were,
upon
his
sight
on
the
previous
evening
.
He
was
immediately
conducted
to
the
sick-room
,
where
Ellen
was
sitting
alone
by
her
father
's
bed-side
.
The
old
man
slept
.
Ellen
rose
and
tripped
lightly
to
meet
him
,
a
smile
upon
her
charming
,
though
pale
and
somewhat
careworn
countenance
.
Laying
her
hand
gently
upon
his
,
she
whispered
,
"
He
will
recover
!
Mr.
Wentworth
assures
me
that
he
will
recover
!
"
"
Most
sincerely
do
I
congratulate
you
upon
this
happy
change
,
"
said
Reginald
.
"
I
can
well
comprehend
the
feelings
of
an
affectionate
daughter
who
is
allowed
to
hope
that
her
parent
may
be
restored
to
her
.
"
"
Yes
,
sir
—
and
so
good
a
father
as
mine
!
"
added
Ellen
.
"
But
it
was
all
my
fault
—
—
"
Then
,
suddenly
checking
herself
,
she
cast
down
her
eyes
,
and
blushed
deeply
.
"
Your
fault
,
Miss
Monroe
?
"
repeated
the
rector
,
inspired
with
the
most
lively
curiosity
to
penetrate
the
mystery
of
that
self-accusation
which
he
had
now
heard
for
the
second
time
:
"
I
cannot
believe
that
any
fault
of
yours
—
you
whom
I
found
hanging
over
your
beloved
father
—
—
"
"
Let
us
speak
no
more
upon
that
subject
,
"
interrupted
Ellen
,
vexed
with
herself
for
having
so
unguardedly
said
what
she
had
relative
to
the
primal
cause
of
her
father
's
dangerous
illness
.
"
He
will
recover
—
something
tells
me
that
he
will
recover
;
and
then
—
oh
!
how
I
will
cherish
him
—
how
I
will
exert
myself
to
make
the
remainder
of
his
days
happy
!
"
Her
countenance
became
flushed
as
she
spoke
;
and
Reginald
's
glances
were
fixed
,
by
a
species
of
invincible
fascination
,
upon
the
beautiful
being
in
whose
presence
he
stood
.
He
felt
at
that
moment
that
he
could
sacrifice
every
thing
for
her
love
.
The
surgeon
and
Richard
Markham
now
entered
the
apartment
;
and
Reginald
received
the
thanks
of
our
young
hero
for
the
attention
which
he
had
shown
to
the
old
man
whose
life
had
ceased
to
be
despaired
of
.
After
a
somewhat
protracted
visit
,
the
rector
took
his
leave
.
But
throughout
that
day
Ellen
alone
occupied
all
his
thoughts
.
What
fault
of
hers
could
have
thrown
her
father
upon
a
bed
of
sickness
,
whose
only
termination
was
at
one
time
anticipated
to
be
in
death
?
what
could
have
been
the
conduct
of
so
fond
a
daughter
to
have
produced
such
terrible
results
?
Had
she
strayed
from
the
path
of
virtue
?
This
was
the
only
feasible
solution
of
such
a
mystery
.
Then
a
terrible
pang
of
jealousy
shot
through
his
breast
.
And
why
should
he
be
jealous
?
What
was
that
young
girl
to
him
?
He
was
jealous
,
because
his
ardent
passions
instinctively
attracted
him
towards
that
beautiful
creature
;
—
and
she
was
every
thing
to
him
,
because
she
was
so
beautiful
,
and
because
he
desired
her
!
Yes
—
a
new
flame
now
burnt
in
his
heart
—
a
flame
as
violent
,
as
relentless
,
as
fierce
,
as
that
which
had
already
made
him
the
slave
of
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
.
But
was
he
this
time
to
become
a
slave
or
a
victim
?
He
sat
down
and
reasoned
with
himself
.
He
endeavoured
to
crush
the
feelings
of
licentiousness
which
had
been
re-awakened
in
his
heart
.
But
as
vainly
might
he
have
endeavoured
to
lull
the
Maelstroom
with
a
breath
,
or
to
subdue
the
rage
of
Vesuvius
with
a
drop
of
water
!
Such
was
his
frame
of
mind
,
when
an
old
woman
sought
his
presence
in
the
evening
.
He
had
made
it
a
rule
,
throughout
his
career
,
never
to
be
difficult
of
access
to
those
who
wished
to
see
him
;
and
now
that
he
felt
the
fabric
of
his
fair
fame
to
be
tottering
upon
the
verge
of
a
precipice
,
he
was
not
inclined
to
deviate
from
any
of
those
outward
forms
which
had
aided
in
the
consecration
of
his
renown
.
He
accordingly
ordered
his
house
keeper
to
admit
the
old
woman
to
his
presence
.
The
instant
a
hag
,
with
a
horribly
wrinkled
countenance
,
entered
his
study
,
he
started
—
for
that
repulsive
face
was
not
altogether
unknown
to
him
.
Then
,
in
another
moment
,
he
remembered
that
he
had
once
seen
her
standing
at
the
door
of
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
's
abode
in
Tavistock
Square
;
and
that
the
glance
which
she
had
thrown
upon
him
,
on
that
occasion
had
for
an
instant
struck
him
with
sinister
foreboding
.
The
old
woman
seated
herself
,
and
,
without
any
preamble
,
said
:
"
A
man
of
great
learning
like
you
,
reverend
sir
,
cannot
be
otherwise
than
a
man
of
great
taste
.
This
conviction
has
emboldened
me
to
call
upon
you
in
preference
to
any
other
,
relative
to
a
most
perfect
work
of
art
which
fortune
has
thrown
in
my
way
.
"
Reginald
gazed
upon
the
old
woman
in
speechless
astonishment
:
her
mysterious
—
indeed
,
incomprehensible
language
,
induced
him
to
believe
that
she
was
some
unfortunate
creature
bereaved
of
her
right
senses
.
"
Listen
to
me
for
a
few
minutes
,
reverend
sir
,
"
continued
the
hag
,
"
and
I
will
explain
my
meaning
to
you
.
Your
charity
,
as
well
as
your
taste
,
is
about
to
be
appealed
to
.
"
"
Speak
,
"
said
the
clergyman
,
somewhat
impatiently
,
for
he
longed
to
be
left
alone
again
with
his
reflections
,
which
had
just
assumed
a
most
voluptuous
complexion
when
his
privacy
was
thus
intruded
upon
.
"
I
will
not
detain
you
long
—
I
will
not
detain
you
long
,
"
cried
the
old
hag
.
"
You
must
know
,
reverend
sir
,
that
a
foreign
sculptor
—
a
poor
Italian
—
came
some
few
months
ago
to
lodge
at
my
humble
dwelling
.
He
was
in
the
deepest
distress
,
and
had
not
the
means
to
procure
either
marble
or
tools
.
I
am
very
poor
—
very
poor
,
myself
,
sir
;
but
I
could
not
see
a
fellow-creature
starving
.
I
bought
him
marble
—
and
I
bought
him
tools
.
He
went
to
work
,
toiling
day
and
night
almost
unweariedly
;
and
a
week
ago
he
put
the
finishing
stroke
to
the
statue
of
a
nymph
.
His
art
has
enabled
him
,
by
means
of
colour
,
to
give
a
life-like
appearance
to
that
admirable
work
of
art
;
so
that
as
you
contemplate
it
,
it
seems
to
you
as
if
the
eyes
were
animated
,
the
lips
breathed
,
and
the
bosom
rose
and
sank
with
respiration
.
"
"
And
your
artist
is
,
no
doubt
,
anxious
to
dispose
of
his
statue
?
"
said
the
rector
.
"
Precisely
so
,
"
answered
the
hag
.
"
I
do
not
profess
to
be
a
judge
myself
;
but
I
can
speak
of
the
effect
which
it
produced
upon
me
.
When
I
saw
it
finished
—
standing
upon
its
pedestal
—
I
was
about
to
address
it
as
a
living
being
.
