nute or two, were all given up to love
and happiness; but it was evident from the tears on her cheeks that
she had been weeping bitterly ever since she had been there; and the
moment that he had recovered himself a little, Wilton led her back
to her seat, and placing himself beside her, still holding her hand,
he said--"Dear, dear Laura! I fear that something very painful, I may
say very terrible, has driven you to this step; but indeed, dear
girl, you have not placed your confidence wrongly; and I shall value
this dear hand only the more, should your love for me have deprived
you of that wealth which you have been taught to expect. I will
labour for you, dear Laura, with redoubled energy, and I fear not to
obtain such a competence as may make you happy, though I can never
give you that affluence which you have a right to claim."
The tears had again run over Laura's cheek; but as she returned the
pressure of his hand, she replied--"Thank you, dear Wilton--thank
you: I know you would willingly do all for me, but you mistake, and I
think cannot have heard what has happened."
Those words instantly guided Wilton's mind back to the right point,
though for a moment thought hovered round it vaguely. He recollected
all that Lord Sherbrooke had said with regard to Sir John Fenwick,
and the charge against the Duke, and he replied, "I had mistaken,
Laura--I had mistaken. But what has happened? I have been out wandering
long in the fields, thinking of but one subject, and melancholy
enough, dear girl."
"I know it, dear Wilton--oh, I know it!" she replied, leaning her
head upon his shoulder; "and I, too, have passed a wretched night,
thinking of you. Not that I ever feared all would not in the end go
right, but I knew how miserable what had occurred would make you; and
I knew how angrily my father sometimes speaks, how much more he says
than he really means, and what pain he gives with out intending it.
The night was miserable enough, dear Wilton; but I knew not indeed
how much more miserable the morning was to be.--You have not heard,
then, what has taken place?"
"I have heard nothing, dearest Laura," replied Wilton; "I have heard
nothing of any consequence since I came to town: but I fear for your
father, Laura; for I heard yesterday that some accusation had been
brought against him by Sir John Fenwick; and though last night, in
the agitation and pain of the moment, I forgot to tell him, I wrote a
note, and sent it early this morning."
"He got it before eight th