Clara Vaughan, Volume 1 (of 3)

ian. Morose or moody he was not, though a stranger might have thought him so; nor could I end with the conviction that his heart wa

his tone so kind, that but for my conviction that remorse lay under it, I must have come to like him. True, they did not often meet, for dear mother confined herself (in spite of Mrs. Daldy) more and more closely to her own part of the house, and rarely had the spirits now to share in the meals of the family. Therefore, I began at once to take her place, and would not listen to Mrs. Daldy's kind offer to relieve me. This had led quite recently to a little outbreak. One day I had been rather late for dinner, and, entering

Allow me to help myself. I a

r a plate to help me. My guardian was looking at both of us, with a dry smile of amusement, and Clement began to simper and play with

ned to be in the room. Had there been a dozen present, I would still have asserted my right. At l

possessive pronoun is far more em

Not a hospitable inquiry; bu

oon thought better of it, and came to her pro

to me, for my want of true fa

s, she made a mos

n. Whenever my mother and my guardian met, she took care to be in the way, and watched them both, and appealed to me with all her odious pantomime of sorrow, sympathy, wonder, loving superiority, and spiritual yearnin

ying regard. In self-defence, I began to pity him, and ceased to make faces or sneer when the maids--those romantic beings--declared that he must have been crossed in love. At this conclusion, long ago, all the servants' hall had arrived; and even little Tilly Jenkins, no

Master. What a terrible blight to the heart be unrequi

en in love with the weeding boy!"--a smart

so demean myself?" And Tilly c

h I never could explain, viz. that none

d foaming Satanic fury"--perhaps I turned pale, no more--and announcing her intention to remain at Malvern, until she should be apprised whether uncle or niece were the master. In the latter case she demanded--not that she cared for mammon, but as a humble means for the advancement of the Kingdom--the sum of 300*l.*; that being the lowest salary conscience allowed her to specify for treading the fur

away in shreds of rhetoric. Not that I meant for an instant to bate one tittle of what I had done and would do: but I had never asserted my rights as yet in direct opposition to him, nor taken

official relation, and to appeal to the feelings as betokening an onerous wardship. Of late his health had been failing him, and after every long absence from home, he returned more jaded and melancholy. Now a few silver hair

which should settle for life the mastery. He began in a

ing yourself. Why, you have dismissed

nd will again, if the

at you might have consu

ld have done so, in

nt for small matters! But w

dy insulted my father, and

her insult

marry her pup

pose such a thing? She must

think ve

clined, did

I ref

ce you; there is plenty of t

ent is t

l say (in spite of your birth) a low and vulgar manner towards me,

just seventeen, and have lived seven

calmly, and look

mes back to-morrow. You will beg her pardon, as becomes a youn

you had travelled far,

d him, and his thoughts se

asked, at length, and

found women do ju

if he were out of hearing: then la

e your friend than your enemy. If you cannot like me, at least forget your disli

at if I

roperty. My dear brother would have wished it, until you r

in his opinion. Strange as it may seem, I began at once to revolve, not the results of dispossession and poverty on myself, or

perty pass to

e: or at any rat

yours? Do you mean

leave things as they are, if y

d Vaughan Parks, or a thousand Vaughan Palace

ike. But for your mother's sake, I g

Daldy, I shall leave the

ese papers with you. You may lay them before any lawyer you please. They are only copies, but may be c

I go, answer me one question. Did you know of these t

y, with no withdrawal, or conscio

gentleman,

oss than ever, and for th