"
"
The
effect
must
,
then
,
be
indeed
striking
,
"
observed
Reginald
,
with
the
voluptuous
train
of
whose
ideas
this
picture
was
well
adapted
to
associate
.
"
Were
you
to
judge
for
yourself
,
reverend
sir
,
"
said
the
old
hag
,
"
you
would
find
that
I
have
not
overrated
the
perfection
of
this
masterpiece
.
The
sculptor
demands
but
a
small
price
for
his
statue
:
it
would
be
a
charity
were
you
to
purchase
it
yourself
,
or
recommend
one
of
your
friends
to
do
so
.
"
"
When
and
where
could
I
see
this
matchless
work
of
art
?
"
asked
Reginald
,
whose
curiosity
was
now
strangely
excited
.
"
At
my
own
humble
dwelling
in
Golden
Lane
is
this
statue
concealed
,
"
replied
the
horrible
old
hag
;
"
and
no
mortal
eyes
,
save
the
sculptor
's
and
mine
own
,
have
yet
glanced
upon
it
.
If
you
will
accompany
me
now
,
you
can
inspect
it
without
delay
.
"
Reginald
referred
to
his
watch
,
and
found
that
it
was
past
nine
o'clock
.
The
evening
was
pitch
dark
;
and
he
did
not
,
therefore
,
dread
being
seen
in
the
company
of
that
hideous
old
woman
.
Besides
,
even
if
he
were
—
was
he
not
often
summoned
at
all
hours
to
attend
upon
the
last
moments
of
some
dying
sinner
?
"
I
will
proceed
with
you
at
once
to
your
abode
,
"
said
the
rector
,
after
a
few
moments
'
hesitation
.
"
And
you
will
do
well
,
"
answered
the
hag
;
"
for
I
can
promise
you
a
fine
treat
in
what
you
are
about
to
see
.
"
While
the
rector
stepped
aside
to
put
on
his
cloak
and
hat
,
a
strange
smile
curled
the
lips
of
the
wrinkled
harridan
;
but
as
Reginald
again
turned
towards
her
,
her
countenance
instantly
resumed
its
wonted
composure
.
They
then
went
out
together
.
CHAPTER
CXXXI
.
THE
STATUE
.
THE
old
woman
led
the
way
at
a
rapid
pace
towards
Golden
Lane
,
the
rector
following
her
at
a
little
distance
.
Although
there
was
nothing
improbable
in
the
tale
which
the
hag
had
told
him
,
and
nothing
improper
in
the
step
which
he
was
taking
,
—
nevertheless
he
experienced
a
vague
and
indefinable
idea
of
doing
wrong
.
Something
told
him
that
he
ought
to
retreat
;
and
at
the
same
time
a
superior
influence
urged
him
onward
.
And
,
therefore
,
he
followed
the
old
woman
.
The
wrinkled
creature
pursued
her
way
,
and
at
length
turned
into
the
dark
and
dirty
court
with
which
the
reader
is
already
well
acquainted
.
"
This
is
a
strange
place
,
you
will
say
,
"
observed
the
old
woman
,
as
she
pushed
open
the
door
of
one
of
the
houses
in
that
court
,
—
"
this
is
a
strange
place
to
contain
such
a
treasure
.
"
"
And
for
that
reason
the
treasure
should
not
long
be
allowed
to
remain
here
,
"
answered
the
clergyman
.
The
hag
chuckled
:
—
the
sound
was
between
a
hollow
laugh
and
a
death-rattle
;
and
it
seemed
horrible
to
the
ears
of
Reginald
Tracy
.
The
old
woman
then
slowly
ascended
the
narrow
and
dark
staircase
,
until
she
reached
the
landing
,
where
she
drew
a
key
from
her
pocket
,
and
leisurely
applied
it
to
the
lock
of
a
door
.
She
fumbled
about
so
long
with
the
key
,
muttering
to
herself
all
the
while
,
that
Reginald
thought
she
would
never
open
the
door
,
and
he
offered
to
assist
her
.
But
at
that
moment
the
key
turned
in
the
lock
,
and
the
door
was
slowly
opened
.
The
hag
beckoned
the
rector
to
follow
her
;
and
he
found
himself
in
a
tolerably
large
room
,
decently
furnished
,
and
with
an
excellent
fire
burning
in
the
grate
.
There
were
no
candles
lighted
;
nor
did
the
hag
offer
to
provide
any
;
—
but
the
contents
of
the
apartment
were
plainly
visible
by
means
of
the
strong
glare
of
the
fire
.
Heavy
curtains
of
a
dark
colour
covered
the
windows
:
the
floor
was
carpeted
;
the
chairs
and
tables
were
of
plain
but
solid
material
;
and
a
large
mirror
stood
over
the
mantel
.
At
the
farther
end
of
the
room
was
a
second
door
,
which
was
now
closed
,
but
evidently
communicated
with
an
inner
chamber
.
"
I
gave
the
poor
artist
the
best
rooms
in
my
house
,
"
observed
the
hag
,
as
she
placed
a
chair
near
the
fire
for
the
rector
.
"
The
statue
stands
in
the
adjoining
chamber
;
you
can
inspect
it
at
once
,
while
I
—
—
"
She
mumbled
the
remainder
of
the
sentence
in
such
a
way
that
it
was
wholly
unintelligible
to
the
rector
,
and
then
left
the
room
.
For
a
few
minutes
Reginald
stood
before
the
fire
,
uncertain
what
course
to
pursue
.
He
now
began
to
think
that
the
entire
proceeding
was
somewhat
extraordinary
;
and
the
singular
manner
in
which
the
old
hag
had
left
him
,
inspired
him
with
a
feeling
not
entirely
free
from
alarm
.
But
for
what
purpose
could
he
have
been
inveigled
thither
,
if
it
were
not
really
to
behold
the
marvellous
statue
?
and
,
perhaps
,
after
,
all
,
the
old
woman
had
only
left
him
in
order
to
fetch
the
candles
or
to
summon
the
artist
?
Moreover
,
had
she
not
informed
him
that
the
statue
was
in
the
next
room
,
and
that
he
might
inspect
it
at
once
?
It
was
therefore
easy
to
satisfy
himself
whether
he
had
been
deceived
or
not
.
Ashamed
of
his
transient
fears
,
he
threw
off
his
hat
and
cloak
,
and
advanced
towards
the
door
communicating
with
the
inner
chamber
.
Even
then
he
hesitated
for
a
minute
as
his
fingers
grasped
the
handle
;
but
,
at
length
,
he
boldly
entered
the
room
.
The
moment
the
door
was
thrown
open
,
he
perceived
by
the
light
of
the
fire
which
burned
in
the
front
apartment
,
that
the
inner
one
was
a
small
and
comfortably
fitted-up
bed-chamber
.
It
was
involved
in
a
more
than
semi-obscurity
;
but
not
to
such
an
extent
as
to
conceal
from
Reginald
Tracy
's
penetrating
glance
the
semblance
of
a
female
form
standing
upon
a
low
pedestal
in
the
most
remote
corner
of
the
room
.
"
I
am
not
then
deceived
!
"
he
exclaimed
aloud
,
as
he
advanced
nearer
towards
the
statue
.
By
this
time
his
eyes
had
become
accustomed
to
the
obscurity
of
the
chamber
,
into
which
the
glimmer
of
the
fire
threw
a
faint
but
mellowed
light
.
Still
,
in
somewhat
bold
relief
,
against
the
dark
wall
,
stood
the
object
of
his
interest
,
—
seeming
a
beautiful
model
of
a
female
form
,
the
colouring
of
which
was
that
of
life
.
It
was
naked
to
the
middle
;
the
arms
were
gracefully
rounded
;
and
one
hand
sustained
the
falling
drapery
which
,
being
also
coloured
,
produced
upon
the
mind
of
the
beholder
the
effect
of
real
garments
.
