"responded
Mr.
Banks
,
turning
up
his
eyes
in
a
melancholy
manner
.
"
The
last
blessed
wictim
that
you
operated
on
,
Mr.
Smithers
,
you
remember
,
I
gived
you
five
shillings
for
the
rope
;
and
I
will
say
,
in
justice
to
him
as
spun
it
and
them
as
bought
it
,
that
a
nicer
,
stronger
,
or
compacter
bit
of
cord
never
supported
carkiss
to
cross-beam
.
But
wain
was
it
that
I
coiled
it
neat
up
in
my
winder
;
—
wain
was
it
that
I
wrote
on
a
half
sheet
of
foolscap
,
'
This
is
the
halter
that
hung
poor
William
Lees
;
'
—
the
morbid
feelings
was
strong
,
'
cos
the
crowd
collected
opposite
my
house
;
but
the
filthy
lucre
,
Smithers
,
was
wanting
.
Well
—
there
the
damned
—
I
beg
its
pardon
—
the
blessed
cord
stayed
for
a
matter
of
three
weeks
;
and
I
do
believe
it
never
would
have
gone
at
all
,
if
some
swell
that
was
passing
quite
promiscuously
one
day
did
n't
take
a
fancy
to
it
—
—
"
"
Well
,
and
what
did
he
give
you
?
"
demanded
the
executioner
impatiently
.
"
Only
twelve
shillings
,
as
true
as
I
'm
a
woful
sinner
that
hopes
to
be
saved
!
"
answered
the
undertaker
.
"
Twelve
shillings
—
eh
?
And
how
much
would
you
have
had
for
the
rope
?
"
"
When
the
blunt
does
n't
fall
short
of
the
morbid
feelings
,
I
calkilates
upon
a
guinea
,
"
answered
Mr.
Banks
.
"
Why
,
you
old
rogue
,
"
shouted
the
executioner
,
"
you
know
that
you
sold
William
Lees
's
rope
a
dozen
times
over
.
The
moment
the
real
one
was
disposed
of
,
you
shoved
a
counterfeit
into
your
winder
;
and
that
went
off
so
well
,
that
you
kept
on
till
you
'd
sold
a
dozen
.
"
"
No
,
Smithers
—
never
no
such
luck
as
that
since
Greenacre
's
business
,
"
said
the
undertaker
,
with
a
solemn
shake
of
his
head
;
"
and
then
I
believe
I
really
did
sell
nineteen
ropes
in
less
than
a
week
.
"
"
I
only
wonder
people
is
such
fools
as
to
be
gulled
so
,
"
observed
Smithers
.
"
What
can
they
say
,
when
they
see
your
certifikit
that
the
rope
's
the
true
one
?
"
demanded
Banks
.
"
There
was
one
old
gen'leman
that
dealt
with
me
for
a
many
—
many
years
;
and
he
bought
the
rope
of
every
blessed
defunct
that
had
danced
on
nothing
at
Newgate
for
upwards
of
twenty
year
!
I
quite
entered
into
his
feeling
,
I
did
—
I
admired
that
man
;
and
so
I
always
sold
him
the
real
ropes
.
But
time
's
passing
,
while
I
'm
chattering
here
.
Come
,
my
dear
Smithers
—
shall
we
say
three
shillings
for
the
rope
and
certifikit
this
morning
?
"
"
Not
a
mag
less
than
five
,
"
was
the
dogged
answer
.
"
Four
,
my
dear
friend
Smithers
?
"
said
the
undertaker
,
with
a
whining
,
coaxing
tone
and
manner
.
"
No
—
five
,
I
tell
you
.
"
"
Well
—
five
then
,
"
said
Banks
.
"
I
'll
be
there
at
a
few
minits
'
afore
nine
:
I
s'pose
you
'll
cut
the
carkiss
down
at
the
usual
hour
?
"
"
Yes
—
yes
,
"
answered
Smithers
.
"
I
'm
always
punctiwal
with
the
dead
as
well
as
the
living
.
"
The
undertaker
muttered
something
about
"
blessed
defuncts
,
"
smoothed
down
the
limp
ends
of
his
dirty
cravat
,
and
slowly
withdrew
,
shaking
his
head
more
solemnly
than
ever
.
"
See
what
it
is
to
be
a
Public
Executioner
!
"
cried
Smithers
,
turning
with
an
air
of
triumph
towards
his
son
:
"
look
at
the
perk-visits
—
look
at
the
priweleges
!
And
yet
you
go
snivelling
about
like
a
young
gal
,
'
cos
I
want
to
make
you
fit
to
succeed
me
in
my
honourable
profession
.
"
"
O
father
!
"
cried
the
lad
,
unable
to
restrain
his
feelings
any
longer
:
"
instead
of
being
respected
,
we
are
abhorred
—
instead
of
being
honoured
,
our
very
touch
is
contamination
!
You
yourself
know
,
dear
father
,
that
you
scarcely
or
never
go
abroad
;
if
you
enter
the
public-house
tap-room
,
even
in
a
neighbourhood
so
low
as
this
,
the
people
get
up
and
walk
away
on
different
excuses
.
When
I
step
out
for
an
errand
,
the
boys
in
the
streets
point
at
me
;
and
those
who
are
well-behaved
,
pass
me
with
stealthy
looks
of
horror
and
dread
.
Even
that
canting
hypocrite
who
has
just
left
us
—
even
he
never
crosses
your
threshold
except
when
his
interest
is
concerned
;
—
and
yet
he
,
they
say
,
is
connected
with
body-snatchers
,
and
does
not
bear
an
over-excellent
character
in
his
neighbourhood
.
Yet
such
a
sneaking
old
wretch
as
that
approaches
our
door
with
loathing
—
Oh
!
I
know
that
he
does
!
You
see
,
father
—
dear
father
,
that
it
is
a
horrible
employment
;
then
pray
do
n't
make
me
embrace
it
—
Oh
!
do
n't
—
pray
do
n't
,
father
—
dear
father
:
say
you
wo
n't
—
and
I
'll
do
any
thing
else
you
tell
me
!
I
'll
pick
up
rags
and
bones
from
the
gutters
—
I
'll
sweep
chimnies
—
I
'll
break
stones
from
dawn
to
darkness
;
—
but
do
not
—
do
not
make
me
an
executioner
!
"
Smithers
was
so
astounded
at
this
appeal
that
he
had
allowed
it
to
proceed
without
interruption
.
He
was
accustomed
to
be
addressed
on
the
same
subject
,
but
never
to
such
a
length
,
nor
with
such
arguments
;
so
that
the
manner
and
matter
of
that
prayer
produced
a
strange
impression
on
the
man
who
constantly
sought
,
by
means
of
rude
sophistries
,
to
veil
from
himself
and
his
family
the
true
estimation
in
which
his
calling
was
held
.
Gibbet
,
mistaking
his
father
's
astonishment
for
a
more
favourable
impression
,
threw
himself
at
his
feet
,
clasped
his
hands
,
and
exclaimed
,
"
Oh
!
do
not
turn
a
deaf
ear
to
my
prayer
!
And
think
not
,
dear
father
,
that
I
confound
you
with
that
pursuit
which
I
abhor
;
—
think
not
that
I
see
other
in
you
than
my
parent
—
a
parent
whom
—
—
"
"
Whom
you
shall
obey
!
"
cried
the
executioner
,
now
recovering
the
use
of
his
tongue
:
"
or
,
by
God
!
"
he
added
,
pointing
with
terrible
ferocity
towards
the
model-gallows
,
"
I
'll
serve
you
as
I
did
that
puppet
just
now
—
and
as
I
shall
do
the
man
down
in
the
Old
Bailey
presently
.
"
Gibbet
rose
—
disappointed
,
dispirited
,
and
with
a
heart
agitated
by
the
most
painful
emotions
.
But
why
had
not
Smithers
recourse
to
the
leathern
weapon
as
usual
?
why
had
he
spared
the
poor
hump-back
on
this
occasion
?
