CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY.

wasquiterighttoshakeofftheburdenofTynedale’spatronage,butafooltooffermyshouldersinstantlyforthereceptionofanotherburden—onewhichmightbemoreintolerable,andwhichcertainlywasyetuntried. “IwroteinstantlytoEdward—youknowEdward—myonlybrother,tenyearsmysenior,marriedtoarichmill-owner’sdaughter,andnowpossessorofthemillandbusinesswhichwasmyfather’sbeforehefailed.Youareawarethatmyfather—oncereckonedaCroesusofwealth—becamebankruptashorttimeprevioustohisdeath,andthatmymotherlivedindestitutionforsomesixmonthsafterhim,unhelpedbyheraristocraticalbrothers,whomshehadmortallyoffendedbyherunionwithCrimsworth,the——shiremanufacturer.Attheendofthesixmonthsshebroughtmeintotheworld,andthenherselfleftitwithout,Ishouldthink,muchregret,asitcontainedlittlehopeorcomfortforher. “Myfather’srelationstookchargeofEdward,astheydidofme,tillIwasnineyearsold.AtthatperioditchancedthattherepresentationofanimportantboroughinourcountyfellvacantMr.Seacombestoodforit.MyuncleCrimsworth,anastutemercantileman,tooktheopportunityofwritingafiercelettertothecandidate,statingthatifheandLordTynedaledidnotconsenttodosomethingtowardsthesupportoftheirsister’sorphanchildren,hewouldexposetheirrelentlessandmalignantconducttowardsthatsister,anddohisbesttoturnthecircumstancesagainstMr.Seacombe’selection.ThatgentlemanandLordT.knewwellenoughthattheCrimsworthswereanunscrupulousanddeterminedracetheyknewalsothattheyhadinfluenceintheboroughofX——and,makingavirtueofnecessity,theyconsentedtodefraytheexpensesofmyeducation.IwassenttoEton,whereIremainedtenyears,duringwhichspaceoftimeEdwardandInevermet.He,whenhegrewup,enteredintotrade,andpursuedhiscallingwithsuchdiligence,ability,andsuccess,thatnow,inhisthirtiethyear,hewasfastmakingafortune.OfthisIwasapprisedbytheoccasionalshortlettersIreceivedfromhim,somethreeorfourtimesayearwhichsaidlettersneverconcludedwithoutsomeexpressionofdeterminedenmityagainstthehouseofSeacombe,andsomereproachtomeforliving,ashesaid,onthebountyofthathouse.Atfirst,whilestillinboyhood,Icouldnotunderstandwhy,asIhadnoparents,IshouldnotbeindebtedtomyunclesTynedaleandSeacombeformyeducationbutasIgrewup,andheardbydegreesoftheperseveringhostility,thehatredtilldeathevincedbythemagainstmyfather—ofthesufferingsofmymother—ofallthewrongs,inshort,ofourhouse—thendidIconceiveshameofthedependenceinwhichIlived,andformaresolutionnomoretotakebreadfromhandswhichhadrefusedtoministertothenecessitiesofmydyingmother.ItwasbythesefeelingsIwasinfluencedwhenIrefusedtheRectoryofSeacombe,andtheunionwithoneofmypatriciancousins. “Anirreparablebreachthusbeingeffectedbetweenmyunclesandmyself,IwrotetoEdwardtoldhimwhathadoccurred,andinformedhimofmyintentiontofollowhisstepsandbeatradesman.Iasked,moreover,ifhecouldgivemeemployment.Hisanswerexpressednoapprobationofmyconduct,buthesaidImightcomedownto——shire,ifIliked,andhewould‘seewhatcouldbedoneinthewayoffurnishingmewithwork.’Irepressedall—evenmentalcommentonhisnote—packedmytrunkandcarpet-bag,andstartedfortheNorthdirectly. “Aft