Lost
in
wonder
at
the
success
with
which
the
sculptor
had
performed
his
work
,
—
and
experiencing
feelings
of
a
soft
and
voluptuous
nature
,
—
Reginald
drew
closer
to
the
statue
.
At
that
moment
the
light
of
the
fire
played
upon
its
countenance
;
and
it
seemed
to
him
as
if
the
lips
moved
with
a
faint
smile
.
Then
,
how
was
his
surprise
increased
,
when
the
conviction
flashed
to
his
mind
that
the
face
he
was
gazing
upon
was
well
known
to
him
!
"
O
Cecilia
,
Cecilia
!
"
he
ejaculated
aloud
:
"
hast
thou
sent
thy
statue
hither
to
compel
me
to
fall
at
its
feet
and
worship
the
senseless
stone
,
while
thou
—
the
sweet
original
—
art
elsewhere
,
speculating
perhaps
upon
the
emotions
which
this
phantasmagorian
sport
was
calculated
to
conjure
up
within
me
!
Ah
!
Cecilia
,
if
thou
wast
resolved
to
subdue
me
once
more
—
if
thou
couldst
not
rest
until
I
became
thy
slave
again
,
—
oh
!
why
not
have
invited
me
to
meet
thine
own
sweet
self
,
instead
of
this
speechless
,
motionless
,
passionless
image
,
—
a
counterpart
of
thee
only
in
external
loveliness
!
Yes
—
there
it
is
perfect
:
—
the
hair
—
the
brow
—
the
eyes
—
the
mouth
—
—
Heavens
!
those
lips
seem
to
smile
once
more
;
those
eyes
sparkle
with
real
fire
!
Cecilia
—
Cecilia
—
"
And
Reginald
Tracy
was
afraid
—
he
scarcely
knew
wherefore
:
the
entire
adventure
of
the
evening
appeared
to
be
a
dream
.
"
Yes
—
yes
!
"
he
suddenly
exclaimed
,
after
having
steadfastly
contemplated
the
form
before
him
for
some
moments
,
—
standing
at
a
distance
of
only
three
or
four
paces
,
—
afraid
to
advance
nearer
,
unwilling
to
retreat
altogether
,
—
"
yes
!
"
he
exclaimed
,
"
there
is
something
more
than
mere
senseless
marble
here
!
The
eyes
shoot
fire
—
the
lips
smile
—
the
bosom
heaves
—
—
Oh
!
Cecilia
—
Cecilia
,
it
is
yourself
!
"
As
he
spoke
he
rushed
forward
:
the
statue
burst
from
chill
marble
into
warmth
and
life
;
—
it
was
indeed
the
beauteous
but
wily
Cecilia
—
who
returned
his
embrace
and
hung
around
his
neck
;
—
and
the
rector
was
again
subdued
—
again
enslaved
!
"
And
you
will
pardon
me
for
the
little
stratagem
which
I
adopted
to
bring
you
back
to
my
arms
?
"
said
Cecilia
.
"
How
can
I
do
otherwise
than
pardon
you
?
"
murmured
the
rector
,
whose
licentious
soul
was
occupied
only
with
gross
delights
,
and
who
would
at
that
moment
have
dared
exposure
and
disgrace
rather
than
tear
himself
away
from
the
syren
on
whose
bosom
his
head
was
pillowed
.
"
Oh
!
Cecilia
,
I
have
had
a
violent
struggle
with
my
feelings
;
but
I
shall
now
contend
against
them
no
more
.
No
!
from
this
instant
I
abandon
all
hope
of
empire
—
all
wish
for
dominion
over
myself
:
I
yield
myself
up
to
the
pleasures
of
love
and
to
thee
!
Sweet
Cecilia
,
thou
hast
taught
me
how
ineffable
is
the
bliss
which
mortals
may
taste
in
this
world
;
—
and
after
all
,
the
sure
present
is
preferable
to
the
uncertain
future
!
"
"
Reginald
—
beloved
Reginald
,
didst
thou
imagine
that
I
would
resign
thee
so
easily
as
thou
wouldst
have
resigned
me
!
"
said
Lady
Cecilia
.
"
Oh
!
you
know
not
the
heart
of
woman
!
There
were
but
two
alternatives
for
me
—
to
bring
you
back
,
or
to
avenge
myself
on
you
.
"
"
Avenge
yourself
!
"
exclaimed
Reginald
,
starting
.
"
Yes
,
"
replied
the
wily
creature
,
purposely
adopting
this
discourse
in
order
to
enchain
her
lover
in
future
;
"
a
woman
who
fondly
—
madly
loves
,
as
I
love
,
Reginald
—
will
not
so
willingly
part
with
the
object
of
her
affection
!
What
,
—
could
you
suppose
that
I
would
surrender
myself
to
you
one
day
to
be
abandoned
the
next
?
No
—
never
,
never
would
I
permit
myself
to
be
made
the
victim
of
a
caprice
!
You
wrote
to
me
to
implore
me
not
to
seek
to
see
you
again
:
I
requested
one
last
interview
—
you
refused
me
my
demand
!
Then
I
smarted
sorely
;
but
I
said
to
myself
,
'
He
loves
me
'
;
and
I
added
,
'
I
love
him
also
.
'
I
accordingly
resolved
to
attempt
one
grand
effort
to
draw
the
anchorite
from
his
cell
.
Chance
threw
in
my
way
the
old
woman
whom
I
sent
to
you
,
and
in
whose
house
we
now
are
—
—
"
"
And
what
chance
was
that
?
"
demanded
Reginald
,
who
entertained
a
strong
and
yet
unaccountable
aversion
for
that
old
hag
.
"
I
will
tell
you
all
,
dearest
Reginald
,
"
answered
Cecilia
.
"
The
evening
after
I
received
your
cruel
note
desiring
that
all
might
end
between
us
,
I
was
going
out
with
the
intention
of
calling
upon
you
—
yes
,
of
throwing
myself
at
your
feet
—
—
"
"
Imprudent
Cecilia
!
"
murmured
the
rector
,
imprinting
a
kiss
upon
her
lips
.
"
Yes
—
I
was
on
the
point
of
leaving
my
own
abode
to
seek
yours
,
"
continued
Cecilia
,
"
when
I
heard
a
hoarse
and
ominous
voice
muttering
behind
me
.
I
looked
round
,
and
perceived
that
old
wretch
.
She
smiled
—
or
rather
,
leered
significantly
,
and
said
,
'
Happy
,
happy
lady
—
to
enjoy
the
rector
of
Saint
David
's
love
!
'
"
"
She
said
that
!
"
cried
Reginald
.
"
How
could
she
divine
what
passed
between
us
?
"
"
She
has
since
explained
to
me
how
she
one
evening
saw
you
leave
my
house
—
with
a
certain
wildness
in
your
manner
—
—
"
"
True
!
true
!
"
ejaculated
the
rector
;
"
and
the
mind
of
the
old
woman
being
perhaps
naturally
evil
,
she
conceived
evil
of
others
on
the
faintest
suspicion
.
"
"
Exactly
,
"
answered
Cecilia
.
"
When
she
accosted
me
in
that
manner
,
I
was
so
wretched
,
so
miserable
at
the
idea
of
being
separated
from
you
—
—
"
"
Sweetest
creature
!
I
was
,
indeed
,
ungrateful
in
return
for
so
much
love
!
"
"
I
was
so
unhappy
that
I
was
even
glad
to
speak
of
thee
to
such
a
wretch
as
that
old
creature
.
Then
she
uttered
words
of
consolation
,
and
we
talked
together
—
talked
for
an
hour
in
the
cold
,
damp
street
—
—
"
"
Poor
Cecilia
!
"
murmured
Reginald
.
"
What
would
I
not
dare
for
you
?
"
said
the
wily
woman
,
pressing
him
warmly
in
her
snowy
arms
.