Gibbet
himself
marvelled
that
such
forbearance
should
have
been
shown
towards
him
,
since
he
now
comprehended
but
too
well
that
his
father
was
inexorable
in
his
determination
with
regard
to
him
.
The
truth
was
that
Smithers
was
so
far
struck
by
his
son
's
appeal
as
to
deem
it
of
more
serious
import
than
any
previously
manifested
aversion
to
his
horrible
calling
;
and
he
accordingly
met
it
with
a
menace
which
he
deemed
to
be
more
efficacious
than
the
old
discipline
of
the
thong
.
"
Now
,
mind
me
,
"
said
the
executioner
,
after
a
few
moments
'
pause
,
"
you
need
n't
try
any
more
of
these
snivelling
antics
:
they
wo
n't
succeed
with
me
,
I
tell
you
before-hand
.
If
you
do
n't
do
as
I
order
you
,
I
'll
hang
you
up
to
that
beam
as
soon
as
yonder
mouse
in
the
noose
on
the
mantel
.
So
let
one
word
be
enough
.
Hark
!
there
's
seven
o'clock
:
we
've
only
just
time
to
get
a
mouthful
before
we
must
be
off
.
"
Smithers
proceeded
down
stairs
,
followed
by
Gibbet
.
They
entered
a
little
parlour
,
where
Katherine
was
preparing
breakfast
.
It
being
still
dark
,
a
candle
stood
on
the
table
;
and
its
light
was
reflected
in
the
polished
metal
tea-pot
,
milk-jug
,
and
sugar-basin
.
The
table
napkin
was
of
dazzling
whiteness
:
the
knives
and
forks
were
bright
as
steel
could
be
;
—
in
a
word
,
an
air
of
exquisite
neatness
and
cleanliness
pervaded
the
board
on
which
the
morning
's
repast
was
spread
.
Nor
was
this
appearance
confined
to
the
table
.
The
little
room
itself
was
a
model
of
domestic
propriety
.
Not
a
speck
of
dust
was
to
be
seen
on
the
simple
furniture
,
which
was
also
disposed
with
taste
:
the
windows
were
set
off
with
a
clean
muslin
curtain
;
and
the
mantel
was
covered
with
fancy
ornaments
all
indicative
of
female
industry
.
Then
Kate
herself
!
—
her
appearance
was
in
perfect
keeping
with
that
of
the
room
which
owed
its
cleanliness
and
air
of
simple
comfort
to
her
.
A
neat
cap
set
off
her
chesnut
hair
,
which
was
arranged
in
plain
bands
:
her
dark
stuff
gown
was
made
high
in
the
body
and
long
in
the
skirt
,
but
did
not
conceal
the
gracefulness
of
her
slender
form
,
nor
altogether
prevent
a
little
foot
in
a
neat
shoe
and
a
well-turned
ankle
in
a
lily-white
cotton
stocking
from
occasionally
revealing
themselves
.
Then
her
hands
were
so
slightly
brown
,
her
fingers
so
taper
,
and
her
nails
so
carefully
kept
,
that
no
one
,
to
look
at
them
,
would
conceive
how
much
hard
work
Katherine
was
compelled
to
do
.
Though
so
rigidly
neat
and
clean
,
Kate
had
nothing
of
the
coquette
about
her
.
She
was
as
bashful
and
artless
as
a
child
;
and
,
besides
—
whom
had
she
,
the
executioner
's
acknowledged
niece
,
to
captivate
?
Although
she
endeavoured
to
greet
Smithers
and
the
hump-back
with
a
smile
,
a
profound
melancholy
in
reality
oppressed
her
.
It
was
one
of
those
mornings
when
her
uncle
was
to
exercise
his
horrible
calling
:
—
this
circumstance
would
alone
have
deeply
affected
her
spirits
,
which
were
never
too
light
nor
buoyant
.
But
on
the
present
occasion
,
another
cause
of
sorrow
weighed
on
her
soul
—
and
that
was
the
knowledge
that
her
wretched
cousin
was
that
morning
to
enter
on
his
fearful
noviciate
!
She
entertained
a
boundless
compassion
for
that
unfortunate
being
.
His
physical
deformities
,
and
the
treatment
which
he
experienced
from
his
father
,
called
forth
the
kindest
sympathies
of
her
naturally
tender
heart
.
Moreover
,
he
had
received
instruction
and
was
in
the
habit
of
seeking
consolation
from
her
:
she
was
the
only
friend
of
that
suffering
creature
who
was
persecuted
alike
by
nature
and
by
man
;
and
she
perhaps
felt
the
more
acutely
on
his
account
,
because
she
was
so
utterly
powerless
in
protecting
him
from
the
parental
ferocity
which
drove
him
to
her
for
comfort
.
She
knew
that
a
good
—
a
generous
—
a
kind
—
and
a
deeply
sensitive
soul
was
enclosed
within
that
revolting
form
;
and
she
experienced
acute
anguish
when
a
brutal
hand
could
wantonly
torture
so
susceptible
a
spirit
.
And
to
that
wounded
,
smarting
spirit
she
herself
was
all
kindness
—
all
softness
—
all
conciliation
—
all
encouragement
.
No
wonder
,
then
,
if
the
miserable
son
of
the
public
executioner
was
devoted
to
her
:
no
wonder
if
she
were
a
goddess
of
light
,
and
hope
,
and
consolation
,
and
bliss
to
him
!
To
do
her
the
slightest
service
was
a
source
of
the
purest
joy
which
that
poor
being
could
know
:
to
be
able
to
convince
her
by
a
deed
,
—
even
so
slight
as
picking
up
her
thread
when
it
fell
,
or
placing
her
chair
for
her
in
its
wonted
situation
,
—
this
,
this
was
sublime
happiness
to
the
hump-back
!
He
could
sit
for
hours
near
her
,
without
uttering
a
word
—
but
watching
her
like
a
faithful
dog
.
And
when
her
musical
voice
,
fraught
with
some
expression
of
kindness
,
fell
upon
his
ear
,
how
that
hideous
countenance
would
brighten
up
—
how
those
coarse
lips
would
form
a
smile
—
how
those
large
dull
orbs
would
glow
with
ineffable
bliss
!
But
when
his
father
was
unkind
to
her
,
—
unkind
to
Katherine
,
his
only
friend
,
—
unkind
to
the
sole
being
that
ever
had
looked
not
only
without
abhorrence
,
but
with
unadulterated
gentleness
on
him
,
—
then
a
new
spirit
seemed
to
animate
him
;
and
the
faithful
creature
,
who
received
his
own
stripes
with
spaniel-like
irresistance
,
burst
forth
in
indignant
remonstrance
when
a
blow
was
levelled
at
her
.
Then
his
rage
grew
terrible
;
and
the
resigned
,
docile
,
retiring
hump-back
became
transformed
into
a
perfect
demon
.
How
offensive
to
the
delicate
admirer
of
a
maudlin
romance
,
in
which
only
handsome
boys
and
pretty
girls
are
supposed
to
be
capable
of
playing
at
the
game
of
Love
,
must
be
the
statement
which
we
are
now
about
to
make
.
But
the
reader
who
truly
knows
the
world
,
—
not
the
world
of
the
sentimental
novel
,
but
the
world
as
it
really
is
,
—
will
not
start
when
we
inform
him
that
this
being
whom
nature
had
formed
in
her
most
uncouth
mould
,
—
this
creature
whose
deformities
seemed
to
render
him
a
connecting
link
between
man
and
monkey
,
—
this
living
thing
that
appeared
to
be
but
one
remove
above
a
monster
,
cherished
a
profound
love
for
that
young
girl
whom
he
esteemed
as
his
guardian
angel
.
But
this
passion
was
unsuspected
by
her
,
as
its
nature
was
unknown
to
himself
.
Of
course
it
was
not
reciprocated
:
—
how
could
it
be
?
Nevertheless
,
every
proof
of
friendship
—
every
testimonial
of
kind
feeling
—
every
evidence
of
compassion
on
her
part
,
only
tended
to
augment
that
attachment
which
the
hump-back
experienced
for
Katherine
.
