Colin Clink, Volume 1 (of 3)

iderable importance, and describes a scene between

assingly alluded to in the most brief manner, but whose happiness was (if not more) at least as deeply involved in the events which had taken place as was that of any oth

on the right shoulders, and not rashly attack the compiler of this history, who does only as Josephus, Tacitus, and other great historians have done before him,-make use of the materials which other men's actions pr

ith that of Mr. Lupton, she had hitherto found it impossible to introduce to her own house, with any degree of pleasure to herself, even the dearest companions of her youth; and no one was more so, for they had known each other from girlhood, than Miss Mary Shirley, the only daughter of her esteemed friend. Like many others in similar circumstances, she long strove to hide her own unhappiness from

n chronicled in the last chapter, Mrs. Lupton returned to Ki

ary, and I dare not promise how long you may like to stay with us; but I hope you will enjoy yourself as well as you can; and when that is over,-though I could wish to keep you with me till I die,-when the time comes that you can be happy

here. In such a place as this, these antique rooms, these gardens, and with such a glorious landscape of farms and

since then that such things have no pleasure in them, when those we love and with whom we live are not that to us which they ought to be." Miss Shirley rema

egradation of the wife was for the moment rendered still more striking and painful by the contrast. But, out of respect for the feelings of her friend, she affected not to notice it; although it was not without difficulty that she

contempt, before another individual, and that individual a woman, to whom extraordinary attentions were at the same moment paid, was indeed more than she could well endure; though pride, and the more worthy feeling of self-respect, would not allow her openly to confess it. But while the throb-bings of her bosom could scarcely be repressed from becoming audible, and the tears welled up in

success, to engage the whole attention of the young lady who sat beside him. They had met some twelve months before at the house of her father, in Yo

s an inmate of his house, the squire proceeded to descant in very agreeable language upon the particular beauties of the situation and neighbourhood of his house, and to enlarge upon the man

s. I see she is at the window still;-though I remember the time, sir," she added, dropping her voice to a more sedate tone, and looking a

he and they are old friends, and it is now some time since they saw each other

ed she-"if Mrs. Lupt

ed the squire, "nor, very probably, mor

g lady, as she rose from her seat, and, without farther parley,

a more pensive mood, as though the contagion of unhappiness had communicated itself to her from the unfortunate lady with whom she had been speaki

date of 1503 upon it, asking the passer-by to pray for the souls of Roger Lupton and of Sibylla his wife, whom God preserve! I hope," continued Mrs. Lupton, "they will never think of burying me in that chapel. Not that I dislike the place itself so much; but then, to think that I should lie there, and that my spirit might see the trailing silks that would pass above

ighten me, before all this happens, till I s

n my chair, and simper at my husband:-I say it touches not you. I should not have your heels upon my face, whoever else might be there. Leave thos

nd, however, did not appear to observe it; for it was just at that time of the evening when, in such a place, the turn of darknes

am the poor lady of this house, I am still a stranger. In two months more that man will have quite forgotten me; and, if I remember myself to the end, why, I shall thank him, dear heart, I shall. But you are beautiful, Mary; and to paint such as you the memory is

nd locked it,-an action which, under present circumstances, threw her visitor into a state of agitation which she could scarcely conceal; though, while she strove to maintain an appearance of confident indifference, she

a kind of visible darkness, although a dull reflection of red light from the western sky still partially illumined the upper portion of the room in which the two ladies now were; sufficiently so, indeed,

walked on tip toe, as though afraid of being overheard, towards he

nfused my mind till I forget what I am saying. You will forgive me, won't you?" Her companion begged her to defer it until

I can never live under it; I know I cannot! And, as for beds, you and I will sleep in this next chamber, so that if there be women's feet in the night, we shall overhear it all. Now, keep awake, Ma

wrung her hands,

nt discourse, and with an unconscious degree

able, and apparently forgetting her grief: "there will co

companion. "I have heard say it wear

fairly, for surely she had a bad husband. It wears mine out, truly; t

Miss Shirley, somewhat re-assured from th

end myself to him as my best abilities would enable me. Mary, turn the glass to me. It is almost da

the young lady, "nothin

ou think, or what I think; but with what eyes d

d my father say that one

ically; "it is nothing to me, so that he who ought to

st into a flood o

in the cottage-windows yonder; let us go below. I dare say those poor labourers are making themselves as happy by their firesi

; for my education was excellent; and, ever since I was married, I have sat in the library, day and night, because Mr. Lupton did not speak to me. Now, Mary, you go down stairs, and take supper; but I shall

ed Miss Shirley, "that you and

of it is not worth a loose feather. To be sure, Mary, I will go down with you. There is danger in wait

nlocked the door, and, resisting every proposal to call

d, even in that manner, to give her the right end of a thread, the substance of which, however, she was left to spin out from conjecture and imagination. She felt extremely irresolute, too, as to the course most proper to be adopted by herself; for, though she had left her home with the intention of staying at Kiddal during a period of at least some weeks, the impropriety of remaining under the circumstances that had taken place, impressed itself strongly upon her mind. It might be that Mr. Lupton would secretly regard her as a kind of familiar spy upon his conduct and actions; and as one who might possibly report to the world those passages of his life which he wished to be concealed from it. Or, in case these conjectures were utterly groundless, it yet r

ith ponderous antique furniture in corresponding taste. An old carved arm-chair, backed and cushioned with crimson velvet, stood on the farther side of the fire-place; and as it fitfully caught the glimmering of occasional momentary flames, stood out with peculiar distinctness, from the deep background of oaken panels, ample cu

longer than some few minutes, and had not yet exchanged a word with each other, when the door of the apartment slowly opened, and the squire himself entered. Fearful of the consequences of an interview, at this particular time, between that gentleman and his unhappy wife, Miss Shirley hastily rose as he entered, and, advancing towards him before he could open his lips to address them, requested in a whisper that he

just audible, as she bent down to Miss Shirley,

though you cannot see him in this li

he table; "he cannot be come back again! I always feared what judgment he would come to, in spite of a

squire, rising from his chair, and advancing to

d so, that even strangers come here to insult me. Send him out, Mary; call William.

ously given by his fair visitor, by leaving

in,-never! Hark! I heard the rustling of a gown below that window. They are coming!" and she held up her hand in an attitude bidding silence, and listened. The dull

upton, "perhaps his moth

he unequivocal and distinct cry of a babe, utt

fore she could recover breath to raise an alarm, several of the domestics of the house rushed into the room; and seeing the situation of their mistress, raised her up, and by the direction of the squire, conveyed her up-stairs to her own apartment. While this was going on, others, at the bidding of Miss Shirley, examined both the room itself, and the outside of the premises; but as nothing could be seen, or even hear

man, with a little girl by her side, and a child wrapped up in her arms: was it not possible that she had been lurking about the house for reasons best known to herself, until the crying of her child obliged her to decamp, through fear of