"
And
now
you
can
guess
the
rest
—
how
the
old
woman
proposed
that
some
stratagem
should
be
invented
to
bring
the
recreant
back
to
my
arms
—
—
"
"
And
you
have
thus
blindly
confided
yourself
—
not
only
your
secret
,
but
mine
also
—
to
a
perfect
stranger
?
O
,
Cecilia
—
was
this
prudent
?
"
exclaimed
Reginald
in
alarm
.
"
Does
love
know
prudence
?
"
asked
the
lady
.
"
But
fear
not
:
gold
will
seal
the
lips
of
our
confidant
;
and
better
is
it
for
her
obscure
dwelling
to
be
the
scene
of
our
loves
than
for
our
caresses
to
be
exchanged
at
my
abode
,
where
the
intrusion
of
a
servant
at
any
moment
—
—
"
"
True
!
"
interrupted
Reginald
.
"
And
yet
upon
what
a
fearful
abyss
does
my
reputation
now
seem
to
tremble
!
"
"
Yours
!
"
ejaculated
Lady
Cecilia
,
almost
scornfully
,
—
for
she
was
resolved
to
put
an
end
to
these
repinings
on
the
part
of
her
lover
:
"
Oh
!
can
you
be
so
selfish
as
to
think
only
of
yourself
?
Should
you
be
detected
,
you
are
ruined
only
in
your
profession
,
and
not
as
a
man
—
for
with
the
man
there
is
no
dishonour
in
illicit
love
;
—
but
if
I
be
detected
,
am
I
not
lost
as
a
wife
,
and
as
a
woman
?
Will
not
all
the
wrath
of
an
avenging
society
light
upon
me
?
For
it
is
upon
us
—
upon
poor
woman
—
that
contumely
,
and
shame
,
and
disgrace
fall
!
"
"
Forgive
me
,
dearest
Cecilia
,
"
murmured
the
rector
,
clasping
the
frail
beauty
in
his
arms
.
"
I
have
been
unjust
to
you
—
I
have
thought
only
of
myself
,
unmindful
of
the
immense
sacrifice
that
is
made
by
thee
!
But
,
forgive
me
,
I
say
—
and
never
again
shall
the
expression
of
my
cowardly
alarms
—
my
egotistical
terrors
impair
our
happiness
!
I
love
you
—
I
love
you
,
my
Cecilia
:
Oh
!
heaven
knows
how
sincerely
—
how
madly
I
love
you
!
"
"
And
you
will
love
me
always
?
"
whispered
Cecilia
.
"
Always
!
for
ever
—
and
ever
!
"
answered
the
rector
,
now
intoxicated
—
delirious
with
joy
,
and
reckless
of
all
consequences
.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
The
barrier
was
now
completely
broken
down
;
and
the
rector
gave
way
to
the
violence
of
the
passion
which
hurried
him
along
.
That
man
,
so
full
of
vigour
,
and
in
the
prime
of
his
physical
strength
,
abandoned
himself
without
restraint
to
the
fury
of
those
desires
which
burnt
the
more
madly
—
the
more
wildly
,
from
having
been
so
long
pent-up
.
Day
after
day
did
he
meet
his
guilty
paramour
;
and
on
each
occasion
did
he
reflect
less
upon
the
necessity
of
caution
.
He
passed
hours
and
hours
together
with
her
at
her
abode
;
and
at
length
he
ventured
to
receive
her
at
his
own
residence
,
when
his
housekeeper
had
retired
to
rest
.
But
he
did
not
neglect
his
professional
duties
on
the
Sabbath
;
—
and
he
now
became
an
accomplished
hypocrite
.
He
ascended
the
pulpit
as
usual
,
and
charmed
thousands
with
his
discourse
as
heretofore
.
Indeed
his
eloquence
improved
,
for
the
simulated
earnestness
which
displaced
the
tone
of
heart-felt
conviction
that
he
had
once
experienced
,
seemed
more
impassioned
,
and
was
more
impressive
than
the
natural
ebullition
of
his
feelings
.
Thus
as
he
progressed
in
the
ways
of
vice
,
his
reputation
increased
in
sanctity
.
But
the
moment
he
escaped
from
the
duties
of
his
profession
,
he
flew
to
the
arms
of
her
who
had
seduced
him
from
his
career
of
purity
;
and
so
infatuated
was
he
with
her
who
had
been
his
tutoress
in
the
ways
of
amorous
pleasure
,
that
he
joyfully
placed
his
purse
at
the
disposal
of
her
extravagance
.
Thus
was
Lady
Cecilia
triumphant
in
all
points
with
regard
to
the
once
immaculate
,
but
now
sensual
and
voluptuous
rector
of
Saint
David
's
.
CHAPTER
CXXXII
.
AN
OLD
FRIEND
.
LET
us
now
return
to
the
Rattlesnake
,
whom
we
left
in
the
act
of
flying
from
the
pursuit
which
she
knew
would
be
undertaken
in
respect
to
her
by
the
Resurrection
Man
.
Having
bade
farewell
to
Mrs.
Chichester
at
Cambridge
Heath
,
Margaret
Flathers
,
with
her
well-filled
bag
under
her
arm
,
hastened
along
the
road
leading
to
Hackney
.
She
cared
not
which
direction
she
pursued
,
provided
she
placed
a
considerable
distance
between
herself
and
London
;
for
so
terrible
was
the
dread
under
which
she
laboured
from
her
knowledge
of
the
desperate
character
and
profound
cunning
of
the
Resurrection
Man
,
that
she
conceived
it
to
be
impossible
for
her
to
be
safe
so
long
as
she
was
within
even
a
wide
circuit
of
the
great
metropolis
.
Having
passed
through
Hackney
,
she
speedily
left
the
main
road
,
and
struck
at
random
across
the
fields
,
careful
only
to
pursue
a
course
which
she
felt
convinced
must
remove
her
farther
and
further
from
London
.
Unweariedly
for
two
long
hours
did
she
hurry
on
her
way
,
until
she
fell
,
overcome
with
weariness
,
beneath
a
large
tree
,
whose
gigantic
leafless
boughs
creaked
ominously
in
the
darkness
over
her
head
.
The
night
was
fearfully
cold
—
the
grass
was
damp
—
and
the
wind
moaned
gloomily
through
the
trees
.
The
Rattlesnake
was
hungry
and
thirsty
;
but
she
had
not
food
nor
drink
to
satisfy
the
cravings
of
nature
.
In
that
solitude
,
—
without
a
light
gleaming
through
the
obscurity
as
a
beacon
of
hospitality
,
—
she
felt
that
her
gold
was
then
and
there
no
better
to
her
than
the
cold
soil
upon
which
she
rested
her
weary
limbs
.
At
length
,
worn
out
by
fatigue
and
want
,
she
fell
asleep
.
When
she
awoke
the
sun
was
shining
.
But
where
was
she
?
Close
at
hand
burnt
a
blazing
fire
,
fed
with
wood
and
turf
,
and
sending
up
a
dense
smoke
into
the
fine
frosty
air
.
To
an
iron
rod
,
fastened
horizontally
to
two
upright
stakes
,
was
suspended
a
huge
caldron
,
the
bubbling
of
which
reached
her
ears
,
and
the
savour
of
whose
contents
was
wafted
most
agreeably
to
her
nostrils
.
Grouped
around
the
fire
,
and
anxiously
watching
the
culinary
process
,
were
two
women
,
four
men
,
and
a
boy
.
Two
of
the
men
were
not
characterised
by
that
swarthy
complexion
and
those
black
elf-locks
which
distinguished
their
two
male
companions
,
the
women
,
and
the
boy
.
Of
the
two
man
thus
especially
alluded
to
,
as
not
being
of
the
gipsy
race
,
to
which
their
companions
evidently
belonged
,
—
the
first
was
about
forty
years
of
age
and
possessed
a
herculean
form
.
His
countenance
was
weather-beaten
and
indicated
the
endurance
of
great
hardship
:
indeed
,
he
had
been
abroad
to
far-off
climes
,
and
had
gone
through
privations
of
an
almost
incredible
nature
.