"
Well
,
Kate
,
"
said
the
executioner
,
as
he
took
his
seat
at
the
breakfast-table
,
"
I
've
drilled
Gibbet
into
the
art
of
pinioning
at
last
.
"
The
girl
made
no
answer
;
but
she
cast
a
rapid
glance
at
the
hump-back
,
and
two
tears
trickled
down
her
cheeks
.
"
Come
,
Gibbet
,
"
added
Smithers
;
"
we
've
no
time
to
lose
.
Do
n't
be
afraid
of
your
bread-and-butter
:
you
'll
get
nothing
to
eat
till
you
come
home
again
to
dinner
.
"
"
Is
John
going
with
you
this
morning
,
uncle
?
"
inquired
Katherine
timidly
.
"
Why
,
you
know
he
is
.
You
only
ask
the
question
to
get
up
a
discussion
once
more
about
it
,
as
you
did
last
night
.
"
This
was
more
or
less
true
:
the
generous-hearted
girl
hoped
yet
to
be
able
to
avert
her
uncle
from
his
intention
in
respect
to
the
hump-back
.
"
But
I
wo
n't
hear
any
more
about
it
,
"
continued
the
executioner
,
as
he
ate
his
breakfast
.
"
And
,
then
,
why
do
you
call
him
John
?
"
"
Did
you
not
give
him
that
name
at
his
baptism
?
"
said
Kate
.
"
And
if
I
did
,
I
've
also
the
right
to
change
it
,
"
returned
the
executioner
;
"
and
I
choose
him
to
be
called
Gibbet
.
It
's
more
professional
.
"
"
I
think
the
grocer
in
High
Street
wants
an
errand
boy
,
uncle
,
"
observed
Katherine
,
with
her
eyes
fixed
upon
her
cup
—
she
dared
not
raise
them
to
Smithers
'
face
as
she
spoke
:
"
perhaps
he
would
take
John
—
I
mean
my
cousin
—
and
that
would
be
better
than
making
him
follow
a
calling
which
he
does
not
fancy
.
"
"
Mind
your
own
business
,
Miss
Imperence
!
"
ejaculated
the
executioner
;
"
and
let
me
mind
mine
.
Now
,
then
—
who
knocks
at
the
front
door
?
"
Gibbet
rose
and
hastened
from
the
room
.
In
a
few
moments
he
returned
,
holding
in
his
hand
a
paper
,
which
he
gave
to
his
father
.
"
Ah
!
I
thought
so
,
"
said
Smithers
,
as
he
glanced
his
eye
over
the
paper
:
"
my
friend
Dognatch
is
always
in
time
.
Here
's
the
last
dying
speech
,
confession
,
and
a
true
account
of
the
execution
of
the
man
that
I
'm
to
tuck
up
presently
—
all
cut
and
dry
,
you
see
.
Well
—
it
's
very
kind
of
Dognatch
always
to
send
me
a
copy
:
but
I
suppose
he
thinks
it
's
a
compliment
due
to
my
sitiwation
.
"
With
these
words
Smithers
tossed
off
his
tea
,
rose
,
and
exclaimed
,
"
Now
,
Gibbet
,
my
boy
,
we
must
be
off
.
"
"
Father
,
I
do
n't
feel
equal
to
it
,
"
murmured
the
hump-back
,
who
seemed
fixed
to
his
chair
.
"
Come
—
without
another
word
!
"
cried
the
executioner
,
in
so
terrible
a
tone
that
Gibbet
started
from
his
seat
as
if
suddenly
moved
by
electricity
.
"
Uncle
—
uncle
,
you
will
not
—
you
cannot
force
this
poor
lad
—
"
began
Katherine
,
venturing
upon
a
last
appeal
in
favour
of
the
hump-back
.
"
Kate
,
"
said
the
executioner
,
turning
abruptly
upon
her
,
while
his
countenance
wore
so
ferocious
an
expression
of
mingled
determination
and
rage
,
that
the
young
girl
uttered
an
ejaculation
of
alarm
,
—
"
Kate
,
do
not
provoke
me
;
or
—
—
"
He
said
no
more
,
but
darted
on
her
a
look
of
such
dark
,
diabolical
menace
,
that
she
sank
back
,
annihilated
as
it
were
,
into
her
seat
.
She
covered
her
face
with
her
hands
,
and
burst
into
an
agony
of
tears
.
For
some
moments
she
remained
absorbed
in
profound
grief
:
the
fate
of
the
wretched
hump-back
,
and
the
idea
that
she
herself
was
doomed
to
exist
beneath
the
same
roof
with
the
horrible
man
whom
she
called
her
uncle
,
were
causes
of
bitter
anguish
to
her
tender
and
sensitive
soul
.
When
she
raised
her
head
,
and
glanced
timidly
around
,
she
found
herself
alone
.
CHAPTER
CXLIV
.
THE
UNFINISHED
LETTER
.
The
dawn
was
now
breaking
;
and
Katherine
extinguished
the
candle
.
How
gloomily
does
the
young
day
announce
itself
to
the
dwellers
in
the
narrow
streets
and
obscure
alleys
of
the
poor
districts
of
the
metropolis
!
The
struggling
gleam
appears
to
contend
with
difficulty
against
the
dense
atmosphere
and
noxious
vapours
which
prevail
in
those
regions
even
in
the
midst
of
winter
;
and
as
each
fitful
ray
steals
through
the
dingy
panes
,
its
light
seems
leaden
and
dull
,
not
golden
and
roseate
as
that
of
the
orb
of
day
.
Kate
wiped
away
her
tears
,
and
set
to
work
to
clear
the
table
of
the
breakfast-things
.
Having
performed
this
duty
,
she
slipped
on
her
neat
straw
bonnet
and
warm
shawl
,
—
purchased
by
the
produce
of
her
own
industry
,
—
and
repaired
to
market
.
But
,
alas
!
poor
girl
—
as
she
passed
rapidly
through
the
streets
,
she
could
not
help
noticing
the
people
,
that
were
lounging
at
their
doors
,
nudge
each
other
,
as
much
as
to
say
,
"
There
goes
the
executioner
's
niece
.
"
And
no
friendly
voice
welcomed
her
with
a
kind
"
Good
morning
:
"
no
human
being
had
a
passing
compliment
,
—
not
even
one
of
those
civil
phrases
which
cost
nothing
to
utter
,
mean
perhaps
as
little
,
but
still
are
pleasing
to
hear
,
—
to
waste
upon
the
executioner
's
niece
.
Some
old
women
,
more
hard-hearted
than
the
rest
,
exclaimed
,
as
she
hurried
timidly
by
the
spot
where
they
were
gossiping
,
"
Ah
!
her
uncle
has
got
business
on
his
hands
this
morning
!
"
And
when
the
poor
girl
reached
the
shop
whither
she
was
going
,
her
eyes
were
bathed
in
tears
.
The
shopkeeper
was
cool
and
indifferent
in
his
manner
towards
her
—
not
obsequious
and
ready
as
towards
his
other
customers
.
He
even
examined
with
suspicion
the
coin
which
she
tendered
him
in
payment
for
her
purchases
—
as
if
it
were
impossible
that
honesty
could
dwell
in
the
heart
of
an
executioner
's
niece
!
The
ill-conditioned
fellow
!
He
saw
not
the
mild
blue
eyes
,
with
a
tear
glittering
in
each
like
twin-drops
of
the
diamond-dew
;
—
he
marked
not
the
pretty
lips
,
apart
,
and
expressive
of
such
profound
melancholy
;
—
he
observed
not
the
thick
folds
of
the
shawl
across
the
gently-budding
bosom
rise
and
sink
rapidly
:
—
no
,
—
he
beheld
not
that
interesting
young
creature
's
grief
;
but
he
treated
her
rudely
and
harshly
,
because
she
was
the
executioner
's
niece
!
Kate
retraced
her
steps
homewards
.
