The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 177: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

166 THE EVIL . GENIUS. Written under the modifving influence of these conclusions, his letter contained the few words that follow: ‘‘T have news for you which I am sure you will be glad to hear. Your old friend’s daughter has abandoned her sinful way of life, and has made sacrifices which prove the sincerity of her repentance. Without entering into particulars which may be mercifully dismissed from notice, let me only assure you that I answer for Svdney Westerfietd as being worthy of the fatherly interest which you feel in her. Shall I say that she may expect an early visit from you, when I see her to-morrow? I don't doubt that I am free already to do this; but it will encourage the poor girl if I can speak with your authority.” He added Sydney's address in a postcript, and dispatched his letter that evening. On the afternoon of the next day two letters were delivered to Randal, bearing the Sydenham postmark. The first which he happened to take up was addressed to him in Mrs. Presty’s handwriting. His opinion of this correspondent was expressed in prompt action —he threw the letter, unopened, into the waste-paper basket. The next letter was from Bennydeck, written in the kindest terms, but containing no allusion to any contemplated change in his life. He would not be able (he wrote) to leave Sydenham for a day or two. No explanation of the cause of this delay fol- lowed. But it might, perhaps, be excusable to infer that the marriage had not been decided on, and that the captain’s pro- posals were still waiting for Catherine’s reply. Randal put the letter in his pocket, and went at once to Syd- ney’s lodgings. CHAPTER XLII. TRY TO EXCUSE HER. THE weather had been unusually warm. Of all oppressive summers a hot summer in London is the hardest to endure. The Jittle exercise that Sydney could take was, as Randal knew, de: ferred until the evening. On asking for her, he was surprised to hear that she had gone out. ‘‘Ts she walking,” he asked, ‘‘ on such a day as this ?” No; she was too much overcome by the heat to be able to walk. The landlady’s boy had been sent to fetch a cab, and he had heard Miss Westerfield tell the driver to go to Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The address at once reminded Randal of Mr. Sarrazin. On the chance of making a discovery, he went to the lawyer’s office. It had struck him as being just possible that Sydney might have called there for the second time; and, on making inquiry, he found that his surmise was correct. Miss Westerfield had called, and had gone away again more than an hour since. Having mentioned this circumstance, good Mr. Sarrazin rather abruptly changed the subject. He began to talk of the weather: and, like everybody else, he complained of the heat. Receiving noencouragement so far, he ECORMICLOOOKS,. CO m