He
was
,
however
,
taciturn
and
reserved
,
and
ever
seemed
brooding
upon
some
secret
grief
or
absorbing
sentiment
of
a
darker
nature
:
nevertheless
,
the
little
he
had
chosen
to
tell
his
present
companions
relative
to
his
former
history
had
obtained
for
him
the
name
of
the
Traveller
;
and
by
no
other
appellation
was
he
known
amongst
them
.
The
other
man
,
whose
complexion
proclaimed
him
not
to
be
of
the
Egyptian
race
,
was
apparently
verging
towards
thirty
;
and
,
although
slight
,
he
was
well-built
and
uncommonly
active
.
His
name
will
transpire
presently
.
The
elder
of
the
two
male
gipsies
was
a
man
of
nearly
eighty
years
of
age
.
His
hair
was
as
white
as
driven
snow
;
and
his
bald
head
was
protected
from
the
cold
wind
by
only
a
thin
faded
green
silk
skull-cap
.
His
beard
,
as
white
as
his
hair
,
hung
down
over
his
breast
,
and
formed
a
strange
contrast
with
his
swarthy
countenance
and
piercing
black
eyes
,
the
fires
of
which
were
not
dimmed
with
age
.
This
individual
was
the
King
of
the
Gipsies
,
and
rejoiced
in
the
assumed
name
of
Zingary
.
The
other
male
gipsy
was
the
King
's
son
,
and
was
a
fine
tall
handsome
fellow
of
about
thirty-five
,
dark
as
a
Spaniard
,
and
with
fine
Roman
features
.
The
two
women
were
also
very
discrepant
in
respect
to
age
:
one
was
nearly
sixty
,
and
was
the
Queen
of
the
Gipsies
,
her
assumed
name
being
Aischa
:
the
other
was
a
pretty
brunette
,
with
fine
laughing
eyes
and
brilliant
teeth
,
and
was
the
wife
of
Morcar
,
the
King
's
son
.
Her
name
was
Eva
;
and
she
was
the
mother
of
the
boy
before
alluded
to
,
and
who
was
between
eight
and
nine
years
old
.
We
have
thought
it
as
well
to
state
all
these
particulars
at
once
in
order
to
avoid
confusion
;
although
the
Rattlesnake
was
not
immediately
aware
of
them
.
When
the
Rattlesnake
awoke
up
and
surveyed
this
strange
groups
,
she
instinctively
felt
for
her
bag
of
gold
;
and
a
scream
of
dismay
escaped
her
lips
when
she
perceived
that
it
was
gone
.
A
loud
burst
of
laughter
emanated
from
the
gipsies
,
—
for
by
this
general
name
we
shall
denominate
the
band
,
although
two
members
of
it
were
not
of
the
race
;
—
and
the
fair-complexioned
man
,
whose
name
we
have
not
yet
stated
,
exclaimed
,
"
Do
n't
alarm
yourself
,
my
dear
young
woman
:
we
have
banked
the
rag
for
fear
that
a
buzman
[
87
]
should
have
nabbed
you
with
it
in
your
possession
.
But
you
shall
have
your
reg'lars
out
of
it
,
mind
,
whenever
you
want
to
pursue
your
way
.
Only
,
as
you
've
happened
to
trespass
upon
the
dominions
of
his
high
mightiness
King
Zingary
,
you
must
pay
toll
.
"
While
this
individual
was
speaking
,
the
Rattlesnake
,
who
had
first
been
struck
by
the
tone
of
his
voice
,
considered
him
with
great
attention
,
and
seemed
to
forget
the
loss
she
had
sustained
in
the
interest
with
which
she
contemplated
the
person
addressing
her
.
At
length
,
when
he
had
ceased
to
speak
,
she
started
from
the
ground
,
advanced
towards
him
,
and
exclaimed
in
an
excited
tone
,
"
Have
not
you
and
I
met
before
?
"
"
Not
unlikely
,
my
dear
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Perhaps
under
the
screw
—
or
in
the
Holy
Land
,
which
I
visit
from
time
to
time
—
or
else
in
the
bottom
of
a
coal-hell
[
90
]
in
the
county
of
Stafford
.
"
"
It
is
!
it
is
!
"
ejaculated
the
Rattlesnake
,
ready
to
spring
towards
him
,
and
throw
her
arms
around
his
neck
.
"
Do
n't
you
remember
me
now
?
"
"
Remember
you
?
"
repeated
the
man
slowly
;
and
he
gazed
upon
the
Rattlesnake
's
countenance
for
some
moments
;
—
then
,
as
if
a
sudden
light
dawned
in
upon
him
,
he
started
from
the
ground
in
his
turn
,
crying
,
"
May
I
never
drink
rum
slim
[
91
]
again
if
it
is
n't
my
old
flame
,
Meg
Flathers
!
"
And
they
flew
into
each
other
's
arms
.
"
Your
Majesty
,
"
said
Skilligalee
,
—
for
this
was
the
individual
whose
name
we
for
a
moment
suppressed
,
—
"
Your
Majesty
,
"
he
exclaimed
,
when
this
embrace
was
over
,
"
allow
me
to
present
to
you
my
wife
,
the
lovely
and
accomplished
Margaret
Flathers
.
"
"
She
is
welcome
,
"
said
Zingary
gravely
.
"
Young
woman
,
sit
down
and
be
welcome
.
We
ask
no
questions
whether
you
are
our
comrade
's
splice
[
92
]
or
not
:
it
is
enough
for
us
that
he
acknowledges
you
as
such
.
Aischa
—
welcome
a
daughter
;
Eva
—
greet
a
sister
.
"
The
old
and
the
young
gipsy
women
advanced
towards
the
Rattlesnake
and
took
each
a
hand
.
"
I
welcome
you
,
daughter
,
"
said
Aischa
.
"
I
greet
you
,
sister
,
"
said
Eva
.
They
then
each
kissed
her
forehead
,
and
resumed
their
seats
close
by
the
fire
.
"
And
I
greet
you
too
,
my
gal
,
"
exclaimed
Morcar
,
thrusting
out
his
large
muscular
hand
,
and
giving
that
of
the
Rattlesnake
a
friendly
squeeze
.
"
And
now
sit
down
,
"
said
the
King
,
"
and
moisten
your
chaffer
.
"
[
93
]
"
Ah
!
do
,
"
cried
Morcar
;
"
for
you
must
want
it
after
sleeping
underneath
that
tree
on
the
top
of
the
hill
,
exposed
to
the
cold
wind
and
damp
.
"
This
observation
led
the
Rattlesnake
to
cast
a
glance
around
her
;
and
she
found
that
the
gipsy-camp
was
at
the
bottom
of
a
deep
valley
,
on
the
brow
of
which
stood
the
tree
to
which
the
King
's
son
pointed
,
and
beneath
which
she
had
sunk
exhausted
on
the
preceding
night
.
Meantime
Skilligalee
had
visited
a
covered
van
,
which
stood
at
a
little
distance
,
and
near
which
an
old
horse
was
quietly
munching
the
contents
of
a
capacious
nose-bag
;
and
in
a
few
moments
he
returned
,
bearing
with
him
a
large
stone
bottle
that
might
have
held
two
gallons
of
liquor
.
From
his
pocket
he
produced
a
small
horn-cup
and
,
pouring
forth
a
bumper
of
rum
,
he
handed
it
to
the
queen
.
"
No
—
there
first
,
"
laconically
said
Aischa
,
pointing
towards
the
Rattlesnake
,
who
was
accordingly
compelled
to
drain
the
horn
before
her
majesty
.
"
Good
—
is
n't
it
?
"
asked
Skilligalee
,
with
a
sly
wink
.
"
I
felt
very
cold
—
and
it
has
revived
me
,
"
replied
the
Rattlesnake
.
