The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

212 THE EVIL GENIUS. ‘“‘Most necessary. Herbert left Sydenham firmly persuaded that you were to marry Mrs. Ormond; and, let me add in justice to him, resigned to that event.” ‘‘ Resigned, after what he said to me when we met?” ‘‘ Yes. He had not then spoken with Catherine—he had not been asked to read the confession which she addressed to you. There were remembrances in him which felt that appeal; his conscience told him that you were worthy of her. lam grieved, Bennydeck, to distress you by referring to this. But if my brother is left under the impression that your engagement will be followed by your marriage, he will refuse to intrude himself on the lady who was once his wife. There are the circume stances. What is your reply to my request—yes or no?’ ee and fairly the captain answered: “Yes.” CHAPTER LV. LEAVE IT TO THE CHILD. THe front windows of Brightwater Cottage look out on a quiet green lane in Middlessex, which joins the high-road within a few miles of the market-town of Uxbridge. Through the pretty garden at the back runs a little brook, winding its merry way to a distant river. The few rooms in this pleasant place of resi- dence are well (too well) furnished, having regard to the limits of a building which is a cottage in the strictest sense of the word. Water-color drawings by the old English masters of the art ornament the dining-room. The parlor has been transformed into a library. From floor to ceiling all four of its walls are covered with books. Their old and well-chosen bindings, seen in the mass, present nothing less than a feast of color to the eye. The library and the works of art are described as heirlooms, which have passed into the possession of the present proprietor —one more among the hundreds of Englishmen who are ruined every year by betting on the turf. So sorely in need of a litthe ready money was this victim of gambling—tacitly permitted or conveniently ignored by the audacious hypocrisy of a country which rejoiced in the extinc- tion of Baden, and which still shudders at the name of Monaco— that he was ready to let his pretty cottage for no longer a term than one month certain; and he even allowed the elderly lady, who drove the hardest of hard bargains with him, to lessen by one guinea the house-rent paid for each week. He took his re- venge by means of an ironical compliment, addressed to Mrs. Presty. ‘* What a saving it would be to the country, ma’am, if ou were chancellor of the exchequer!” With perfect gravity, rs. Presty accepted that well-earned tribute of praise. ‘* You are quite right, sir; | should be the first official person known to the history of England who took proper care of the public money.” Within two days of the time when they had left the hotel at Sydenham, Catherine and her little family circle had taken poge session of the cottage. EONNICLOOKS ,eO