She
saw
other
girls
of
her
own
age
nod
familiarly
to
their
acquaintances
at
the
windows
,
as
they
passed
;
—
but
she
had
no
friend
to
receive
or
return
her
smile
of
recognition
!
Shrinking
within
herself
,
as
it
were
,
from
the
slightest
contact
with
the
world
which
despised
her
,
the
poor
young
creature
felt
herself
an
interloper
upon
the
very
pavement
,
and
even
stepped
into
the
muddy
street
to
make
way
for
those
who
passed
.
With
a
broken
spirit
she
returned
home
,
her
fate
weighing
upon
her
soul
like
a
crime
!
And
so
it
was
with
her
always
on
those
mornings
when
her
uncle
was
called
upon
to
exercise
his
fearful
functions
.
She
was
glad
to
bury
herself
once
more
in
that
dwelling
the
threshold
of
which
a
friendly
step
so
seldom
crossed
:
her
little
parlour
,
embellished
with
her
own
hands
,
appeared
a
paradise
of
peace
after
the
contumely
which
she
experienced
in
the
bustling
streets
.
She
had
returned
home
in
so
depressed
a
state
of
mind
that
she
had
forgotten
to
close
the
front
door
behind
her
.
She
opened
her
work-box
,
seated
herself
at
the
table
,
and
commenced
her
toil
of
pleasure
—
for
that
young
girl
loved
her
needle
,
and
abhorred
idleness
.
She
then
fell
into
a
reverie
as
she
worked
.
"
To
be
a
hangman
is
something
horrible
indeed
,
"
she
mused
aloud
;
"
but
to
be
a
member
of
a
hangman
's
family
is
far
worse
.
He
knows
that
he
merits
what
reproach
is
levelled
against
him
,
if
indeed
his
office
deserve
reproach
at
all
;
but
I
,
who
abhor
the
bare
idea
,
and
never
so
much
as
witnessed
an
execution
—
why
should
shame
and
obloquy
redound
upon
me
?
It
is
like
suffering
for
a
crime
of
which
one
is
innocent
!
O
God
,
is
this
human
justice
?
What
have
I
done
that
the
vilest
and
lowest
should
despise
me
?
Am
I
not
flesh
and
blood
like
them
?
do
my
clothes
carry
pollution
,
that
the
ragged
beggar
draws
her
tatters
close
to
her
as
she
passes
me
?
Oh
!
give
me
strength
,
heaven
,
to
support
my
wretched
fate
;
for
there
are
moments
when
I
despair
!
"
"
You
are
wrong
to
mistrust
the
goodness
of
the
Almighty
,
"
said
a
mild
voice
close
behind
her
chair
.
Kate
started
,
and
looked
round
.
It
was
the
rector
of
St.
David
's
who
had
entered
he
room
,
unperceived
by
the
young
maiden
.
"
Pardon
me
,
reverend
sir
,
"
answered
Kate
;
"
I
know
that
I
am
often
forgetful
of
the
wholesome
lessons
which
I
have
received
from
your
lips
;
but
—
—
"
"
Well
,
well
,
poor
child
,
"
interrupted
Reginald
Tracy
,
to
whose
cheeks
the
phrase
"
wholesome
lessons
"
brought
a
flush
of
crimson
—
for
he
remembered
how
he
himself
had
deviated
from
the
doctrines
which
he
had
long
successfully
and
sincerely
taught
:
"
be
consoled
!
I
know
how
sad
must
be
our
lot
;
and
I
have
called
this
morning
to
see
if
I
cannot
ameliorate
it
.
"
"
What
?
better
my
condition
,
sir
?
"
exclaimed
Katherine
.
"
Oh
!
how
is
that
possible
?
"
"
We
will
see
,
"
answered
the
rector
,
taking
a
chair
near
the
young
maiden
.
"
You
are
not
altogether
so
friendless
as
you
imagine
.
"
"
I
am
aware
,
sir
,
that
through
your
goodness
I
received
an
education
at
the
school
which
your
bounty
founded
;
and
your
excellent
housekeeper
,
Mrs.
Kenrick
,
has
furnished
me
with
needle-work
.
Oh
!
sir
,
I
am
not
ignorant
how
much
I
owe
to
you
both
!
"
Kate
raised
her
mild
blue
eyes
towards
the
rector
's
countenance
;
but
her
glance
drooped
again
instantaneously
,
for
his
looks
were
fixed
upon
her
in
a
manner
which
she
had
never
noticed
in
him
before
,
and
which
excited
a
momentary
feeling
of
embarrassment
—
almost
of
alarm
—
in
her
mind
.
But
that
feeling
passed
away
as
rapidly
as
it
had
arisen
;
and
she
blushed
to
think
that
she
should
have
experienced
such
a
sentiment
in
the
presence
of
so
holy
a
man
and
so
great
a
benefactor
.
"
I
did
not
wish
to
remind
you
of
any
trifling
services
which
myself
or
my
housekeeper
may
have
rendered
you
,
Katherine
,
"
said
Reginald
.
"
I
alluded
to
another
friend
who
interests
himself
in
you
.
"
"
Another
friend
!
"
ejaculated
the
young
girl
.
"
Is
it
possible
that
I
have
another
friend
in
the
whole
world
?
"
"
You
have
,
"
replied
Mr.
Tracy
.
"
Did
not
a
gentleman
,
accompanied
by
a
police-officer
,
visit
this
house
about
a
fortnight
ago
?
"
"
Yes
—
I
remember
—
late
one
night
—
—
"
And
she
stopped
short
,
being
unwilling
to
allude
to
that
instance
of
her
uncle
's
cruelty
which
had
led
to
the
visit
mentioned
by
the
rector
.
"
Well
,
that
gentleman
feels
interested
in
you
,
"
continued
Reginald
.
"
He
saw
how
you
were
treated
—
he
knows
that
you
are
unhappy
.
"
"
And
do
strangers
thus
interest
themselves
in
the
wretched
?
"
asked
Katherine
,
her
eyes
swimming
in
tears
.
"
Not
often
,
"
replied
the
rector
.
"
But
this
gentleman
is
one
of
the
few
noble
exceptions
to
the
general
rule
.
"
"
He
must
be
indeed
!
"
exclaimed
Katherine
,
with
an
enthusiasm
which
was
almost
pious
.
"
That
gentleman
learnt
from
the
policeman
enough
to
give
him
a
favourable
impression
of
your
character
,
and
to
render
him
desirous
of
serving
you
.
He
pondered
upon
the
matter
for
some
days
,
but
could
come
to
no
determination
on
the
subject
.
He
heard
that
you
were
anxious
to
leave
this
house
and
earn
your
own
bread
.
"
"
Oh
!
yes
—
how
willingly
would
I
do
so
!
"
exclaimed
Katherine
fervently
.
"
But
—
—
"
"
But
what
?
"
demanded
Reginald
,
in
whose
eyes
the
young
maiden
had
never
been
an
object
of
peculiar
interest
until
at
present
;
—
and
now
he
observed
,
for
the
first
time
,
that
her
personal
appearance
was
far
—
very
far
from
disagreeable
.
The
truth
was
,
that
,
since
his
fall
,
he
had
viewed
every
woman
with
different
eyes
from
those
through
which
he
had
before
surveyed
the
female
sex
.
When
he
himself
was
chaste
and
pure
,
he
observed
only
the
feminine
mind
and
manner
:
—
now
his
glances
studied
and
discriminated
between
external
attractions
.
His
moral
survey
had
become
a
sensual
one
.
"
But
what
?
"
he
said
,
when
Katherine
hesitated
.
"
Do
you
object
to
leave
your
uncle
?
"
"
I
should
be
a
hypocrite
were
I
to
say
that
I
object
to
leave
him
,
"
was
the
immediate
answer
.
"
Nevertheless
,
if
he
demanded
my
services
,
I
would
remain
with
him
,
through
gratitude
for
the
bread
which
he
gave
me
,
and
the
asylum
which
he
afforded
me
,
when
I
was
a
child
and
unable
to
earn
either
.