"
And
the
contents
of
that
pot
will
put
you
right
altogether
,
"
said
Skilligalee
,
pointing
to
the
caldron
that
was
simmering
over
the
fire
.
"
Beg
pardon
,
majesty
,
"
he
added
,
turning
towards
the
queen
,
and
pouring
forth
another
dram
.
Aischa
drank
the
contents
of
the
horn-cup
without
winking
;
and
Skilligalee
proceeded
to
do
the
honours
of
the
bottle
to
the
rest
of
the
company
.
Having
served
the
king
,
Eva
,
and
Morcar
,
he
approached
the
Traveller
,
who
had
sat
a
silent
spectator
of
all
that
passed
.
"
Now
,
friend
,
your
turn
is
come
.
"
"
Thank
you
,
"
said
the
man
,
drily
;
and
having
tossed
off
the
liquor
,
he
muttered
,
grinding
his
teeth
savagely
,
"
And
some
one
else
's
turn
must
come
too
,
sooner
or
later
.
"
"
Always
brooding
upon
the
same
thing
,
"
exclaimed
the
laughing
,
light-hearted
Skilligalee
.
"
And
if
you
had
been
served
by
a
villain
as
I
was
,
"
returned
the
Traveller
,
brutally
,
"
you
would
long
for
the
time
to
come
to
settle
up
accounts
with
him
.
Thank
my
stars
!
we
shall
be
in
London
to-morrow
,
and
then
—
then
—
—
"
The
remainder
of
the
man
's
words
were
lost
in
mutterings
,
which
,
to
judge
by
the
terrific
workings
of
his
countenance
,
the
violence
with
which
he
ground
his
teeth
,
and
the
convulsive
rage
indicated
by
the
manner
in
which
he
clenched
his
fist
,
must
have
been
a
direful
portent
.
But
a
few
words
which
he
had
uttered
,
struck
sudden
dismay
to
the
heart
of
the
Rattlesnake
.
"
Are
you
going
to
London
?
"
she
whispered
,
in
a
tone
of
alarm
,
to
Skilligalee
,
who
had
now
resumed
his
seat
by
her
side
.
"
Ah
!
indeed
are
we
,
my
dear
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
The
royal
palace
in
the
Holy
Land
is
prepared
for
our
reception
;
and
this
night
at
nine
o'clock
does
his
majesty
make
his
triumphant
entry
,
disguised
as
a
timber-merchant
,
[
94
]
into
that
part
of
his
dominions
.
"
"
To
London
!
"
gasped
the
Rattlesnake
.
"
Then
—
then
—
I
cannot
accompany
you
—
I
—
—
"
"
What
have
you
to
fear
?
"
demanded
Skilligalee
.
"
Have
you
not
me
to
defend
you
individually
,
and
his
majesty
's
protection
to
shield
you
generally
?
"
"
No
—
no
,
"
returned
Margaret
Flathers
;
"
I
cannot
—
will
not
return
to
London
.
I
hate
the
place
—
I
detest
it
—
I
abhor
it
!
I
am
not
even
now
as
far
from
it
as
I
could
wish
—
not
half
.
"
"
Far
from
it
?
"
ejaculated
Skilligalee
,
with
a
merry
laugh
.
"
Why
,
you
can
almost
hear
the
sounds
of
the
cabs
and
hackney-coaches
where
we
are
now
.
"
"
What
!
"
cried
Margaret
.
"
How
far
are
we
from
London
?
tell
me
—
speak
!
"
"
When
you
are
on
the
top
of
that
place
where
I
found
you
sleeping
early
this
morning
,
"
answered
Skilligalee
,
"
you
can
see
Hornsey
Wood
on
the
next
hill
—
about
two
miles
off
.
"
"
My
God
!
then
in
spite
of
all
my
care
last
night
,
I
must
have
gone
a
strange
round
,
"
said
Margaret
,
speaking
rather
to
herself
than
to
her
companion
.
"
Ah
!
I
see
how
it
is
,
Meg
,
"
observed
Skilligalee
;
"
you
are
in
trouble
about
that
gold
.
Well
—
never
mind
,
old
gal
—
so
much
the
more
reason
for
me
to
protect
you
.
Now
I
tell
you
what
it
is
:
not
all
the
buzmen
in
London
can
find
you
out
at
our
crib
in
the
Holy
Land
;
and
so
you
shall
come
along
with
us
,
and
you
shall
keep
in
doors
the
whole
time
:
we
'll
take
care
of
you
.
What
do
you
think
of
that
?
"
"
Skilligalee
,
"
whispered
Margaret
,
"
I
am
not
afraid
of
the
police
:
they
do
n't
trouble
themselves
about
me
.
But
there
is
a
certain
man
that
seeks
my
life
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
if
that
's
all
,
"
interrupted
her
companion
,
"
make
yourself
perfectly
easy
.
You
do
n't
know
yet
what
defences
and
fortifications
the
king
has
got
to
his
palace
:
a
regiment
of
swaddles
[
95
]
would
never
storm
it
,
or
take
it
by
surprise
.
"
"
And
you
really
think
that
I
shall
be
safe
?
"
asked
the
Rattlesnake
,
hesitating
;
for
these
assurances
of
protection
began
to
please
her
more
than
the
idea
of
being
compelled
to
wander
alone
about
the
country
.
"
Think
!
"
cried
Skilligalee
,
"
I
do
n't
think
—
I
'm
certain
.
Trust
to
me
—
and
all
will
be
right
.
Besides
,
do
you
not
pay
toll
to
his
majesty
?
and
where
can
you
find
a
more
powerful
protector
than
King
Zingary
?
You
will
see
what
he
can
do
,
when
once
we
arrive
at
the
palace
in
the
Holy
Land
.
"
"
But
—
but
—
will
he
keep
all
my
gold
?
"
asked
the
Rattlesnake
,
hesitatingly
.
"
Not
all
,
my
dear
,
"
answered
Skilligalee
.
"
One
third
goes
to
the
Box
;
[
96
]
another
third
to
be
divided
amongst
all
us
here
who
picked
you
up
;
and
the
other
remains
at
your
own
disposal
.
Are
you
content
?
"
"
Quite
,
"
said
the
Rattlesnake
,
knowing
full
well
that
it
was
no
use
to
remonstrate
,
and
not
unwilling
,
moreover
,
to
pay
handsomely
for
the
protection
promised
to
her
.
While
this
conversation
took
place
between
the
Rattlesnake
and
Skilligalee
,
the
two
women
had
prepared
the
repast
.
The
king
had
in
the
meantime
amused
himself
with
what
,
in
his
own
lingo
,
he
termed
"
cocking
a
broseley
;
"
[
97
]
—
the
boy
fetched
the
platters
,
knives
,
forks
,
spoons
,
and
other
articles
necessary
for
the
meal
,
from
the
van
;
—
Morcar
went
to
look
after
the
horse
;
—
and
the
Traveller
was
buried
in
a
profound
reverie
.
Thus
the
discourse
of
Margaret
Flathers
and
her
companion
was
as
private
and
unrestrained
as
if
no
one
had
been
by
.
And
now
the
immediate
vicinity
of
the
fire
presented
an
animated
and
even
comfortable
appearance
.
Upon
a
huge
earthenware
dish
was
piled
a
stew
,
which
sent
forth
a
most
inviting
odour
.
A
goose
,
a
sucking-pig
,
three
fowls
,
a
couple
of
rabbits
,
and
an
immense
quantity
of
vegetables
,
greeted
the
eye
and
pleased
the
olfactory
nerve
;
and
a
couple
of
jolly
brown
quartern
loaves
flanked
the
feast
.
Every
guest
was
furnished
with
a
horn
snicker
:
[
98
]
salt
,
pepper
,
and
mustard
were
also
provided
,
to
give
a
zest
to
the
food
.
