The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 191: what you’re looking at

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184 to give answers which wero doubtless revelations of secrots to her. But all this did not strike meat the time: now, however, that the film has been removed from my oyes, I behold things iu a clearer and truer light.” “ Yes—and I also can understand this matter,” said Mr. Hatficld, after 2 few moments’ deep thought “On their return to England, these women must bavoe fallen in with Miranda: from her lips they hoard enough to put them in possession of secrets which thoy doubtless intended to use for the pur- poso of extorting moncy from me through youw, Then your infatuation in respect to the daughter, led you to speak to the mother in such a random, inconsiderato manner as to mako her more fully awaro of our family’s position. Thus, while affect- ing to know all, she drew from you those details which filled up the chapters that were wanting in the history as Miranda originally toldit. Yes—this must be tho truth and the explanation of the whole affair;—and now it remains for us to hasten to England without delay, and, in case the old woman shall be relioved from the charge at presont existing ngainst her, purchase her secrecy and her exile in tho same way as wo have arranged with her daugh- ter.” “But howcan I face my mother?” asked Charles, in a tone expressive of the deepest grief: “how meet the Earl of Ellingham, whom I have souglit to injure—and Lady Frances, to whom I have con- | ducted myself in so scandalous a manner 2?” ‘* Now you recognise the impropricty of your be- haviour towards her!” exclaimed Mr. Ilatfield, ' “Oh? I am rejoiced to perecive that your heart is open to impressions of such a saving naturo !” “Mhe incidents of this day have made me an altered man,” said Charles, emphatically, ‘“*Then am T almost bappy that they have oc- curred!” cried his fathor. “The teachings havo been bitter—bitter indeed, my poor boy; but tho results may constitute an ample recompenso alike to yourself and your parents. Je have recovered we eee a son—youw have acquired an experience ton thou- sand times moro yaluablo than the bost precepts ever inculcated by mortal tongue.” “Oh! this is true—most true, father!” oxclaimed Charles. “But you have not answered the questions —tho painful questions—which I have put to you.” “Tirst, then, with regard to your mother,” re- sponded Mr, Hatfield, ‘you know that she will re- ceive you with open arms. In respect to tho Earl, he must bo told all—every thing; and you may count upon his generosity. But it is with referenco to Lady Frances Ellingham, who lores you—from whom the causes of your flight have been carefully concealed—and who cannot be informed of your sad connexion with a profligate womau,—Oh! it is in regard to her, that I know not how to act—that I am bewildered—cruelly embarrassed !” “ Romomber, my dear father,” said Charles, in a tone of deep humility, “that henceforth I shall do your bidding in all things. You have but to speak —and I obey.” “Think not, my doar son,” avsy.ered Mr. Ifat- field, “that I shall claim of you a deferenco in- compatible with your ags and social position—or that I shall attempt to ¢,ercise an authority that may seem to havo borr ived any taint of severity 10 past. No: but I shall a friend—and in your best i On our arrival in Lon- from the experience of counsel and advise you intorest shall I ever spe ee, THE BLYSTERIES OF (LONDON. don, we will not return immediately to Pall Malle but we will repair to an hotel, whence I will send privately for the Earl; and his advice will assist mo in respect to the course to be observed towards his amiable daughter. And now, Charles do you feel yourself capable of commencing at once our journoy homeward f—or are you too much exhausted-——~” *No—no: let us dopart from Paris without: dolay!” exclaimed the young man. “TI have no longer any object in remaining here.” Mr. Hatfield rang the bell; and a waiter mado his appearance, “ A chaise-and-four as speedily as possible,” was the laconic command givon; “and you must havo our passports backed for Boulogne or Calais.” The domestic bowed and withdrew. Two hours afterwards the father and son wore seated together in the chaise, which was rolling rapidly along the road to Saint Denis. “Twill now give you some account of the adven- tures which I experienced in pursuit of you,” said Mr. Hatfield, who felt that the silence previously existing botween himself and Charles was growing painful: for they had not uttored a word from the moment they entered the vehiclo until Mr. Hatfield now spoke—an interval of nearly half-an-hour. *T shall bo pleased to hear them,” observed the young man, anxious to divert his thoughts from the painful topics that were naturally occupying them: “for I must confess that Iam at a loss to conjec ture how you happened to fall in with tho officers at Dover, and how you were cnabled to trace me to the hotel where you this morning found mo,” “The explanation of all this is yeadily piven,” said Mr. Hatfield; and as the chaise was rolliig along the unpaved part of the road, there was no effort necessary to make his voice audible. “I shall commence with the incidents of the morning on which you quitted London in company with tho two females whose pernicious influenco has worked so much mischicf. You remomber that a most painful interviow took place between yourself and mo in tho library, and that you burst away—pcrhaps just at the moment when explanations might have arisen to convince you of the futility of your ambitious hopes and golden visions in respect to birth and title. Shortly after you thus left me, the Earl entered tho room; and aconversation which took placo, led to the mention of the secret papers. He sought for them in the recess to which he had con- signed them-~and they were gone. At tho samo moment I obtainod the conviction that the Annual Register for a certain year, and containing a certain dreadful narrative, had beer lately read. Then a light broke in upon the Earl and myself; and wo penctrated the motives of the strange conduct you had recently observed towards your parents. At this juncturo, Mr. Clarence Villiers mado his ap- pearance: and, on consulting him, wo learnt to our dismay that the women who passed under the name of Fitzhardinge were his aunt and ccusin,—Mrs, Slingsby, who was transported years ago for /or- gery—and Perdita, her illegitimate child, born in Nowgate,a few weeks previous to her departure. You may conceive the anguish which wo endured when we found that you had become connected with such women; and Villiers hastened to Suffolk Street to obtain an interview with you.” “Would to God that he had succeeded in finding mo—that my departuro with those wretehes had GIOOKS 5} (CO) (CO) >