But
he
would
not
seek
to
retain
me
,
I
know
;
for
he
does
not
—
he
cannot
love
me
!
Still
,
there
is
one
poor
creature
in
this
house
—
—
"
"
My
housekeeper
has
told
me
of
him
.
You
mean
your
uncle
's
son
?
"
said
Reginald
.
"
I
do
,
sir
.
He
has
no
friend
in
the
world
but
me
;
and
,
though
my
intercessions
do
not
save
him
from
much
bad
treatment
,
still
I
have
studied
to
console
him
.
"
"
If
he
be
grateful
,
he
will
feel
pleased
to
think
that
you
may
be
removed
to
a
happier
situation
,
"
said
the
rector
.
"
True
!
"
exclaimed
Kate
.
"
And
if
I
only
earned
more
money
than
I
do
here
,
I
should
be
able
to
provide
him
with
a
great
many
little
comforts
.
"
"
Assuredly
,
"
replied
the
fashionable
preacher
,
who
during
this
colloquy
had
gradually
drawn
his
chair
closer
to
that
of
the
young
maiden
.
"
The
gentleman
,
to
whom
I
have
before
alluded
,
called
upon
me
yesterday
.
It
appears
he
learnt
from
the
policeman
that
you
had
been
educated
at
the
school
in
my
district
,
and
that
my
housekeeper
was
well
acquainted
with
you
.
He
nobly
offered
to
contribute
a
sum
of
money
towards
settling
you
in
some
comfortable
manner
.
"
"
The
generous
stranger
!
"
exclaimed
Kate
.
"
What
is
his
name
,
sir
—
that
I
may
pray
for
him
?
"
"
Mr.
Markham
—
—
"
"
Markham
!
"
cried
the
young
girl
,
strangely
excited
by
the
mention
of
that
name
.
"
Yes
.
Have
you
ever
heard
of
him
before
?
"
asked
the
rector
,
surprised
at
the
impression
thus
produced
.
Katherine
appeared
to
reflect
profoundly
for
some
moments
;
then
,
opening
a
secret
drawer
of
her
work-box
,
she
drew
forth
a
small
satin
bag
,
carefully
sewed
all
round
.
She
took
her
scissors
and
unpicked
the
thread
from
one
end
of
the
bag
.
The
rector
watched
her
attentively
,
and
with
as
much
surprise
as
interest
.
Having
thus
opened
one
extremity
of
the
bag
,
she
inserted
her
delicate
fingers
,
and
produced
a
sheet
of
letter-paper
,
folded
,
and
dingy
with
age
.
Handing
it
to
the
rector
,
she
observed
,
with
tears
streaming
down
her
cheeks
,
"
These
were
the
last
words
my
mother
ever
wrote
;
and
she
had
lost
the
use
of
her
speech
ere
she
penned
them
.
"
Reginald
Tracy
unfolded
the
letter
,
and
read
as
follows
:
—
—
"
Should
my
own
gloomy
presages
prove
true
,
and
the
warning
of
my
medical
attendant
be
well
founded
,
—
if
,
in
a
word
,
the
hand
of
Death
be
already
extended
to
snatch
me
away
thus
in
the
prime
of
life
,
while
my
darling
child
is
*
*
*
*
and
inform
Mr.
Markham
,
whose
abode
is
—
—
"
The
words
that
originally
stood
in
the
place
which
we
have
marked
with
asterisks
,
had
evidently
been
blotted
out
by
the
tears
of
the
writer
.
Reginald
folded
the
letter
as
he
had
received
it
,
and
returned
it
to
Katherine
.
The
young
girl
immediately
replaced
it
in
the
little
bag
,
which
she
sewed
up
with
scrupulous
care
.
It
was
the
poor
creature
's
sole
treasure
;
and
she
prized
it
as
the
last
and
only
memento
that
she
possessed
of
her
mother
.
"
And
you
know
not
to
whom
that
unfinished
letter
alluded
?
"
said
the
rector
,
after
a
long
pause
,
during
which
the
bag
,
with
its
precious
contents
,
had
been
consigned
once
more
to
the
secret
drawer
in
the
work-box
.
"
I
have
not
the
least
idea
,
"
answered
Kate
,
drying
her
tears
.
"
I
was
only
four
years
old
when
my
mother
died
,
and
of
course
could
take
no
steps
to
inquire
after
the
Mr.
Markham
mentioned
in
the
letter
.
My
uncle
has
often
assured
me
that
he
took
some
trouble
in
the
matter
,
but
without
success
.
Markham
,
you
know
,
sir
,
is
by
no
means
an
uncommon
name
.
"
"
And
your
father
,
Katherine
—
do
you
remember
him
?
"
"
Oh
!
no
,
sir
—
he
died
before
my
mother
.
When
I
was
old
enough
to
comprehend
how
dreadful
it
is
to
be
an
orphan
,
Mr.
Tracy
,
I
made
that
little
satin
bag
to
preserve
the
letter
which
Death
would
not
allow
my
poor
mother
to
finish
.
"
And
again
the
young
maiden
wept
bitterly
.
The
rector
was
deeply
affected
;
and
for
some
minutes
his
sensual
ideas
concerning
the
damsel
were
absorbed
in
a
more
generous
sympathy
.
"
But
did
not
the
medical
man
who
attended
your
mother
in
her
last
moments
,
and
who
is
also
alluded
to
in
the
letter
,
"
asked
Reginald
,
—
"
did
he
not
afford
some
clue
to
unravel
the
mystery
?
"
"
That
question
I
have
asked
my
uncle
more
than
once
,
"
answered
Kate
;
"
and
he
has
assured
me
that
the
medical
man
was
a
perfect
stranger
who
was
casually
summoned
to
attend
upon
my
poor
mother
only
the
very
day
before
she
breathed
her
last
.
Since
then
the
medical
man
has
also
died
.
"
"
Your
mother
was
your
uncle
's
own
sister
,
was
she
not
?
"
asked
the
rector
.
"
She
was
,
sir
.
"
"
And
she
married
a
person
named
Wilmot
?
"
"
Yes
—
for
my
name
is
Katherine
Wilmot
.
"
"
I
remember
that
you
were
so
entered
upon
the
school-books
,
"
said
the
rector
.
"
Your
mother
must
have
been
a
superior
woman
,
for
the
language
of
that
fragment
of
a
letter
is
accurate
,
and
the
handwriting
is
good
.
"
"
The
same
thought
has
often
struck
me
,
sir
,
"
observed
Katherine
.
"
And
now
how
strange
it
is
that
a
person
bearing
the
name
of
Markham
should
interest
himself
in
my
behalf
!
"
"
Strange
indeed
!
"
exclaimed
Reginald
,
whose
eyes
were
once
more
fixed
upon
the
interesting
girl
near
him
,
—
fixed
,
too
,
with
an
ardent
glance
,
and
not
one
of
tender
sympathy
.
"
Mr.
Richard
Markham
—
the
gentleman
of
whom
I
speak
—
called
upon
me
,
as
I
ere
now
stated
,
and
besought
me
to
exert
myself
in
your
behalf
.
He
seems
to
think
that
my
position
and
character
enable
me
to
do
for
you
that
which
,
coming
from
him
,
might
awaken
the
tongue
of
scandal
.
The
cause
of
my
visit
this
morning
is
now
at
length
explained
.
"
"
I
am
very
grateful
,
sir
,
for
Mr.
Markham
's
good
intentions
and
your
kindness
,
"
said
Katherine
.
"
The
coincidence
in
names
,
which
led
me
to
show
you
that
letter
,
seems
a
providential
suggestion
to
me
to
follow
the
counsel
of
such
generous
—
such
disinterested
friends
.
"
"
I
thought
as
I
came
along
,
"
resumed
the
clergyman
,
"
that
I
would
procure
you
a
situation
with
some
friends
of
mine
in
the
country
.