Then
Skilligalee
paid
another
visit
to
the
van
,
—
for
he
,
it
appears
,
was
butler
in
ordinary
to
his
Majesty
King
Zingary
,
—
and
returned
laden
with
a
second
enormous
bottle
,
filled
to
the
bung
with
the
very
best
malt
liquor
that
ever
aided
to
immortalise
Barclay
and
Perkins
.
"
All
is
ready
,
"
said
Eva
,
in
a
respectful
manner
to
her
father-in-law
,
the
King
.
Zingary
stroked
down
his
beard
in
a
majestic
manner
,
murmured
a
grace
in
a
language
totally
incomprehensible
to
the
Rattlesnake
,
and
then
helped
himself
to
a
portion
of
the
mess
.
This
was
the
signal
for
the
attack
;
and
Margaret
Flathers
was
by
no
means
sorry
to
receive
upon
her
platter
,
from
the
gallant
and
attentive
Skilligalee
,
a
good
proportion
of
the
savoury
comestibles
.
The
Traveller
did
his
duty
in
respect
to
the
repast
;
but
he
seldom
joined
in
the
gay
discourse
which
seasoned
it
,
apparently
brooding
over
the
one
absorbing
idea
of
vengeance
,
which
now
seemed
to
constitute
the
only
object
for
which
that
man
lived
.
Margaret
Flathers
could
not
help
noticing
the
great
respect
which
all
present
paid
to
the
King
and
Queen
of
the
Gipsies
.
Their
majesties
joined
familiarly
in
the
conversation
;
and
it
was
evident
from
their
remarks
,
especially
those
of
Zingary
,
that
they
had
travelled
over
every
inch
of
Great
Britain
,
not
a
crevice
or
corner
of
which
was
unknown
to
them
.
Margaret
also
gathered
from
their
discourse
that
they
had
visited
foreign
countries
in
their
youth
;
and
Zingary
boasted
more
than
once
of
the
intimate
terms
upon
which
he
stood
with
the
sovereigns
of
the
Gipsies
of
Spain
and
Bohemia
.
Morcar
listened
to
his
father
with
deep
attention
and
marked
respect
;
and
expressed
,
with
deference
,
his
own
opinions
upon
the
various
topics
of
discourse
.
Eva
spoke
little
,
but
she
was
an
interested
listener
;
and
from
time
to
time
she
bestowed
a
caress
upon
her
boy
,
or
exchanged
a
glance
or
a
smile
of
affection
with
her
husband
.
In
a
word
,
the
members
of
the
royal
family
of
the
gipsies
appeared
to
exist
upon
the
most
comfortable
terms
with
each
other
.
When
the
meal
was
over
,
Skilligalee
beckoned
Margaret
Flathers
aside
,
and
said
,
"
We
will
go
and
seat
ourselves
under
the
brow
of
yonder
hill
,
and
pass
an
hour
in
conversation
.
I
have
much
to
tell
you
,
and
you
must
have
something
to
tell
me
.
"
"
I
have
—
I
have
indeed
!
"
exclaimed
Margaret
,
as
she
accompanied
Skilligalee
to
the
spot
indicated
,
where
they
seated
themselves
on
some
large
blocks
of
wood
that
lay
there
half
buried
in
the
soil
.
"
I
have
often
read
and
heard
of
the
King
of
the
Gipsies
,
"
said
Margaret
;
"
but
I
always
imagined
that
he
was
a
fabulous
character
.
Is
that
old
man
yonder
really
the
King
;
or
has
he
only
assumed
the
distinction
by
way
of
amusement
?
"
"
He
is
as
much
the
sovereign
of
the
gipsies
,
Margaret
,
"
answered
Skilligalee
,
with
unusual
solemnity
,
"
as
Victoria
is
the
Queen
of
England
;
and
more
so
,
for
the
whole
tribe
pays
him
a
blind
and
implicit
obedience
.
"
"
How
came
the
king
and
his
family
with
such
strange
names
as
those
by
which
I
heard
them
call
each
other
?
"
inquired
the
Rattlesnake
.
"
The
Gipsies
in
England
are
of
two
distinct
races
,
although
united
under
one
ruler
,
"
replied
Skilligalee
.
"
They
are
Egyptian
and
Bohemian
,
and
the
royal
family
always
adopts
names
likely
to
please
both
parties
:
Zingary
and
Aischa
are
,
amongst
the
gipsies
,
supposed
to
be
Egyptian
names
;
Morcar
and
Eva
are
held
as
Bohemian
.
The
parents
who
have
Egyptian
names
,
give
Bohemian
ones
to
their
children
;
so
that
the
rulers
of
the
tribe
are
alternately
looked
upon
as
Egyptian
and
Bohemian
.
"
"
Then
Morcar
and
Eva
will
be
king
and
queen
at
the
death
of
Zingary
?
"
said
the
Rattlesnake
.
"
Just
so
,
"
replied
Skilligalee
.
"
Now
tell
me
,
who
is
that
moody
,
melancholy
,
scowling
fellow
that
you
call
the
Traveller
?
"
continued
Margaret
.
"
We
know
but
little
of
him
,
"
was
the
answer
.
"
He
joined
us
—
or
rather
,
we
picked
him
up
in
a
state
of
starvation
,
a
few
miles
from
Liverpool
,
about
six
weeks
or
two
months
ago
;
and
the
king
has
allowed
him
to
tramp
with
us
,
because
he
is
without
friends
or
money
.
Moreover
,
he
was
anxious
to
get
to
London
;
and
,
for
some
reason
or
other
,
he
is
afraid
to
be
seen
on
the
high-roads
,
or
in
the
towns
and
villages
.
So
our
wandering
life
just
suited
his
convenience
;
and
he
feels
himself
safe
in
our
company
.
He
seldom
speaks
about
his
own
affairs
;
but
he
has
said
enough
to
enable
us
to
understand
that
he
has
suffered
deeply
in
consequence
of
the
treachery
of
some
person
in
whom
he
had
put
confidence
,
or
who
was
his
pal
in
former
times
;
and
he
is
going
up
to
London
with
the
hope
of
finding
out
his
enemy
.
He
seems
a
desperate
fellow
;
and
I
should
not
like
to
be
the
person
that
has
offended
him
.
"
"
He
is
not
a
gipsy
?
"
said
Margaret
,
interrogatively
.
"
No
—
not
a
whit
more
than
myself
,
"
answered
Skilligalee
;
"
and
I
dare
say
he
will
leave
us
in
London
.
As
he
was
with
us
when
we
banked
your
rag
,
he
will
have
his
reg'lars
,
and
that
will
set
him
up
.
"
"
And
you
have
no
idea
what
he
has
been
,
or
who
he
is
?
"
inquired
the
Rattlesnake
.
"
We
never
ask
questions
,
Meg
;
we
listen
to
all
that
is
told
us
,
but
we
never
seek
to
pry
into
secrets
.
The
king
was
quite
contented
with
seeing
your
well
filled
bag
;
but
if
you
remained
in
his
company
for
a
hundred
years
from
this
time
,
he
would
never
ask
you
how
you
came
by
it
.
All
impertinent
curiosity
is
against
the
laws
of
the
Zingarees
.
"
"
Zingarees
!
who
are
they
?
"
exclaimed
the
Rattlesnake
.
"
The
Gipsies
—
with
another
name
—
that
's
all
,
Meg
,
"
replied
Skilligalee
.
"
But
I
was
telling
you
about
the
man
that
we
call
the
Traveller
.
When
his
heart
has
been
the
least
thing
warmed
with
sluicing
his
bolt
[
99
]
and
cocking
his
broseley
,
he
has
told
us
strange
stories
of
foreign
countries
,
so
that
even
old
Zingary
,
who
has
travelled
a
good
deal
,
has
turned
up
the
whites
of
his
eyes
.
But
there
is
no
doubt
that
the
sulky
stranger
has
seen
much
,
and
gone
through
much
also
.
He
talks
of
the
Cape
of
Good
Hope
and
Cape
Horn
,
and
Australia
,
and
heaven
only
knows
what
distant
places
,
almost
as
well
as
you
and
I
should
about
the
coal-hells
in
Staffordshire
.
