and heavy frown upon the countenance of him whom we have so often
heard called the Colonel, as he entered: an expression of bitterness
mingled with sadness; but, nevertheless, he took up the light, and
walking up to the picture, gazed upon it for a minute or two, as
Wilton had done.
"It is wonderfully like," he said, after pausing for a moment or
two--"how beautiful she was! However, I have no time to think of
such things now. I have here tidings for you, Wilton. I know not yet
rightly what they are, for I caught but a glance of them; and had
other things to think of bitter enough, and requiring instant
attention. Here, let us look what this epistle says."
Setting down the lamp upon the table, he opened the letter and held
it to the light, reading it attentively, while Wilton, who stood
beside him did the same. It was written in fine small hand, and in
French; but the page at which Green had opened the sheet, after a few
words connected with a sentence that had gone before, went on as
follows:--"I should not have sent this till we were safe across, but
that circumstances have induced us to delay our departure; and you
would scarcely think that it is I who have urged Caroline to remain
for yet a little while: I, who some days ago was so fearful of
remaining, so anxious to depart. Nor is it solely an inclination to
linger near that dear boy, although I own the sight of him has been
to me like the foretaste of a new existence. Bless him for me, my
friend--bless him for me! But I found that the dear wild girl who is
with me had neither ceased to love, nor ceased entirely to hope. In
the last letter she received, mingled with reproaches for coming
hither, there was every now and then a burst of tenderness and
affection which made her trust, and me almost believe, that all good
and honourable feeling is not extinct. She thinks that if she could
see him, the better angel might gain the dominion, and I have not
only counselled her to remain yet a little while, but also even to go
to London should it be required. While we were talking over all these
things," the letter proceeded, "just after you were gone, we heard a
fresh arrival at this house, and, as I thought, a woman's voice
speaking in tones of remonstrance and complaint. I have this morning
learned who it is, and now write in great haste to ask you if these
things are right in any cause, or if you can have anything to do with
it. I will not believe it, Lennard--I will not believe it. Rash as
you have been