The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 219: what you’re looking at

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

208 THE EVIL GENIUS. ‘‘Congratulate me on having discovered Roderick Westere field’s daughter.” That reply, and the tone in which it was given, led Randal ta ask if the engagement had been prematurely announced. ‘‘ There is no engagement at all,””» Bennydeck answered, with a look which suggested that it might be wise not to dwell on the subject. But the discovery was welcome to Randal, for his brother’s sake. He ranthe risk of consequences, and inquired if Catherine was still to be found at the hotel. The captain answered, by a sign, in the negative. Randal persisted. ‘‘ Do you know where she has gone?” ‘‘ Nobody knows but her lawyer.” ‘¢ In that case,” Randal concluded, ** 1 shall get the informa- tion that I want.” Noticing that Bennydeck looked surprised, he mentioned his motive. ‘‘ Herbert is pining to see Kitty,” he continued; ‘‘and I mean to help him. He has done all that a man could do to atone for the past. As things are, I firmly be- lieve I shali not offend Catherine if I send him straight to the place in which Kitty and her mother are now living.” They left the house together—one to go to Sydney’s lodgings, the other on his way to Mr. Sarrazin’s office. CHAPTER LIV. LET BYGONES BE BYGONES. WHEN the servant at the lodgings announced a visitor, and mentioned his name, Sydney’s memory (instead of dwelling on the recollection of the captain’s kindness) perversely recalled the letter that she had addressed to him, and reminded her that she stood in need of indulgence, which even so good a man might hesitate to grant. Bennydeck’s first words told the friendless girl that her fears had wronged him. ‘¢*My dear, how like your father you are! You have his eyes and his smile; I can’t tell you how pleasantly you remind me of my dear old friend.” He took her hand, and kissed her as he might have kissed a daughter of his own. ‘‘ Do you remember me at home, Sydney, when you were a child? No; you must have been too young for that.” She was deeply touched. In faint, trembling tones she said, ‘*T remember your name; my poor father often spoke of you.” A man who feels true sympathy is never in danger of mistak- ing his way to a woman’s heart when that woman has suffered. Bennydeck consoled, interested, charmed Sydney, by still speak- ing of the bygone days at home. ‘¢T well remember how fond your father was of you, and what a bright little girl you were,” the captain went on. ‘‘ You have forgotten, I dare say, the old-fashioned sea-songs that he used to be so fond of teaching you. It was the strangest and prettiest contrast to hear your small, piping child’s voice singing of storms and shipwrecks, and thunder and lightning, and reefing sails in cold and darkness, without the least idea of what it ail meant. Your mother was strict in those days; yor never amused her as Gomichbooks (©)