But
—
"
and
he
cast
upon
her
a
burning
look
brimful
of
licentiousness
—
"
I
have
my
doubts
whether
it
would
not
be
better
for
you
to
come
to
my
house
and
assist
Mrs.
Kenrick
in
her
domestic
duties
—
especially
as
she
is
getting
very
old
—
and
—
—
"
He
paused
for
a
moment
:
—
he
hesitated
,
because
at
the
back
of
the
offer
there
was
an
unworthy
motive
at
which
his
guilty
soul
quaked
,
lest
it
should
betray
itself
.
But
that
pure-minded
and
artless
girl
only
saw
in
that
offer
a
noble
act
of
kindness
;
and
she
frankly
accepted
it
—
upon
the
condition
that
her
uncle
approved
of
her
conduct
in
doing
so
.
The
rector
rose
—
he
had
no
farther
excuse
for
protracting
his
visit
.
The
young
girl
thanked
him
for
his
goodness
with
the
most
heart-felt
sincerity
.
He
then
took
his
leave
.
CHAPTER
CXLV
.
HYPOCRISY
.
Reginald
Tracy
proceeded
from
the
dwelling
of
the
hangman
to
the
corner
of
Tottenham
Court
Road
,
where
his
carriage
was
waiting
for
him
.
He
stepped
into
the
vehicle
,
and
ordered
the
coachman
to
drive
him
to
Markham
Place
near
Lower
Holloway
.
Richard
was
not
at
home
:
he
had
gone
for
a
short
walk
with
Mr.
Monroe
,
who
was
yet
too
feeble
to
move
far
without
the
support
of
a
companion
's
arm
.
They
were
,
however
,
expected
to
return
in
a
short
time
;
—
besides
,
Miss
Monroe
was
in
the
drawing-room
;
and
the
rector
therefore
decided
upon
walking
in
and
waiting
for
Mr.
Markham
.
The
name
of
Miss
Monroe
produced
a
powerful
sensation
in
the
breast
of
that
man
whose
passions
until
lately
dormant
from
his
birth
,
now
raged
so
furiously
.
He
had
seen
her
in
a
voluptuous
negligee
,
attending
by
the
sick-bed
of
her
father
;
—
he
had
heard
her
utter
words
of
strange
self-accusing
import
,
in
connection
with
that
parent
's
illness
;
—
and
his
curiosity
,
as
well
as
his
desires
,
was
kindled
.
He
had
been
fascinated
by
that
charming
girl
;
and
our
readers
will
remember
that
he
had
felt
himself
capable
of
making
any
sacrifice
to
obtain
her
love
!
His
mind
,
too
,
entertained
a
distant
suspicion
—
a
very
distant
one
,
but
still
a
suspicion
—
that
she
had
strayed
from
the
path
of
virtue
;
—
for
of
what
else
could
a
daughter
,
whom
he
had
seen
hanging
like
a
ministering
angel
over
her
father
's
couch
,
accuse
herself
?
This
suspicion
—
and
,
at
all
events
,
that
mystery
which
hung
around
the
accusation
alluded
to
,
served
to
inflame
the
imagination
of
a
man
who
now
sought
to
place
no
bridle
upon
his
passions
.
The
idea
suggested
itself
to
him
,
that
if
another
had
revelled
in
her
charms
,
why
should
not
he
?
In
a
word
,
his
heart
glowed
with
secret
delight
when
he
learnt
from
Whittingham
that
Miss
Monroe
was
alone
in
the
drawing-room
.
On
his
entrance
,
Ellen
rose
from
the
sofa
,
and
welcomed
him
with
a
cordiality
which
originated
in
a
sense
of
gratitude
for
the
spiritual
comfort
he
had
rendered
her
father
during
his
illness
.
At
a
glance
his
eyes
scanned
the
fair
form
of
Ellen
from
head
to
foot
;
and
his
imagination
was
instantly
fired
with
the
thoughts
of
her
soft
and
swelling
charms
—
those
graceful
undulations
which
were
all
her
own
,
and
needed
no
artificial
aids
to
improve
the
originals
of
nature
!
"
I
am
pleased
to
learn
from
the
servant
that
your
father
,
Miss
Monroe
,
is
able
to
take
a
little
exercise
once
more
,
"
said
the
rector
.
"
Oh
!
all
danger
is
now
past
,
"
exclaimed
Ellen
cheerfully
.
"
But
at
one
time
,
Mr.
Tracy
,
I
had
made
up
my
mind
to
lose
him
.
"
"
I
saw
how
much
you
were
afflicted
,
"
observed
the
rector
;
"
and
I
was
grieved
to
hear
you
reproach
yourself
to
some
extent
—
—
"
"
Reproach
myself
!
"
interrupted
Ellen
,
blushing
deeply
.
"
You
heard
me
reproach
myself
?
"
"
I
did
,
"
answered
the
rector
.
"
And
now
,
forgive
me
,
if
—
by
virtue
of
my
sacred
calling
—
I
make
bold
to
remind
you
that
Providence
frequently
tries
us
,
through
the
medium
of
afflictions
visited
upon
those
whom
we
love
,
in
order
to
punish
us
for
our
neglectfulness
,
our
unkindness
,
or
our
errors
,
towards
those
so
afflicted
.
Pardon
me
,
Miss
Monroe
,
for
thus
addressing
you
;
but
I
should
be
unfaithful
towards
Him
whom
I
serve
,
did
I
not
avail
myself
of
every
opportunity
to
explain
the
lessons
which
his
wise
and
just
dispensations
convey
.
"
"
Mr.
Tracy
,
"
exclaimed
Ellen
,
cruelly
embarrassed
by
this
language
,
"
do
you
really
believe
that
Providence
punished
my
father
for
some
misconduct
on
my
part
?
"
"
Judging
by
the
reproach
—
the
accusation
which
your
lips
uttered
against
yourself
—
perhaps
in
an
unguarded
moment
—
when
you
ministered
with
angelic
tenderness
at
your
father
's
sick-bed
—
—
"
"
Sir
—
Mr.
Tracy
,
this
is
too
much
!
"
cried
Ellen
,
tears
starting
from
her
eyes
,
while
her
cheeks
were
suffused
with
blushes
:
"
it
is
unmanly
—
it
is
ungenerous
to
take
advantage
of
any
expressions
which
might
have
been
wrung
from
me
in
a
moment
of
acute
anguish
.
"
"
Pardon
me
,
young
lady
,
"
said
the
rector
with
apparent
meekness
:
"
heaven
knows
the
purity
of
my
intentions
in
thus
addressing
you
.
It
is
not
always
that
my
spiritual
aid
is
thus
rejected
—
that
my
motives
are
thus
cruelly
suspected
.
"
"
Forgive
me
,
sir
,
—
I
was
wrong
to
excite
myself
at
words
which
were
meant
in
kindness
,
"
said
Ellen
,
completely
deceived
by
this
consummate
hypocrisy
.
"
Miss
Monroe
,
"
continued
Reginald
,
"
believe
me
when
I
assure
you
that
I
feel
deep
compassion
—
deep
interest
,
wherever
I
perceive
grief
—
especially
when
that
sorrow
is
secret
.
And
,
if
my
eyes
have
not
deceived
me
,
methinks
I
have
read
in
your
young
heart
the
existence
of
some
such
secret
sorrow
.
My
aim
is
to
console
you
;
for
the
consolation
which
I
can
offer
is
not
human
—
it
is
divine
!
I
am
but
the
humble
instrument
of
the
supernal
Goodness
;
but
God
imparts
solace
through
even
the
least
worthy
of
his
ministers
.
"
"
I
thank
you
sincerely
for
your
friendly
intentions
towards
me
,
"
said
Ellen
,
now
recovering
her
presence
of
mind
;
"
but
,
since
my
father
is
restored
to
health
,
I
have
little
to
vex
me
.
"
"
And
yet
that
self-reproach
,
Miss
Monroe
,
"
persisted
the
rector
,
determined
not
to
abandon
the
point
to
which
he
had
so
dexterously
conducted
the
conversation
,
—
"
that
self-accusation
which
escaped
your
lips
—
—
"
"
Is
a
family
secret
,
Mr.