"
"
And
does
he
mean
to
kill
the
man
that
has
offended
him
?
"
demanded
the
Rattlesnake
.
"
I
'll
warrant
he
does
,
"
was
the
answer
;
"
for
all
that
he
possessed
in
the
world
,
when
we
picked
him
up
nearly
frozen
to
death
in
a
pit
where
he
had
crept
for
shelter
,
—
all
that
he
possessed
besides
his
rags
,
was
a
long
dagger
,
which
he
calls
a
poniard
:
it
is
as
bright
as
silver
,
and
so
flexible
that
you
can
bend
it
double
without
breaking
it
.
So
determined
is
he
to
bury
it
some
half
dozen
inches
in
his
enemy
's
heart
,
that
he
would
n't
even
sell
it
,
it
appears
,
when
famishing
for
a
morsel
of
bread
.
"
"
He
seems
a
desperate-looking
fellow
,
"
observed
the
Rattlesnake
.
"
I
never
beard
of
so
terrible
a
man
—
except
one
;
and
hell
does
n't
contain
a
greater
demon
than
him
.
But
I
will
tell
you
all
about
that
another
time
:
you
must
answer
me
my
questions
first
.
"
"
Oh
!
of
course
,
"
exclaimed
Skilligalee
,
with
a
merry
laugh
;
"
because
you
are
the
lady
,
and
I
am
the
gentleman
.
What
else
do
you
want
to
know
?
"
"
Why
,
the
king
is
going
up
to
London
?
"
"
He
always
does
at
this
season
of
the
year
,
to
meet
the
chiefs
of
the
different
districts
,
and
settle
a
good
deal
of
business
.
But
you
will
see
all
about
it
when
once
we
get
up
into
the
Holy
Land
—
that
is
,
if
you
've
made
up
your
mind
to
go
with
us
.
"
"
I
have
,
"
answered
the
Rattlesnake
.
"
And
now
tell
me
all
that
has
happened
to
you
since
we
parted
in
that
hurried
manner
—
you
know
how
.
"
"
Well
—
I
will
,
"
cried
Skilligalee
:
"
so
listen
attentively
,
as
all
story-tellers
say
.
"
Then
,
clearing
his
throat
with
a
loud
hem
,
he
commenced
his
narrative
in
the
following
manner
.
CHAPTER
CXXXIII
.
SKILLIGALEE
'S
HISTORY
.
"
You
remember
the
day
we
parted
,
after
having
lived
together
for
nearly
six
months
.
I
gave
you
two
guineas
to
find
your
way
up
to
London
,
where
I
recommended
you
to
proceed
to
seek
your
fortune
;
and
I
told
you
that
I
had
as
much
left
for
myself
,
to
help
me
to
get
away
from
a
part
of
the
country
where
the
numerous
burglaries
I
had
committed
had
put
all
the
constables
on
the
alert
after
me
.
But
in
reality
I
had
but
two
or
three
shillings
remaining
in
my
pocket
.
I
knew
that
if
I
told
you
the
real
state
of
my
finances
,
you
would
not
accept
so
much
as
I
had
given
you
;
but
I
was
afraid
that
you
might
be
implicated
in
my
difficulties
,
and
so
I
was
determined
that
you
should
have
sufficient
to
convey
you
clear
away
from
Staffordshire
.
"
Well
,
when
we
parted
,
I
walked
along
the
road
leading
away
from
the
village
,
as
disconsolate
as
might
be
;
and
yet
you
know
that
I
am
not
naturally
of
a
very
mournful
disposition
.
It
was
nine
o'clock
in
the
evening
,
if
you
remember
,
when
I
put
you
into
the
waggon
that
was
to
take
you
to
London
.
I
went
on
until
I
reached
a
lonely
public-house
,
by
the
way-side
.
It
was
then
eleven
o'clock
;
and
I
was
both
tired
and
hungry
.
I
entered
the
Three
Compasses
(
which
was
the
sign
of
the
public-house
)
,
and
sat
down
in
the
parlour
.
There
was
another
traveller
there
—
a
short
stout
man
,
with
a
very
red
face
,
and
who
was
committing
desperate
havoc
upon
a
large
cheese
and
loaf
,
from
which
he
,
however
,
occasionally
diverted
his
attention
,
in
order
to
pay
his
respects
to
a
pot
of
porter
.
I
ordered
some
refreshment
,
and
inquired
if
I
could
be
accommodated
with
a
bed
.
The
old
widow
woman
who
kept
the
place
,
said
that
the
only
bed
she
had
to
spare
was
already
engaged
by
the
gentleman
then
at
supper
,
but
that
I
might
sleep
in
the
hay-loft
if
I
chose
.
Thereupon
the
red-faced
man
gave
a
long
stare
at
me
,
shrugged
his
shoulders
,
and
went
on
eating
.
I
suppose
that
my
appearance
was
not
respectable
enough
to
induce
him
to
resign
half
of
his
bed
for
my
accommodation
;
and
,
indeed
,
I
was
dreadfully
shabby
—
almost
in
rags
,
as
you
may
well
remember
.
So
I
accepted
the
offer
of
the
hay-loft
;
and
retired
to
that
place
as
soon
as
I
had
finished
my
supper
.
"
But
as
I
clambered
up
the
ladder
to
my
roosting-place
,
my
unfortunate
trousers
caught
a
nail
;
and
one
leg
was
split
completely
down
to
the
foot
.
I
was
now
in
a
most
wretched
dilemma
,
not
knowing
how
I
should
contrive
to
mend
my
luckless
inexpressibles
.
But
I
soon
fell
asleep
,
in
spite
of
my
unpleasant
reflections
;
and
when
I
awoke
,
the
dawn
of
the
mild
spring
morning
was
just
breaking
.
I
examined
my
garment
,
and
was
reduced
to
despair
at
its
appearance
.
At
length
I
resolved
to
dress
myself
,
go
down
stairs
,
borrow
a
needle
and
thread
of
the
old
woman
,
and
be
my
own
tailor
.
When
I
descended
into
the
yard
,
I
found
a
lad
busily
employed
in
cleaning
a
pair
of
boots
,
while
a
pair
of
trousers
lay
upon
a
bench
,
neatly
folded
up
,
having
evidently
gone
through
the
process
of
brushing
.
I
immediately
recognised
the
stout
drab
pantaloons
which
the
red-faced
man
wore
on
the
preceding
evening
;
and
my
eyes
dwelt
longingly
upon
them
.
In
reply
to
my
questions
,
the
boy
said
that
his
grandmother
(
the
old
widow
who
kept
the
public-house
)
was
not
up
yet
,
but
that
he
could
get
me
a
needle
and
thread
,
as
he
knew
where
she
kept
her
work-bag
.
I
begged
him
to
do
so
;
and
he
very
obligingly
went
into
the
house
for
that
purpose
.
"
The
moment
he
had
disappeared
I
snatched
up
the
red-faced
man
's
drab
trousers
in
one
hand
,
and
his
excellent
pair
of
bluchers
in
the
other
:
then
,
without
waiting
to
look
behind
me
,
I
jumped
over
the
fence
which
separated
the
stable-yard
from
the
fields
,
and
was
speedily
scampering
across
the
open
country
as
fast
as
my
legs
would
carry
me
.
When
I
had
run
about
a
mile
,
I
reached
a
little
grove
,
situated
on
the
bank
of
a
stream
:
and
there
I
halted
.
"
The
red-faced
gentleman
's
boots
were
a
wonderful
improvement
upon
my
old
broken
shoes
;
but
his
pantaloons
fitted
somewhat
awkwardly
,
being
a
world
too
wide
round
the
waist
,
and
a
foot
too
short
in
the
legs
.
However
,
they
were
better
than
my
old
tattered
unmentionables
,
and
I
could
not
complain
that
they
were
dear
!
"
I
pursued
my
way
along
