A Heart's Bitterness — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

_. A HEART’S BITTERNESS. 187 — | ‘* Did you ever hear that name before?” Adam looked down uneasily. ‘* Answer me, Adam. ‘This is a time for frankness.” ““My lord, it was the name of your mother’s first hus- band, an Irish attorney.” Lord Leigh gasped. “* Then who is this man?’ ** His son, sir, I think, by a first marriage. He had a son of his name, and. the boy, I heard, had epileptic fits occasionally.” *‘Adam, you were a witness of my father’s marriage? The date?” ‘<The seventeenth of June, 1842, my lord.” ‘¢ And my birth was é ‘*’The tenth of June, 1843, master, as registered.” ** Why do you suppose this man came to look for me?” *<'T'o get influence or money, on threat of mentioning — that he was the late Lady Leigh’s step-son. He knew you would be ashamed of him, my lord. But I think the poor ~ fellow will trouble you no more—he is mad. I hid him with my sister, to keep a talk about your family from spread- ing, my lord.” | Lord Leigh paced the room. ‘¢ Adam, I thank you; you are faithful. I have now, more than ever, reason to wish to know that all is right in regard to me and my estates. If there is one thing I cher- ish, it is my title, my Leigh blood. And now, Adam, I am glad to tell you that I hope my earldom is to have an heir, of my own line, and Colonel Hartington’s boast may cease-———”’ , “Oh, my lord! my lord!” cried Adam, with emotion, dropping on his knees and kissing his master’s hand, ‘surely I wish you joy, and may God be good to you, and to yours to the latest generation. Oh, now, my dear mas- ter, you will cease being moody and unhappy, and you will need no excitement, but will find your happiness, as your father did, in building up the estate for your heir.” : «‘ Thank you, Adam,” said Leigh, much touched by this devotion. ‘I will do the best I can, though I feel a curse ison me. My blood, Adam, is not all Leigh.” «‘ And this man Kemp shall stay where he is?” ‘‘T think, Adam, that in a fortnight or so, when it is not likely that Magery will connect the change with me, 1 © init? J (ee) Eomicbooks.