Tracy
,
which
may
not
be
revealed
,
"
interrupted
Ellen
firmly
.
"
I
ask
you
not
for
your
confidence
,
Miss
Monroe
:
think
not
that
I
seek
to
pry
into
your
affairs
with
an
impertinent
curiosity
—
—
"
"
Once
more
,
sir
,
I
thank
you
for
the
kindness
which
prompts
you
thus
to
address
me
;
but
—
pray
,
let
us
change
the
conversation
.
"
These
words
were
uttered
in
so
decided
a
tone
,
that
Reginald
dared
not
persist
in
his
attempt
to
thrust
himself
into
the
young
lady
's
confidence
.
An
awkward
silence
ensued
;
and
the
rector
was
thinking
how
he
should
break
it
,
when
the
door
opened
.
Almost
at
the
same
moment
,
a
female
voice
was
heard
outside
the
room
,
saying
,
in
tender
playfulness
,
"
Come
to
mamma
!
come
to
mamma
!
"
Then
,
immediately
afterwards
,
Marian
entered
the
apartment
,
bearing
an
infant
in
her
arms
.
Whittingham
had
neglected
to
tell
her
that
there
was
a
visitor
in
the
drawing-room
.
Poor
Marian
,
astounded
at
the
presence
of
the
rector
,
could
neither
advance
nor
retreat
for
some
moments
.
At
length
she
turned
abruptly
away
.
Ellen
sank
back
upon
the
sofa
,
overcome
with
shame
and
grief
.
The
rector
threw
upon
her
a
glance
full
of
meaning
;
but
she
saw
it
not
—
for
her
own
eyes
were
cast
down
.
This
depression
,
however
,
lasted
only
for
a
moment
.
Suddenly
raising
her
head
,
she
exclaimed
with
that
boldness
and
firm
frankness
which
had
been
taught
her
by
the
various
circumstances
of
the
last
few
years
of
her
life
,
"
You
now
know
my
secret
,
sir
:
but
you
are
a
man
of
honour
.
I
need
say
no
more
.
"
"
Who
has
been
base
enough
to
leave
this
grievous
wrong
unrepaired
?
"
asked
Reginald
,
taking
her
hand
—
that
soft
,
warm
,
delicate
hand
.
"
Nay
—
seek
to
know
no
more
,
"
returned
Ellen
,
withdrawing
her
hand
hastily
from
what
she
however
conceived
to
be
only
the
pressure
of
a
friendly
or
fraternal
interest
;
"
you
have
learnt
too
much
already
.
For
God
's
sake
,
let
not
my
father
know
that
you
have
discovered
his
daughter
's
shame
!
"
"
Not
for
worlds
would
I
do
aught
to
cause
you
pain
!
"
cried
the
rector
,
enthusiastically
.
"
Thank
you
—
thank
you
,
"
murmured
Ellen
,
completely
deceived
in
respect
to
the
cause
of
Tracy
's
warmth
,
and
mistaking
for
friendly
interest
an
ebullition
of
feeling
which
was
in
reality
gross
and
sensual
.
With
these
words
Ellen
hurried
from
the
room
.
"
I
have
discovered
her
secret
!
"
said
the
rector
triumphantly
to
himself
,
as
he
rose
and
paced
the
apartment
,
mad
passions
raging
in
his
breast
;
"
and
that
discovery
shall
make
her
mine
.
Oh
!
no
sacrifice
were
too
great
to
obtain
possession
of
that
charming
creature
!
I
would
give
the
ten
best
years
of
my
life
to
clasp
her
in
my
arms
,
in
the
revels
of
love
!
Happy
—
thrice
happy
should
I
be
to
feel
that
lovely
form
become
supple
and
yielding
in
my
embrace
!
But
my
brain
burns
—
my
heart
beats
—
my
eyes
throb
—
my
blood
seems
liquid
fire
!
"
Reginald
threw
himself
,
exhausted
by
the
indomitable
violence
of
his
passions
,
upon
the
sofa
.
Scarcely
had
he
time
to
compose
himself
,
when
Markham
entered
the
room
.
The
rector
communicated
to
him
the
particulars
of
his
interview
with
Katherine
Wilmot
,
and
concluded
by
saying
that
,
as
the
girl
was
known
to
his
housekeeper
,
he
had
determined
upon
taking
her
into
his
service
.
"
With
regard
to
the
fragment
of
the
letter
,
"
observed
Richard
,
"
allusion
must
have
been
made
to
some
person
of
the
name
of
Markham
who
is
totally
unconnected
with
our
family
.
We
have
no
relations
of
that
name
.
I
feel
convinced
that
the
mention
of
the
name
could
not
in
any
way
refer
to
my
father
;
and
my
brother
and
myself
were
children
at
the
time
when
that
letter
must
have
been
written
.
"
"
It
is
a
coincidence
—
and
that
is
all
,
"
observed
the
rector
.
"
But
as
you
have
to
some
extent
constituted
yourself
the
benefactor
of
this
young
person
,
do
you
approve
of
the
arrangement
which
I
have
made
for
her
to
enter
my
household
?
"
"
My
dear
sir
,
how
can
I
object
?
"
exclaimed
Richard
,
who
,
in
the
natural
generosity
of
his
heart
,
gave
the
rector
credit
for
the
most
worthy
motives
.
"
I
consider
myself
your
debtor
for
your
noble
conduct
in
this
instance
.
Under
your
roof
,
Mr.
Tracy
,
the
breath
of
calumny
cannot
reach
that
poor
creature
;
and
there
no
one
will
dare
to
make
her
family
connexions
a
subject
of
reproach
.
"
Some
farther
conversation
took
place
between
Reginald
Tracy
and
Richard
Markham
upon
this
subject
,
and
when
the
former
rose
to
depart
,
they
both
observed
,
for
the
first
time
during
their
interview
,
that
a
violent
shower
of
rain
was
pouring
down
.
Richard
pressed
the
rector
to
remain
to
dinner
—
an
invitation
which
he
,
whose
head
was
filled
with
Ellen
,
did
not
hesitate
to
accept
.
The
rector
's
carriage
and
horses
were
accordingly
housed
in
the
stables
attached
to
Markham
Place
;
and
Whittingham
was
desired
to
make
Mr.
Tracy
's
coachman
and
livery-servant
as
comfortable
as
possible
—
instructions
with
which
the
hospitable
old
butler
did
not
fail
to
comply
.
Dinner
was
served
up
at
five
o'clock
;
and
Reginald
had
the
felicity
of
sitting
next
to
Miss
Monroe
.
The
more
he
saw
of
this
young
lady
,
the
more
did
he
become
enraptured
with
her
,
—
not
,
however
,
experiencing
a
pure
and
chaste
affection
,
but
one
whose
ingredients
were
completely
sensual
.
The
evening
passed
rapidly
away
;
—
the
rain
continued
to
pour
in
torrents
.
As
a
matter
of
courtesy
—
indeed
,
of
hospitality
,
for
Richard
's
nature
was
generosity
itself
—
the
rector
was
pressed
to
stay
the
night
at
the
Place
;
and
,
although
he
had
a
good
close
carriage
to
convey
him
home
(
and
persons
who
have
such
equipages
are
seldom
over
careful
of
their
servants
)
,
he
accepted
the
invitation
.
There
was
something
so
pleasing
—
so
intoxicating
in
the
idea
of
passing
the
night
under
the
same
roof
with
Ellen
!
CHAPTER
CXLVI
.
THE
BATH
.
—
THE
HOUSEKEEPER
.
It
was
scarcely
light
when
the
rector
of
Saint
David
's
rose
from
a
couch
where
visions
of
a
most
voluptuous
nature
had
filled
his
sleep
.
Having
hastily
dressed
himself
,
he
descended
from
his
room
with
the
intention
of
seeking
the
fine
frosty
air
of
the
garden
to
cool
his
heated
brain
.
