A carriage drove rapidly up the avenue leading to Middleton Hall. The hall was not large, but was handsome and well proportioned, and looked singularly attractive, its gray walls forming a harmonious contrast with the bright green ivy that partially covered them, and the broad, smooth lawn that stretched out in front. Mrs. Middleton regarded her home with unmingled satisfaction. It was to be her home now as long as she lived. Now that the boy was dead no one could wrest it from her. She would live there, but not in solitary grandeur. The news of her success would bring Captain Gregory Lovell to her side, and their marriage would follow as soon as decency would permit. If afterward he should desire to have the name of the residence changed to Lovell Hall, Mrs. Middleton decided that she would not object. Why should she? She had no superstitious love for her present name, while Lovell had for her the charm which love always gives to the name of the loved one. The housekeeper, stout and matronly, received her mistress at the door. "Welcome home, Mrs. Middleton," she said; "how long it seems since you went away." "How do you do, Sarah," said her mistress, graciously. "I can assure you I am glad to be back." "You will find everything in order, mum, I hope and believe," said Sarah. "We expected to see you sooner." "I hoped to be back sooner, but the business detained me longer than I desired." "And did you succeed, mum, if I may be so bold," inquired the housekeeper, curiously. "As I expected, Sarah. I found that the poor boy was dead." "Indeed, mum." "I hoped to bring him back with me, according to my poor husband's desire, but it was ordered otherwise by an inscrutable Providence." Sarah coughed. "It is very sad," she said, but she looked curiously at her mistress. She knew very well that this sad news rejoiced the heart of Mrs. Middleton, and the latter knew that she could not for a moment impose upon her clear-sighted housekeeper. But the farce must be kept up for the sake of appearances. "Come up to my chamber with me, Sarah. I want to ask you what has been going on since I went away? Have you heard from Lady Lovell's family? Are they all well?" Lady Lovell was the mother of Captain Gregory Lovell, and the question was earnestly put. "They are all well except the captain," answered Sarah. "Is he sick?" demanded her mistress, turning upon her swiftly. "No, mum; I only meant to say that the captain was gone away." "Gone away! When? Where?" "He's ordered to India, I believe, mum. He went away a month ago." Mrs. Middleton sank into her chair, quite overcome. Her joy was clouded, for the reward of her long and toilsome journey was snatched from her. "Did he not leave any message?" she asked. "Did he not call before he went away?" "Yes, mum. He left a note." "Give it to me quick. Why did you not mention it to me before?" "It's the first chance I got, mum. The letter is in my own chamber. I took the best care of it. I will get it directly." "Do go, Sarah." Mrs. Middleton awaited the return of Sarah with nervous impatience. Perhaps the captain had thrown her over, after all, and, loving him as she did, this would have torn the heart of the intriguing woman, who, cold and selfish as she was so far as others were concerned, really loved the handsome captain. Sarah speedily reappeared with the letter. "Here it is, mum," she said. "I have taken the best care of it." Mrs. Middleton tore it open with nervous haste This is the way it ran:
Mrs. Middleton, after reading this letter, breathed a sigh of relief. He was still hers, and she had only to call him back. There would be a vexatious To some the letter would have seemed too mercenary. Even Mrs. Middleton could not help suspecting that, between love and interest, the latter was far the most powerful in the mind of Captain Lovell. But she purposely closed her eyes to this unpleasant suspicion. She was in love with the handsome captain, and it was the great object of her life to become his wife. She decided to answer the letter immediately. Her desk was at hand, and she opened it at once, and wrote a brief letter to her absent lover:
There was unexpected delay in the reception of this letter. It was three months before it came into the hands of Captain Lovell. When at length it was received, he read it with a mixture of emotions. "Decidedly," he said, removing the cigar from his mouth, "the old girl is fond of me. I wish I were fond of her, for I suppose I must marry her. It will be rather a bad pill to swallow, but it is well gilded. Two thousand pounds a year are not to be thrown away by a fellow in my straits. The prospect might be brighter, but I suppose I have no right to complain. It will make me comfortable for life. I must take care to have the estate settled upon me, and then the sooner the old girl dies the better." So Captain Lovell wrote at once, saying that he would return home as soon as he could make Mrs. Middleton read it with unfeigned delight. Her plans had succeeded, and the reward would soon be hers. But there was fresh delay. Arrangements to return could not be made so easily as Captain Lovell anticipated. It was seven months from the day Mrs. Middleton reached England when Captain Lovell was driven to his hotel in London. Meanwhile events had occurred which were to have an effect upon Mrs. Middleton's plans. |