
out
some
how
or
another
;
and
now
you
know
all
.
"
"
And
we
are
very
much
obleeged
,
indeed
,
for
being
put
into
a
haunted
room
,
"
exclaimed
Mrs.
Bustard
,
bridling
up
.
"
Oh
!
the
joke
is
a
capital
one
!
"
cried
Cholmondeley
;
"
and
we
will
stay
here
by
all
means
.
If
the
ladies
should
be
frightened
,
the
gentlemen
must
take
them
upon
their
knees
.
"
"
Oh
!
this
before
one
in
my
situation
!
"
whispered
Clarissa
Jemima
to
her
lover
.
"
It
is
too
bad
,
my
charmer
,
"
returned
the
poetical
tripe-man
.
But
the
Colonel
's
observation
,
however
grievously
it
shocked
the
tender
couple
,
had
only
produced
a
vast
amount
of
giggling
and
blushing
on
the
part
of
the
four
Misses
Bustards
who
were
not
engaged
to
be
married
;
and
the
result
was
that
no
serious
opposition
manifested
itself
to
Cholmondeley
's
proposal
to
occupy
that
particular
room
.
"
Pray
be
seated
,
ladies
and
gentlemen
,
"
said
Egerton
,
now
taking
upon
himself
the
duties
of
a
host
:
"
and
excuse
me
for
a
few
minutes
while
I
ascertain
that
every
thing
necessary
for
your
entertainment
has
been
provided
.
"
Egerton
accordingly
left
the
room
,
beckoning
Abraham
Squiggs
to
follow
him
.
The
gardener
conducted
his
temporary
master
to
the
kitchen
,
where
Mrs.
Squiggs
was
busily
engaged
in
unpacking
the
hampers
of
wine
and
cold
provisions
sent
on
the
preceding
day
.
She
was
as
like
her
husband
as
if
she
had
been
his
sister
instead
of
his
wife
;
and
therefore
the
reader
is
prepared
to
hear
that
she
was
a
little
,
shrivelled
,
dirty
old
woman
,
possessing
a
face
and
hands
apparently
at
open
war
with
soap
and
water
.
She
was
,
however
,
very
good-natured
,
and
seemed
quite
at
home
in
the
occupation
to
which
her
attention
was
at
present
directed
.
Being
unaware
of
the
approach
of
her
husband
and
a
stranger
,
she
continued
aloud
the
soliloquy
in
which
she
was
engaged
previous
to
their
entrance
.
"
Fine
turkey
,
stuffed
with
black
things
—
truffles
I
've
heerd
'
em
called
by
the
cooks
that
used
to
be
here
,
"
said
the
old
lady
,
in
a
voice
that
seemed
as
if
it
sounded
through
a
cracked
speaking-trumpet
;
"
glorious
ham
—
four
cold
chicken
—
and
tongues
,
reg'lar
picturs
!
Two
could
pies
—
weal
and
ham
most
likely
—
leastways
,
unless
one
's
beef
.
Six
lobsters
—
flask
of
ile
—
and
bottle
of
winegar
.
But
what
's
this
heavy
feller
?
Cold
round
of
biled
beef
;
—
and
here
's
a
blessed
quarter
of
lamb
.
They
'll
want
mint-sarse
for
that
.
What
next
?
Four
great
German
sassages
—
excellent
eating
,
I
'll
bet
a
penny
!
No
end
of
bread
—
half
a
Cheshire
cheese
—
whole
Stilton
—
and
that
's
all
in
this
basket
.
"
Mrs.
Squiggs
had
just
finished
the
pleasing
task
of
ranging
all
these
succulent
edibles
upon
the
dresser
,
when
she
turned
round
and
beheld
her
husband
,
accompanied
by
a
stranger
,
who
was
forthwith
introduced
as
Mr.
Egerton
,
the
temporary
master
of
the
Hall
.
The
old
lady
bobbed
down
and
up
again
—
thereby
meaning
a
curtsey
;
for
the
natural
good
nature
of
her
disposition
was
materially
enhanced
by
the
pleasing
prospect
of
coming
in
for
the
remainder
of
the
splendid
collation
which
she
had
just
been
admiring
.
Egerton
and
the
gardener
hastened
to
unpack
the
wine
;
and
when
this
task
was
accomplished
,
the
young
man
addressed
the
old
one
in
these
terms
:
—
"
My
friend
Lord
Dunstable
gave
you
five
pounds
the
other
day
as
a
slight
recompense
for
your
civility
in
allowing
me
the
use
of
the
Hall
on
this
occasion
.
Here
is
another
five-pound
note
for
you
;
but
pray
be
upon
your
guard
should
either
of
the
ladies
take
it
into
their
heads
to
question
you
concerning
my
right
to
this
property
.
I
,
however
,
perceive
that
you
are
well
disposed
to
aid
me
in
this
little
innocent
cheat
upon
my
relations
;
and
I
really
give
you
great
credit
for
the
ghost-story
which
you
told
to
get
rid
of
them
all
as
soon
as
possible
.
"
"
Thank'ee
kindly
for
the
money
,
sir
,
"
exclaimed
the
gardener
;
"
but
as
I
'm
a
living
sinner
which
hopes
to
be
saved
,
every
word
I
said
up
stairs
about
the
sperret
is
as
true
as
the
Gospel
.
"
"
Ridiculous
!
"
cried
Egerton
:
"
you
cannot
seriously
believe
in
such
a
thing
?
Who
ever
heard
of
ghosts
in
these
times
?
"
"
Well
,
sir
,
"
said
the
man
,
in
a
solemn
tone
,
"
do
n't
let
's
talk
any
more
about
it
—
'
cos
it
might
bring
bad