But
as
he
proceeded
along
a
passage
leading
to
the
landing
of
the
first
flight
of
stairs
,
he
heard
a
light
step
slowly
descending
the
upper
flight
;
and
the
next
moment
,
the
voice
of
Ellen
speaking
fondly
to
her
child
,
fell
upon
his
ear
.
For
nurses
and
mothers
will
talk
to
babes
of
even
a
few
months
old
—
although
the
innocents
comprehend
them
not
!
Reginald
stepped
into
the
recess
formed
by
the
door
of
one
of
the
bed-chambers
in
that
spacious
mansion
;
and
scarcely
had
he
concealed
himself
there
when
he
saw
Ellen
,
with
the
child
in
her
arms
,
pass
across
the
landing
at
the
end
of
the
passage
,
and
enter
a
room
on
the
other
side
.
She
wore
a
loose
dressing-gown
of
snowy
whiteness
,
which
was
confined
by
a
band
round
her
delicate
waist
,
and
was
fastened
up
to
the
throat
:
her
little
feet
had
been
hastily
thrust
into
a
pair
of
buff
morocco
slippers
;
and
her
long
shining
hair
flowed
over
her
shoulders
and
down
her
back
.
The
licentious
eyes
of
the
clergyman
followed
her
from
the
foot
of
the
stairs
to
the
room
which
she
entered
;
and
even
plunged
with
eager
curiosity
into
that
chamber
during
the
moment
that
the
door
was
open
as
she
went
in
.
That
glance
enabled
him
to
perceive
that
there
was
a
bath
in
the
apartment
to
which
Ellen
had
proceeded
with
her
child
.
Indeed
,
the
young
lady
,
ever
since
her
residence
at
Markham
Place
,
had
availed
herself
of
the
luxury
of
the
bathing-room
which
that
mansion
possessed
:
and
every
morning
she
immersed
her
beautiful
person
in
the
refreshing
element
,
which
she
enjoyed
in
its
natural
state
in
summer
,
but
which
was
rendered
slightly
tepid
for
her
in
winter
.
When
the
rector
beheld
her
descend
in
that
bewitching
negligee
,
—
her
hair
unconfined
,
and
floating
at
will
—
her
small
,
round
,
polished
ankles
glancing
between
the
white
drapery
and
the
little
slippers
,
—
and
the
child
,
with
merely
a
thick
shawl
thrown
about
it
,
in
her
arms
,
—
and
when
he
observed
the
bath
in
that
chamber
which
she
entered
,
he
immediately
comprehended
her
intention
.
Without
a
moment
's
hesitation
he
stole
softly
from
the
recess
where
he
had
concealed
himself
,
and
approached
the
door
of
the
bath-room
.
His
greedy
eyes
were
applied
to
the
key-hole
;
and
his
licentious
glance
plunged
into
the
depths
of
that
sacred
privacy
.
The
unsuspecting
Ellen
was
warbling
cheerfully
to
her
child
.
She
dipped
her
hand
into
the
water
,
which
Marian
had
prepared
for
her
,
and
found
the
degree
of
heat
agreeable
to
her
wishes
.
Then
she
placed
the
towels
near
the
fire
to
warm
.
Reginald
watched
her
proceedings
with
the
most
ardent
curiosity
:
the
very
luxury
of
the
unhallowed
enjoyment
which
he
experienced
caused
an
oppression
at
his
chest
;
his
heart
beat
quickly
;
his
brain
seemed
to
throb
with
violence
.
The
fires
of
gross
sensuality
raged
madly
in
his
breast
.
Ellen
's
preparations
were
now
completed
.
With
her
charming
white
hand
she
put
back
her
hair
from
her
forehead
.
Then
,
as
she
still
retained
the
child
on
her
left
arm
,
with
her
right
hand
she
loosened
the
strings
which
closed
her
dressing-gown
round
the
neck
and
the
band
which
confined
it
at
the
waist
.
While
thus
occupied
,
she
was
partly
turned
towards
the
door
;
and
all
the
treasures
of
her
bosom
were
revealed
to
the
ardent
gaze
of
the
rector
.
His
desires
were
now
inflamed
to
that
pitch
when
they
almost
become
ungovernable
.
He
felt
that
could
he
possess
that
charming
creature
,
he
would
care
not
for
the
result
—
even
though
he
forced
her
to
compliance
with
his
wishes
,
and
murder
and
suicide
followed
,
—
the
murder
of
her
,
and
the
suicide
of
himself
!
He
was
about
to
grasp
the
handle
of
the
door
,
when
he
remembered
that
he
had
heard
the
key
turn
in
the
lock
immediately
after
she
had
entered
the
room
.
He
gnashed
his
teeth
with
rage
.
And
now
the
drapery
had
fallen
from
her
shoulders
,
and
the
whole
of
her
voluptuous
form
,
naked
to
the
waist
,
was
exposed
to
his
view
.
He
could
have
broken
down
the
door
,
had
he
not
feared
to
alarm
the
other
inmates
of
the
house
.
He
literally
trembled
under
the
influence
of
his
fierce
desires
.
How
he
envied
—
Oh
!
how
he
envied
the
innocent
babe
which
the
fond
mother
pressed
to
that
bosom
—
swelling
,
warm
,
and
glowing
!
And
now
she
prepared
to
step
into
the
bath
:
but
,
while
he
was
waiting
with
fervent
avidity
for
the
moment
when
the
whole
of
the
drapery
should
fall
from
her
form
,
a
step
suddenly
resounded
upon
the
stairs
.
He
started
like
a
guilty
wretch
away
from
the
door
:
and
,
perceiving
that
the
footsteps
descended
the
upper
flight
,
he
precipitated
himself
down
the
stairs
.
Rushing
across
the
hall
,
he
sought
the
garden
,
where
he
wandered
up
and
down
,
a
thousand
wild
feelings
agitating
his
breast
.
He
determined
that
Ellen
should
be
his
;
but
he
was
not
collected
enough
to
deliberate
upon
the
means
of
accomplishing
his
resolution
,
—
so
busy
was
his
imagination
in
conjuring
up
the
most
voluptuous
idealities
,
which
were
all
prompted
by
the
real
scene
the
contemplation
whereof
had
been
interrupted
.
He
fancied
that
he
beheld
the
lovely
young
mother
immersed
in
the
bath
—
the
water
agitated
by
her
polished
limbs
—
each
ripple
kissing
some
charm
,
even
as
she
herself
kissed
her
babe
!
Then
he
imagined
he
saw
her
step
forth
like
a
Venus
from
the
ocean
—
her
cheeks
flushed
with
animation
—
her
long
glossy
hair
floating
in
rich
undulations
over
her
ivory
shoulders
.
"
My
God
!
"
he
exclaimed
,
at
length
,
"
I
shall
grow
mad
under
the
influence
of
this
fascination
!
One
kiss
from
her
lips
were
worth
ten
thousand
of
the
meretricious
embraces
which
Cecilia
yields
so
willingly
.
Oh
!
Ellen
would
not
surrender
herself
without
many
prayers
—
much
entreaty
—
and
,
perhaps
,
force
;
—
but
Cecilia
falls
into
my
arms
without
a
struggle
!
Enjoyment
with
her
is
not
increased
by
previous
bashfulness
;
—
she
does
not
fire
the
soul
by
one
moment
of
resistance
.
But
Ellen
—
so
coy
,
so
difficult
to
win
,
—
so
full
of
confidence
in
herself
,
in
spite
of
that
one
fault
which
accident
betrayed
to
me
,
—
Ellen
,
so
young
and
inexperienced
in
the
ways
of
passion
,
—
Oh
!
she
were
a
conquest
worth
every
sacrifice
that
man
could
make
!
"
The
rector
's
reverie
was
suddenly
interrupted
by
the
voice
of
Whittingham
summoning
him
to
the
breakfast-room
.
Thither
he
proceeded
;
and
there
Ellen
,
now
attired
in
a
simple
but
captivating
morning-dress
,
presided
