CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY.

ertwodays’travelling(railroadswerenottheninexistence)Iarrived,onewetOctoberafternoon,inthetownofX——.IhadalwaysunderstoodthatEdwardlivedinthistown,butoninquiryIfoundthatitwasonlyMr.Crimsworth’smillandwarehousewhichweresituatedinthesmokyatmosphereofBigbenClosehisRESIDENCElayfourmilesout,inthecountry. “ItwaslateintheeveningwhenIalightedatthegatesofthehabitationdesignatedtomeasmybrother’s.AsIadvanceduptheavenue,Icouldseethroughtheshadesoftwilight,andthedarkgloomymistswhichdeepenedthoseshades,thatthehousewaslarge,andthegroundssurroundingitsufficientlyspacious.Ipausedamomentonthelawninfront,andleaningmybackagainstatalltreewhichroseinthecentre,IgazedwithinterestontheexteriorofCrimsworthHall. “Edwardisrich,”thoughtItomyself.‘Ibelievedhimtobedoingwell—butIdidnotknowhewasmasterofamansionlikethis.’Cuttingshortallmarvellingspeculation,conjecture,&c.,Iadvancedtothefrontdoorandrang.Aman-servantopenedit—Iannouncedmyself—herelievedmeofmywetcloakandcarpet-bag,andusheredmeintoaroomfurnishedasalibrary,wheretherewasabrightfireandcandlesburningonthetableheinformedmethathismasterwasnotyetreturnedfromX——market,butthathewouldcertainlybeathomeinthecourseofhalfanhour. “Beinglefttomyself,Itookthestuffedeasychair,coveredwithredmorocco,whichstoodbythefireside,andwhilemyeyeswatchedtheflamesdartfromtheglowingcoals,andthecindersfallatintervalsonthehearth,mymindbusieditselfinconjecturesconcerningthemeetingabouttotakeplace.Amidstmuchthatwasdoubtfulinthesubjectoftheseconjectures,therewasonethingtolerablycertain—Iwasinnodangerofencounteringseveredisappointmentfromthis,themoderationofmyexpectationsguaranteedme.IanticipatednooverflowingsoffraternaltendernessEdward’slettershadalwaysbeensuchastopreventtheengenderingorharbouringofdelusionsofthissort.Still,asIsatawaitinghisarrival,Ifelteager—veryeager—Icannottellyouwhymyhand,soutterlyastrangertothegraspofakindredhand,clencheditselftorepressthetremorwithwhichimpatiencewouldfainhaveshakenit. “IthoughtofmyunclesandasIwasengagedinwonderingwhetherEdward’sindifferencewouldequalthecolddisdainIhadalwaysexperiencedfromthem,Iheardtheavenuegatesopen:wheelsapproachedthehouseMr.Crimsworthwasarrivedandafterthelapseofsomeminutes,andabriefdialoguebetweenhimselfandhisservantinthehall,histreaddrewnearthelibrarydoor—thattreadaloneannouncedthemasterofthehouse. “IstillretainedsomeconfusedrecollectionofEdwardashewastenyearsago—atall,wiry,rawyouthNOW,asIrosefrommyseatandturnedtowardsthelibrarydoor,Isawafine-lookingandpowerfulman,light-complexioned,well-made,andofathleticproportionsthefirstglancemademeawareofanairofpromptitudeandsharpness,shownaswellinhismovementsasinhisport,hiseye,andthegeneralexpressionofhisface.Hegreetedmewithbrevity,and,inthemomentofshakinghands,scannedmefromheadtofoothetookhisseatinthemoroccocoveredarm-chair,andmotionedmetoanotherseat. “‘Iexpectedyouwouldhavecalledatthecounting-houseintheClose,’saidheandhisvoice,Inoticed,hadanabruptaccent,probablyhabitualtohimhespokealsow