Charles Tyrrell; or, The Bitter Blood. Volumes I and IIJames, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
General
Charles Tyrrell; or, The Bitter Blood. Volumes I and II
James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Murder -- Fiction
We have before described that walk of fine and sweeping beech-trees
planted on one side of the broad gravel, and bending down like a
penthouse over it, but yet leaving a beautiful view over the fields on
the other side. The moon was shining clear upon the country beyond,
and had so far declined as to pour its light under the branches of the
beech-trees, and as Charles Tyrrell approached the extreme end, and
still stood under the shadow, he saw that the walk was not entirely
solitary, for about halfway down appeared the figure of a man walking
slowly up toward him. Who it was he could not distinguish, at that
distance, but he perceived that the arms were crossed upon the chest,
and the head bent down, as if the eyes were fixed upon the ground.
After advancing for about a hundred yards toward him, the figure
stopped, and gazed out upon the moonlight; then clasped his hands
together, and advanced again in a meditative manner. As it came
closer, Charles recognised the figure of Mr. Driesen, and thought to
himself:--
"I suppose he has come to attend the funeral, for surely even his cool
nonchalance would not permit him to stay in the house all this time
after my father's death. However, he has acted in a friendly manner by
me in all this sad business, and also about Lucy, so that, perhaps, he
might stay, thinking he could be of use."
The cause of Mr. Driesen's stay was, not long after, explained to
Charles Tyrrell, for the will, which had been drawn up sometime before
his return from college, was found in the drawer of the library-table,
and conveyed to Mr. Driesen everything except the entailed estates,
and the jointure of Lady Tyrrell. Besides an immense property in land
and money which thus fell to him, all the plate, the furniture, the
books, the cattle, the horses of Harbury-park were his also, and
nothing but the bare walls of the house remained to the young heir or
his mother.
Charles Tyrrell did not know this at the time, though he learned it
before that night was over; and he only looked upon Mr. Driesen as one
whose principles, or rather want of principles, he could not approve,
but who often acted kindly and justly from natural goodness of
feeling.
Driesen gradually approached, unconscious that any one was near; but
notwithstanding the good fortune which had befallen him, his whole air
was melancholy, his whole carriage dejected, and as he turned again
near the spot where Charles Tyrrell stood, the latter heard him utter
a deep, long-drawn sigh. When he was nearly at the other end of the
walk, which, as we have said, was of great length, Charles crossed it,
suddenly passed over the stile, and took his way into the fields.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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